As I delve into the captivating world of “The Masked Singer,” I find myself utterly enchanted by the tales of these masked celebrities and their journeys to the finale. The Wasp, with her enigmatic persona and undeniable talent, has managed to capture my heart in this season’s competition.

📢 WARNING: Information about Season 12, Episode 12 of “The Masked Singer,” titled “Champion is Crowned” that was broadcasted on Fox on Wednesday, December 18th, follows.

Despite reaching the final destination, we’re not ready to part ways. Today, Motownphilly has returned once more: Boyz II Men (representing Buffalo) emerged victorious in Season 12 of Fox’s “The Masked Singer.” It’s tough to let go of the past, but this victory marks Boyz II Men as the first group to claim the masked trophy.

This season, Boyz II Men outshone Mario in his role as The Wasp, with the judges all in agreement that Boyz II Men were indeed the Buffalos. Conversely, both Rita Ora and Robin Thicke accurately identified Mario as The Wasp. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg thought it was Jason Derulo, while Ken Jeong believed Usher to be the correct answer.

Boyz II Men’s member, Wanya Morris, shared with EbMaster that the band has frequently been invited to appear on “The Masked Singer,” but due to scheduling conflicts, they hadn’t been able to participate until now.

He mentioned that on one occasion, he contracted COVID-19. However, we discovered that they wouldn’t cease inquiring about it. Consequently, we made the decision to disclose this information.

Initially, Morris and his group intended to leave the competition swiftly by masking their voices, aiming for an early exit to enjoy two weeks of leisure without work. However, upon arrival, they discovered exceptional vocalists and an electric atmosphere that made it a delightful environment. Consequently, they decided to prolong their stay, finding themselves drawn into the enjoyable ambiance. Thus, they chose to stick around a bit longer.

Despite the challenges, as Nathan Morris pointed out, the costumes proved to be quite demanding: “They’re heavy, they make us sweat, and it’s tough to breathe. We can barely see anything except what’s directly in front of us, and it has to be at a distance. Therefore, we faced numerous struggles, and the most difficult part for us, given that it was a singing show, was the positioning of the microphone on top of the mascot suit. The mic is still two feet away from our mouths, which made it hard to project our voices accurately, modulate tones, and maintain control over inflections. It was quite a learning process.

Boyz II Men concluded their performance with “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye, followed by “Too Good At Goodbyes” by Sam Smith. Earlier in the show, they had sung “(I Just) Died In Your Arms” by Cutting Crew, “Waiting For a Girl Like You” by Foreigner, “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve, “You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain, and “Africa” by Toto.

The team is pondering incorporating these tunes into their concert lineup, as they believe it demonstrates a broader range of their musical capabilities beyond being just R&B artists, which they’ve always felt they are. As they expand their repertoire, they feel liberated to explore various genres without fear of being deemed unpopular or cheesy. In private, they listen to R&B, pop, rock, and all sorts of music, and this seems to be the rare opportunity in their careers where they can showcase this diversity.

To kick off the Finals, it was Nick Lachey, the victor from Season 5, who took the stage singing “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” originally performed by Andy Williams.

In “The Masked Singer” Season 12, Boyz II Men transformed into Buffalo, Mario became Wasp, AJ Michalka took on the role of Strawberry Shortcake, Kobie Turner was Goo, Jana Kramer donned the mask as Royal Knight, Bronson Arroyo was Sherlock Hound, Drake Bell stepped up as Ice King, Bethany Hamilton was Macaron, Natalie Imbruglia became Bluebell, Laverne Cox appeared as Chess Piece, Andy Richter became Dusty Bunny, Paula Cole disguised herself as Ship, Marsai Martin emerged as Woodpecker, Yvette Nicole Brown donned the mask as Showbird and John Elway took on Leaf Sheep in their unmaskings.

For the twelfth season, host Nick Cannon was back, joined by Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Robin Thicke as panelists. Once again gracing the desk for the second year running was Ora, stepping in for Nicole Scherzinger.

Season 12 of ‘The Masked Singer’ featured episodes dedicated to special occasions: Mattel’s Barbie at its 65th anniversary, the movie ‘Footloose’ on its 40th, an episode celebrating Miley Cyrus’ music, a ‘Who Are You Fest’ showcasing memorable festival tunes, and both a ‘Sports Night’ and a ’60s Night.’ Returning themes included ‘Soundtrack of My Life’ and ‘Thanksgiving Night.’

This season, clues were cleverly hidden in costumes, song selections, and key performance instances. Furthermore, the fifteen celebrity competitors received support from a “Celebrity Masked Cheerleader”, comprising past participants like Dick Van Dyke (from Season 9 as the Gnome), Jewel (Season 6 champion as the Queen of Hearts), Ne-yo (Season 10 victor as the Cow), and DeMarcus Ware (Season 11’s Koala). Additionally, the “Ding Dong Keep It Going” bell made a reappearance this year; however, only one performer across the three final rounds could be rescued.

Season 12 featured 15 contestants performing in new costumes including “Ship,” “Leaf Sheep,” “Woodpecker,” “Chess Piece,” “Bluebell,” “Buffalo,” “Showbird,” “Dust Bunny,” “Goo,” “Strawberry Shortcake,” “Wasp,” “Sherlock Hound,” “Royal Knight,” “Ice King” and “Macaron.”

Here were performances on Wednesday’s Episode 12, “Finale: Champion Is Crowned”:

WINNER: Buffalo

Song: “Somebody That I Used to Know,” by Gotye; “Too Good At Goodbyes,” by Sam Smith

Panel guesses: Boyz II Men, Bell Biv DeVoe, Tony! Toni! Toné!

“What a liberating feeling it was being among the Buffaloes:!” “It was so empowering, I’m tearing up for no apparent reason. It gives me this sense that together, we can achieve anything.

Buffalo’s Reflection: “We’re genuinely moved to reach the finale. It’s been a journey that allowed us to rediscover ourselves and strengthen our bond in an incredible fashion. Throughout our career, we’ve had to adapt constantly, but resilience has been the key to our survival since day one. We struggled together in the streets, faced the loss of a significant figure in our lives, and even had to transform our musical style when a band member left. This is for our fans, our children, and everyone who stood by us. A special thank you to Nick Lachey for advocating for us as an ambassador. We aspire to mirror your victories tonight. We are the faces you once knew, the ones you know now, and will always remember. Perhaps for another three decades yet.

Songs heard before: “Died in Your Arms (Just Like an Animal)”, by Cutting Crew; “I’m Waiting for a Girl Like You”, by Foreigner; “Bittersweet Symphony”, by The Verve; “You’re Still the One”, by Shania Twain; “Africa”, by Toto.

Past suggestions: Backstreet Boys, Earth Wind & Fire, 98 Degrees, Bell Biv DeVoe, 112, Boyz II Men, Big Time Rush, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Black Eyed Peas, The Temptations, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Blackstreet, Color Me Badd, After 7)

Wasp

Song: “When I Was Your Man,” by Bruno Mars; “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” by Whitney Houston

Possible Panel Suggestions: Daveed Diggs, Usher, Bruno Mars, Frank Ocean, Jason Derulo, Taye Diggs, Miguel, Mario, or Anthony Ramos.

To Young Wasp, I’d say, “Just as your wings guide you through the air, let your instincts lead you in life. Have faith in yourself.

Wasp’s Reflection: Reaching the final round means more to me than words can express. This journey has felt like it was tailored just for me, and at long last, I’m receiving the acknowledgement I’ve yearned for. For so long, I’ve felt underestimated in this field. Yet, I began constructing my empire at a tender age, topped the Billboard charts, and partnered with esteemed artists, including fellow Masked Singer contestants like Lil Wayne, Vanessa Hudgens, and my mentor Ne-Yo, whom I’ve sought guidance from throughout this competition. Despite this, I still believe that my full potential has yet to be recognized. At times, I feel overshadowed, as if people still see me as the charming youngster with that one hit song. They don’t grasp the extent of my abilities. Here, however, I have experienced the opposite – appreciation, validation, and celebration, all anonymously. This somehow makes it all the more genuine. Tonight, I carry this feeling with me. As the Wasp, I’ve been able to reveal every facet of myself – my strength, my vulnerability. I’m pouring everything into these final performances, and the fact that you’ve recognized this gives me the courage to fly. I feel my mother by my side tonight in spirit, and she’s granted me the wings for these last two shows. I hope she’s proud. If I can claim that trophy tonight, it would mean the world to show her that her baby could be the victor.

Previously, we’ve been grooving to songs like “Rock Your Body” by Justin Timberlake, “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato, “Ain’t No Way” by Aretha Franklin, “Standing Next to You” by Jungkook, and “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone.

In the previous round, the following artists were suggested: Taye Diggs, Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo, Miguel, Frank Ocean, Daveed Diggs, Mario, Craig David, Eric Benét, Usher, Maxwell, and Anthony Ramos.

Last season’s performers included Vanessa Hudgens, who won the Season 11 crown as Goldfish, beating out Scott Porter, who had performed as Gumball. Other performers included Thelma Houston (Clock), Chrissy Metz (Poodle Moth), Corey Feldman (Seal) and Clay Aiken/Ruben Studdard (Beets), Jenifer Lewis (Miss Cleocatra), Kate Flannery (Starfish), Charlie Wilson (Ugly Sweater), DeMarcus Ware (Koala), Colton Underwood (Love Bird), Sisqó (Lizard), Billy Bush (Sir Lion), Joe Bastianich (Spaghetti & Meatballs), Savannah Chrisley (Afghan Hound) and Kevin Hart (Book).

The reality TV show ‘The Masked Singer’ hails from Fox Alternative Entertainment. Rosie Seitchik, Craig Plestis and Cannon are the show’s executive producers, with Seitchik taking on the role of head writer. The concept originates from a South Korean format created by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.

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2024-12-19 05:17