Get ready for a thrilling episode of "The Masked Singer"! In this recap, we'll uncover the identity of Eggplant, one of the mysterious contestants on Season 14. But first, let's set the stage.
Unmasking the Stars: A Night of Musical Surprises
In the latest episode, titled "OzzFest Night," the show paid tribute to the legendary Ozzy Osbourne. With guest panelist Kelly Osbourne, who herself appeared as Ladybug in Season 2, the stage was set for an exciting night.
Among the panel of judges, no one guessed correctly, but Ken Jeong came close with his guess of another "General Hospital" alum, Rick Springfield. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg went with Kevin Cronin, Rita Ora thought it was Nathan Lane, and Robin Thicke guessed Kenny Loggins. Kelly Osbourne named Alice Cooper, but the real identity of Eggplant was none other than Jack Wagner.
Wagner, known for his roles in "General Hospital" and "Melrose Place," was unmasked as Eggplant, leaving him unsure of his standing in the competition. In his first appearance, Eggplant boasted about his five decades of experience, representing rock stars, ship captains, and lovers. He claimed to have schmoozed with the likes of Jason Bateman, Jack Nicholson, and Clint Eastwood, encouraging viewers to cast their ballots for him.
In his second appearance, Wagner shared a story about crashing the recording of "We Are the World," receiving a private invite from Quincy Jones. He described being starstruck by legends like Springsteen, Turner, and Dylan, and even receiving praise from MJ himself. Wagner's recent credits include "When Calls the Heart" and various Hallmark Channel movies, and he also appeared on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2012.
The episode began with a performance of "Crazy Train" by Osbourne, sung by contestants Pangolin, Eggplant, High Voltage, and Galaxy Girl. It was a battle of the bottom two, with Eggplant and High Voltage performing their own versions of "Iron Man" by Ozzy Osbourne. High Voltage was saved, leaving Eggplant to be unmasked as Wagner.
With Eggplant's departure, the competition continues with High Voltage, Pangolin, Galaxy Girl, Stingray, Cat Witch, Pugcasso, and Crane still in the running.
A Star-Studded Unmasking
Jack Wagner joins a list of unmasked celebrities on "The Masked Singer" Season 14, including Heidi Montag (Snow Cone), Billy Ray Cyrus (Owl), Teddi Mellencamp (Calla Lily), Claudia Oshry (Queen Corgi), Taraji P. Henson (Scarab), Tone Loc (Handyman), Tiffany Haddish (Le Who Who), Todd and Julie Chrisley (Croissants), and David "Big Papi" Ortiz (Googly Eyes).
Host Nick Cannon returns for Season 14, joined by panelists McCarthy Wahlberg, Jeong, Ora, and Thicke. A new addition this season is "America's Insider," where singer and social media personality Kylie Cantrall will provide behind-the-scenes hints and clues for viewers. The twist? Cantrall is in costume as Cat Witch, known only to the audience, keeping the panelists in the dark.
Season 14 features themed episodes paying tribute to "Star Trek," the '90s comedy "Clueless," the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchise, and the "Twilight Saga" films. The season also includes a "Fear Factor: House of Fear Night" hosted by Johnny Knoxville, and an "Ozzfest Night" honoring Ozzy Osbourne, with a special tribute from Kelly Osbourne.
The 18 masked contestants in Season 14 have impressive credentials, with a combined 94 million records sold, 47 Teen Choice Award nominations, 12 Emmy nominations, two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one Tony Award win, and one Academy Award nomination.
Let's take a look at the performances from Wednesday's episode:
High Voltage:
Song: "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath
Previous songs: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears, "Miles On It" by Kane Brown and Marshmello
Clue: "Bandwagon" - "Some people jumped on the bandwagon because of me and others."
Panel guesses: Billie Joe Armstrong, John Rzeznik, Tim Allen
Previous panel guesses: Conan O'Brien, Julian Edelman, Jimmy Fallon, John Stamos
High Voltage's Voiceover:
"I grew up listening to Ozzy, a big fan. Breaking out solo, like him, I knew the stakes. I had my band of brothers, but I cut the cord. It was a risk, but I crushed it. My life is a crazy train, but I haven't reached my final destination yet."
Galaxy Girl:
Song: "Drive" by Incubus
Previous songs: "Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl" by Chappell Roan, "Just A Girl" by No Doubt
Clue: "Halo" - "Not everyone earns a halo, but this girl did."
Panel guesses: Ashlee Simpson, Kate Hudson, Gwen Stefani
Previous panel guesses: Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Emma Stone, Dixie D'Amelio, Anne Hathaway, Hillary Duff
Galaxy Girl's Voiceover:
"Paying tribute to Ozzy and Ozz Fest is an honor. My first concert was Lilith Fair. I wanted to be those girls on stage. I was lost in the background, not the singer. I kept my dream secret, singing alone at the piano. When I finally told my family, they were shocked by my talent. Those festivals I dreamed of as a kid didn't seem impossible anymore."
Eggplant:
Song: "One Step Closer" by Linkin Park
Previous songs: "Rocket Man" by Elton John, "American Woman" by Lenny Kravitz
Clue: "Classic Guitar" - "I played these, and now I have one named after me."
Panel guesses: Slash, Kevin Cronin, Rick Springfield, Richie Sambora, Alice Cooper
Previous panel guesses: Martin Short, Nathan Lane, Billy Joel, Daryl Hall, Kenny Loggins
Eggplant's Voiceover:
"Ozzy, an inspiration. Talented and fearless. I lived large, from Billboard to Broadway. I shared the spotlight with Sharon. Fame went to my head, I got wild. I dated a famous rocker's girlfriend, a big mistake. He sent his buddies, I was about to become eggplant parmesan. Nowadays, I've mellowed out. But that rock 'n roll spirit? Still got it."
Pangolin:
Song: "Mama, I'm Coming Home" by Ozzy Osbourne
Previous song: "Ironic" by Alanis Morrisette
Clue: "Diamond" - "This milestone truly shimmered."
Panel guesses: Christina Perri, Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch
Previous panel guesses: Sara Bareilles, Christina Perri, Katy Perry
Pangolin's Voiceover:
"It's an honor to be part of this Ozzy tribute. He stood up for himself, an inspiration. I've had to learn that too. I lived and worked out of my van, on the brink of giving up. Then fame hit, and I felt the need to please everyone. But a powerful song can pull you out of the darkness. Kelly, you've lost so much, but we've honored your dad tonight. We hope we've made you feel at home, even for a moment."
Previous winners of "The Masked Singer" include T-Pain as Monster, Wayne Brady as Fox, Kandi Burruss as Night Angel, LeAnn Rimes as Sun, Nick Lachey as Piglet, Jewel as Queen of Hearts, Teyana Taylor as Firefly, Amber Riley as Harp, Bishop Briggs as Medusa, Ne-Yo as Cow, Vanessa Hudgens as Goldfish, Boyz II Men as Buffalos, and Gretchen Wilson as Pearl.
"The Masked Singer" is produced by Fox Alternative Entertainment, with Rosie Seitchik, Craig Plestis, and Cannon as executive producers. Seitchik serves as showrunner, and the series is based on the South Korean format created by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.
