Pop icon Debbie Gibson after performing as a giant white night owl was eliminated after losing a battle royale match on Wednesday’s episode of The Masked Singer.
The show’s host Nick Cannon, 42, hugged Debbie, 52, when she was unmasked at the end of the season nine episode on Fox.
“You’re amazing,” Nick said. We have an icon in the building!
Debbie revealed that she had actually agreed to be on the show just 24 hours earlier after stepping in at the last minute when another contestant fell ill. Nick asked her to share the incredible story of how it all happened.
“Not to tone it down, but to keep it real, I lost my mom a year ago,” Debbie said. And yesterday was the anniversary and she was flying back from New York. She was boarding the plane with my manager and she said someone might be sick and couldn’t do the show. You have to be in Los Angeles tomorrow. So I was late last night, and I’m very glad to be here with you tonight.
ABBA Night: Pop icon Debbie Gibson after performing as a giant white Night Owl was eliminated after losing a battle royale sing-off on Wednesday’s episode of The Masked Singer
“And your mom is shining on you,” said Nicole Scherzinger, 44.
“My mom said, ‘Girl, get back to work,'” Debbie joked.
“Not a lot of people, Debbie, can just walk in here and do that,” said Jenny McCarthy, 50. ‘It is a testament to your incredible talent. You are a class act.
‘This was so much fun.’ Debbie said.
Debbie as Night Owl was dressed in a giant white owl costume with white tights and before her performance she shared hints about her identity. The clues said that she broke records at the age of 17 and paved the way for some famous singers while name checking Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
He also drank a ‘Long Island’ iced tea. As Night Owl, she performed ABBA’s song Fernando, as part of ABBA’s theme night, and the crowd cheered when it was over.
“It just seemed so easy from the movement to the vocals,” Robin said. ‘Very easy. Beautiful.’
The panel gave their final guesses on Night Owl’s identity.
It killed him: As Night Owl, the 52-year-old singer performed the ABBA song Fernando
Big Applause: The audience cheered for Night Owl when he finished his performance.
The panelists: Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong and Nicole Scherzinger wore appropriate outfits for ABBA Night
Last-minute replacement: “Not to tone it down, but to keep it real, I lost my mom a year ago,” Debbie said. And yesterday was the anniversary and she was flying back from New York. She was boarding the plane with my manager and she said someone might be sick and couldn’t do the show. You have to be in Los Angeles tomorrow. So I was late last night, and I’m very glad to be here with you tonight.
Ken insisted that she was Sarah Jessica Parker.
“Sit down,” Jenny said.
Robin thought it was Kylie Minogue. Nicole thought that she might be Belinda Carlisle from GoGo, but only Jenny correctly guessed that she was ‘the Great Debbie Gibson’.
Howie Mandel, 67, was the first contestant to be unmasked after performing as Rock Lobster in a giant red lobster costume that featured a gold jacket and leather pants.
Rock Lobster’s clues included that he had been on TV shows and that millions of people had seen him dance. He also said that he was a prankster and that he got kicked out of three different schools.
She performed ABBA’s song SOS, and her voice was so terrible that it made the audience laugh from the beginning. The crowd chanted her name when she finished.
“I want to have a drink with you,” Nicole said.
Drag queen icon Shangela delivered a clue to Rock Lobster’s identity that it was a mallet covered in a row of sequins.
Rocking out: Rock Lobster clues included that he had been on TV shows and that millions of people had seen him dance
Ken Jeong, 53, was sure it was Howie.
“There’s no way this is Howie Mandel,” Jenny said. ‘He’s a germaphobe. There’s no way he’s going to put on that costume.
Nicole thought it might be Martin Short, while Robin thought it might be Jackass star Steve-O.
After receiving the lowest combined scores, Rock Lobster was eliminated first. Nicole and Robin were certain in their final guesses that it was Martin Short.
Ken insisted that it was Comedian Howie and was shocked at the unmasking when he realized he was right.
Nick asked Howie why he wanted to compete on The Masked Singer. Howie said that he mainly went on the show because he missed working with Nick on America’s Got Talent.
“Number two, when you watch this show, it’s fun and I just wanted to have fun,” Howie said. ‘ The truth is that I sing and dance. I sing on TikTok. I have like 10 million viewers watching me dance, so I thought it must be amazing. I’m going to compete.
‘You really are amazing,’ said Nick.
Maskless: Howie Mandel was under the mask of Rock Lobster and was excited to reunite with his America’s Got Talent co-star Nick Cannon.
Together again: Howie said he mainly went on the show because he missed working with Nick
Nick asked her what it was like to be a contestant instead of a judge.
“Everything is backwards,” Howie said. “I’ll be honest with you, but as Jews we’re not supposed to put on lobsters or shellfish because it’s not kosher.” It’s so rare for a Jew to be in a lobster. Everything is backwards tonight. I’m very confused.’
Medusa, who took the stage wearing a giant green snake mask, was the first performer for the episode and came out singing ABBA’s hit song, The Dancing Queen. Before going on stage, she shared another clue which was a photo of Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Jenny told him that she was her favorite contestant.
“Girl, you’re a star,” Jenny said.
Bachelor alum Nick Viall, 42, appeared on the show to hint at Medusa’s identity. The clue was a first-class ticket to Tokyo in the name of Medusa with the flight number 1996.
“I’m going around the world and I love it,” said Medusa.
Nicole thought it might be Lorde. Robin thought that she might be Apple, the daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin.
First up: Medusa, who took the stage wearing a giant green snake mask, was the first performer for the episode and came out singing ABBA’s hit song, The Dancing Queen.
“That would be awesome,” Nick said.
Ken said he was sure it was Dakota Johnson.
Later, Medusa and Night Owl competed in Battle Royale, both singing covers of ABBA’s The Winner Takes All.
“That was exceptional,” Robin said when they finished.
“Even Howie was impressed,” Jenny said.
“But who am I to judge,” Howie quipped while sitting in the VIP section of the show.
Ken laughed.
“That was awesome,” Howie said.
Battle Royale: The episode featured a Battle Royale between Medusa and Night Owl
“It was an incredible battle royale,” said Nick.
“Night Owl, you were born to sing ABBA,” Nicole said. Your tone rings like a bell. It’s lovely. Is pure.
“There’s this elegance and sophistication in Night Owl and then when you have Medusa, there’s this raw guttural emotion that just screams,” Ken said. ‘This is going to be incredibly difficult.’
Robin then explained that they might as well save a contestant with the show’s new bell.
When the results were tabulated, Medusa was declared the winner and will continue on in the competition.
The Masked Singer will return next Wednesday on Fox.
Great performance: Debbie despite a huge losing effort to Medusa who advanced in the competition