The Masked Singer (American TV series)

The Masked Singer (abbreviated as TMS) is an American reality singing competition television series that premiered on Fox on January 2, 2019. It is part of the Masked Singer franchise which began in South Korea and features celebrities singing songs while wearing head-to-toe costumes and face masks concealing their identities. Hosted by Nick Cannon, the program employs panelists who guess the celebrities' identities by interpreting clues provided to them throughout each season. Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Nicole Scherzinger, and Robin Thicke appear in each episode and vote alongside an audience for their favorite singer after all perform. The least popular is eliminated, taking off their mask to reveal their identity.
The winners of the first seven seasons were T-Pain as "Monster", Wayne Brady as "Fox", Kandi Burruss as "Night Angel", LeAnn Rimes as "Sun", Nick Lachey as "Piglet", Jewel as "Queen of Hearts", and Teyana Taylor as "Firefly" respectively. To prevent their identities from being revealed before each prerecorded episode is broadcast, the program makes extensive use of code names, disguises, non-disclosure agreements, and a team of security guards. While television critics have had mixed reviews for the series and particularly negative opinions of its panelists, the costumes have attracted praise. Inspired by haute couture, they were designed in the first six seasons by Marina Toybina, who won a Costume Designers Guild Award and a Creative Arts Emmy Award. Other production staff won or received nominations for various labor union awards, and the show has won or been nominated for awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Critics Choice Association, and Hollywood Critics Association.
The series has received the highest Nielsen ratings for a non-sports program in the adults 18–49 key demographic each television season it has aired. Two spin-offs—an aftershow and a dance version, The Masked Dancer—have followed as a result. The growth of the Masked Singer franchise has been credited to the show's success, as has an interest in adapting similar South Korean reality television series and other television formats centered on costumes. Media and merchandise associated with the series includes a podcast, clothing, accessories, NFTs, and an upcoming stage show.
== Cast ==
=== Host ===
* Nick Cannon
* Niecy Nash (guest host)
* Craig Robinson (The Masked Dancer)
=== Panelists ===
* Ken Jeong
* Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg
* Nicole Scherzinger
* Robin Thicke
* Paula Abdul
* Brian Austin Green
* Ashley Tisdale
=== Guest Panelists ===
* Joel McHale
* J.B. Smoove
* Kenan Thompson
* Anthony Anderson
* Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (Robert Smigel)
* T-Pain
* Jamie Foxx
* Jason Biggs
* Leah Remini
* Gabriel Iglesias
* Will Arnett
* Yvette Nicole Brown
* Sharon Osbourne
* Gordon Ramsay
* Jeff Due
* Jay Pharaoh
=== Masked Contestants/Celebrities (Season 1) ===
# Hippo - Antonio Brown
# Pineapple - Tommy Chong
# Deer - Terry Bradshaw
# Poodle - Margaret Cho
# Unicorn - Tori Spelling
# Raven - Ricki Lake
# Alien - La Toya Jackson
# Lion - Rumer Willis
# Rabbit - Joey Fatone
# Bee - Gladys Knight
# Peacock - Donny Osmond
# Monster - T-Pain
=== Masked Contestants/Celebrities (Season 2) ===
* Egg - Johnny Weir
* Ice Cream - Tyler "Ninja" Blevins
* Panda - Laila Ali
* Eagle - Dr. Drew Pinsky
* Skeleton - Paul Shaffer
* Penguin - Sherri Shepherd
* Black Widow - Raven-Symone
* Ladybug - Kelly Osbourne
* Flower - Patti LaBelle
* Butterfly - Michelle Williams
* Tree - Ana Gasteyer
* Thingamajig - Victor Oladipo
* Leopard - Seal
* Flamingo - Adrienne Bailon
* Rottweiler - Chris Daughtry
* Fox - Wayne Brady
=== Masked Contestants/Celebrities (Season 3) ===
Category:TV Shows