This week on The Masked Singer, it turns out we were correct in assuming it would be difficult for a wildcard to beat the group B finalists. However, we didn’t predict that the new performer was basically a clever way of reintroducing host Nick Cannon. It looks like the person going home tonight is going to be host Niecy Nash, who was filling in for Cannon while he was out with COVID-19. With no actual contestant going home, group B gets a chance to perform again, showing fans just how serious they are about winning. The three best members of Group B – Black Swan, Piglet, and Chameleon – all remain, as well as wildcard Crab.
Black Swan and Piglet have been consistently ranked by fans as two of the possible season winners and tonight’s performances further set them apart. Chameleon is also formidable and a fan favorite who held his own. Crab tugged at the heartstrings when he connected with fans and panelists last week, and this week he went a different direction with a more upbeat song. The bigger shocker, however, was that he had to be rushed offstage to take off his mask due to overheating. Many past celebrities have mentioned the heat and the weight of the elaborate costumes, and one celebrity actually removed the mask and sent himself home. Actor Mickey Rourke found the costume to be too much and revealed his identity early, effectively ending his time in the competition.
Cannon did such a good job at disguising his voice that none of his costars were able to recognize him. He dedicated his song to Nash and gave her a touching tribute at the end. The clues sent the panel off in wild directions, with Jenny McCarthy guessing some big comedians’ names like Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock. The high-pitched voice Cannon used made Ken Jeong guess Chris Tucker. However, the Saturday Night Live and B99 clues made him wonder if it could be Andy Samberg. But how do these clues actually fit Nick Cannon? We’ve linked them all for you.
The show linked a few clues at the end, like the GT for America’s Got Talent and the dance battle for some of Nick’s dance movies, like Drumline and School Dance. The 80 shown on the clapboard at the beginning of the clue package, as well as with the GT, was for 1980, the year Cannon was born. The football and panther references were because Cannon, who was from San Diego and had been a Chargers fan, denounced the team when they made the move to LA. He then said he was going to rock with the North Carolina Panthers due to having lived in North Carolina at some point. The B99 on the collar was for the show Brooklyn 99, where Nick appeared as Marcus for six episodes.
The “live from New York it’s Saturday night” made many think of the show Saturday Night Live. There is some connection, as the show has done skits on Cannon, but it’s more likely that New York was a clue pointing to Cannon’s shows filmed in NY. Wild N Out films in Times Square, and the night was a reference to his shows The Nightlife, which he hosted, and Up All Night, which he had a recurring role on. The clues clearly fit Cannon well, but it was never intended to fool the internet sleuths who love the show, as he was never meant to remain more than this one initial episode. Still, it was a creative way to welcome the host back. Plus, the upside, of course, is that none of our favorite singers went home. However, Niecy Nash will be greatly missed as fans loved what she brought to the show.
The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on Fox.
