Comedy megastar unmasks at Masked Singer premiere

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the season 11 premiere of The masked singer.

Promotion for The masked singer Season 11 promised March Mask-ness, and Wednesday’s premiere episode certainly delivered on that.

The hour started with a bang, literally, with a fireworks-filled performance from new panelist Rita Ora, who stepped in to fill Nicole Scherzinger’s ultra-high heels while performing in London’s West End last year. Ora’s addition marks the first time a new panelist has joined the group, and to mark the occasion, she opened the show with a fitting rendition of The Who’s “Who Are You,” before finally introducing the other panelists: Ken Jeong, Robin. Thicke and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg…and herself.

From there, things seemed to go smoothly, with all the dad jokes, costume puns, clue packages, and performances (good and bad) that fans have come to expect from the show. As is tradition, the first contestant to take the stage gave a spectacular performance: Goldfish, who sang “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo. When it came time for the guesses, which included Hilary Duff, Lucy Hale, Lea Michele, Selena Gomez and Carly Rae Jepsen, Ora, who was previously a panelist on the British version of TMS, gave us a taste of her riddle philosophy: “I know I’m new and just got out, but if you’re wrong, be wrong and strong, and if you’re right, then Shout it from the rooftops.” (This was just the encouragement that Jeong No I need to move on.)

From there, we heard the first vocal outings and tracks from new costumes Starfish, Ugly Sweater, and Lovebird, who performed Madonna’s “Material Girl,” Tina Turner’s “The Best,” and Phillip Phillips’ “Home,” respectively. And it only took Thicke 32 minutes and 40 seconds into the season to make a pun on Ora’s name, telling her, “Well, Rita, we love your aura” with all the confidence of a man who frequently embarrasses his children with dad jokes

Everything was going according to plan until the last contestant of the night, Book, took the stage. Things seemed to be different from the beginning. While singing “So Sick” by Ne-Yo (aka season 10 winner Cow), all the panelists could be seen sharing knowing glances as if they immediately knew who was behind the mask, and Thicke even He had to take a step. away from the table because he was laughing so much, which host Nick Cannon later pointed out on stage.

“There are only a few people that as soon as they walk in the room, I start smiling and laughing like that and that’s Kevin Hart,” Thicke told him. This was the closest the panel came to guessing who was under the mask, because Book decided at that moment to take off the costume, causing the panel and audience to collectively lose their minds. Thicke even ran around like a kid on Christmas.

Once the initial excitement died down, Hart and Cannon got to work, with Hart telling his Celebrity prank wars co-host: “Gotcha, Nick! Just kidding, you had no idea I was coming here, Nick. And guess what, Nick? There’s nothing you can do about it.” This prompted the wildest response we’ve seen from Cannon on the show to date, who laughingly told him, “That’s so stupid! That was the worst performance in the history of the show.”

Hart noted that it was “on purpose,” to which Cannon responded, “You embarrassed yourself. That was stupid. You look so stupid.”

“I don’t look stupid. I look composed, Nick. There’s nothing stupid about me. You know who looks stupid, Nick? You, in that stupid jacket,” he said. ride along the star told Cannon, as the panelists could barely contain their laughter at the exchange.

When the masked singer The host noted that Book’s antics “ruined” the episode, because he robbed the contestants and viewers of a proper elimination, Hart joked, “That’s not my problem, that’s your problem!”

However, it was Cannon who had the last laugh, because he was able to tell his old friend (and prank partner) the news that, after an elimination, the singer has to sing one more time before leaving.

And with that, the first wild entry of season 11 ended, and all the other contestants were safe and moved on to next week’s episode. What other crazy shenanigans will this season have in store for us? Only time will tell, but tune in The masked singer Wednesdays on Fox at 8 pm ET/PT to find out.

Watch Hart’s big reveal below.

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