UPDATED: We have added Tyga‘s name to the headline and lead photo now that a day has passed since “The Masked Singer” Season 6, Episode 3, “Group B Premiere,” aired September 29 on Fox.
“The Masked Singer” let the dog out. The third episode of Season 6 saw the quick exit of hip-hop star Tyga, who had performed under the Dalmatian costume.
Host Nick Cannon said he figured it out immediately. But none of the show’s panelists got it right. Ken Jeong named Reggie Bush as his pick. Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg guessed Kevin Hart. Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke at least guess a rapper, but thought it was Nelly.
Tyga as Dalmatian sang “Beautiful,” by Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell Williams. His clue package and costume played heavily into football and football imagery. Scroll down for his unmasking and post-show interview.
“As a kid, I always visualized my success,” Tyga said in his “Masked Singer” package. “Growing up, there wasn’t really a playbook for my game, so I had to make my own. I remember when I was 12, I saved up money and went out and bought my own gear. I just became obsessed with practicing every day. I mean I always wanted to play in the big leagues, and then I met one of the biggest players in the game. And the rest is history. I always felt like I was the underdog. So I’m here doing something totally different just to prove that. But enough practice, I can do anything.”
Tyga said he chose the Dalmatian costume because “I always feel like I’m the underdog. And tonight is going to be a dogfight. So I had to go with my favorite dog, the Dalmatian!”
Tyga (Dalmatian) joined Toni Braxton (Pufferfish), Vivica A. Fox (Mother Nature) and Dwight Howard (Octopus) as the next celebrity to be unmasked on Season 6 of “The Masked Singer.”
“The Masked Singer” enters Season 6 with 16 contestants, and the return of a studio audience for the first time since the pandemic began. 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.
The Season 6 contestants boast a combined 85 Grammy Nominations and 27 wins, three Academy Award nominations, 12 Emmy Nominations, 12 Razzie Award Nominations, two Super Bowl appearances and two Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The show’s panelists will once again compete for a “Golden Ear” trophy based on their first impressions of each masked performer (which McCarthy has won the last two times) — and in week one, all of the panelists’ final guesses were also their first impressions. Jeong went into episode three with a point, ahead of everyone else.
As for Dalmatian, Thicke’s first impression was Nelly. McCarthy Wahlberg chose Steve Harvey. Jeong picked Reggie Bush. Scherzinger named “one of the Lils” for her first impression. No one gained a point.
Also new this season, a “Take It Off” buzzer will allow the show’s panelists to prematurely demand a celebrity remove their mask, if they’re convinced they know who it is. They’ll get two extra points toward the Golden Ear tally if they’re right. If they’re wrong, they’ll be “severely punished.”
Here were the other contestants and their performances on night three:
Queen of Hearts
Song: “Born This Way,” by Lady Gaga
Strength: “Pulling heartstrings.”
Weakness: “Standing still.”
Why ‘Queen of Hearts’?: “I just feel like the world is so noisy, so I’m here to be a big old blaring, blastin’ megaphone of heart.”
Voice-over: “They say if you follow your heart, it’s going to lead you on some amazing adventures. I’m pretty excited to do things on this stage that I’ve never thought I’d do. But the truth is, I have spent my entire life learning to champion my own heart. Growing up, there wasn’t a lot of warmth in my household. I left home when I was pretty young, and it was definitely scary at times. But I was determined to never turn back. I’m grateful to the hardships that I’ve overcome, because they’ve made me who I am. All of our hearts are destined to be broken. It’s what we do with the pieces that make us extraordinary.”
Panel guesses: Britney Spears, Kellie Pickler, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Fergie, Renee Zellweger
Mallard
Song: “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy),” by Big & Rich
Strength: “Minding his own business.”
Likes: “Counting bills.”
What is it like inside this costume?: “Well, normally I don’t dress this fancy. But with a face like this, I’m used to disguising it.”
Voice-over: “I may be living the high life — best-selling book, platinum album — but that was not always the case. I guess growing up the way we did, you’re always hustling. One of my first businesses was selling worms. And then I found the human juke box on a school bus. This is how the human jukebox works: You’ve got to put a quarter in the armpit, and then I can sing. The girls really liked the entertainer on the bus. So tonight, in my mind, I’m still that little kid on the high school bus, just singing for a quarter.”
Panel guesses: Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Billy Ray Cyrus
Cupcake
Song: “Heatwave,” by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
Weakness: “Can’t hide emotions.”
Likes: “Air time.”
How are you feeling?: “Well, I was supposed to be here with some other sweet things, but now I’m all alone.”
Voice-over: “Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m here! It’s ‘The Masked Singer’! It’s been a long time since I’ve been solo. I’m used to sharing the spotlight. I’m doing ‘The Masked Singer’ with a real purpose. Someone I love just got some news about their health. Food always makes me feel better, why not dress up like a cupcake to cheer them up. I think this is going to be so much fun. And if it brightens up their day, that will be the icing on the cupcake.”
Panel guesses: Whoopi Goldberg, RuPaul, Jennifer Holliday, Roberta Flack, Leslie Jones, Tina Turner
Banana Split
Song: “A Million Dreams,” by Pink
Strength: “Finding their marks.”
Weakness: “Attracts mice.”
Have you worked together before? [Split] “Well, we don’t work together all the time, but I think when we have worked together in the past, we’ve worked really well.” [Banana] “Well, actually, banana is good by itself.”
Voice-over: “[Banana] We’re so excited to be here because it’s so unexpected. Hollywood’s a small town, but there are times where it can make you feel small. [Split] I went to school with big dreams and did what most people do when they arrive in this city. Got a day job. Which I quit when I thought I got my big break, only to have to beg for it back. [Banana] There’s no such thing as an overnight success. [Split] The key was finding a collaborator who sticks with me through the sweet and sour. And shares my same wacky dreams. [Banana] Which makes every moment that much more delicious.”
Panel guesses: J. Lo and Mark Antony, Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, Katharine McPhee and David Foster, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling
Here is Tyga’s unmasking:
And his post-show interview:
