The Masked Singer Season 12 Premiere Recap: Revealing the Identity of Leaf Sheep and Exciting New Twist

The Masked Singer Season 12 debuted on Fox on September 25, 2024, following Vanessa Hudgens’ victory as the Goldfish in Season 11. This exciting new season introduced 12 contestants along with familiar panelists Ken Jeong, Rita Ora, Robin Thicke, and Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, and Nick Cannon returned as the host.

The premiere episode of The Masked Singer Season 12 showcased performances of popular songs from blockbuster films including Barbie and Footloose. According to the press release, the show “reaches new heights in its twelfth season with all-new special theme nights celebrating major blockbuster IP and music from legendary superstars.”

This season, the contestants boast an impressive total of 21 Grammy nominations, 14 Emmy nominations, and 202 film appearances. Additionally, a unique twist was introduced, with each contestant being paired with a celebrity ambassador who has previously participated in the show.

The ambassadors, who share a connection with their respective contestants, aim to provide significant new insights into the singers’ identities.

What transpired during the premiere of The Masked Singer Season 12?

William Shatner kicked off the show by welcoming Rita Ora, who performed “Who Can It Be Now?”by Men At Work. Shortly after, the first masked singer, a buffalo, took the stage. Nick Lachey, serving as Buffalo’s ambassador, introduced himself as Piglet from Season 5, revealing that Buffalo’s life has been challenging as they were “raised in the grasslands”.

Before Buffalo’s performance, they hinted at their fame by stating their name is on the Walk of Fame and mentioning their roles in “two of the biggest sitcoms of all time.”Buffalo’s performance of “(I Just) Died In Your Arms”by Cutting Crew was accompanied by two additional masked buffalos, suggesting they belonged to a group.

Next, Woodpecker took the stage with her ambassador Jenifer Lewis (Miss Cleocatra from Season 11), revealing that Woodpecker is “a mogul, a CEO, and has even become friends with Beyoncé.”Woodpecker also expressed her ambition to become the youngest billionaire.

Visual clues for Woodpecker included red sports tape with the word “NEXT,” a sign reading “Family,” and an S.A.T. scorecard. Woodpecker performed “Flowers”by Miley Cyrus, while judges speculated names like Willow Smith, Cardi B, Halle Bailey, and Keke Palmer.

The third performer was Leaf Sheep, who appeared with DeMarcus Ware (Koala from Season 11). DeMarcus hailed Leaf Sheep as “the GOAT,”while Leaf Sheep noted that he had “topped the country’s charts” during his prime.

Visual clues for Leaf Sheep included a quarter, the #1, and a cowboy seahorse. Leaf Sheep delivered a rendition of “I Like It, I Love It”by Tim McGraw.

Showbird followed with her ambassador Joel McHale (a former guest panelist). Showbird described herself as a nerd who enjoys Legos and Comic-Con, adding that she has been in “some of the biggest blockbuster movies.”

Her visual clues encompassed a book titled “Advanced Singing 401,”shimmering attire, a golden gavel, and bedazzled boots. Showbird sang “Just Fine”by Mary J. Blige.

The final contestant of Group A was Ship, whose ambassador was Jewel (Queen of Hearts from Season 6). Ship expressed that her career has faced “tidal waves,”mentioning “massive hits, made history, but lost control.”Jewel encouraged her to confront her fears directly.

Visual clues for Ship included a tiny airplane with a clock, a “Wanted” sign with a $15,000 bounty, and crossed antennas. Ship performed “Pompeii”by Bastille, leading judges to guess various names like Cyndi Lauper, Sarah McLachlan, Joan Osborne, and Enya due to her vocal talent.

The episode concluded with panelists and the studio audience casting votes, leading to Leaf Sheep receiving the fewest votes and having to unmask before exiting. Ken Jeong’s prediction that Leaf Sheep was John Elway proved correct as the legendary American quarterback revealed his identity.

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