The A.V. Club unmasks The Masked Singer season 3

Angelica Cataldo

The third season of The Masked Singer continued Wednesday with its 15th episode. Jeff Dye joined as a guest panelist for this week’s “Quarter Mask Crisis: The Quarter Finals.”

With 10 correct guesses under our belt, we are feeling pretty confident about this final group of performers.

With some help from her dad, The A.V. Club’s Angelica Cataldo will attempt to guess the identity of each singer before they’re unmasked on the show. Watch this space for weekly unveilings to see how their guesses stack up.

2 / 21

White Tiger- Eliminated

Our guess: Former Patriot tight end Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski

Actual celebrity: Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski

Past Clues:

“I’d never sung in front of a crowd.”
“I didn’t know what an 8-count was.”
“As soon as I stepped on the stage, I lit up like a lightbulb.”
“I know I don’t have the best voice, trust me.”
“I can turn this stage into the raunchiest party on the block.”
SUPER CLUE: “Swish Swish” (Gronk is in Katy Perry’s song of the same title)
“I’m just not brawn. I’m brains, too I even wrote a best-selling book” (It’s Good To Be Gronk)
He’s “shocked people” with his moves and wants to see everyone doing them.
His college friend gives the clues tonight: “When he commits to something, he doesn’t stop ‘til he wins”
“I knew going into this competition that I was never going to be the best singer. I’ve always known how to work a crowd. That was always my strategy.”
White Tiger’s Valentine is for Jenny McCarthy: “I’m wild about you. But I know your husband will appreciate this card even more.” (Her husband & his brother are die-hard Patriots fans.)
“I’m putting in the time to hone this new craft”
“To put the mass in mask”
“Dancing heals my body after taking a beating”
“I’m ready to cut a rug on the stage and tear it up”
Voted “most likely to go to the mat for a friend, and I did, literally.”(Gronk’s buddy is Mojo Rawley and they wrestled together in WWE)
“Ultimate champion for clam shucking” (Clue that it relates to New England.)
“Game On” (Gronk has a new CBS game show by this title.)
“Smash the competition” (Possible reference to Gronk’s Nickelodeon show Crashletes?)
“I’ve had a giant career full of accomplishments.” (Giants have beaten the Patriots twice)
Lincoln, Washington, Franklin shown on the wall in intro segments. (A reference to historic patriots?)
Intro also includes reference to “Beantown.”

3 / 21

The Turtle- Finalist

Our Guess: Jesse McCartney

Past guesses: Jordan Knight or Joey McIntyre

Past Clues:

“Being the Turtle makes me feel like a superhero.”
Shows a wanted sign with a reward of $1,999 (McCartney joined Dream Street in 1999 and his perfume line is called Wanted)
Shows Turtle’s head in a “bat signal” (McCartney voices Robin in Young Justice)
Shows poker chips strewn all over the road (Reference to Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip? McCartney has been the voice of Theodore since the first installment of the franchise in 2007)
Turtle brought out a zombie corpse on stage (McCartney had a very brief role of Fear the Walking Dead)
“My whole career, I’ve been riddled with insecurities.”
Shows a chess board (McCartney has a song called “Checkmate”)
The Queen piece had a heart on it (Another reference to Princess Diaries?)
Clocks show the time 3:23 and 9:14
Shows a diary with a biohazard symbol on it (McCartney was in Chernobyl Diaries
Masked Munchie: Chips with apple salsa (Perhaps a reference to his role on Young & Hungry?)
Shows a travel bag with tags reading “Never Keep Open This Bag” (NKOTB) and an arrow pointing left.
The bag contains:
A bottle of cologne (McCartney has his own line of cologne)
A diary with a queen’s crown on it (McCartney is on the soundtrack for Disney’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement)
A block and gavel (McCartney voices Robin in Young Justice)
A baseball glove
“It’s not easy going through security when you’re covered in metal spikes, but what should be easy is figuring out these clues. Take it slow, like a turtle, and I promise they’ll all fit like a glove.”
“Just like my costume, I’m hardcore.”
“To win, I had to become a method actor.”
He runs a 10K before each show wearing a 40lb vest, “1/4 of my body weight”
Adds tons of choreography even though he’s not a dancer
SUPER 9 CLUE: “Shellboy” comic book
He is not known for just one thing.
Miss S. was his favorite teacher in high school. She said “he always came into the class singing.”
Showed a map of Korea. (...?)
Alpha and Omega Greek letters drawn on chalkboard (beginning and end of alphabet. McCartney appeared on TV show called “Greek”)
Turtle sent Valentines to Nicole Scherzinger: “Nicole, I’ll never forget the morning we spent together” (McCartney performed on the Today Show in 2008).
“People have always expected me to act a certain way.”
Clues show Turtle playing in a punk band.
Slow-cooked beets and cookies on a tray. (…?)
Simpsons reference with chalkboard text that says: “Don’t Rave Ever At My School.” (Could stand for DREAMS?)
Voted “most likely to hunt for booty. And I have, often.”(Jordan Knight has a signature booty-shake dance move.)
Last week, we had a surfboard as a clue. (Knight crowd surfs—and still does.)
“At the starting line, I was surrounded by newcomers” (Newcomers...New Kids?)
“Always taken it ‘Step By Step’.” (“Step By Step” is an NKOTB song.)
“I don’t want anyone to cross the line before me.” (A possible reference to the “Hangin’ Tough” lyric “Don’t cross our path ’cause you’re gonna get stomped.”)
Jenny McCarthy thinks it is someone she and her husband (Donnie Wahlberg, a former NKOTB member) know.
The Turtle was also grilling burgers in the clue package. (Possible reference to the restaurant Wahlburgers.)

4 / 21

The Llama- Eliminated

Actual Celebrity: Drew Carey

Dad’s Current Guess: Drew Carey

Angelica’s Current guess: Whose Line’s Ryan Stiles

Our Past Guess: Danny Bonaduce

Clues:

Accordion. (In a band?)
“For a while I was spinning my wheels.” (If we are still thinking Bonaduce, he did spend some time on the bus in The Partridge Family.)
“Think on my feet...I’ll be the greatest of all time.”
The Llama is voted most likely to be near firing cannons
The Llama wears dreadlocks and shades. The masked singer says he wears “things like this” in real life. (Possible a reference to Bonaduce’s usual Hawaiian shirt get-up.)
The Llama is seen as a DJ for “The Wool 23.3.” (Bonaduce is a radio DJ.)
“Nothing like being swept up” and “Seattle Sound.” (Seattle radio references? Bonaduce works for a Seattle station. Drew Carey owns The Seattle Sound. Ryan Stiles was born in Seattle.)

5 / 21

Miss Monster- Eliminated

Our guess: Chaka Khan.

Actual Celebrity: Chaka Khan

Our Past Guesses: Missy Elliott or Macy Gray

Clues:

“True art always comes from within.” Her hairstylist says he has known her since she was 18 years old.
Shows camouflage scarf, a teddy bear, and a sock on the clothesline(Jenny McCarthy thinks she’s a Chicagoan and Chaka Khan is from Chicago, hence the bear and sock. The camo scarf could be a tie-in to her album “Camouflage.”)
Miss Monster sent a valentine to Robin Thicke: “I only have Eye for you. We even had a rendezvous in Sin City.” (Robin thinks it is a reference to a radio show or performance. Thicke did perform with Chaka Khan at the NHL Awards in 2009.)
“Now, I can just focus on being an artist”
“Titanic” reference in clues package
Queen Chess piece. (Macy Gray has a song “Queen of the Big Hurt” or Chaka Khan being the “Queen of Funk”)
You’ve got to stand up for yourself
“I’m capable of anything and full of love”
Voted most likely to be in the presence of royalty
Intro says she is “misunderstood.” (Possible reference to the Missy Elliott album, Missundaztood.)
Says she was inspired by T-Pain in season one. (T-Pain and Missy sang a duet with Timbaland.)
Says she “started as a shy little monster.” (Missy Elliot was in a reality show on E! called Party Monsters Cabo.)

6 / 21

Kangaroo- Eliminated

Our guess: Jordyn Woods

Our past guesses: Kelly Rowland

Actual Celebrity: Jordyn Woods

Past Clues:

Shows a bright pink suitcase with a tag reading “FIRST” that contained:
Big BenA Turntable Red lipstickA ship in a bottle
“This show is the first time I have ever sung in front of anyone.”
“I Had to put on a brave face.”
“...Believing in myself like never before”
“I’m Incredibly nervous.”
“When I’m jumping, I’m just trying to shake out my nerves.”
“I’m out of my league, but singing a fighter’s anthem.”
“I was put through hell this [last year].”
SUPER 9 CLUE: “All right dolls, do you know who I am now?”
Holds up a kangaroo doll
“I’ve NEVER lived in Australia.”
Her clues came from her brother this week. “Drama queen in her teenage years. When tragedy hit our family she was the glue that held us all together. Since then, we’ve only gotten closer. Her ability to rise above the haters is something I admire.” (Jordyn Woods’ father died. Woods also got a lot of heat after Kyle Jenner and her stopped being friends over a cheating scandal involving Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson.)
Kangaroo’s Valentine is to Leah Remini: “We’ve sat at the same table, and your courage has inspired me.” Leah thinks it was someone who had been on The Talk with her.
“Biggest problem being a kangaroo is the [costume] ears. I have to re-evaluate how I enter a room.”
“It seems like I’ve been watching my life from the sidelines”
“Sometimes it feels like everyone is against me”
“I need to have courage and get back in the game.” (Basketball or basketball players reference? Kelly Rowland also used to date Deron Williams.)
“I have to be a role model for my little Roo.” (Rowland is a mother.)
Voted most likely to appear on a list with Seal and Mike Tyson.
The kangaroo is already a clue that she may live in Australia. She talks about the Outback, as well. (Rowland is the host for Australia’s version of The Voice.)
She sang “Dancing On My Own” by Robyn. (Rowland is recently divorced, hence the theme of her chosen song.)

7 / 21

The Robot-Eliminated

Our guess: Mike Tyson

Actual Celebrity: Lil’ Wayne

Clues:

“Tough outer shell”
“Share of fame in certain circles”
“Tip the scales” (Reference to boxing weigh-ins?)
Gaming controller. (Possible reference to Mike Tyson’s Punch Out.)
There is a periodic table of elements that focuses on “PT”

8 / 21

Frog- Finalist

Our guess: Bow Wow

Past Clues:

Shows Frog getting a call from “Little Frog” (Bow Wow has a daughter)
Shows three French bread rolls lined up in a row (could be a reference to Bow Wow’s role in Roll Bounce?)
Shows a falcon figurine (Bow Wow is an avid Atlanta Falcons fan)
Frog had a model jet plane brought up on stage (Bow Wow once posted a pic of a private jet airplane suggesting it was his form of travel to an event. It was later revealed that he was not on the private jet, but instead, was on a standard commercial flight)
Shows “Frog PD”
“Joining the show with ‘singer’ in the title was a tough case to crack.”
Shows chocolates
Shows Frog playing with a basketball
Shows a red jersey for #23 (Michael Jordan’s jersey in reference to Like Mike)
Shows the number 13 (He released his first album at 13)
Shows a Twinkie (Twinkie is Bow Wow’s character’s name from Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift)
Shows a scan of Frog’s bag containing:
Sneakers with a lightning bolt
A keyboard with the letters “I” and “L” missing
A Japanese Flag
An ice tray
And a luggage tag reading “Thank God It’s Frog Day”
“This getup allows me to do things that I couldn’t do when I was concerned about my image.”
“There are a lot of crazy talented vocalists here, but I’m busting my butt to entertain you in ways they can’t.”
SUPER CLUE: Shows a medieval knight’s suit of armor
“I’m] not a trained dancer, at all”
“I’m too ribbit to quit. Makes me think backwards to when my career jump started and a woman who was so instrumental but barely seen”
Frog’s guest clue giver is a personal friend who’s known him since he was a tad pole
“I knew immediately he’d be a superstar”
Shows an “invisible” woman in a fur coat and fedora
Shows a shampoo bottle and wide-tooth comb
“I looked after him when he was in LA. Even then he had an entourage. I remember taking him to his first midnight talk show. It was way past his bedtime, but I let it slide. He was cool, calm, and collected— way beyond his years.”
Shows a green bowtie
“But I’m most impressed with the man Frog has become. Life hasn’t always been easy for him, but he’s persevered and paved the way for so many people. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Frog’s friendship bracelet is for T-Pain and says “All we do is win” ( Could be a reference, not to the song, but to the collaboration Bow Wow and T-Pain did together).
The letters C-S-I highlighted on an old typewriter (Bow Wow was on CSI:Cyber as recurring character Brody Nelson)
$19.00 price tag on “Fame” (Bow Wow has a song called Price of Fame)
The Frog is “always shootin’’” and then shows a basketball -(Bow Wow was in “Like Mike” when he was Lil’ Bow Wow)
Toy Army soldiers (Bow Wow collaborated with Soulja Boy in 2016)
Typewriter page reads “Not every frog wants to be a prince” (Lil’ Bow Wow changed his name to just Bow Wow in 2002, and in 2013 has since stated in interviews that he also thinks “Bow Wow” is no longer fitting for his career.)
Says “Newsflash” and talks about his “metamorphosis.”
Says he was plucked from large creek,
Leftover hush puppies in brown lunch bag,
He’s short, especially when standing next to Nick Cannon who is 6 feet tall.
Lightning bolt reference (Fast as lightning, maybe?)
“Never had a chance to evolve my image and do things my way”
“Slithering with the big frogs”
There is a 1996 Olympic Games 1000 Meter “LeapFrog” poster
“Now it’s time to Write my own masterpieces”
Shows a $100, $5, and $1 bills next to a classic chrome microphone (Bow Wow hosted 106 & Park in 2012)

9 / 21

Elephant- Eliminated

Our guess: Lance Armstrong

Actual Celebrity: Tony Hawk

“Here’s the story of how I became the biggest animal in the kingdom. I was a calf when I found my calling” Shows him playing a drum set (Armstrong has performed as a drummer before)
“And with hard work, turned my passion into a one man show”
Big emphasis on the STOP sign and a big bicycle sign in the background
“I went from canvassing park benches to leading the charge of a massive movement, even parading through white houses, and now I’m ramping up to a new calling” (Political activism or leading the Tour De France)
Plastic lawn blue jay birds in front of a flower shop

10 / 21

Kitty-Eliminated

My guess: Jackie Evancho

Dad’s guess: Kate Bosworth

Actual celebrity: Jackie Evancho

Past guesses: Christina Ricci, Vanessa Hudgens, Amanda Seyfried

Past Clues:

“My creativity comes from all across the globe”
Shows Kitty in a heart-shaped hot air balloon
“I first started traveling when I was very young”
While my career may be up in the air, here I’m over the rainbow. (Evancho performed the intro to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on Oprah’s farewell in 2011)
Kitty brought out a bow and arrow on stage and said “Aim your sights and it should help you target who I am.
“I’ve been on many stages and played many roles in my nine lives”
Shows racks of clothing (someone who has their own fashion line?)
Shows a silver apple in a mirror (A reference to Evancho’s album Songs from the Silver Screen?)
Shows a cymbal monkey toy (Another reference to The Phantom of The Opera)
“If I want to stay in this Fairy-Land, I have to reinvent myself every time I step out on that stage”
Shows a record reading “Mind Your Manners, Seal Sisters” (Evancho performed at an event supporting the cause to end the annual Canadian seal hunt)
Masked Munchies: A piece of cake: “Super sweet and full of layers”
Shows a scan of a bag containing:
A dragon (Evancho covered “The Rains of Castamere” from Game of Thrones)
A Mouse
A Papal hat (Evancho performed at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia to celebrate Pope Francis’s visit.)
An Angel figurine
A tag reading “If found CALL ME??? Be A Hero!”
“Since starting young, I struggled with my self image.”
“My mind only saw darkness and ugliness.”
“I felt like the odd cat out.”
“Something special happens and I feel assertive and confident”
SUPER CLUE: “Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Ring
any jingle bells?” (She was dancing with the tree from last season, Ana Gastayer-Evancho has released multiple Christmas albums)
“I was NOT dreaming when Robert Redford helped me get my first role.” (Evancho played Redford’s character’s daughter in The Company You Keep)
“My BFF is here to dish out some Kitty gossip””
Kitty’s BFF has neon green Rapunzel hair and a hot pink blazer
“I’ve known Kitty since we were little kittens. She didn’t have a ton of friends and got bullied at school for being weird, but to me, that’s always what made her special”
Shows a Fabergé egg and a candelabra
“Whether she was writing columns or horror movies we would star in, she’s always had a flair for the dramatic. I’ll never forget that one day in class where Kitty said she could see ghosts and scared one girl so badly, Kitty got detention. She may have the voice of an angel but its her dark side that will help her slay the competition
Kitty gave Robin Thicke a friendship bracelet that spelled “Fireworks” and said the first time she an Thicke met was “lit.” (Evancho and Thicke performed at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C)
“Sewing is one of my favorite things to do when I “needle” little time alone”
“Whether a pillow for someone special or a modern dress for a family member’s ball” (Modern Family reference?)
“Maybe there’s something about walking transformations that rings a bell”- Shows a Little Red Riding Hood cape (One of Evancho’s first role as a young performer was Little Red Riding Hood)
“My favorite subject was English. I am such a bookworm and I used to write my own science fiction books and sell them for quarters.”
“In all my wildest dreams I never imagined I’d be here, but I feel at home among the weird and the wonderful, it’s almost like this show is made for me. A little bit of heaven where I can wipe the slate clean of the purest snow”
“Sometimes it feels lonely because people don’t think of me as the person I’ve become but the person I once was”
Shows a stage prop moon exploding out the mouth
“But now under these lights I’m on the cream of the crop”
Shows milk being poured into a carafe (Simple Life reference?)
“I get to start from scratch”
Shows pirates sword fighting (Evancho sang the national anthem for the 2009 memorial for the victims of United Flight 93 at the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener.)
“And just like a kitty, [I] will always find a way to nuzzle into your heart”
“Tonight, for my debut, I am going for high drama” (Evancho has an album titled The Debut)
Shows a glass rose falling and shattering (Could be a reference to the rose in Phantom of the Opera? Evancho sang “Think of Me” on her album Awakening)

11 / 21

Taco- Eliminated

Our guess: Tom Bergeron

Actual Celebrity: Tom Bergeron

Clues:

Taco said: “I’ve enjoyed a lot of salsa” (reference to his time on Dancing with the Stars?)
Taco’s “close, and very famous friend”
Shows a “MENU” with the letter “M and E” emphasized with sparkly ruby lettering (Could be “Emmy” and Tom Bergeron won an Emmy for Dancing with the Stars in 2012.)
Shows Taco’s friend in a red blazer and plaid scarf covered by a seafood platter
“We both help people when they get knocked down”
Shows a bowl of baked beans
“We always find the humor in everything”
Shows an old washboard
“We both love our children— our little shrimps”
Taco’s friendship bracelet is for Nicole scherzinger that spells “Kiss”not because they kissed but because the first time he saw Scherzinger, she was “perfect” (KISS played on Dancing with the Stars in 2012. Taco said the bracelet’s message “KISS” has “much less to do with an actual KISS.” Nicole Scherzinger was also a contestant on DWTS.).
Shows a whoopee cushion
“You may think of me as a buttoned-up mild type, but I actually used to be a bit of a hot head”
“Until I met the most stunning taco in the galaxy.”- Shows a celestial globe with the Gemini constellation facing the camera
“My jaw dropped, my heart buzzed and everything changed. She made me the man I am today.”
Shows a black hairpieces moving on its own
He was a “class clown”
Like the comfort food I am, I’ve been a comforting part of your lives for decades”
Shows video tapes (Reference to America’s Funniest Home Videos)
“I’ve got plenty of seasoning and I’m in a good place
Shows a boat anchor and a trolley car (San Francisco Bay reference for Full House?)
“But my routine can get a bit mild”
Shows a Rubik’s cube in a salad (Bergeron hosted a game show called Hollywood Squares that had a game board that looked liked a Rubik’s cube)
“So, I’m here to bust up the buffet and spice things up.”

12 / 21

Mouse- Eliminated

Our guess: Dionne Warwick

Actual Celebrity: Dionne Warwick

Past Clues:

Shows Rhinoceros bust
Shows prayer hands picture
“Why quit something that still feels exciting and new?” (A Love Boat reference? Dionne Warwick sang the Love Boat theme from 1985-86)
Secret Talent: Needlepointing (Dionne Warwick has also mentioned her needlepoint hobby in many interviews.)
Her favorite subject in school was math
“Just like a mouse, I am small and cute. Don’t let my size fool you”
Shows a high school football field with a megaphone and security guards have golden pompoms
“My presence is larger than life. I’ve always been a leader in my field. I wrote the playbook”
Shows a play board for a soccer field with North, South, EAST (is highlighted in yellow), and West with “BANG BANG FORMATION” at the top
Show the numbers 19 and 79 (1979?) on a “Warriors” jersey (Warwick is 79 years old and she sang the theme song for Solid Gold)
“I never accept anything less than gold”
She is a self-proclaimed “chatterbox” and as won 2 Emmy awards

13 / 21

Banana- Eliminated

Our guess: Bret Michaels

Actual celebrity: Bret Michaels

Clues:

Shows a scan of Banana’s duffle bag containing:
A cat (cat scan or “Look What the Cat Dragged in”)
A Leopard print “Backstage Crew” tag
A can of bug spray (Poison)
A Nashville Sheriff’s badge (Michaels lives in Nashville)
A tag with a tongue on it (A nod to Poison’s album “Open Up And Say Ahh!” or “Native Tongue?”)
“I’m just a party boy looking for a good time.” (Poison’s Nothin’ but a Good Time)
SUPER CLUE: “Have you ever rocked one of these?”
Shows a mullet
Blue collar has many meanings. I’m funny but I’m not “stand-up” funny.
Two lovely ladies (his kids?) are the Banana’s guest clue givers.
Shows two smaller bananas
Shows a table with a jar of jam, a car jack, a socket wrench set, tire iron, welding wand and
“[The Banana] is such a great role model. When we were younger, Banana actually taught us how to drive by getting us go-karts. He decided to build a race track in our backyard. He dug up the bushes himself. Anything to make us smile” (Michaels did just that. He also drove racecars for a time).
Shows banana racing a go-kart on a track with the number 11 on it
Picked “Lean On Me” because his father recently passed away and it was their jam (Michaels’ Father recently died in 2019).
“He’s been through a lot of heartburn” in his life.
Banana’s friendship bracelet is for Jenny McCarthy and spells “Nineties Love” because they had a little chance to hang as friends, had a great time, and he loves her.
Shows a clock reading June 8 at 2:13 PM (LA 213 area code where Michael’s band, Poison began?)
“I don’t wanna slip up, so when my team called me in for a meeting about my image, I was like “git ‘er done’”
Shows cowboy boots
Sons of “Bananarchy” poster
Banana “Chips” poster
Banana is the New Snack (Orange is the New Black)
Art was his favorite subject in school
Shows a the Banana asleep on a high school soccer field next to a cowboy hat (Bret Michael wears a straw cowboy hat) and two green mannequins made of veggies (could be a reference to the neon green women in the music video for Poison’s “Unskinny Bop”)
Security guard wakes him up after falling next to a taxidermy puffer fish
Banana says “Where am I? Oh no, I’m late for the stage! I can’t believe I overdid it last night, You’d think this is my first rodeo”
Shows the banana on an empty school bus
“I’m the banana because I am tough on the outside, but a total smoothie on the inside, and a hoot to have at parties, am I right ladies?”
Lots of references to being hungover
Shows a blue dog collar (Michaels has a signature line of dog collars)
“I can’t wait to peel back my layers and show that I can use my voice in any environment”

14 / 21

Night Angel- Finalist

Our guess: Kandi Burruss

Past Clues:

Shows Night Angel playing the piano
Shows three shades of red lipstick (During Burruss’ time with the group Xscape, they released their third album Traces of My Lipstick in 1998)
“[The judges’] comments made me reflect on how far I’ve come since my musical journey started when I was just 4 years old”
Shows a framed map of Columbia (Burruss was signed to Columbia Records in 2000)
Night Angel’s favorite song is “Last Dance” by Donna Summer
Shows mailing envelopes, one saying: “Say baby I love you” (This could be a reference to Destiny’s Child. Though it is a lyric from “Say My Name,” Burruss did write “Bills Bills Bills” for them.)
Night Angel brought snow gear on stage and says “I figured I’d help you out and help you get warmer since you’re very cold.”
“I’ve gotten a lot of calls in my life. Some good. Some bad. Some that upended my life, but the key to my success is that I answer them all.”
Shows a retro tube TV and old school rotary telephone
Shows Angel holding a lighter
Fish bobbs and hooks
Shows the “Angel hotline”and “Must be 2000 years or older to call. $2.85 minute” (285 is the
Georgia interstate)
Masked Munchies: Shish kebabb bugs on a stick (references to the cockroaches episode of season 6 episode 9 of the Real Housewives of Atlanta?)
Showed the X-Ray scan of a travel bag with a tag reading “BOSS” that contained:
A bee, a crown, a snow globe, and an ostrich
“I usually fly out over security...I gave you these heavenly clues so you can stop winging it with your guesses”
“[This] Feels like Cloud 9.”
“I was scared of standing alone after facing rejection in my past.”
“Tonights song is my new mantra.”
SUPER CLUE: Shows a tricycle (meaning a trio or triple threat?)
“I’m not just a voice, I’m a mogul.”
“Becoming the Night Angel has been so therapeutic. I’ve been doing this since I was a teen, but I’ve never felt as free as I do under this mask.”
The Night Angel’s high school friend (whose face is covered by a disco ball) is the clue giver this time around
“Night Angel always had to juggle school with chasing her dream, so she missed out on a lot, like senior prom.”
Shows a rotary dial phone that is off the hook
“One thing she was determined not to miss was earning her diploma.”
Shows a multiple choice quiz all about the moon
“Our graduation conflicted with a huge career opportunity for her, but she refused to miss that day she worked so hard for, because that’s just not Angel.”
The last clue is a Lego diorama for Jenny McCarthy that says “Good Times” and The Night Angel said McCarthy has said The Night Angel’s real name many times on her show.
“Being on that stage revitalizes my confidence and reminds me of the joy I have for music”
“I was sitting up in my room surrounded by other angels, but lost in the crowd.”
“I had a thirst for more, so BANG BANG I left my safe place and chose to fall down to Earth.”
Shows a drawing of a castle and a strawberry
Shows sweet tea and a fan (They are from the south?)
“...With hard work and commitment, [I] built an empire.”
“Hopefully I can give you a million reasons why I belong here.”
“If you’re willing to lend a helping wing, you too can break barriers”
Showed 4 “gangster grandma” as Robin Thicke said (a hint to the Night Angel winning 4 Grammys?)
“Like an angel, I’ve felt deeply blessed my whole life.”
“Doors have always opened for me”
“Fame has brought me down like a landslide
#6 Key to my success
“My prerogative to have a little fun y’all”
“I’m a “a little bit dangerous, a little bit sweet.”
Nick Cannon asked: “What do you love about being the duality of the Night Angel?” To which the Night Angel answered: “She can be so sweet and sometimes she’s just like...bad.”

15 / 21

The Bear- Eliminated

My guess: Hilary Duff

Dad’s guess: Candace Cameron Bure

Actual Celebrity: Sarah Palin

Clues:

“I’ve been both hunter and hunted. After years of hearing all the phony bologna, I’m sick of everyone not knowing who I really am.”
Shows a full house in playing cards
Shows male ice skates (Could be married to a hockey player?)
“This momma bear is coming out of hibernation” (she’s a mother of two)
“Tonight, I, Bear, exercise my right to a killer performance:”

16 / 21

The Astronaut - Eliminated

My guess: Hunter Hayes

Dad’s guess: “I have no idea”

Actual celebrity: Hunter Hayes

Clues:

Showed a suitcase with a tag reading “Warning: Do Not Open” that contained:
An accordion, an airplane, The Whitehouse, and a lightbulb (Hayes performed for the president when he was 7 years old)
“I’m an open book. Now it’s your mission to unearth who I am.”
“I’m searching for a chance to blast away labels.”
“On my old planet, something happened that changed the course of my career.”
“Negativity made it difficult to launch again.”
“I’m in a new world with an incredible support system around me.”
SUPER CLUE: Shows broken record with an Earth in the middle (broke a world record? Hayes opened for the Flaming Lips who broke a world record in 2012 for most concerts played in multiple cities in a 24-hour period)
“I’ve never had traditional voice training.”
[This suit] Makes me forget I’m only human
The Astronaut’s “bro-pilot” is the guest clue giver
This “bro-pilot” is shown cooking over a campfire in front of a tent with a full moon covering his face.
“Astro is a great captain. He knows how to lead a crew.”
Shows a red coffee mug
Shows a red and a black six-sided die with the number five facing up.
“Sometimes [The Astronaut] can be a total space cadet. One time, in front of thousands of people, he took a huge nose dive and fell flat on his face. Anyone else would have said ‘bye, bye, bye,” and called it quits. But not Astro, he got right back up.”
Shows a mini wooden bridge
The final clue is a lego diorama with Nicole Scherzinger that says “MALL,” and the Astronaut says he and Scherzinger got together to celebrate a huge birthday. (In 2015, Scherzinger and Hayes performed at A Capitol Fourth which also celebrated Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday.)
“I have a whole new mission now that I’m connecting with the audience on stage”
“I’m loving this fresh start as the circle of life keeps spinning”
“I’m getting a foothold in this new world”
Shows a flag that looks like Japan’s flag but showing a galaxy circle with the constellation of Orion’s belt
Shows the Astronaut waking with a lot of balloons
“In the wild, I kept wandering for what felt like 500 days, using sign language until I found my own voice”
“I’m gonna share my story, sing a song from a dear friend, and prove I do belong.” (The song this clue refers to is Stevie Wonder’s, whom Hayes is actually friends with)
Shows a hologram of a French horn (A reference to his album Honoring Our French Heritage)
“We can all reach the stars. Sometimes it just takes a little help from an organized crime family.” (This could be a reference to Robert Duvall from The Godfather. Hayes was 6 years old when he had a small role in Duvall’s film The Apostle. Duvall also reportedly gave him his very first guitar.)
“I’ve always dreamed of flying high”
Shows an old, Harry Potter-type broom
The Astronaut is short
Shows flowery piñata thing in space
Shows a toolbox
“Voyage may be bumpy and far from home”
“Even though I started at a young age, I feel like I’m just getting
started”
“...gets my heart throbbing” (he’s a teen heartthrob?)

17 / 21

T-REX- Eliminated

Our guess: Jojo Siwa

Actual celebrity: Jojo Siwa

Clues:

T-REX’s coach is the guest clue giver and is covered up by an airline food tray
“I’ve spent a lot of time with T-REX. We work together. We travel together. Let me tell you, she subscribes to the idea that there is no off day.”
Shows boomerangs (Siwa has a song called “Boomerang”)
Shows glitter covered finger foods
“I have never met anyone so meticulous, especially someone her age.” (Siwa is only 16 years old)
Shows her coach holding a fake pair of red lips
The final clue is a Lego diorama of Will Arnett in a T-Rex mouth with the words “Poodle.” T-REX says it means Lego Batman is how she and Arnett are connected.
“O-M-G. Being the T-Rex is ‘Dino-mite.’”
Shows a tiny pink globe in a party hat (Siwa has a song called World Wide Party)
“I was hanging out with my friends on T-Rex Island when out of nowhere…”
Shows a meteor hitting the island (Dance Moms was canceled)
“After the impact, I was devastated to see singles and doubles left”
“My heart was beating like a bumblebee.”
“To survive, I had to diversify. No one wants to be a one hit wonder.”
“This is my one shot, and I double dare you to stop me.”
“If you dream big, your face can be everywhere and you’ll never go extinct.”
Shows T-Rex sitting on a baby doll
“My journey of evolution, glory and survival”
Shows a golden balloon letter U (YouTube, perhaps? or Siwa’s song #1U)
Rumors of extinction and then a Cataclysmic event that changed my world forever
“I love the feeling of being fierce and untamed”
Shows “NW” (Northwestern?)
“Discovered by another”
Shows a bow and arrow
“I was on a magical island with dozens of creature” (Siwa first appeared on Lifetime’s Dance Moms)

18 / 21

The Rhino-Eliminated

Our guess: Barry Zito

Past guesses: Chase Rice

Actual celebrity: Barry Zito

Past Clues:

Shows a road sign warning about a hill ahead with the words “Hill” bolded and the numbers “15” and “30” bolded.
Shows a picture of three baby elephants (?)
“There’s something about meeting the love of your life that makes you a better man.”
Shows ballet slippers
Rhino brings a Navy Captain’s hat on stage
This show is complete crazy town...I need quiet, tranquility, serenity.”
“I need to take my time with nature”
Focus on his chief source of power: love for his wife and “baby rhinos”
Shows yoga and guitar picks (Zito played guitar)
“I wanna show my family it’s never too late to rewrite my story”
Missouri highlighted with a crown on it (Zito’s wife, Amber Seyer was Miss Missouri)
Masked Munchies: Spaghetti and meatballs. “When I’m in Rhino Country, cheese, spaghetti and meatballs - now is my name on the tip of your tongue?”
Shows Rhino’s bag containing:
The Tennessee state flag
A stocking with a lump of coal in it
A seal (animal)
A tag reading “RhiNO Secrets”
A tag with a bass clef
“[This] Pushing me and forcing me to grow in ways I’ve never dreamed.”
“Earlier in life I tried to be what everyone wanted me to be. I was comfortable playing a role.”
Shows Rhino playing with a toy plane.
“I was built to take to the sky.”
“I’m doing my most dancey song yet”
SUPER CLUE: “It’s funny the panel thinks I am an athlete, but music has been my passion since I was a child. I’ve risen up the billboard charts, and you may even have an album of mine. For a quarter, I’ll fish you a clue.”
Shows a slot machine
“I’m the risk-taking, gambling type.”
“I’m not nearly as tall as you think I am.”
The Rhino’s best college bud is his guest clue giver
“Rhino was the first person I met in college.”
Shows his friend with a beach ball for a head and two body boards as hands.
Both Rhino and his friend wanted to try surfing and were terrible, at first
Shows three quarters and an arrow pointing up
Rhino is good at surfing now after practicing
Shows a planet with a little cowboy at on it
The final clue is a Lego diorama of Robin Thicke that says “1,000.” The Rhino says it means he and Thicke think alike and are on the same track, literally.”
“You’re probably wondering what I’m doing on this plane... I’m flying high.”
Shows the Rhino standing on the wing of a plane.
“Just like on stage, standing on these wings is wild and nerve-wracking, but I’ve always been a risk taker which has led to many ups... and downs”
Shows a sign pointing South
His wife is his “guardian angel.”
Shows the dude with him cutting a slider burger in half while wearing a huge diamond ring
“Family is very important for success, especially when performing for a King is in your blood.”
“I am really just a gentle giant”
I was the “toast of the town every week”
“When I suddenly wasn’t the best, I crashed and I burned.”
“I was center stage.”
“Being on top became an addiction”
Shows the guitar outside the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
Shows the Rhino riding a bike and jumping off a ramp over the sunset

19 / 21

The Swan- Eliminated

Our guess: Bella Thorne

Actual celebrity: Bella Thorne

Clues:

“I pushed past the nerves and dove in head first. Now it’s like I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole in this amazing wonderland” (Disney reference? Thorne was Alice in a production of Alice in Wonderland at Radio City Music Hall in New York.)
Shows a pink tea party
“New moons and rainbows (Twilight reference for the named “Bella”)
Shows raspberries in treasure chest (Raspberries have THORNS)
Shows a blown glass dolphin figurine with “made in Japan” on it. (Bella Thorne made a TV movie with Zendaya for their Disney Channel show Shake it Up with a song Made in Japan.
The Swan says she loves Ken Jeong (Throne and Jeong did The DUFF together.)
“I’ve been the black swan and against all odds, I’ve been able to spread my wings for millions to see. Life is truly magical.”
The sawn is known for it’s fierceness
“The Swan is a bird that flies despite burden of weight they carry”
Shows the Swan doing ballet
Shows vampire fangs
Shows Confetti
“I live my life in overdrive.”
Shows ghost

SPOILER ALERT: The next slide reveals the eliminated singer from Wednesday’s episode.

20 / 21

Elimination #15- Rhino- Barry Zito

21 / 21

The A.V. Club unmasks The Masked Singer season 3

White Tiger- Eliminated

The Turtle- Finalist

The Llama- Eliminated

Miss Monster- Eliminated

Kangaroo- Eliminated

Kangaroo- Eliminated

Kangaroo- Eliminated

The Robot-Eliminated

Frog- Finalist

Elephant- Eliminated

Kitty-Eliminated

Taco- Eliminated

Taco- Eliminated

Taco- Eliminated

Mouse- Eliminated

Banana- Eliminated

Night Angel- Finalist

The Bear- Eliminated

The Bear- Eliminated

The Bear- Eliminated

The Astronaut - Eliminated

T-REX- Eliminated

T-REX- Eliminated

T-REX- Eliminated

The Rhino-Eliminated

The Rhino-Eliminated

The Swan- Eliminated

Elimination #15- Rhino- Barry Zito

Elimination #15- Rhino- Barry Zito

All slides