The Masked Singer

“The Masked Singer” is an American reality singing competition series based on an international game show franchise originating in South Korea. Premiering on Fox in 2019, “The Masked Singer” features celebrity contestants disguised in extravagant costumes, singing songs for a panel of celebrity judges. The goal is for the contestants to keep their identity hidden, as the judges and audience vote for their favorite singers. The masked celebs with the least number of votes must unveil their true selves. Nick Cannon serves as host, while the judges include Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke.

The series debuted to over 9 million viewers, but the ratings have since cratered to around 4 million in its seventh, eighth and ninth seasons. Past winners of “The Masked Singer” include T-Pain, Wayne Brady, Kandi Burruss, LeAnn Rimes, Nick Lachey, Jewel, Teyana Taylor, Amber Riley and Bishop Briggs. Runner-ups include Jesse McCartney, Aloe Blacc, Chris Daughtry and David Archuleta. The series has become known for its elaborate costumes, often animals or mythical creatures, originally created by six-time Emmy-winning costume and fashion designer Marina Toybina. After researching historical wardrobe and fur textures, Toybina sketches each costume concept with a pencil and then collaborates with an illustrator to create a three-dimensional digital version. Contestants are given several different options to choose from, with some celebs prioritizing mobility onstage and others opting to find a personal connection to their costume. After Toybina left the series after Season 6, Tim Chappel, who served as the costume designer for the Australian version of “The Masked Singer,” stepped in as her replacement.