The Masked Singer gets its first non-human contestant in jaw-dropping reveal!
Los Angeles, California - The latest contestant on Fox's The Masked Singer really "snailed" it. But his mysterious costume reveal showed that there was actually no human singer inside!
The TV show debuted its fifth season on Wednesday by eliminating "the most famous guest on The Masked Singer ever," according to judge Ken Jeong.
The singing competition features celebrities who are outfitted head-to-toe in giant costumes to sing while hiding their identities.
Nicole Scherzinger (42), Robin Thicke (44), Jenny McCarthy (48), and Jeong (51) are the show's panelists, who must vote for their favorites and guess the hidden stars alongside the audience. The show originated in South Korea and its worldwide spin-offs have dominated TV ratings.
After the "snail" performed a snappy rendition of Hall and Oates' You Make My Dreams Come True, the panelists took guesses as to who might be under the disguise.
Thicke questioned whether the singer was disguising his voice and adding some twang to his tone.
"I feel like he's pushing out 'Kermit the Frog' sound," McCarthy said of her first impression.
That would prove to be an amazingly accurate guess!
Green hands emerged from the costume
The snail did his best but ranked last among his costumed competitors, which included a raccoon, a matryoshka doll, and a sea creature. He was forced to unmask.
But beneath the snail's shell was a shock: there was no human singer inside!
"What's going on here? I'm really confused," said Jeong.
As TV audiences held their breath, green plush hands crawled out.
Kermit the Frog was the secret star!
The unmasking of Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog has been the most famous character of The Muppet Show since 1955. The Masked Singer said that he has acted, directed, produced, and recorded albums alongside huge celebs like Lady Gaga and Michelle Obama.
Muppets creator Jim Henson voiced the endearing amphibian for 35 years but actor Matt Vogel has taken the reins since 2017.
"I am never gonna hear the end of this from Miss Piggy," the frog exclaimed after his elimination from the show.
Kermit summed up his departure with his beloved moniker: "It's not easy being green."
Cover photo: IMAGO / Everett Collection