SPOIL ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the first part of season 6 of season 6 of “The Masked Singer”, which airs September 22 on Fox.
Basketball star Dwight Howard will at least have more time now to focus on returning from a championship to Los Angeles. The Lakers player was the first celebrity to be unmasked in Season 6 of Fox’s “The Masked Season”, which returned Wednesday – the first of a two-night premiere and a double elimination.
The other eliminated competitor, Mother Nature, won’t be unmasked until Thursday’s episode.
Howard wore the octopus costume and sang “Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard. He said it was his mother’s favorite show, hence the choice to join “Masked Singer”.
“I enjoyed every moment,” Howard told Variety in his exit interview. “Oh man, it was hot and sweaty. I couldn’t really move my head the way I wanted to. And even though I couldn’t dance the way I really wanted to, I still tried to do enough, and it was awesome.
NBA superfan Ken Jeong immediately knew it was Howard and immediately singled him out. “Based on your story, I just think [it’s you],” he said.
Considering the size of the octopus, basketball players were a popular choice. Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg guessed that Dennis Rodman and Nicole Scherzinger thought it was Shaquille O’Neal. Robin Thicke thought it was Joel Embiid.
Why choose the Octopus outfit? “I think Octopus chose me,” Howard joked. “I think he kind of wanted to showcase his personality. Most people are afraid of octopus. They’re mysterious, they’re those creatures that people don’t want to disturb when they enter the ocean. But they like to eat them sometimes, which is crazy. But I felt like we needed to bring out a part of our character and show people a different side of who we are. When I became the octopus, I was able to let go of my fear.
Howard said he started thinking about doing “The Masked Singer” after his name appeared in Season 2, when NBA star Victor Oladipo competed as Thingamajig. Many viewers wondered if it was Howard. Then last season, during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, Howard said he and his teammates would sing a song while practicing on the free throw line, and again others have suggested he should try “Masked Singer”. So when he got an email from the production asking for his interest, Howard was on board.
Howard said he “was a little disappointed” to leave the show so early, but that “it gave me the confidence I needed and I was good after that. I wish I could go on and do more. songs, and finishing the show, but doing this show was awesome for me.
Howard was ready to sing “It’s Your Thing” for his second number if he returned. Here is the voiceover from the Octopus Clue Pack: “I wanted to be Octopus because eight is a lucky number, and I’m a lucky guy!” I achieved success at a young age and felt like I had it all. And all I could do was smile. But everyone took me smiling because I was not serious. People wanted me to go. And I fell. And when you’re that big and you fall, you fall hard enough. To make a fresh start, I had to let go of my ego. But I told you, I’m lucky.
“The Masked Singer” enters Season 6 with 16 contestants and an audience returning to the studio for the first time since the start of the pandemic. This season’s costumes include Baby, Banana Split, Beach Ball, Bull, Caterpillar, Cupcake, Dalmatian, Hamster, Mallard, Mother Nature, Octopus, Pepper, Pufferfish, Queen of Hearts, and Skunk.
Season 6 contestants have 85 Grammy nominations and 27 wins, three Oscar nominations, 12 Emmy nominations, 12 Razzie Award nominations, two Super Bowl appearances and two Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Also new this season, a “Take It Off” buzzer will allow the show’s panelists to prematurely demand that a celebrity remove their mask, if they are convinced they know who it is.
The show’s panelists will once again compete for a “Golden Ear” trophy based on their first impressions of each masked artist (which McCarthy has won the last two times) – and in week one, all the final guesses panelists were also their first impression. This means Jeong has scored a point.
For Mother Nature, Jeong and McCarthy Wahlberg both guessed Tiffany Haddish. Scherzinger went with Chelsea Handler but passed to Tracee Ellis Ross for her pick. Thicke’s first impression was Ross, and he stuck with her for her choice.
Here are the other competitors and their performances on the first night:
Skunk
Song: “Diamonds”, by Sam Smith
Love: “The Executive Suite. “
Do not like : “Coffee without cream.”
Voice off: “I chose to be the skunk because I relate to duality. Yin and yang to it all. And while life isn’t always black and white, there are certainly always two sides to it. every story. I’m here to tell mine. Over the years I’ve seen it all, honey. There might be misconceptions that I’m quick to fight. But honey, it couldn’t be further I have learned that it is not always necessary to react when provoked. I paused for a minute to focus on family. But I am ready to go back and make him do what I do, boo.
The panel’s assumptions: Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Janet Jackson, Sade
Puffer fish
Song: “Say it” by Doja Cat
Strength: “Nothing she can’t fix.” “
Weakness: “Keep secrets.”
Voice off: “I am excited to become the puffer fish. Because I know a thing or two about defending myself. For most of my life, I wanted to fit in but I just couldn’t. I was that weird kid in science class who ruined all the experiments. And don’t get me into singing. My voice was always different, and not always in a good way. I was ridiculed a lot, so I had to learn to defend myself. I think that’s what made me successful. Tonight I hope to stand out like I have my whole life.
The panel assumes: Maya Rudolph, Paula Abdul, Issa Rae, Jessica Alba
Mother Nature
Song: “I’m going out”, by Diana Ross
Strength: “Patriotic.”
Love:: “Flowers.”
Voice off: “I am delighted to be Mother Nature, because I have done everything. Over the seasons, me too. But there’s one thing I’ve never had the chance to do: be a mother. It took me a while to come to terms with it, until I realized the family I already have. Even though I am not a mother, I am very protective of those I love. If you go after them all, this whole wave of shame will come to you, honey! Tonight, I will flourish. Because honey, life is good.
The panel assumes: Aisha Tyler, Tiffany Haddish, Chelsea manager, Tracee Ellis Ross
The bull
Song: “Drops of Jupiter”, by train
Strength: “Calm under pressure.”
Love: “Fast food.”
Voice off: “I grew up in a small town surrounded by cows. Most of the people in town weren’t going anywhere, but I had bigger dreams. So I left and traveled the whole world in search of my destiny: to be the greatest of all time. The doors I knocked on simply did not open. I heard ‘no’ over and over and over again. But I didn’t give up. I became my own boss and eventually Hollywood and even Forbes took notice. There is so much more for me to prove. And I want to do it here.
The panel assumes: Hunter Hayes, Lance Bass, Brian Littrell, Sisqo, Dwayne Johnson
