Have you watchedThe Masked Singer? Even if you’re not normally a fan of competition reality shows, this one is well worth your time. On it, singers wear convoluted costumes (“masks,” if you will) and play characters like “Flamingo” and “Egg,” giving clues to their real identities during pre-taped packages before performing the hell out of some hits. Then, hostNick Cannonand a panel includingKen Jeong,Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg,Robin Thicke, andNicole Scherzingerlead the crowd in yelling “Take it off!” while one celeb reveals their real identity. It is…insane. And I love every second of it. And I’m beyond thrilled to announce Fox is producing a spinoff series with executive producerEllen DeGeneres. It is, of course:The Masked Dancer.
Based on a segment fromThe Ellen Show,The Masked Dancerwill feature celebrity contestants performing elaborate dances while wearing costumes and masks, and audiences must guess who’s the real person grooving behind the mask. Or, as DeGeneres put it: “This is gonna be just as fun and suspenseful as THE MASKED SINGER, but with a lot more Krumping. And I cannot wait!” If you’re unfamiliar, Krumping is a subset of hip-hop dancing where participants perform particularly aggressive, stylized moves while oftentimes wearing clown makeup, which is all to say, I cannot wait either, Ellen DeGeneres.
Look: There’s a lot of “prestige television” out there. Incisive dramas, inventive comedies,truly revolutionary reality shows, blah blah blah. But sometimes, man… sometimes I just wanna watch celebrities wear silly outfits and dance for my entertainment. And ifThe Masked Dancercomes anywhere nearThe Masked Singer’s “massive impact on pop culture” (as Fox’s President of Alternative Entertainment & SpecialsRob Wadeput it), there’s tons more idiosyncratic entertainment to be had, very soon.
If you’d like to read Collider contributor Tom Reimann’s descent intoMasked Singerinsanity, take a look at some of his recapshere,here, andhere. And to see howThe Masked Dancerplayed on DeGeneres' show before the spinoff officially begins, check it out below.
