If Groups A and B introduced viewers to some noteworthy voices, Group C is all about the personalities. That’s one takeaway
The Masked Singer (Wednesday, 8 pET on CTV) fans danced away with after the last group finally debuted this week, making everyone reconsider their previous relationships with broccoli, mushrooms, and the like.In Wednesday’s episode, the remaining five contestants (including the aforementioned vegetables, Lips, Squiggly Monster, and Jellyfish) took the stage and reminded everyone what this show is really about. Sure, some of the celebs can totally sing. But at the end of the day this is a guessing game meant to give notable performers a chance to do something people would never expect. And boy, it can be really fun to watch—especially when the contestants bring their own spin to it all.
Shrooming to Their Own Groove
Overall this group’s vocals were weaker than Groups A and B (sorry), with one notable exception: Mushroom sprouted out of nowhere with a goose-bump-inducing performance. Mind you, some viewers were left a little confused, because although the clue package (and the costume itself) presented the contestant as though they were a woman, that voice singing Maxwell’s “This Woman’s Work” was male. Chalk up another point to this show embracing gender fluidity. Not only does it throw restrictive stereotypes in the trash, it also makes the guessing much more fun. If you need proof of that, look no further than the panelists and their reactions/guesses.
Ken Jeong did his typical stretch and reached for the
Star Search clue in the package, and somehow landed on Usher because of lap dances (yes, you read that correctly). Meanwhile, Jenny McCarthy was getting some Frank Ocean vibes, and Nicole Scherzinger pulled out Donald Glover, which if true might make Mushroom the coolest contestant ever featured on the series. But it will be a while before fans know whether it is him, since Mushroom was safe this week. For now, viewers will just have to chew on all of the
Hamilton clues featured in the package, and wonder if it’s somehow Lin-Manuel Miranda or Leslie Odom Jr. under that mask (most fans are guessing the latter, right?).
Busting Out the Laughs
As for the rest of the contestants? Well it’s hard to figure out whose performance had the most personality. Squiggly Monster came in strong by crashing through a fake rock wall, in a costume that host Nick Cannon called “Beetlejuice on steroids.” His performance of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” was beautiful, but the panelists immediately jumped to personalities like Ray Romano or Brad Garrett just because of his demeanor. (Ken went with Dr. Fauci, but like his fellow panelists it’s probably best to just ignore that one.)Then there was Broccoli, whose “House Is Rockin/Whole Lotta Shakin” had the panelists thinking Bill Murray, Howie Mandell or Steve Guttenberg. (Because somehow Robin Thicke was really feeling those
Three Men and a Baby vibes.) Meanwhile Jellyfish gave a super pretty rendition of “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” throwing the panelists all over as they guessed everyone from Gabby Douglas to Awkwafina. Although, after the angel clues (
Charlie’s Angels?) and the tiara (Princess Diana?) maybe they should have thrown Kristen Stewart in there.[video_embed id='2052719']RELATED: Ken Jeong reveals if there will be a 'Hangover 4' [/video_embed]
The Lips Bring the Gloss
And then there was Lips, aka the most entertaining performance of the night. She entered the stage in full diva mode, on a chaise lounge carried by the Men in Black just like you’d picture Mariah Carey doing before a performance (*side-eyes Nick Cannon*). In her clue package, Lips promised her big voice was going to blow the panelists away, but she then launched into Odyssey’s “Native New Yorker” tragically off-key. However, she leaned into it and her voice was so hilariously off that it actually worked.Okay well it wasn’t enough to keep her in the competition, but Lips broke and laughed in the middle of her performance and just went with the flow without a care. At one point she even snorted, which made the whole thing that much better. In fact it was such a great rendition that no one was really shocked when Wendy Williams emerged from the costume (both Nicole and Jenny immediately guessed it was her). Naturally, everyone bowed down to Wendy for being so darned entertaining.
So why did Williams choose the Lips? “First of all, they’re fabulous,” she told Nick after the unmasking. “I can’t sing. I can’t dance. But I know how to have fun.” She sure does. In fact it’s kind of sad to say goodbye to her after only one week, especially when her unfiltered honesty had the judges (and Nick) on the edge of their seats. After the drama of the unmasking was settled, Wendy took the last moments of the show to question on international television if Nick was going to get back together with Mariah Carey. If we had a dollar for every time someone brings up Mariah Carey on this show just to make Nick uncomfortable...
Stay tuned next week for the Group C playoffs, as the remaining four contestants in this segment bring their best performances and try to stay in the competition for one more week.Watch
The Masked Singer Wednesdays at 8pET on CTV.[video_embed id='-1']BEFORE YOU GO: Puppy and owner carry on intense conversation [/video_embed]