SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 11, Episode 9 of “The Masked Singer,” “Group B Finals: Soundtrack of My Life Night,” which aired May 1 on Fox.
For years, the panelists on “The Masked Singer” have thrown out names like Corey Feldman, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken while trying to figure out what celebrities were disguised on stage. This week, those names finally became true.
“The Masked Singer” revealed the latest celebrities to be revealed on Wednesday night’s Group B finale, and it was Feldman as the Seal and Studdard/Aiken together as the Beets.
“For about 25 years, there was this kind of dark age where nobody really wanted to admit that my music was a real thing or that it existed or that I was doing it on a full capacity,” Feldman told Variety. “It was kind of overlooked and ignored for a long time. But now people do hear my voice and know that it’s me singing. That in itself is a compliment. The other compliment is the fact that even when it wasn’t me on the show all those years, just the fact that they were thinking about me — that’s kind of an honor. I’m very grateful that I’ve been thought of so much.”
The timing of the “Masked Singer” appearance is serendipity for Feldman, who’s about to embark on a summer tour with Limp Biskit and also has the film “The Birthday” — which had been sitting on a shelf for two decades — finally hitting theaters this fall via Drafthouse Films.
As for Studdard and Aiken, the “American Idol” alums toured last year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their landmark season on that show. Of course, “Masked Singer” was nothing like anything else they’ve ever done on stage.
“The challenge was trying not to fall on your face,” Studdard said. “As long as Clay and I have been singing, we got the singing part down pat. It was just making sure that we didn’t stumble and trip over one another. Especially because we really couldn’t see much of anything outside of the costumes.”
As for the surprise, Studdard said his 3-year-old son remains in the dark, but Aiken says it didn’t take long for his 16-year-old son to figure things out. “We watched the first week that we were on, and as soon as Ruben opened his mouth, he was like, ‘Uncle Ruben.! And then I sang and he looked at me like, ‘Wait, why did you do this?’ So, there was no surprise at all for him. He knows his Uncle Reuben’s voice immediately and mine pretty quick too. So there was no surprise for him!”
For Seal, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg got it right with Corey Feldman. Rita Ora guessed Jerry O’Connell. Robin Thicke went with Feldman as well. Ken Jeong said it was Haley Joel Osment.
As for Beets, no one figured it out. Ken Jeong thought it was K-ci and Jojo (much to host Nick Cannon’s fury). Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg named Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet. Rita Ora guessed Cee-lo Green and Dangermouse. Robin Thicke went with Dan and Shay.
Feldman was first to be unveiled on Wednesday as Seal. Then came a battle royale between Gumball and Beets, with each performing their own version of “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. Beets was revealed as Studdard and Aiken, while Gumball will return for the semi-finals.
It was “Soundtrack of My Life Night,” and the Group B performers opened by singing “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi.
Corey Feldman as Seal and Clay Aiken/Ruben Studdard as Beets join Jenifer Lewis (Miss Cleocatra), Kate Flannery (Starfish), Charlie Wilson (Ugly Sweater), DeMarcus Ware (Koala), Colton Underwood (Love Bird), Sisqó (Lizard), Billy Bush (Sir Lion), Joe Bastianich (Spaghetti & Meatballs), Savannah Chrisley (Afghan Hound) and Kevin Hart (Book) as the celebrities unmasked on “The Masked Singer” this season.
Back for Season 11 are host Nick Cannon, alongside panelists Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, while Rita Ora has joined the desk to fill in for Nicole Scherzinger, who was in London to star on the West End’s “Sunset Boulevard.”
“The Masked Singer” Season 11 features themed episodes including “The Wizard of Oz,” in celebration of the 85th anniversary of the classic film; “Transformers” (marking the brand’s 40th anniversary) and music tributes including “Billy Joel Night” and “Queen Night.” Additional themes include “Girl Groups,” “Soundtrack of My Life,” “TV Theme Night” and “Shower Anthems.”
With sixteen total celebrity singers, including three “wildcards,” Season 11 features new costumes including “Gumball,” “Lizard,” “Ugly Sweater,” “Goldfish,” “Starfish,” “Book,” “Gumball,” “Miss Cleocatra,” “Afghan Hound,” “Beets,” “Poodle Moth,” “Clock,” “Spaghetti & Meatballs,” “Lizard,” “Koala,” “Seal” and “Sir Lion.” According to the show, the Season 11 contestants boast a combined 22 Grammy nominations, 11 platinum albums, 33 Teen Choice nominations, 108 million records sold, 326 film appearances and 1.7 billion Spotify streams.
This means Group B winner Gumball will face off against Group A winner Goldfish and Group C’s Poodle Moth and Clock for the quarter finals.
Here were the Group B performances on Wednesday’s Episode 9, “Group B Finals: Soundtrack of My Life Night”:
Gumball, “The Masked Singer” (Michael Becker / Fox)
Gumball
Song: “Carry On Wayward Son,” by Kansas
Panel guesses: Jack Black, Zachary Levi, James Marsden
Clue: Connection to Ken Jeong: “Kenspiration.” “Ken, one of the funniest jobs that I’ve ever been a part of, you’ve been involved as well.”
Package voiceover: “I absolutely loved singing ‘Wide Open Spaces’ for my wife last time. The night before my first performance, I looked at her and said, I can’t do this. I know the immense talent that has hit this stage before, and I thought, maybe I just don’t belong here. I’ve always felt like I was pretending to be something else. My family moved around a lot as a kid, and as the perpetual new guy, I would do anything to make friends. Even when I started performing on stage, I always felt out of place. I have no formal training, no education. Despite some major successes, I still get those feelings to this day. But luckily, I have people around me to tell me to dig deep and carry on. And that’s why I’m singing ‘Carry On Wayward Son.’ It’s about not giving up and after making it to the Group B finale, I’m glad I listened to my wife. It’s the tears from the crowd that’s making the kid inside me believe that maybe I belong here.”
Previous songs: “If I Only Had a Heart,” by Jack Haley; “Wide Open Spaces,” by the Chicks
Previous panel guesses: Chace Crawford, Kevin Jonas, Jamie Dornan, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Derek Hough, Taran Killam
The Beets, “The Masked Singer” (Michael Becker / Fox)
Beets
Song: “One Moment in Time,” by Whitney Houston
Panel guesses: Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris; Josh Groban and Brian McKnight; Dan and Shay
Clue: Connection to Nick Cannon: “A Wild Night.” “Nick always good seeing you, we should grab a drink together again sometime soon.”
Package voiceover: “Performing on Girl Group Night was so exciting. We didn’t realize just how much we’d love becoming the Beets. And tonight, we have to become un-Beet-able in the finale. We chose a really powerful song. It’s about a single moment in your life that shows you what you’re capable of. And for us, that moment was when we each became fathers. [I always wanted to be a dad, but I wasn’t sure it would happen for me. So when I held my child for the very first time, my world changed.] Yeah, for me I suddenly realized the impact of every decision I made. But it’s not a perfect road. Right now, my kid repeats everything I say. So I have to be really careful. [You have to be careful? I’m teaching my son to drive. Though at least the hubcaps are still on.] Well now, let’s go out and make a new pivotal moment, by hitting those high notes. This one is for you, little Beets!”
Previous songs: “Home,” by Michael Bublé; “I’m So Excited,” by the Pointer Sisters
Previous panel guesses: Will Arnett and Jason Bateman; K-Ci and Jojo; Steve Martin and Martin Short; Brooks and Dunn; Titus Burgess and Alan Cumming; Zach Braff and Donald Faison
Seal, “The Masked Singer” (Michael Becker / Fox)
Seal (WILDCARD)
Song: “It’s Tricky,” by Run-D.M.C.
Panel guesses: Corey Feldman, Macaulay Culkin, Jerry O’Connell
Clue: Connection to Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg: “House Call.” “It’s always fun hosting you for a change, because you’ve hosted me so many times. Especially when it’s at my place!”
Package voiceover: “I am so digging being the sexy sassy Seal. Now, if I could just hold on for another week. I’ve chosen Run-D.M.C.’s ‘Tricky,’ because that pretty much sums up my life. See, I’ve had to navigate the chilly waters of Hollywood since I was a child. There’s a lot of misconceptions out there about me. I mean, I’ve been tagged with the ‘bad boy’ badge basically since day one, and they still keep trying to stick it on me. It’s been really tricky. I’d love nothing more than for people to learn the other sides of me. The softer, fuzzier ones. I’m actually a family guy. Sure, I can still turn on the edge when the time comes. It’s all about the balance. And that’s why being here is a blast. I get the chance to show people I may not be what they think. And trust me, your jaw is about to be on the floor when you see what this Seal has up its fin tonight.”
Previous song: “Hold On,” by Wilson Phillips
Previous panel guesses: Haley Joel Osment, Corey Feldman, Sean Astin
Last season’s performers included Ne-Yo as Cow, John Schneider as Donut, Macy Gray as Sea Queen and Janel Parrish as Gazelle join John Oates as Anteater, Keyshia Cole as Candelabra, Sebastian Bach as Tiki, Ginuwine as Husky, Ashley Parker Angel as S’more, Metta World Peace as Cuddle Monster, Luann de Lesseps as Hibiscus, Tyler Posey as Hawk, Billie Jean King as Royal Hen, Michael Rapaport as Pickle, Tom Sandoval as Diver, Anthony Anderson as Rubber Ducky and one-time special guest Demi Lovato as Anonymouse.
Fox Alternative Entertainment is behind “The Masked Singer,” which is exec produced by showrunner James Breen, Craig Plestis, and Nick Cannon. The series is based on the South Korean format created by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.
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