The Masked Singer (American TV series) season 8 explained

Bgcolor:	CD97BF
Starring:	Robin Thicke Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg Ken Jeong Nicole Scherzinger
Module1:	Host: Nick Cannon Num Contestants: 22 Winner: Amber Riley as "Harp" Runner Up: Wilson Phillips as "Lambs"
Num Episodes:	13
Network:	Fox

The eighth season of the American television series The Masked Singer premiered on Fox on September 21, and concluded on November 30, 2022. The season was won by actor/singer Amber Riley as "Harp", with vocal group Wilson Phillips finishing second as "Lambs".^{[1] [2]} The season was followed by a Christmas special, which aired on December 7, 2022.^{[3] [4]}

Panelists and host

Nick Cannon, singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, television and radio personality Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, actor and comedian Ken Jeong, and recording artist Nicole Scherzinger all return as host and panelists.^{[5] [6]} Jeong did not appear in the seventh episode as he had tested positive for COVID-19 at the time.^[7]

The first episode featured Will Arnett who appeared in a cameo before the first king/queen crowning, the second episode included season one runner-up Donny Osmond as a guest panelist, with the Blue Man Group and Carrot Top as additional guests, the third episode featured Jodie Sweetin and season one contestant Tori Spelling as additional guests, the fourth episode featured Andrew Lloyd Webber as a guest panelist, the fifth episode featured The Muppets, with Miss Piggy as a guest panelist, as well as season five contestant Kermit the Frog, Animal, Fozzie Bear, and others appearing as additional guests, the sixth episode featured Tag Team, Danielle Fishel, and Lance Bass as additional guests, the seventh episode featured Leslie Jordan and Joel McHale (filling in for an absent Jeong) as guest panelists, with Sheila E. as an additional guest, and the eighth episode featured Jon Lovitz and season three contestant Drew Carey as additional guests.^[8]

Leslie Jordan, a guest panelist in the seventh episode aired on November 9, was killed in a car accident on October 24, 2022,^[9] marking the first posthumous appearance in the series. The episode was dedicated in his honor,^[10] including a tribute at the beginning and end of the episode.^[11]

Production

On May 16, 2022, it was announced that Fox renewed the series for an eighth season, prior to the airing of the seventh season's finale on May 18.^[12] On June 6, 2022, it was announced that the season would premiere on September 21.

The formatting for the season sees three contestants battle in each episode, with one eliminated mid-show and taken to the VIP section while the other two battle out. A king/queen is crowned at the end of each episode who then moves on to the following episode, while the other in the top two gets eliminated. The season also includes themed nights for the first time, including "Vegas Night", "Comedy Roast", "Hall Of Fame", "Muppets Night", "Andrew Lloyd Webber Night", "TV Themes", "'90s Night", "Thanksgiving", and "Fright Night".

Numerous episodes during the season were rescheduled due to the Major League Baseball playoffs. The first took place on October 12, when game two of the NLDS between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves suffered a rain delay with game play resuming during primetime on the east coast.^[13] Consequently, the airing of the Andrew Lloyd Webber episode was pre-empted nationally. However, it aired on CTV in Canada as scheduled.^[14] The season was further delayed by the World Series, when a necessary game five took out another air date (November 2). Following a rainout of game three, the remainder of the World Series schedule was pushed back a day, placing a potential game seven on the next scheduled air date (November 6),^[15] though only six games were played in the World Series.^[16]

The sing-a-long holiday special included a dedication for actor Kirstie Alley, who died on December 5, 2022.^[17] Alley portrayed "Baby Mammoth" in the previous season.^[18]

Contestants

Following her death, it was reported that actor Anne Heche had been in negotiations to participate in the season, though it is unclear how far she was in the process.^[19]

The season features 22 contestants, the most number of contestants on any American season of The Masked Singer. The contestants in this season are reported to have a combined 42 books, 32 Grammy nominations, 16 Emmy wins, 10 Teen Choice Awards, eight gold albums, five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and four Golden Globe nominations.^[20]

Results

Stage name	Celebrity	Occupation(s)	Episodes
			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	12
			Round 1			Round 2			Round 3
Harp	Amber Riley	Actor/singer	bgcolor=#F888FD	WIN	bgcolor=#F888FD	WIN	bgcolor=#F888FD	WIN	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE	bgcolor=gold	WINNER
Lambs	Wilson Phillips	Vocal group	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F888FD	WIN	bgcolor=#F888FD	WIN	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE	bgcolor=silver	RUNNERS-UP
Snowstorm	Nikki Glaser	Comedian/TV host	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		WIN	WIN	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT	colspan bgcolor=darkgrey
Sir Bug a Boo	Ray Parker Jr.	Singer	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Scarecrow	Linda Blair	Actor/activist	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		WD
Avocado	Adam Carolla	Actor/comedian	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Bride	Chris Jericho	Professional wrestler	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		WIN	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Gopher	George Clinton	Singer/bandleader	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Venus Fly Trap	George Foreman	Retired boxer	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Milkshake	Le'Veon Bell	NFL player	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Walrus	Joey Lawrence	Actor/singer	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Robo Girl	Kat Graham	Actor/singer	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F888FD	WIN	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Beetle	Jerry Springer	TV host	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Mermaid	Gloria Gaynor	Singer	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Maize	Mario Cantone	Actor/comedian			bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Fortune Teller		Businessman	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Mummies	Mike Lookinland	Actor			OUT
	Barry Williams	Actor
	Christopher Knight	Actor
Panther	Montell Jordan	Singer	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Pi-Rat	Jeff Dunham	Ventriloquist/comedian	bgcolor=#FFEBCD		bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Hummingbird	Chris Kirkpatrick	Singer	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Hedgehog	Eric Idle	Actor/comedian	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Knight	William Shatner	Actor	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT

Episodes

Week 1 (September 21)

The USC Trojan Marching Band served as musical accompaniment for Hedgehog's performance in this episode.

+ Performances on the first episode		Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Harp	"Perfect" by P!nk		bgcolor=#F888FD	WIN
2	Hedgehog	"Love Me Do" by The Beatles	Eric Idle	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
3	Hummingbird	"I Don't Want to Be" by Gavin DeGraw	Chris Kirkpatrick	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
4	Knight	"Puttin' On the Ritz" by Fred Astaire	William Shatner	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT

• After being unmasked, Idle sang his signature song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Life of Brian.

Week 2 (September 28) - "Vegas Night"

• Guest performance: Guest panelist Donny Osmond performs a medley of "The Greatest Show" from The Greatest Showman and "Viva Las Vegas" by Elvis Presley

+ Performances on the second episode		Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Panther	"Feeling Good" by Nina Simone		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
2	Pi-Rat	"Crocodile Rock" by Elton John	Jeff Dunham	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
3	Harp	"I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
Battle Royale
4	Panther	"Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf	Montell Jordan	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
	Harp			WIN

• After being unmasked, Jordan performed his hit "This Is How We Do It" as his encore performance.

Week 3 (October 5) - "TV Theme Night"

• Guest performance: Panelist Robin Thicke performs "As Long As We Got Each Other" by B. J. Thomas (from Growing Pains)^[21]

+ Performances on the third episode		Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Mummies	"The Monkees" - The Monkees theme song	Mike Lookinland	OUT
			Barry Williams
			Christopher Knight
2	Fortune Teller	"Movin' On Up" - The Jeffersons theme song		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
3	Harp	"Thank You for Being a Friend" - The Golden Girls theme song		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
Battle Royale
4	Fortune Teller	"Everywhere You Look" - Full House theme song	Daymond John	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
	Harp			WIN

• After their unmasking, Lookinland, Williams, and Knight sang "It's a Sunshine Day" from The Brady Bunch.

Week 4 (October 19) - "Andrew Lloyd Webber Night"

• Guest performance: Panelist Nicole Scherzinger performs "Memory" from Cats

+ Performances on the fourth episode		Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Maize	"Heaven on Their Minds" from Jesus Christ Superstar	Mario Cantone	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
2	Mermaid	"Any Dream Will Do" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
3	Robo Girl	"Bad Cinderella" from Bad Cinderella		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
Battle Royale
4	Mermaid	"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from Evita	Gloria Gaynor	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
	Robo Girl			WIN

• After being unmasked, Gaynor sang her signature song "I Will Survive" as her encore performance.

Week 5 (October 26) - "Muppets Night"

• Guest performance: Kermit the Frog with Nick Cannon and the panelists perform "Rainbow Connection"

+ Performances on the fifth episode		Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Robo Girl	"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (with Kermit on piano)		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
2	Beetle	"The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra	Jerry Springer	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
3	Lambs	"Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
Battle Royale
4	Robo Girl	"Call Me" by Blondie (with Animal on drums)	Kat Graham	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
	Lambs			WIN

Week 6 (November 6 and 9) - "90s Night" and "Hall of Fame Night"

• Guest performance: Tag Team performs "Whoomp! (There It Is)"^[22]

+ Performances on the sixth episode		Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Walrus	"Two Princes" by Spin Doctors (1991)	Joey Lawrence	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
2	Milkshake	"Jump on It" by Sir Mix-a-Lot (1996)		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
3	Lambs	"Ironic" by Alanis Morissette (1996)		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
Battle Royale
4	Milkshake	"What Is Love" by Haddaway (1993)	Le'Veon Bell	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
	Lambs			WIN

• Guest performance: Panelist Nicole Scherzinger performs "Fame" by Irene Cara

Performances on the seventh episode! # !! Stage name !! Song !! Identity !! Result

1	Bride	"Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
2	Gopher	"It's Your Thing" by The Isley Brothers		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
3	Venus Fly Trap	"Get Ready" by The Temptations	George Foreman	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
Battle Royale
4	Gopher	"All Star" by Smash Mouth (with Sheila E. on percussion)	George Clinton	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
	Bride			WIN

• After being unmasked, Clinton sang his signature song "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)" as his encore performance.

Week 7 (November 16) - "Comedy Roast Night"

+ Performances on the eighth episode		Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Bride	"White Wedding" by Billy Idol	Chris Jericho	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
2	Snowstorm	"Thank U, Next" by Ariana Grande		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
3	Avocado	"Hit the Road Jack" by Ray Charles		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
Battle Royale
4	Avocado	"You're So Vain" by Carly Simon	Adam Carolla	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
	Snowstorm			WIN

Week 8 (November 23 and 24) - "Fright Night" and "Battle of the Semi Finals"

+ Performances on the ninth episode		Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
3	Sir Bug a Boo			bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
2	Scarecrow	"Abracadabra" by The Steve Miller Band		WD
3	Snowstorm			bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
Battle Royale
4	Snowstorm	"Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell		WIN
	Sir Bug a Boo		Ray Parker Jr.	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT

• After being unmasked, Parker sang his signature song "Ghostbusters" as his encore performance.

+ Performances on the tenth episode		Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Harp	"About Damn Time" by Lizzo		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
2	Snowstorm		Nikki Glaser	bgcolor=#F99185	OUT
3	Lambs	"Need You Now" by Lady A		bgcolor=lightgreen	SAFE
Battle Royale	"Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson

Week 9 (November 30) - "Two Hour Epic Finale"

+ Performances on the twelfth episode		Stage name	Song	Identity	Result
1	Harp	"The Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga	Amber Riley	bgcolor=gold rowspan=2	WINNER
		"Gravity" by John Mayer
2	Lambs	"I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan	Wilson Phillips	bgcolor=silver rowspan=2	RUNNERS-UP
		"I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner

• After being unmasked, Wilson Phillips sang their signature song "Hold On" as their encore performance.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fox Unveils Fall 2022-23 Schedule & Premiere Dates, New Drama Monarch Gets Post-NFL Launch. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie Andreeva. June 6, 2022. August 1, 2022. June 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220606190155/https://deadline.com/2022/06/fox-fall-2022-23-tv-schedule-premiere-dates-9-1-1-the-resident-the-masked-singer-monarch-1235039036/. live.
2. FOX Entertainment Bolsters 2022-23 Program Slate Across Network and Streaming with New Comedies, Dramas, Unscripted Series and Made-for-Platform Movies. Fox. The Futon Critic. May 16, 2022. May 16, 2022. February 20, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240220015715/http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2022/05/16/fox-entertainment-bolsters-2022-23-program-slate-across-network-and-streaming-with-new-comedies-dramas-unscripted-series-and-made-for-platform-movies-891002/20220516fox01/. live.
3. Web site: The Masked Singer Episode Listings. The Futon Critic. September 3, 2022. March 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230319164402/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/masked-singer/listings/. live.
4. Web site: The Masked Singer Season 8 Episode Guide. Zap2it. September 11, 2022. September 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220911025217/https://tvschedule.zap2it.com/overview.html?programSeriesId=SH03024189&tabName=guide&season=8. live.
5. Web site: The Masked Singers Robin Thicke Says "Sometimes Bigger Is Better" As Fox Hit Eyes A Season 8 – Contenders Docs + Unscripted. Deadline Hollywood. Peter White. April 23, 2022. April 24, 2022. April 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220424000225/https://deadline.com/2022/04/the-masked-singer-robin-thicke-craig-plestis-interview-contenders-tv-1235008719/. live.
6. See the first bonkers costumes and celebrity guests for The Masked Singer season 8. Entertainment Weekly. Lauren Huff. August 15, 2022. August 15, 2022. August 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220815202616/https://ew.com/tv/the-masked-singer-season-8-first-costumes-celebrity-guests/. live.
7. Web site: ❤️. kenjeong. Ken Jeong. Instagram. November 7, 2022. November 13, 2022. November 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221113072726/https://www.instagram.com/p/CkrbG9WPoBU/. live.
8. Web site: The Masked Singer Revamps Format Ahead Of Season 8. Deadline Hollywood. Denise Petski. September 7, 2022. September 7, 2022. September 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220907164316/https://deadline.com/2022/09/the-masked-singer-revamps-format-season-8-king-queen-double-unmaskings-1235110103/. live.
9. Web site: Leslie Jordan, Will & Grace and American Horror Story Star, Dies at 67 in Car Accident. Variety. Ethan Shanfeld. October 24, 2022. October 24, 2022. October 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221024183746/https://variety.com/2022/tv/obituaries-people-news/leslie-jordan-dead-will-and-grace-american-horror-story-1235412784/. live.
10. Watch The Masked Singer's Tribute to Leslie Jordan and Preview His Final Appearance. November 8, 2022. Entertainment Weekly. Lauren. Huff. November 8, 2022. November 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221108172429/https://ew.com/tv/leslie-jordan-masked-singer-tribute-final-appearance/. live.
11. Web site: The Masked Singer Bids A Fond Farewell To Leslie Jordan With Emotional Tribute. Deadline Hollywood. Bruce Haring. November 9, 2022. November 13, 2022. November 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221113072726/https://deadline.com/2022/11/the-masked-singer-bids-fond-farewell-leslie-jordan-emotional-tribute-1235168417/. live.
12. Web site: The Masked Singer Renewed For Season 8 By Fox. Deadline Hollywood. Alexandra Del Rosario. May 16, 2022. August 15, 2022. May 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220516133045/https://deadline.com/2022/05/the-masked-singer-renewed-season-8-by-fox-1235024489/. live.
13. Web site: Braves-Phillies NLDS Game 2 to start at 7:30 p.m. after rain delay. CBS Sports. R.J. Anderson. October 12, 2022. October 13, 2022. October 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221013000602/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/braves-phillies-nlds-game-2-to-start-at-730-p-m-after-rain-delay/. live.
14. Web site: Why The Masked Singer Wasn't on Last Night and When Next Episode Will Air. Newsweek. Laura Donaldson. October 13, 2022. October 13, 2022. October 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221013101120/https://www.newsweek.com/masked-singer-why-when-next-episode-air-date-fox-baseball-1751410. live.
15. Web site: World Series Game 3 postponed because of rain in Philadelphia. CNN. October 31, 2022. November 1, 2022. November 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221101033321/https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/31/sport/world-series-game-3-postponed/index.html. live.
16. Web site: Houston Astros win World Series over Philadelphia Phillies with Game 6 victory. CNN. Jacob Lev. Ben Church. November 5, 2022. November 5, 2022. November 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105130510/https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/05/sport/world-series-game-6-astros-phillies/index.html. live.
17. Web site: Kirstie Alley Dead: Star of Cheers Dies at 71 After Short Battle with Cancer. People. Stephanie Wenger. Elizabeth Leonard. December 5, 2022. May 5, 2023. June 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230613131558/https://people.com/tv/kirstie-alley-dead/. live.
18. Web site: Kirstie Alley Tribute Set For The Masked Singer. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie Andreeva. December 6, 2022. May 5, 2023. May 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230505090137/https://deadline.com/2022/12/kirstie-alley-tribute-the-masked-singer-1235191603/. live.
19. Web site: Anne Heche Had Been Eyed By The Masked Singer Before Her Crash. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie Andreeva. August 12, 2022. August 15, 2022. August 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220814204557/https://deadline.com/2022/08/anne-heche-the-masked-singer-dead-crash-1235091452/. live.
20. Web site: The Masked Singer Season 8: New Format, Themed Episodes, Costumes & Guests (VIDEO). TV Insider. Meredith Jacobs. September 7, 2022. September 7, 2022. September 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220907163151/https://www.tvinsider.com/1059594/the-masked-singer-season-8-format-themed-episodes-costumes-celebrity-guests/. live.
21. Web site: Robin Thicke Sings Growing Pains Theme Song in Tribute to Late Dad Alan Thicke on The Masked Singer. People. Stephanie Wenger. October 5, 2022. October 5, 2022. October 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221005232109/https://people.com/tv/masked-singer-robin-thicke-sings-growing-pains-theme-song-in-tribute-to-late-father-alan-thicke/. live.
22. Tag Team back again! Watch the '90s rappers reunite on special 100th episode of The Masked Singer. Entertainment Weekly. Lauren Huff. November 4, 2022. November 4, 2022. November 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221104151518/https://ew.com/tv/the-masked-singer-100th-episode-special-tag-team-reunion/. live.