SPOILER alert: Details follow for Season 11, Episode 13 of “The Masked Singer,” “Finale: One Mask Takes It All,” which aired May 22 on Fox.
“The Masked Singer” winner Vanessa Hudgens admits she didn’t necessarily play the hiding game: At least among her friends and fans, they figured out it was her under the Goldfish costume rather quickly.
“Rita [Ora] guessed it was me straight from the jump,” Hudgens said. “But she’s also my friend. And we saw each other a few days before the first episode!”
Hudgens beat out Scott Porter, who had performed this season as Gumball, to win the “Masked Singer” trophy. Coincidentally, both Hudgens and Porter previously starred together in 2009’s “Bandslam.”
Despite their history, Hudgens said the production kept her completely in the dark as to who her competitors were. “I was so invested every step of the way,” she said. “I was trying really hard to get them to change the way they do things because I was like, ‘I think it would be really fun if the contestants knew who the other contestants were!’ They keep you under wraps. But I would do my performances and then sit backstage in my costume, completely covered up, and watch everyone else’s performances. Starting with when Kevin Hart did his whole situation, I was cracking up. It’s just a wild ride. You never know what’s going to happen with ‘The Masked Singer.’”
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Hudgens noted that the show’s production team takes its secrecy very seriously. “I didn’t see a single contestant,” she said. “If I was on the studio a lot, I had a face shield, a hoodie that was up and wore gloves so not even my hands were showing. It was very under wraps. But when it came to singing and performing, that’s something that I love and have integrity in and wanted to give it my all — even if it was completely hidden behind the mask.”
So, what made Hudgens decide to shoot “The Masked Singer” last fall? “It was an interesting time in our industry,” she said. “We were in a strike and just kind of figuring out where to make the next move. My fans have been so supportive and just love it whenever they get anything of me singing. They had been asking for that for quite some time. I was like, this is the perfect opportunity to give that to them — and see who the real fans are.”
For winner Goldfish, Rita Ora knew it was her pal Vanessa Hudgens, and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg agreed. Robin Thicke went with Hilary Duff. Ken Jeong said it was Nicole Scherzinger.
As for Gumball, no one got Scott Porter right. McCarthy-Wahlberg and Thicke went with Derek Hough; Jeong said it was Taran Killam and Ora guessed Joseph Gordon Levitt.
Vanessa Hudgens as Goldfish and Scott Porter as Gumball join 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) as the celebrities unmasked on “The Masked Singer” this season.
Hudgens joins previous winners Ne-Yo (Cow), Bishop Briggs (Medusa), Amber Riley (Harp), Teyana Taylor (Firefly), Jewel (Queen of Hearts), Nick Lachey (Piglet), LeAnn Rimes (Sun), Kandi Burruss (Night Angel), Wayne Brady (Fox) and T-Pain (Monster).
Back for Season 11 were host Nick Cannon, alongside panelists Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, while Rita Ora joined the desk to fill in for Nicole Scherzinger, who was in London to star on the West End’s “Sunset Boulevard.”
“The Masked Singer” Season 11 themed episodes included “The Wizard of Oz,” in celebration of the 85th anniversary of the classic film; “Transformers” (marking the brand’s 40th anniversary) and music tributes including “Billy Joel Night” and “Queen Night.” Additional themes include “Girl Groups,” “Soundtrack of My Life,” “TV Theme Night” and “Shower Anthems.”
With sixteen total celebrity singers, including three “wildcards,” Season 11 featured new costumes including “Gumball,” “Lizard,” “Ugly Sweater,” “Goldfish,” “Starfish,” “Book,” “Gumball,” “Miss Cleocatra,” “Afghan Hound,” “Beets,” “Poodle Moth,” “Clock,” “Spaghetti & Meatballs,” “Lizard,” “Koala,” “Seal” and “Sir Lion.” According to the show, the Season 11 contestants boasted a combined 22 Grammy nominations, 11 platinum albums, 33 Teen Choice nominations, 108 million records sold, 326 film appearances and 1.7 billion Spotify streams.
Here were the performances on Wednesday’s Episode 13, “Finale: One Mask Takes It All”:
Goldfish (Group A Champion)
Song: “Heart of Glass,” by Blondie; “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” by Elton John
Panel guesses: Lea Michele, Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Sarah Hyland, Julianne Hough, Hilary Duff, Carly Rae Jepsen, Nicole Scherzinger
Last words: “This experience has been so incredible and so special for me. It really surprised me. Because not everybody knows what I actually do. And the fact that you guys have seen me, have truly seen me for what I love doing, really lights a fire under my little fish tail. Thank you so much, it means the world to me.”
Package voiceover: “I have loved being able to swim into new territories as the golden girl on this stage. As a little girl, I was never really great at expressing myself. It’s not something I really grew up around. But lately I have been on a journey of self-discovery. And being here, I’ve been able to express myself, so freely. I come from a working class family that has no connection to Hollywood whatsoever. So, there’s no reason I should have made it. But I’m proof with enough hard work and dedication, you can truly do anything. And I’m so proud of my performances. I can’t wait to have kids when that time comes so I can be like, ‘look at mommy go!’ I know I’m up against some steep competition, but winning this would be the ultimate pat on the back. It would mean so much. It makes me so emotional. Because I’ve always thought of myself as an actor first, singing does kind of come second. Doing the Masked Singer is my way of giving everyone a music moment. And the response has made me want it to never end.”
Previous songs: “Vampire,” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Baby Come Back,” by Player; “The Show Must Go On,” by Queen; “Unforgettable,” by Nat King Cole; “You Oughta Know,” by Alanis Morissette
Previous panel guesses: Lea Michele, Selena Gomez, Carly Rae Jepsen, Sarah Hyland, Kristen Stewart, Nina Dobrev, Hilary Duff, Vanessa Hudgens, Nicole Scherzinger, Hilary Duff, Julianne Hough, Ashley Tisdale, Selena Gomez
Gumball (Group B Champion)
Song: “Latch,” by Disclosure feat. Sam Smith; “Renegade,” by Styx
Panel guesses: Jamie Dornan, Taran Killam, James Marsden, Derek Hough, Kevin Jonas, James Van Der Beek, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Scott Porter
Last words: “Tonight, that performance was about my folks. I told you they were in a rock band, but they were never able to pay the bills through their artistry. So, they worked hard – 40, 60, 80 hours a week just to get to the weekend, and do what they loved and perform on stage. I realize now why it was so special to them. Because I know tomorrow, I go back to my day job. This has been the time of my life and I’m so thankful and honored to be on this stage.”
Package voiceover: “I’m in the finale? What? This experience has been unreal. It’s been wonderful to show what I’m capable of musically. But I fought for it. Surviving two smackdowns and two battle royales? In my life, I’ve had to fight to be seen. Imagine trying something thousands of times and only being successful a handful of them. And yet, in Hollywood, that’s considered a victory. I’ve been on TV for almost two decades nonstop and yet being here, I feel like I’ve finally gotten to show who I really am. Tonight, I’m up for the biggest fight of my life. Against Goldfish! So, I’m going to pour my heart and soul into these two last performances. Win or lose, this journey has changed everything. I don’t want to stop doing this on the other side of this show, because it brings me so much joy. So, thank you, Masked Singer for this experience. I have truly felt like a kid in a candy store.”
Previous songs: “If I only Had a Heart,” by Jack Haley; “Wide Open Spaces,” by the Chicks; “Carry On Wayward Son,” by Kansas; “I’m Yours,” by Jason Mraz; “I Lived,” by OneRepublic
Previous panel guesses: Chace Crawford, Kevin Jonas, Jamie Dornan, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Derek Hough, Taran Killam, Jack Black, Zachary Levi, James Marsden, James van der Beek, Jason Sudeikis, Taylor Kitsch
Last season’s performers included Ne-Yo as Cow, John Schneider as Donut, Macy Gray as Sea Queen and Janel Parrish as Gazelle join John Oates as Anteater, Keyshia Cole as Candelabra, Sebastian Bach as Tiki, Ginuwine as Husky, Ashley Parker Angel as S’more, Metta World Peace as Cuddle Monster, Luann de Lesseps as Hibiscus, Tyler Posey as Hawk, Billie Jean King as Royal Hen, Michael Rapaport as Pickle, Tom Sandoval as Diver, Anthony Anderson as Rubber Ducky and one-time special guest Demi Lovato as Anonymouse.
Fox Alternative Entertainment is behind “The Masked Singer,” which is exec produced by showrunner James Breen, Craig Plestis, and Nick Cannon. The series is based on the South Korean format created by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.
