ET is on the case with our top theories on the famous faces behind those elaborate masks.
*Caution: Spoilers ahead! (Obviously. It's literally in the headline.)*
The Masked Singer returns on Wednesday for its big Season 2 finale, and that means one final batch of clues to help figure out the identities of the remaining three finalists!
This season, 16 costumed "masked singers" are faced off -- four more than the first time around -- and the hints are already proving to be more difficult to keep the singers' alter egos even more shrouded in mystery.
From hidden hints buried deep in the show's various clue packages to some of the internet's best guesses and aggregated deductions, we're compiling a comprehensive breakdown of every piece of evidence to try and crack the case.
As more stars are unmasked as the season continues, ET will continue to update this master list with new clues, theories and the celebrity inside each costume.
Preliminary Clues
Before the season even kicked off, Fox gave us an overall hint about the slate of contestants this season:
"Collectively, all of the season two undercover celebrities have amassed 69 Emmy Award nominations, 42 GRAMMY Award nominations, 22 Broadway shows, three New York Times Best Sellers and two have been named TIME magazine’s Most Influential People."
Additionally, we've learned -- via a promo for the upcoming season -- that the new slate of contestants also have, between them, a combined total of "140 films, 22 gold records, 20 platinum records, 6 multi-platinum records, 31 Billboard No. 1 singles, 19 Emmy wins, 10 GRAMMY wins, seven Super Bowl appearances, five Hall of Famers, 15 marriages and 8 divorces."
So, what can we glean from this info? It sounds like this year, the show's star power might actually live up to the panelists' insanely optimistic guesses from the first season (although we still doubt any of them are Barack Obama).
It seems obvious we've got some big-time singers, some football stars, some Broadway pros -- meaning Neil Patrick Harris might not just be a recurring shot-in-the-dark guess -- and some big time actors. Not that any of that helps to narrow it down now, but we'll see!
THE BUTTERFLY -- *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Butterfly asks, "Are you ready to feel the butterfly effect?" with a real noticeable emphasis, meaning it could be a reference to the movie of the same name, or possibly a song.
2. The Butterfly says, "I just pray that I don't fall over," because of how unruly the costume is. Again, there's an emphasis on "pray" and this one isn't really even a butterfly pun, so it definitely feels like a real clue.
-- From Episode 1:
1. Says, "For the past year, I've been waiting patiently in my cocoon for the promise of metamorphosis."
2. Says, "After achieving success in many stages of life, I found myself terrified by the one place I used to call home." Then, we see a photo of Big Ben and the London Skyline reflected in her eye.
3. In her cocoon, we see a photo of a double-decker bus.
4. She also poses for photos. Maybe she's a model?
5. Uses the phrase, "Admit I'm powerless," which hints at spending time in rehab, possibly.
6. Says, after performing, "I've got a lot of soul in these wings."
-- From Episode 4:
1. She says, "After some time in isolation, I was terrified to step out on that stage. But my coming out as The Butterfly showed me I can be whomever I want to be."
2. More shots of London and Big Ben.
3. She says "At the height of my career, I had everyone saying my name. But when I tried to spread my wings, I lost flight…. It lead to break-ups, breakdowns, and hibernation."
4. Stands in front of a wall with the word "Alone" repeated over and over.
5. She stands in front of a mirror with magazine cut outs of words including "Hit the Lights, " "You Can Do It," "Meow Baby," "Love Life" and "Please stop showing me memories of my ex," among others.
6. She says being under the mask feels like she's been "given a second chance."
7. There's another hand-written note that says "This is for everyone else who is still a caterpillar."
8. She says that, under the mask, "I can be any age, color, voice or genre."
9. She says, "No one can put me in a net, or clip my wings, ever again!"
-- From Episode 6 (Week 5):
1. She says, "All my insecurities about performing resurfaced" after electric shock last episode.
2. She says she's wanted to be a singer since she was 7.
3. We see a "Car Salesman of the Year" plaque.
4. There's a 'Brit Award Winner' headline on a newspaper.
5. She says, "This is what I was meant to do."
6. Her revealing item: a forensics kit.
-- From Episode 9 (Week 8)
1. Says, "I'm used to sharing the stage with giants," as we see a football on a table.
2. Says, "This metamorphosis has allowed me to tackle some of my deepest insecurities."
3. We see a tea pot with a tag that says 'Hot 100 degrees.'
4. Says, "Being center stage has summoned a new power I never knew I had. As The Butterfly, I found the spirit to begin again."
5. We see a Playbill for an unnamed play that includes an ancient pyramid image.
6. Says, "If you want my future, forget my past. I'm done apologizing for who I used to be."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Mel B, Leona Lewis, Miley Cyrus, Michelle Williams
Our Best Guess: We feel pretty sure it's Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams. She spent time in London while performing in a musical, she checked herself into a rehab treatment center in July 2018, and, referring to her comment that she's got "a lot of soul in these wings," Williams played Diana Ross on the BET series American Soul. Additionally, she began singing when she was 7, and, as a member of Destiny's Child, she won a Brit Award.
AND THE STAR IS...
... Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams! We called it!
THE EAGLE -- *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Eagle says of the competition, "They'll be saluting me."
2. Host Nick Cannon says the Eagles' "rock star" wardrobe was specifically designed by the celeb.
3. The Eagle says that if you know an eagle's body temperature, "You'll be hot on my tail." An eagle's body temperature is 106 (or 106.7 if you convert from Celsius). Could this be a radio DJ? A performer with 106 songs?
-- From Episode 3:
1. He says, "I have soared to great heights as the face of my field."
2. Says he had a "serious health scare" and dealt with the death of a parent.
3. Says he listens to other people's stories and problems, but it's time to tell his own story.
4. We see a radio set to 106.7 FM.
5. He says, "I don't just hang out with rock stars, I am one."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Bruce Springsteen, Adam Levine, Howard Stern.
Our Best Guess: Right now? Considering the red bandana and general vibe, we're gonna take a predictive shot in the dark and guess Willie Nelson. It's not Nelson, but it could be someone related to radio and interviewing? Adam Carolla sounds like a good guess, but it's hard to tell.
AND THE STAR IS...
... radio host, TV personality and medical professional, Dr. Drew Pinskey!
THE EGG -- *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Egg says, "As my mom always told me, life has an expiration date. So always work hard, to the first and last vowels of the alphabet." It's not really clear what that actually means, in terms of being a cohesive sentence, but the first and last vowels are A and U (if you don't count Y), so could that be the celeb's initials?
-- From Episode 1:
1. His clue package includes a plush swan toy.
2. Says, "You might FIGURE that coming to The Masked Singer is a bit of a LEAP for me. But after years of being on top of the pyramid, I'm here to join the ranks of the most versatile entertainers of our time."
3. Says he's "going for the gold."
4. After the performance, he said, "I'm always egg-stra, and I do enjoy a good sparkle."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: (N/A)
Our Best Guess: Neil Patrick Harris, maybe? (Since he wasn't The Peacock last season).
AND THE STAR IS...
... Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir!
THE FLAMINGO
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Flamingo says she's gonna "rock this competition until my feathers fall off," and, "I love this mask as much as I love mascara." Could this be a beauty/cosmetics reference?
2. The Flamingo says, "Get pumped, everyone!" and mimes lifting weights. This felt out of place, and therefore it's a clue. As to what? It's impossible to say.
-- From Episode 2:
1. She says she has a "ZooTube" channel.
2. She has several books in her bedroom, including one that says "Little Women" and one that says "Spanish" and she's reading one that says "Women's Health."
3. She says, "I know what it's like to feel trapped in your career. So relax! I'm here to take back control of my destiny."
4. She holds up a florescent light bulb.
5. She says she chose the flamingo because the represent new beginnings.
6. She says, "It's about time this badass birdie got to show her feathers again."
-- From Episode 4:
1. We see shots of old tires and a petrol station.
2. She says, "It reminds me of when I first started out and went from hood rat to Hollywood triple threat."
3. She holds a red apple in her hand.
4. She says, "I come from humble beginnings with absolutely zero connections. Until, one day, I was discovered by a powerful wizard, who plucked me off my stoop and led me into a dream."
5. She says, "Being here, I feel like I can do anything, and tonight, I'm going to shake up the competition with a song that proves this bird can move."
6. We see a weathered street sign for Los Angeles.
7. She poses for a photo shoot.
-- From Episode 6 (Week 5):
1. She ays, "Years ago, I started hating the sound of my own voice."
2. She says, "I danced, sung, and acted my way to the top."
3. We see a film reel.
4. She says, "This bird is anything but basic."
5. Her revealing item: an NAACP Image Award.
From Episode 8 (Week 7):
1. Says, "I'm so happy, I feel like I'm living in a fantasy," while we see a shot of a secluded island.
2. Welcomes viewers to he home, which she calls her "chateau."
3. We see a framed photo of the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal.
4. Says, 'This experience is teaching me to love my own voice for the first time in years."
5. She's wearing a huge jewel encrusted ring.
6. Hold up a paper cutout of what looks like four children.
7. Dances to a mariachi band in her back yard.
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Adrienne Houghton (nee Bailon), Tana Mongeau, Gabbie Hanna.
Our Best Guess: Adrienne Houghton. She has a YouTube channel, she speaks Spanish, she's a professional singer, she was part of multiple girl groups, including 3LW -- which stood for 3 Little Women! She also toured with Destiny's Child in 2001 on the MTV Total Request Live tour while a member of 3LW, which is, admittedly, the most tenuous link. But it's definitely her.
THE FOX
The Clues:
--From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Fox says, "This superhero is ready to devour the competition." Not sure what a superhero has to do with a weird cyborg fox. It could be an actor from a superhero property.
-- From Episode 3:
1. His clue package sees him reading a comic book as a bedtime story to a child fox.
2. He says, "Foxes are clever and nocturnal, and I definitely do my best work at night."
3. Says he played a lot of roles, and we see drawings of The Fox dressed as Sherlock Holmes, a cowboy, and with an eye-patch.
4. He says, "I dabbled in many different genres. From Doogie to Doubtfire, I've laughed with them all."
5. He says, "Over the years, I've lived two different lives. There's my on-air superhero persona, who lives to entertain, and then there's the real me, who I am at home."
6. He says, "But under this mask, by two identities can finally become one."
-- From Episode 5:
1. Sits down again to read a book to his "little one."
2. Says, "Lets just say, I didn't always fit in. In grew up in a rough patch of the woods," as he shows a drawing of his childhood home in "Fox Park."
3. Says he was bullied, and that the other fox cubs weren't nice, which "did a strange thing to my bark."
4. I found that if I pretended to sound like other foxes, my bark was fixed.
5. Says, "Shazam, fast and furious, I transformed into an undercover superfox."
6. Shows a drawing of himself holding up an Emmy. But says that, despite the success, "I never felt like the applause was for the real me."
From Episode 7 (Week 6):
1. We se a sign for The Foxhole Hotel
2. Says, I'm always dreaming about entertaining people on tour" while playing a green guitar.
3. Says, 'In my 30-year career, I've accomplished many things in persuit of this dream."
4. He holds up a set list with the songs "Everybody Say Yeah," "Sugar Daddy," "Cabaret," and "You and Me"
5. Says, "I've won multiple awards and become a household name, but I'm mostly known for being part of the pack of talented fellas -- not my voice alone."
6. Says, "Tonight, with this mask on, I'm gonna prove that I'm a superhero all by myself, because this Fox is one in a million."
7. His revelaing item: a boombox. The Fox explains, "As a young pup, this gift from my father helped me find my voice, and a few others."
From Episode 9 (Week 8)
1. Says, "I've got to be clever if I want to make it to the end."
2. We see him playing a white piano in the middle of a field with his little fox child.
3. He says he chose The Fox because the animals are "cunning and strong and yet oftentimes underestimated. I felt that way a lot in my career."
4. There are four men in all-white body stocking costumes that run and dance around the piano. It's very weird.
5. There's a sign that says, "Yes, and..."
6. Calls himself a "true blue superhero."
7. Tells the panel, "I am so glad, I'm getting the chance to work with my friends, even though my friends don't know they are working with me."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Jamie Foxx and Wayne Brady.
Our Best Guess: We'd love for it to be Robert Downey Jr., but since that seems pretty impossible, Jeremy Renner works for us. After all, he sings. We know we already guessed Wayne Brady for another contestant, but were pretty sure this time. He's got a child, he's worked with Neil Patrick Harris and Robin Williams, he's played a bunch of different characters through his comedy and improv, and he works nights a lot doing stand-up and improv gigs. We're not sure about the superhero references, but most of it all checks out. Additionally, he says he's known for "being part of a pack of talented fellas," which could be a reference to his time on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
THE ICE CREAM -- *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Ice Cream appears to live in a large, yellow mansion.
2. The Ice Cream says they "live for the first half of February," while standing in front of a calendar with Feb. 14 circled with a heart.
-- From Episode 1:
1. He said that, as a kid, he "caught a lot of flack for doing what I love the most."
2. He said, "I am used to performing in front of millions of people," but that this show is going to be very different.
3. There are lots of video game audio clues, and he says he's taking this competition to "the next level."
4. There's some karate imagery?
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Jimmy Fallon, for some reason.
Our Best Guess: A DJ, maybe? Yeah... there's not much to go on.
AND THE STAR IS...
... Internet superstar and pro-gamer Tyler "Ninja" Blevins!
THE LEOPARD -- *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. When talking about the Secret Service level of confidentiality and security around The Masked Singer, The Leopard says she's used to it, adding, "I've been spotted with the president."
2. Nick Cannon says the Victorian costume is designed specifically to hide the celeb's "natural silhouette."
-- From Episode 2:
1. As it turns out, The Leopard is almost certainly male, and the female, English accents are fronts.
2. We see newspaper "Crazy Game Ends with win for the LEOPARD" April 20, 2015.
3. He says, "I know what it's like to be at the top... I've been a heavy hitter. No one could catch me."
4. There's another newspaper with the headline, "Out Of Hits and Out of Time."
5. He says of the media, "You know, I really don't care what they say about what I'm wearing, or even my relationships."
6. We see another newspaper with the headline, "The Runaway."
7. There's a red neon sign that says "J'adore" on the wall.
8. He says, "I'm stripping away the headlines, and everything that has come to define me... I will show the world why I have always been, and always will be, The Leopard.
9. There were clocks on the walls.
10. Later says "Leopards can be fierce, and yet divine."
-- From Episode 4:
1. He says, "After all my years at the top, it was humbling to almost lose my mask in the Smackdown"
2. He says, "It made me more determined than ever to prove that I'm still a primetime champion."
3. We see a baby being left on a doorstep with the address 1963.
4. He says, "I wasn't born a winner. I wasn't even always wanted. After being passed from pack to pack, I found I could use my talent as my escape. I have lived my life in color ever since."
5. He says, "I always tell my cubs that no matter what the world labels you, it's never too late to flip the script. As the leopard, I want to be a hero in their eyes. That would be my greatest title yet."
6. We see newspapers with headlines "Finding a New Home" and "Finding Your Place."
7. He said he used to work in fast food.
-- From Episode 6 (Week 5):
1. He says, "I haven't felt this free since I was a young cub on the road."
2. We see a bunch of newspaper headlines with some headlines including the word "Pose" and one that says he performed at the White House.
3. He says he's "a fresh new edition of his old self."
4. There's a open guitar case filled with loose change, suggesting he could have been a street busker.
5. His revealing item: a collection of vintage cameras. He adds, "My life has been so tiresome. I spent most of it in front of the lens, but I prefer to be behind the lens."
-- From Episode 8 (Week 7):
1. Says, "I never imagined how liberating this competiton would be for me."
2. Says, "When I was a teenager, I set myself free for the first time. Since then, I've done my best to treat the world as my catwalk."
3. Says that no matter where is is, he always tries to "channel my inner glamazon."
4. Mentions New York, Paris and then there's a megaphone with the Australian Flag.
5. Someone hands him a baseball bat.
6. Says, "I never want to forget that moment when I chose to just be me."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: RuPaul, Jamie Foxx, Seal, Carl Lewis.
Our Best Guess: Omarosa, based mainly off the President clue and the fact that she definitely doesn't shy away from reality TV. Wow, well we were way off base with that Omarosa guess. Right now, we're leaning toward Seal. The clocks could be a reference to the song "Every Time I'm With You." The "Crazy Game" headline could refer to his song "Crazy." He's also got a song called "It's Devine." He also says he doesn't want to deal with the press looking into his private life, which is what happened when he got divorced from Heidi Klum. Also, he hasn't released a major hit in some time, so that could be what the headline "Out of hits Out of Time." It's not a total lock, but it's the best guess thus far. The PROBLEM is, The Leopard doesn't sound like a professional singer, and Seal is a great singer.
After Week 4, we take back our previous statement about The Leopard not being a good singer. He's incredible and his performance of Shawn Mendes' "Stitches" is stunning. Also, were even more sure that it's Seal than ever before. He was born in 1963 (hence the address on the building in the clue package) and he grew up in foster care, which he hinted at. Also, when he sang a cover of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" during Ep. 6, it's so clearly just his voice.
AND THE STAR IS...
...Legendary singer and music icon Seal! (We totally called it!)
THE PANDA - *REVEALED*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Panda says, "The victory will taste sweet, like bamboo! Especially the way I prepare it!" This could be a hint that they are a celeb chef, or at least known for their cooking in some capacity.
2. The Panda says, "I love new challenges, and pushing myself to the limit."
-- From Episode 2:
1. She says, "Shyness is a virtue."
2. She says she comes from "the most famous family of the forest."
3. She says, "I have an animal instinct that this challenge will be no match for me."
4. The whole clue package is written as a letter from her dad.
5. After her performance, she says that she's "lovable but fierce."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Bindi Irwin, Venus Williams
Our Best Guess: Bindi Irwin? The letter to her dad feels like it could be a reference to that.
AND THE STAR IS...
... former professional boxer Laila Ali!
THE FLOWER - *REVEALED*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Flower says, "I blossom in every field I plant myself in." This could be a reference to her being known for a whole bunch of different things, like singing, acting, modeling, ect.
2. The Flower appeared in front of a backdrop of pink and blue flowers, where the blue flowers subtly spelled out the numbers 3-1-4 (which is a Missouri area code).
-- From Episode 3:
1. She says, "Some say I blossom in every field I plant myself in, so becoming The Flower was a natural arrangement."
2. She says she's "dipped [her] petals" in everything from "cooking to clothing to craft." Holds up a box of mac and cheese when she says "craft."
3. There's a Philly cheese steak on her kitchen table.
4. She's stirring what appears to be batter in a mixing bowl.
5. She has a framed doctorate diploma on her wall from Temple University, which is also in Philadelphia.
6. She also has a framed rainbow flag on the wall next to her diploma.
7. She says, "My whole live, I've done everything to the nines. I don't even go to the grocery store without lipstick or pumps on."
8. She says, "After sowing the seeds of this empire with my bare hands, I'm just ready to have a little fun and be free."
9. She references two songs -- one by Mariah Carey and one by Tina Turner, when she says, "This legend is here to be a 'Vision of Love' on the stage. But 'What's Love Got to do With It' anyways?" Often, these song title clues are just misdirects, though. Last season, Gladys Knight threw out a ton of them.
-- From Episode 5:
1. Says, "You think I'm a profession singer, but I've never taken a voice lesson in my life."
2. Says, "My talent bloomed early on."
3. Show's a clock with 12:00 on it, and then an address with metal numbers reading 524.
4. Says, "I must have just had that X-factor."
5. There's a French flag
6. Her finger has a price tag for $13 dollars tied to it, and she says, "You can't put a price tag on what you love."
-- From Episode 7 (Week 6):
1. Says "As a young bud, I couldn't have imagined that I'd ever be a competitor in something like this."
2. Says, "Being on stage was always my dream girls."
3. Says, "I was shy about showing my talent. I'm still an introvert and on my days off I love when it's oh so quiet.:
4. We see a framed photo of what appears to be a Greek sculpture bust.
5. Says, "Nothing makes me happier than kicking off my shoes and lying in rapture in my own secret garden."
6. Says, "When the spotlight calls, this shy petal knows how to bloom."
7. Says, "Nobody's gonna kick me out of this competition, booboo. I will survive."
-- From Episode 8 (Week 7):
1. Says, "It's been such a wile ride getting to do what I love like never before."
2. Says, "I am always changing."
3. Holds up a heart-shaped For Sale sign.
4. We see a disco mirror ball hanging over her head. (Could be a Dancing With the Stars reference?)
5. Says, "Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith and try something new."
6. We see a perfume spritzer bottle at the bottom of a pool.
7. We see two security guards playing Patty Cake.
8. Two men hold up dominoes with the numbers 1, 9, 4, 4 (the year 1944, probably a birthday?)
9. Says, "I can go on and on like a rolling stone."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Patti LaBelle, Tina Turner, Macy Gray
Our Best Guess: It would be truly shocking if this wasn't Patti LaBelle, to be honest. She was born in Philadelphia, she recieved an honorary doctorate from Temple University, she's hosted a cooking show, and it sounds like her. It just is Patti LaBelle.
AND THE STAR IS...
... the Godmother of Soul, Patti LaBelle.
THE LADYBUG -- *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From Episode 1:
1. She has a Southern-sounding voice, but it sounds forced, or possibly fake.
2. She said, "After a lifetime of drama," she needs some love.
3. She's in front of TV cameras.
4. She said she was born into the "limelight" and makes a reference to "every piece of gossip and family feud," which indicates she comes from a famous family.
5. She has a spinner wheel with different images: A Ham, a pumpkin, a judge's gavel, a dog, a skull, a bridge, a scorpion, a baseball bat, and a police car.
-- From Episode 5:
- She says, "I never expected the nerves to hit like they did."
- She says the show reminds her of childhood where everything looked "rosy" on the outside, but on the inside her world was "completely upsidedown."
- Holds a tarot card for 3 of Cups
- Shows a golden trophy for "Best Host"
- Shows a silver sparkly heel, a lime, a cross, and a playing card hanging from the ceiling.
- She says they are "pieces of me."
-- From Episode 7 (Week 6):
1. She says, "Everytime I walk out onto that stage, I can feel my confidence growing."
2. She says, "Now that I've made it this far, I'm more empowered than ever to celebrate who I am."
3. We see the show's 'Men in black' security banging on tambourines in a new age temple.
4. The Ladybug and some others drink from Mirrorball cups.
5. She says, "For years, I convinced myself I just wasn't good enough, whether it was in my career, my relationships or of course in my family,
6. She and some guys are playing jacks on a table, and then poker.
7. We see a closeup on a hand of Ace, 9, 8, and 4 (Meaning, likely, the year 1984?)
8. She puts makeup on some of the guys.
9. "So watch out, this young bug is going all the way. Second star to the right and on till morning."
10. Her revealing item: a golf cart.
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Kelly Osbourne, Jodi Sweetin, Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus
Our Best Guess: Kelly Osbourne, for a few reasons. She comes from a famous family, she's always had drama in her life, often because of her parents. And the images on the spinning wheel seem to refer to famous moments with her life (like the "ham tossing" incident and a scorpion because she is a Scorpio).
AND THE STAR IS...
... TV personality, actress and singer Kelly Osbourne!
THE ROTTWEILER
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Rottweiler says, "I'm here to be best in show. I'm gonna be working my tail off to earn your puppy love."
2. The Rottweiler says, "Roses are blue, violets are red, but do you have a clue who's behind this doggy head?" Honestly, neither of these clues feel like they add up to much.
-- From Episode 1:
1. He mentions "the pig skin under the Friday night lights." Could be an actor who starred in a football movie who is trying to throw people off?
2. Has a "Fantasy Champion" football ring, meaning he likely doesn't actually play football himself.
3. There's an insert shot of blue roses, for some reason.
4. Says he chose the Rottweiler because "I actually was bitten by one as a kid"
-- From Episode 5:
1. There's a 1st Place ribbon.
2. He says "I'm capable of succeeding on my own, and I want it that way."
3. Sitting in a dog bed near other dog beds with the words 'Carolina" "Kale" and 'Little Pete."
4. The Rottweiler draws a picture of himself as an angel.
5. He says, 'You could say it all started thanks to musical theater and makeup."
6. He says, "I plan to be here 'til the end, or at least until the love runs out."
-- From Episode 7 (Week 6)
1. Says, "Hearing all the love these past weeks has made me feel so grateful."
2. He's wearing a golden Rolex.
3. Says, "The story of my life didn't always look like this."
4. Says, "I didn't take the conventional route to stardom," as we see him trying to sell a vacuum cleaner.
5. He holds up a mini-flag from of the state of North Carolina.
6. He says he wouldn't change having gone through hard times early in life because it has "led me to every real opportunity I've had, on screen and off," while walking next to a crime scene with a chalk outline of a body." (Maybe he played a cop?)
7. The chalk outline of the body has what looks like a wrestling belt that says "Champ."
8. Dances the robot while saying, "Tonight, I'm leaving my heart on the stage while show a side of myself I don't normally share. Because I'm not ready to take this mask off any time soon."
9. His revealing item: a cartoon illustration of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
-- From Episode 8 (Week 7):
1. Says, "I'm terrified of the panel find out my true identity and judging me because of it."
2. Holds up boxing gloves with the words "Boxing Day" written on them.
3. One of the suit-wearing guards holds up a mouth guard with the word "Platinum" written on it.
4. He's seen sitting cross-legged and meditating, and says, "Everything is zen."
5. We see a calendar with September circled.
6. We see a row of golden statues and he says, "I want to win this more than anything I've ever won in my career."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Noah Centineo, Chris Daughtry, Ray J, Sam Hunt
Our Best Guess: Seriously, no idea. It's definitely not Bruno Mars, as Jenny suggested. But it's too tough to even offer a guess at this point. Maybe Chris Daughtry? The voice sounds right, and his daughter's name is Rose. More so, his revealing item is a cartoon, and he's a comic book illustrator. Also, his acting debut came in an episode of CSI:NY, and Daughtry is from North Carolina. This one is just confirmed.
THE BLACK WIDOW -- *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Black Widow says, "I'm here to call my way to the top and spin a web around the competition."
2. The Black Widow says, "You can guess my identity all you want, but I'm going to leave you hanging by a thread until the very end."
-- From Episode 2:
1. She says "I've been packaged my entire life, and after years of living in the public eye, you're in my house now."
2. There's a painting of a peach.
3. There's a crown on a couch.
4. She says, "Welcome to my empire."
5. She says, "Now I get to be here to share the real threads of who I am."
6. There's a clapboard that reads "Director: Black Widow. Camera: Queen Bee." The she says "Consider this the director's cut of my life."
7. There's a crystal ball, crystals and tarot cards, and she says, "You'll find I'm a little edgier, darker and more alien than you know me to be."
8. She says, "You better believe that on this stage, I'm gonna be good as hell."
-- From Episode 4:
1. She says, "I felt so confident as this edgy, sultry arachnid."
2. We see her playing with a castle playhouse.
3. She says, "Ever since I was an itsy-bitsy spider, I've had to embody a squeaky clean image."
4. She's knitting a scarf.
5. She says, "While I've got an amazing career that has taken on all different shapes, I've been waiting for a moment like this."
6. There's a shot on a TV of The Black Widow spray painting a wall. It gives off Fresh Prince vibes.
7. She appears to have a platinum album framed in her lair.
8. She says, "I don't have to pretend, because all you know about me is my voice and my badonkadonk."
9. She says she "never went to prom, but she "pretended to."
From Episode 6 (Week 5) --
1. She says, "Whether it's a cozy den in Memphis or a bungalow in Bel-Air" you have to find things that "spark joy."
2. She has two sashes with "Misdemeanor" written on one of them.
3. She says, "This hot homemaker is going to keep you on your toes."
4. Her revealing item: whipped cream and a box of crackers.
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Raven-Symone, Queen Latifah, Lizzo
Our Best Guess: Probably Raven-Symone? She played a psychic character on That's So Raven, she's from Atlanta, Georgia (hence the peach). In her second clue package from Week 4, we also learn she has a platinum record (which she does with The Cheetah Girls), and that she had to "embody a squeaky clean image," which would make sense as a child star.
AND THE STAR IS...
... actress, singer and TV host Raven-Symone!
THINGAMAJIG -- *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. Thingamajig says, "I will tower over the rest of the singers with my puzzling persona." Is this a particularly tall contestant? The costume is over 7-feet tall, but that doesn't mean the singer inside is even close.
2. Thingamajig says, "Don't call me Chewbacca, though we do celebrate together." This could just be a joke, or it could imply he's someone from Star Wars.
-- From Episode 1:
1. He said (or quasi-rapped), "I'm a gentle giant, the feathery kind."
2. He has a "magic case" and pulls handkerchiefs out of briefcase. Could he be a magician? Like all the contestants last year also suggested they were magicians and it was all misdirection.
3. He said, "I'm here because I love to sing, though you may think that's not my thing."
4. He talked about "fashion SHOOTS and dreams," and then pulled out a pair of sneakers. So he could be a basketball player or athlete.
5. Presented a cupcake with a "4" candle in it.
-- From Episode 4:
1. He says, "Singing has always actually been my first love."
2. A security agent holds up three children's dolls, including a mermaid.
3. He says, "My parents taught me… don't run with the bulls."
4. He makes references to doing magic, while there is also an American flag in the background.
5. He says, "With this song, I want to show the world I'm just as warm and fuzzy on the inside as I am on the outside."
6. He says, "My darkest moment is when I went to rehab."
From Episode 6 (Week 5):
1. He says, "I'm used to my voice winning over the ladies."
2. He says, "This is how we do it."
3. He reveals a dinner table full, a la The Last Supper, covered in dress shoes and bow ties and bowls of gummy worms.
4. He says, "I ain't too proud to beg."
5. His revealing item: an American Sign Language book, and he says, "says, "This book taught me how to communicate with others, which is the most important thing-amajig."
-- From Episode 9 (Week 8)
1. Says, "In my line of work, I'm used to hustling every day."
2. Says, "I've learned that if you really want something in life, you have to commit to it 110 percent."
3. We see Thingmajig at a makeshift wedding alter exchanging vows with another Thingamajig.
4. Says, "I've got to be my own No. 1 right now."
5. We see him lifting a platinum album
6. Says, "I suffered a setback recently... now that I got my groove back, I'm more laser-focused than ever to make it to the end."
7. We see an envelope with the words "To: My love, From: Maryland."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Wayne Brady, Victor Oladipo.
Our Best Guess: We're almost sure it's NBA star Victor Oladipo. He's 6'4", so the Thingamajig's height makes sense. His number is 4, so it's emblazoned on his jersey. Also in his first clue package he says "keep up the pace," and he plays for the Pacer. Additionally, he says his darkest moment was when he went to rehab, and Oladipo had to go to physical therapy rehab for an injury.
AND THE STAR IS...
... NBA star Victor Oladipo! And, shockingly Ken Jeong was the only panelist to guess correctly.
THE TREE - *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Tree talks about all of her "delicious" performances, with a very strong emphasis on the word. Could this be a clue to a song title she might be known for?
2. The Tree's costume was designed in the style of a "1950s vintage pin-up queen."
3. The Tree says, "The security guards on this show make me feel like precious cargo."
-- From Episode 1:
1. She talked about how she's only loved or wanted during Christmas time.
2. She said, "I love getting dolled up."
3. We saw a Public Storage locker, with the number "30."
4. She said she's been "in exile."
5. Talks about baking and cooking, and we see pots and pans.
-- From Episode 5:
1. She says, "I'm not a regular tree. I'm a cool tree."
2. Explaining her "family tree" she says her dad "is the tinsel, my mom's the pom-pom, mix them together it's a holiday rom com."
3. She's playing the piano.
4. She says that, growing up, he parents always she to be true to herself, and that she's "always been their favorite elf."
5. She says they never made her feel like she was left "home alone."
6. There's also a random shot of the white house.
7. She's trying to be "as colorful as a fruitcake."
-- From Episode 7 (Week 6):
1. Says, "The hardest part of this whole thing is learning to stand on my own two purple stumps for the first time."
2. We see a theater Playbill, along with three pennies and the word 'Blank.'
3. Says, "Let me tell you, I work really well with others," as she kisses a cartoon face glued onto an tree in a park.
4. Says, "When I put on this mask, it was like I'd been beamed up into another dimension."
5. Says, "I'm alone, like the new girl at school. Oh, maybe I'll hang out with those strangers with candy!" (All of these honestly feel like misdirects).
6. Says, "Tonight is all about showing the judges and myself that there are no more excuses, and that this tree can stand tall."
7. Her revealing item: A bowl of soup. The Tree says, "If it wasn't for soup, I'm not sure I would be where I am at today."
-- From Episode 9 (Week 8)
1. Says, "With all the confidence the panel has given me, I feel like I've finally come into my own."
2. We see an embroidered sign that reads "What Is A Friend?"
3. Says, "I'm singing and dancing like no one is watching. Not even a smelly cat."
4. Says, "The spotlight is dynamite and I plan on shaking my big fat tree stump all the way to the end," while jumping on a bed and holding a bundle of dynamite sticks.
5. We see a witch hat on her kitchen counter top, next to a stack of soup cans.
6. Says, "Tonight, I'm living in a powder keg and giving off sparks."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Keke Palmer, Ayesha Curry, Vanessa Williams, Lacy Chabert, Mariah Carey.
Our Best Guess: It's hard to say. Lacey Chabert is in a bunch of Hallmark Christmas movies and her birthday is Sept. 30. But it could also be literally anyone else. The cooking clue is throwing us for a loop.
After Episode 7, we're pretty sure it's Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer! The soup clue would only make sense when you realize that Gasteyer's first role was on Seinfeld as a person harassed by the Soup Nazi. She's also started a music career in recent years, and has a Christmas album in the works!
AND THE STAR IS...
... Saturday Night Live star Ana Gasteyer!
THE PENGUIN -- *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. "I might be cold as ice, but I'm bringing the heat." These feel like song title clues.
2. "Every time you think you're getting warmer, I promise you're getting colder."
-- From Episode 3:
1. She says, "It's in my DNA to strive for my voice to be heard."
2. She says, "My whole life I've been told I'm not pretty enough, not smart enough, not funny enough."
3. She appears on a TV news broadcast with a lower-third that reads "Penguin's career on ice" as a reporter says her "career is over."
4. She wrote out a Hit List containing "Classroom bully, Comedy Club Owner, Hollywood Casting Director, Exes, The Press, Myself."
5. She says, "I'm gonna sing for those of us who dare to be different."
6. She says, "I don't need a permission slip from anyone to be who I am."
7. There a sign that says, "I'm nobody's secretary," and says "I'm leading the march, who's with me?" as she's followed by men holding protest signs.
-- From Episode 5:
1. She says, "As a chick, I was always relegated to the D-List."
2. Shots of her being bullied, with notes calling her names like "snaggle tooth."
3. She says, "The brightest star can be born out of the greatest tragedy."
4. She says, "Making people laugh was my ticket to the new adventures of the old penguin."
5. She says, "Whether it be in an office or on stage, I never curb my enthusiasm."
6. We see shots of a hairdryer, a brush and a cross.
7. She says, "Nailed it!"
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Macy Grey, Kathy Griffin, Sherri Shepherd, Tonya Harding.
Our Best Guess: Our initial impression is that this could be Vanilla Ice, based on his name and "Ice Ice Baby," but that feels a little obvious. Considering it isn't a guy, our Vanilla Ice guess seems way off now. So let's go with Tonya Harding, because she was on Dancing With the Stars and because literally none of our possible guesses really add up to the clues anyway?
AND THE STAR IS...
... comedian and TV personality Sherri Shepherd!
THE SKELETON *REVEALED!*
The Clues:
-- From the Sneak Peek:
1. The Skeleton makes a reference to his "Skeleton Crew," which is possibly what he calls his fans.
2. The Skeleton stands in front of a gravestone with the numbers 4-2-6-1. Could this be a birthday? April 2, 1961?
-- From Episode 1:
1. He said he chose his costume because "I have no fear of death and I don't overeat."
2. He said, "I've been around the block a few times, but I'm far from dead."
3. He said, "I've always provided support, but I'm tired of playing second fiddle."
4. He said, "I finally get that spotlight all to myself, I'm gonna knock 'em dead."
5. Says, "Party on, dude."
6. Holds up three keys, and has three teeth.
-- From Episode 4:
1. He says, "It would have been a shame to unmask after my first shot at being a headliner."
2. He says, "You see, amigos, my life has been pretty great."
3. He says, "Sometimes it feels like joint custody, and I'm the deadbeat dad who only gets the kids on the weekend."
4. He says, "The long and short of it is that ever since childhood, I felt overshadowed."
5. He says, "Being in the background has allowed me to be instrumental in orchestrating those around me."
6. He says, "I'm holding onto the spotlight for dear life, and I'm dead serious."
The Internet's Most Popular Guesses: Christopher Meloni, Martin Short, Nathan Lane, Dana Carvey.
Our Best Guess: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Christopher Meloni, based exclusively on the fact that he was the only celeb we could find who was born on April 2, 1961, and there's nothing else to back that up. So we're not putting money on it just yet.
It seems, after the premiere, that The Skeleton is likely NOT Meloni. So, Martin Short, maybe? That's what Ken Jeong thinks and it DOES sound like him. The three keys could be a reference to The Three Amigos? It's still hard to tell. However, it could also be Paul Shafffer, what with the clue about keys, and all the SNL references.
AND THE STAR IS...
... Bandleader and musician Paul Shaffer! Jenny and Robin called it (and we did too)!
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