The Masked Dancer continues tonight on FOX, and we are liveblogging the performance and results here.
Ken Jeong from The Masked Singer sits on the panel next to former American Idol and SYTYCD judge Paula Abdul, actress Ashley Tisdale and former The Masked Singer contestant Brian Austin Green. Actor and comedian Craig Robinson hosts.
Meet The Masked Dancer Characters – Season Preview (Video)
Who is Exotic Bird on The Masked Dancer? An American Idol Winner?
The short season features 10 costumed celebrities. Tonight Group A and Group B come together for the battle of the Super Six: Tulip, Exotic Bird, Hammerhead, Cotton Candy, Sloth, and Zebra.
Tonight’s guest judge is Whitney Cu mmin gs.
Cotton Candy
Clues: She’s no stranger to competition. A sign with seven gold Olympic looking diamond rings. Super clue: Five gold balloons.
Performance: Great Balls of Fire – Cotton Candy is performing a mostly solo Swing dance routine. The dancers are slinging her around to and fro, and she seems pretty used to it. She is definitely a trained something or other. Whitney thinks she might be a TikTok star. Each judge can ask a question. It’s RAPID FIRE. Brian asks if ICE plays a role in her life. Yes. Does she have TIGHTS in her wardrobe. YES. But no high heels. Ashley is convinced she’s an ice skater. And is sticking with her last guess, Tara Lipinski. Ken guesses Jennifer Lopez, which is ridiculous. Whitney guesses Gabby Butler from Cheer. Paula kept guessing Jenna Dewan. But now she thinks Simone Biles.
Prediction: Cotton Candy is likely ice skater Tara Lipinski.
Exotic Bird
Clues: It’s the Bernie Meme! But I’m not sure what that means There is a crown, 143, XOXO and Legendary scrawled on the on a brick wall. Rhythm Nation. Life has changed since she became a “mama bird.” Exotic Bird’s Super Clue: A rose TATTOO.
Performance: Rush by Lewis Capaldi – This week Exotic Bird performs an emotional contemporary routine, with a partner. There is sparkly fire! She gets a standing ovation. Rapid Fire Questions: Has she been in a music video YES. She’s been in a political ad and she has a child. Ashley guesses Kat Von D. LOL NO. Whitney guesses Dita Von Teese. Brian thinks its Ashley Graham. Hm, no guess from Paula, because she already knows Exotic Bird is Jordin Sparks.
Prediction: Exotic Bird IS American Idol season 6 winner Jordin Sparks. Yes, she’s been in several music videos, and she has a child! Plus, she had a hit song titled “Tattoo.” It was her first single after she won the title.
Sloth
Clues: He may not be new to the dance floor. He’s got a family made up of a dad, mom and a child. He will do a new dance style each week. Number 18 and a baby mobile is the SUPER CLUE.
Performance: Ain’t that a Kick in the Head by Dean Martin – Sloth continues with his comic personna. He’s doing a different style every week because he can! The judges are on their feet. Paula notes his Broadway showmanship. Ken calls him a front runner: Rapid Fire Questions: If he wasn’t a sloth, he’d be an elephant. Wearing a costume makes it harder to dance . Sloth has a kid. Ken guesses Bradley Cooper. Brian guesses John C. Reilly. Ashley guesses Sasha Baron Cohen.
Prediction: Sloth is former Dancing with the Stars pro Maks Chmerkovskiy. I bet these guys never ever guess it. I was thrown off, because Maks’s real life persona is so intense. He’s clearly just enjoying himself here. A big clue for me was him groaning that the costume didn’t make dancing easier. They were fishing for maybe the costume making him braver. Also, he does have a family, He and dancer Peta Murgatroyd are married and have a child.
Hammerhead
Clues: Hammerhead is at the beach. Las Vegas is also a clue.When you mess with the bull, you get the horns. New Jersey is a circled on a map. The Super Clue is suntan lotion.
Performance: Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood. Hammerhead is dancing the paso doble. He’s got a cape and everything. He’s not a good dancer at all, but clearly seems to be enjoying himself. Whitney sees grit rather than craft. Rapid Fire Questions: He has a sense of humor, no stage fright. Not a solo act. Relationship in the public eye. Ken guesses Pauly D from Jersey Shore. Paula guesses Youtube comic David Dobrik. Brian guesses Mike the Situation.
Prediction: The internet says Hammerhead is Vinny G from Jersey Shore.
Tulip
Clues: A comic style photo of a DWTS like judges table. The signs spell out “not good enough.” She never really enjoyed competing. Super Clue: A photo depicts “2nd annual mother daughter dance.”
Performance: Thank U Next by Ariana Grande – Tulip does a contemporary dance with bits of Hip Hop thrown in for good measure. Paula notes the obvious dance training. Rapid Fire Questions: She’s a young pro, loves her phone. Ken guesses Sarah Hyland. Brian guesses Simone Biles Whitney guesses Julianne Hough.
Prediction – She’s Mackenzie Ziegler, sister of Maddie Ziegler from Dance Moms–hence the mother-daughter clue. Mackenzie was also a contestant on that one season of Dancing with the Stars Junior. There was a clue last time about being competitive with a best friend. It’s actually, Maddie, who mostly sat on top of Abby Lee Miller’s super-judgemental and and competitive weekly “pyramid” chart. (There were pyramid clues last time too!)
Zebra
Clues: He’s very claustrophobic. Zebra holds up a graham cracker with a capital E printed on it. The Super Clue is K.O.
Performance: Mi Gente – His dancing consists of basically, jumping around while the background singers limbo. The routine is very Latin, with some ballroom stuff thrown in. He’s obviously not a trained dancer. Paula thinks he’s very improved. Rapid Fire Questions: He’s acted before. He’s undefeated. He’s known for a hook. He’s got music. Whitney guesses LL Cool J. Brian guesses Oscar De La Hoya. Paula thinks its Floyd Mayweather.
Prediction: I’m seeing Oscar De La Hoya a lot. BUT I’m sticking with mixed martial artist, Tito Ortiz because of prior clues including a film career, rough childhood, running for mayor and selling fish.
Results
Leaving the masked dancer is Hammerhead! The judges ask more questions: He’s a fan of working out. He’s taller than Ken. He’s done a little stand up comedy. He’s been to New Jersey. He loves social media. Ken thinks its Pauly D. Whitney also thinks its Pauly D. Ashley thinks its Kevin Hart. Brian thinks it’s Mike the Situation. Paula thinks its David Dobrik. And Hammerhead is….Vinny Guardino aka Vinny G.
