‘THE MASKED SINGER' REVEALS IDENTITY OF MISS CLEOCATRA: HERE IS THE CELEBRITY UNDER THE COSTUME
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 11, Episode 8 of "The Masked Singer," "Girl Group Night," which aired April 24 on Fox.
Jenifer Lewis spent a year recovering from a devastating 10-foot fall while on safari in Tanzania. It was while she was still in bed, convalescing, that she got a call from "The Masked Singer." "I still couldn't walk," she told Variety. "And my friends encouraged me to get out of bed and go do what I love to do. ‘You'll be in front of a live audience, you'll be singing, you'll be in a mask, but you'll still be doing what you really love to do, which is to entertain.'"
"The Masked Singer" revealed on Wednesday night's edition that "Black-ish" star Lewis was Group B's "Miss Cleocatra." Lewis was unmasked after performing "Free Your Mind," by En Vogue, and before that, "Stormy Weather," by Etta James.
Lewis said the show accommodated her limitations on stage. "They bolted me to the floor in a harness when I sang ‘Stormy Weather,' and when I sang the En Vogue song, the mic was bolted. You'll see, I never let go of it because I couldn't walk. But it did lift my spirit to get up and do ‘The Masked Singer.' It was the best decision I made."
Lewis came up with the idea of being a Cleopatra-like character, "because I knew they could carry me out on the stage. They could sit me on the throne, and the muscle men could escort me around."
But, because she was still in a bit of pain, "I was still on a little morphine. So if you look closely, when I'm on that throne, you'll see a little nodding off up there," Lewis said. "I was so stoned walking around!"
Lewis said she has improved greatly in recent months. "I'm doing great," she said. "People ask me, ‘On a scale of one to 10, how are you doing?' I'm a nine and a half. I want to tell the kids when you fall, however you fall, get up. Get up. That's all we got."
For Miss Cleocatra, Ken Jeong got it right with Jenifer Lewis. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg named Loretta Devine. Rita Ora guessed Roberta Flack. Robin Thicke went with Loretta Devine as well.
Lewis was unveiled on Wednesday as Miss Cleocatra, after a smackdown with the other lowest vote-getter, the Seal. The duo faced off in a smackdown, each performing their own version of "Waterfalls," by TLC. Seal will return next week for the Group B finals.
It was "Girl Groups Night," and the panel opened by singing "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls.
Jenifer Lewis as Miss Cleocatra joins Kate Flannery (Starfish), Charlie Wilson (Ugly Sweater), DeMarcus Ware (Koala), Colton Underwood (Love Bird), Sisqó (Lizard), Billy Bush (Sir Lion), Joe Bastianich (Spaghetti & Meatballs), Savannah Chrisley (Afghan Hound) and Kevin Hart (Book) as the celebrities unmasked on "The Masked Singer" this season.
Back for Season 11 are host Nick Cannon, alongside panelists Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, while Rita Ora has joined the desk to fill in for Nicole Scherzinger, who was in London to star on the West End's "Sunset Boulevard."
"The Masked Singer" Season 11 features themed episodes including "The Wizard of Oz," in celebration of the 85th anniversary of the classic film; "Transformers" (marking the brand's 40th anniversary) and music tributes including "Billy Joel Night" and "Queen Night." Additional themes include "Girl Groups," "Soundtrack of My Life," "TV Theme Night" and "Shower Anthems."
With sixteen total celebrity singers, including three "wildcards," Season 11 features new costumes including "Gumball," "Lizard," "Ugly Sweater," "Goldfish," "Starfish," "Book," "Gumball," "Miss Cleocatra," "Afghan Hound," "Beets," "Poodle Moth," "Clock," "Spaghetti & Meatballs," "Lizard," "Koala," "Seal" and "Sir Lion." According to the show, the Season 11 contestants boast a combined 22 Grammy nominations, 11 platinum albums, 33 Teen Choice nominations, 108 million records sold, 326 film appearances and 1.7 billion Spotify streams.
Next week, we'll find out which Group B winner faces off against Group A winner Goldfish and Group C's Poodle Moth and Clock for the quarter finals.
Here were the Group B performances on Wednesday's Episode 8, "Girl Group Night":
Gumball
Song: "Wide Open Spaces," by the Chicks
Panel guesses: Aaron Taylor Johnson, Derek Hough, Taran Killam
Clue: Delivered by Carnie Wilson, singing "Don't Cha." "Don't you wish you could have starred with Channing Tatum like me?"
Package voiceover: "You all got my heart beating last time with all of your love. And the last smackdown, that was wicked fun. It's exciting to perform on girl group night because there's actually one girl who's been singing lead in my life for years. My wife. I still remember the night that I met her. An angel from across the room. I knew right then and there I'd spend the rest of my life with her. And everything was perfect. Until she was diagnosed with a disease that would impact her later in life. Suddenly, the forever that we were planning looked very different, and we had a decision to make. We could let what was on the horizon define us, or we could choose to be present each and every moment. To say yes more and explore all of the wide open spaces out there. Tonight, I'm singing one of her favorite songs, just for her."
Previous song: "If I Only Had a Heart," by Jack Haley
Previous panel guesses: Chace Crawford, Kevin Jonas, Jamie Dornan
Beets
Song: "I'm So Excited," by the Pointer Sisters
Panel guesses: Brooks and Dunn; Titus Burgess and Alan Cumming; Zach Braff and Donald Faison
Clue: Delivered by Raven-Symoné, singing "Weak." "We made our audience weak in the knees on Broadway."
Package voiceover: "Last time, we really brought it home. So the pressure's on to pay homage to the ladies tonight. Like the best girl groups out there, we both bring our own spice. I was the total ladies man. [And I was the tough guy.] Two guys who couldn't be any more different. But we didn't try to outdo each other. Instead, like a good girl group, we teamed up. [It was our organic friendship that made us a delicious duo and kept us on the menus nationwide.] Yeah, we're still touring, hitting the town. [We'd be so excited to make it to the Group B finale. And tonight is the night that we're going to make it happen.]"
Previous song: "Home," by Michael Bublé
Previous panel guesses: Will Arnett and Jason Bateman; K-Ci and Jojo; Steve Martin and Martin Short
Miss Cleocatra
Song: "Free Your Mind," by En Vogue
Panel guesses: Roberta Flack, Loretta Devine, Jenifer Lewis
Clue: Delivered by Carnie Wilson, singing "Stop! In the Name of Love." "The Supremes aren't just on my playlist. They're a part of my career."
Package voiceover: "I really caused a storm last time. I was the cat's meow! I'm thrilled to be here tonight to champion fierce girl groups. You know I had my own gang of great women who shaped me. Starting with my own mother. She was a maid, so I didn't have to be. But the best gift I ever got from her was her work ethic. It made me the hardest hustler in Tinseltown. Now, all the brightest starst look to me, including Michelle Obama and her mother. I'm most proud of the little princesses who see me as their queen. I want them to know if they want to be supreme, free your mind and work harder than anyone else. And thanks Ma, for showing me that!"
Previous song: "Stormy Weather," by Etta James
Previous panel guesses: Taraji P. Henson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine
Seal (WILDCARD)
Song: "Hold On," by Wilson Phillips
Panel guesses: Haley Joel Osment, Corey Feldman, Sean Astin
Clue: Delivered by Raven-Symoné, singing "Bo$$." "Well, you know, it's easy to be confident when you have a boss like Steven Spielberg."
Package voiceover: "For thousands of years, it was buried in the ice. Waiting for the perfect time to strike. Beware, the seal. Hey guys, what's all the fuzz about? Just like the seal, I'm cute, cuddly and friendly. It would make sense that I'm the wildcard, because I was mistakingly perceived as a wild child. You only know me from your screens, radios or posters tacked up to your walls. And I'm so excited to be here on girl groups night, because I was in one of the most famous groups in the world. And now, I'll get your seal of approval, with a girl group anthem from some Masked Singer alums."
Last season's performers included Ne-Yo as Cow, John Schneider as Donut, Macy Gray as Sea Queen and Janel Parrish as Gazelle join John Oates as Anteater, Keyshia Cole as Candelabra, Sebastian Bach as Tiki, Ginuwine as Husky, Ashley Parker Angel as S'more, Metta World Peace as Cuddle Monster, Luann de Lesseps as Hibiscus, Tyler Posey as Hawk, Billie Jean King as Royal Hen, Michael Rapaport as Pickle, Tom Sandoval as Diver, Anthony Anderson as Rubber Ducky and one-time special guest Demi Lovato as Anonymouse.
Fox Alternative Entertainment is behind "The Masked Singer," which is exec produced by showrunner James Breen, Craig Plestis, and Nick Cannon. The series is based on the South Korean format created by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.