Fox’s “The Masked Singer” is so weird that, for a while there, it was hard to look away.
Well, for maybe one episode. But there’s nothing there. And once the effect of the bizarre costumes and strange format wears off, it’s a big, honkin’ bore.
I couldn’t possibly care less if Donny Osmond is inside that peacock suit. And I like Donny Osmond.
The only really fascinating thing about “Masked Singer” is that millions of people will tune in to watch something so mind-numblingly moronic.
“The Masked Singer,” which is based on a Korean show, features 12 celebrities who are encased in elaborate costumes that completely hide their identities. They compete in one-on-one sing-offs; four celebrity judges and the studio audience vote and the loser is up for elimination; one singer is eliminated and must reveal his/her identity in each episode.
Throughout the episode, the judges — Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke — speculate as to the identities of the singers. While the costumes are amazing, I use the term “singers” loosely. The first four celebrities eliminated were NFL player Antonio Brown (inside the hippo costume), comedian Tommy Chong (pineapple), former NFL player/sportscaster Terry Bradshaw (deer) and comedian Margaret Cho (poodle).
The masked celebrities give clues about their identities, but their voices are disguised (except when they sing).
(Photo courtesy Michael Becker/Fox) Ken Jeong, Nicole Scherzinger, host Nick Cannon, Jenny McCarthy and Robin Thicke appear in “The Masked Singer.”
If there’s one thing that remains somewhat refreshing about “The Masked Singer,” it’s that it’s the anti-talent show. There’s none of the fake high drama that afflicts “American Idol” and “The Voice.” There’s absolutely nothing at stake here at all. Nobody wins anything. Nobody’s career is advanced by it.
Except, maybe, for Jeong … fingers crossed. He is a very funny, highly entertaining man. Every network and cable channel should be looking for a vehicle for him.
But Thicke, Scherzinger and host Nick Cannon are the definition of “meh.” And McCarthy is like nails on a chalkboard. She should never be on TV again.
Other than McCarthy, there's nothing inherently wrong with “The Masked Singer.” It's just … repetitive, vapid and dull. Even for network TV — even for Fox — this is weak.
If you really want to know who’s inside the alien, bee, lion, monster, peacock, rabbit, raven and unicorn costumes, watch the last five minutes of each episode (Wednesdays, 8 p.m., Fox/Channel 13). Certainly you can find something better to do with the other 55 minutes you’d be wasting.
(Photo courtesy CBS) Julie Chen Moonves is the host of “Celebrity Big Brother.”
‘Big Brother’ controversy • Hard to believe as it might be, there’s controversy surrounding the extraordinarily dumb “Celebrity Big Brother.”
Not about the collection of has-beens competing, but about how the host introduces herself to viewers.
“Good evening. I’m Julie Chen Moonves,” she says.
She never used Moonves, her married name, when she co-hosted CBS’ “The Talk” for eight years. She didn’t use it on the first 704 episodes of “Big Brother,” which she has hosted for 18 years on CBS.
The first time she identified herself with her married name was on “Big Brother’s” Season 20 finale in September — just days after her husband, Leslie Moonves, then CEO of CBS, was ousted amid numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.
Les Moonves denies the allegations against him. He’s currently trying to get CBS to pay him $120 million in severance; the company is denying that, saying he was fired for cause.
Julie Chen Moonves is standing by him and has made statements declaring her support. It seems she’s backing those up every time she introduces herself on “Celebrity Big Brother,” which is airing on multiple nights through Feb. 13. On CBS.
