By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
The Masked Singer is hitting new high notes, thanks to guest panelist Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber! The theatre icon has earned EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) status and created some of the world’s most recognizable musicals, such as Cats, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Phantom of the Opera.
The award-winning composer joined the show for its Andrew Lloyd Webber night. Three new Masked Singer performers (Maize, Mermaid, and Robo Girl) faced off for a chance to join the Harp, who took out Daymond John, the Brady Bunch brothers, and William Shatner over the past few weeks in the semi-finals.
Who advanced to the next round? Who were the performers that were forced to unmask? Did Andrew Lloyd Webber and the panelists (Ken Jeong, Nicole Scherzinger, Robin Thicke, and Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg) correctly deduce the eliminated performers’ identities? Read on to find out!
Nicole kicked off the night with a beautiful cover of “Memory” before Nick introduced the iconic guest panelist as the Phantom of the Opera Overture played. Unfortunately, Ken tried to audition for the title role in front of Andrew Lloyd Webber, and he failed the audience’s seduction test. As Ken escorted the composer to the Masked Singer panel, Nick revealed that there were three new competitors!
Maize was the first masked performer who glided across the stage. In the pre-performance package, clues included an emcee microphone, a Statue of Liberty, and a telephone booth. He sang “Heaven on Their Minds” from Jesus Christ Superstar. I am going out on a limb and will guess that Billy Porter is Maize. Robin called the performance “fabulous” and “outstanding,” while Andrew Lloyd Webber called Maize a genius. Robin guessed Josh Gad and then Nathan Lane, while Nicole Scherzinger guessed Jonathan Groff. Meanwhile, Jenny McCarthy assumed Mario Cantone.
Mermaid waved as she made her way to The Masked Singer stage. Her pre-performance package includes clues such as a harp, the full moon, two doves, and the word: “movies.” Mermaid sang “Any Dream Will Do” from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. She had a legendary voice, and even Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber sang along with her. I thought I recognized legendary Kathleen Turner’s voice under the mask, but I could have been wrong. After Andrew praised her, the clue roll stated that she was in the Library of Congress. The Cats composer suggested Gloria Estefan, while Ken thought it was Cher! Meanwhile, Jenny guessed Roberta Flack, and Robin added Gloria Gaynor.
Robo Girl was the final Masked Singer competitor to dance onto the stage for Andrew Lloyd Webber night. The clue package included a surfboard, “stage name,” and honey jars. She sang “Bad Cinderella” from Bad Cinderella, and I guessed Jessie J by her voice! Nicole called her performance “a good time,” and Jenny suggested that they had heard her voice before. The scroll clue stated that she owned against a Grammy winner. Robin guessed Jenna Dewan due to her connections to Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott, while Nicole suggested Becky G and Keke Palmer.
After the Studio Audience voted, the Maize was forced to unmask first! As Robogirl and Mermaid prepared for the Battle Royale, Andrew Lloyd Webber stated that he would like to work with Maize in the future. The composer guessed Jack White, while Robin thought it was Nathan Lane. Jenny doubled her guess of Mario Cantone, while Ken suggested Maize was Bowen Yang. Nicole ended the round by doubling down on Jonathan Groff. Jenny was right; MARIO CANTONE WAS THE MAIZE!
As Mario went to the VIP section, Mermaid and Robogirl went into the Battle Royale. They sang Evita’s “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.” Mermaid gave me old-school chills, while Robogirl channeled her inner Madonna and delivered a touchdown. Nick declared it the “Best Battle Royale of the Season.”
After Andrew Lloyd Webber praised both performers, the panelists voted Robogirl to become the second Queen of the Season. As Andrew annoited her, the panelists made their final guests. Jenny thought Mermaid was Roberta Flack, while Robin doubled down his guess of Gloria Gaynor. Ken believed it was Cher and Nicole joined Robin in the guessing of Gloria Gaynor. It turned out that both ROBIN and NICOLE WERE RIGHT….MERMAID was GLORIA GAYNOR!
Next week, The Muppets invade The Masked Singer!
