# The Masked Singer Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 3, 2019, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149 "2019-01-03T14:54:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/21 "2019-01-04T22:06:00Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Also, David Cassidy died in 2017. Ok, clearly I need to just stop trying to guess this stuff. :smack: šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/22 "2019-01-04T22:34:41Z")
Could someone explain the concept to me please, as Iā€™ll never watch the show. How is the loser determined? Is it after the head to head or do they go on to a second solo round before elimination? I think this is how the original version worked, but in the episodes I watched last year, the loser of the head to head battle would immediately sing a solo song and reveal themselves midway through, then finish their song. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/23 "2019-01-04T23:09:43Z")
I havenā€™t even watched the show, but I saw a clip, and Iā€™m convinced that the lion is EJ Johnson. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/24 "2019-01-04T23:19:01Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > . . . > The ā€œyour mom had my posterā€ bit had me thinking of someone like David Cassidy (the height is right), but at the start of the Peacockā€™s song his voice is pretty deep and I donā€™t remember Cassidy having that kind of low endā€¦it just doesnā€™t quite sound like him (though of course itā€™s possible that his voice has changed some in the past 40 years!). No, but it could be Shaun Cassidy. Heā€™s a good bit taller than David was, I think. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/25 "2019-01-05T01:55:44Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > No, but it could be Shaun Cassidy. Heā€™s a good bit taller than David was, I think. And wasnā€™t his breakthrough hit ā€œDo You Believe in Magic?ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/26 "2019-01-05T02:02:04Z")
Am I the only one who strongly suspects the ā€œperformancesā€ are mimed? Iā€™d say lip synced, but you canā€™t see their mouths. They all sounded horribly over produced. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/27 "2019-01-05T16:56:55Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > Could someone explain the concept to me please, as Iā€™ll never watch the show. Why do you care? :dubious: Seriously: if youā€™re never going to watch the show and you (somehow) already know itā€™s ā€œmessed upā€ compared to the Korean version, why are you even in this thread? > [@TruCelt](#): > > No, but it could be Shaun Cassidy. Heā€™s a good bit taller than David was, I think. The Internet says Shaun Cassidy is 5ā€™11; David was 5ā€™8. The Peacock is 5ā€™9. And while Shaun did cover ā€œDo You Believe In Magic,ā€ his first hit seems to have been ā€œDa Doo Ron Ron.ā€ Iā€™m now leaning toward the Donny Osmond theory on this one, even though I donā€™t remember Osmond being much of a pin-up character back in the day. > [@Doug\_K](#): > > Am I the only one who strongly suspects the ā€œperformancesā€ are mimed? Iā€™d say lip synced, but you canā€™t see their mouths. They all sounded horribly over produced. You are not alone! Itā€™s kind of weird, right?? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/28 "2019-01-05T17:53:29Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I hate this show so much and I hate it precisely because itā€™s stupid and Iā€™m going to watch every episode and pour over the clues to figure out who these people are. I donā€™t so much as hate the show as I hate myself for loving it. > > The Peacock has got to be Donny Osmond right? Given that performing is in his DNA (his whole family) and the vegas-style intro? > > Monster is bugging me too, Iā€™m thinking MC Hammer. Mix tape means 80s/90s, having the industry ā€œturn on himā€ and him wanting to come back speaks to his one-hit wonder ability. His little intro video thing also had a boombox which I want to say was in his ā€œU Canā€™t Touch Thisā€ video? > > Deer = Terry Bradshawā€¦the easiest of the bunch > > Unicorn: I think the internet is saying Tori Spelling, but maybe Lauren Conrad from Laguna Beach? Itā€™s a rich neighborhood and I think she tried a music career once. > > Lion: A Kardashian? > > Let the wild speculation beginā€¦ Pore. ā€œPORE over the clues.ā€ That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/29 "2019-01-05T17:57:53Z")
I was wondering if anyone else was watching this. Itā€™s so bad itā€™s good. I canā€™t stand Jennie McCarthy but Iā€™m willing to put that aside. Donny Osmond is a good call for the Peacock. I had Jesse Eisenberg on the brain because of the ā€œNow You See Meā€ movies but yeah, I now think itā€™s Donny Osmond. Especially the poster on the wall comment, I didnā€™t but a couple of my friends did. I knew the Hippo was a football player because of the way he danced but I couldā€™ve guessed all day and not come up with who it was. Not naming names in case anyone hasnā€™t seen it yet. Terry Bradshaw as the Deer? Could be, but would they have two football players? I kind of liked the judges opinion that heā€™s a wrestler or MMA fighterā€¦ Tori Spelling as the Unicorn? Yeah, that makes sense too. No clue on the other two. Guess Iā€™ll have to keep watching! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/30 "2019-01-05T17:58:37Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > David Cassidy and Donnie Osmond (both 5ā€™9") both played Joseph in touring productions of _Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat_. Osmond also did a direct-to-video film version of _Dreamcoat_ in the 1990s. Hmmm. The production featuring Osmond wound up in residency here in Chicago for over a year. My wife and I went to see it, and he was outstanding in the role. Also, re: colorful ā€“ during his days with the Osmonds, and then on Donny and Marie, he was known for wearing purple (including purple socks). ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/31 "2019-01-05T21:07:59Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Why do you care? :dubious: > > Seriously: if youā€™re never going to watch the show and you (somehow) already know itā€™s ā€œmessed upā€ compared to the Korean version, why are you even in this thread? > > The Internet says Shaun Cassidy is 5ā€™11; David was 5ā€™8. The Peacock is 5ā€™9. And while Shaun did cover ā€œDo You Believe In Magic,ā€ his first hit seems to have been ā€œDa Doo Ron Ron.ā€ Iā€™m now leaning toward the Donny Osmond theory on this one, even though I donā€™t remember Osmond being much of a pin-up character back in the day. > > You are not alone! Itā€™s kind of weird, right?? I like reading about train wrecks! šŸ˜ƒ Seriously though, Iā€™m intrigued about what American TV producers think the American public wants. The original show and the Chinese version, focus on the singing abilities of the contestants, with the contestants often wearing overly elaborate and layered clothing to disguise their age and true occupation. When they speak, their real voices are disguised and they often purposely do things that normally arenā€™t associated with them. There are no clues as to their true identity other than what the judges discuss. From what Iā€™ve read, this American version is more ā€œGuess who I amā€, rather than ā€œJudge me on my singing and entertainment abilitiesā€. Iā€™m genuinely curious if market research has shown that this is what the American public truly wants or itā€™s the producers creating a concept that they think will bring in the most American viewers and profit. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/32 "2019-01-06T00:09:23Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > I like reading about train wrecks! šŸ˜ƒ > > Seriously though, Iā€™m intrigued about what American TV producers think the American public wants. The original show and the Chinese version, focus on the singing abilities of the contestants, with the contestants often wearing overly elaborate and layered clothing to disguise their age and true occupation. When they speak, their real voices are disguised and they often purposely do things that normally arenā€™t associated with them. There are no clues as to their true identity other than what the judges discuss. > > From what Iā€™ve read, this American version is more ā€œGuess who I amā€, rather than ā€œJudge me on my singing and entertainment abilitiesā€. Iā€™m genuinely curious if market research has shown that this is what the American public truly wants or itā€™s the producers creating a concept that they think will bring in the most American viewers and profit. I personally donā€™t give a shit if they can sing or not, I want to see if I can guess the celebrity based on the clues. The singing voice is only there to help me guess ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/33 "2019-01-06T03:30:18Z")
Okay, I gave in a watched a few seconds of a few clips. Itā€™s nothing like the original in any sense other than the masks and costumes. Enjoy all! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/34 "2019-01-06T04:10:43Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > ā€¦even though I donā€™t remember Osmond being much of a pin-up character back in the day. Oh, he was. Big time. He was the only (male) Osmond of any note, for a long while. Only Jimmy was second, the other brothers (much like the Jacksons) didnā€™t factor in hardly at all, except as part of the group. Marie, of course, was Donnyā€™s equal. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/35 "2019-01-06T21:31:28Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > . . . > The Internet says Shaun Cassidy is 5ā€™11; David was 5ā€™8. The Peacock is 5ā€™9. And while Shaun did cover ā€œDo You Believe In Magic,ā€ his first hit seems to have been ā€œDa Doo Ron Ron.ā€ Iā€™m now leaning toward the Donny Osmond theory on this one, even though I donā€™t remember Osmond being much of a pin-up character back in the day. > . . . What about Leif Garrett? I donā€™t know why Donny doesnā€™t seem right to me, it just doesnā€™t. I canā€™t see him moving that way, especially the part where he acted aggressive. But Leif, yeah; I could see him doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/36 "2019-01-06T22:05:19Z")
While this show sounds like new dimensions in awfulness, thereā€™s nothing intrinsically wrong with the concept of [masked singers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FehZS0vYo3U). ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/37 "2019-01-07T01:35:02Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > While this show sounds like new dimensions in awfulness, thereā€™s nothing intrinsically wrong with the concept of [masked singers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FehZS0vYo3U). [Ahem](https://youtu.be/thHCIxnzktk?t=180) ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/38 "2019-01-07T01:42:07Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > What about Leif Garrett? I donā€™t know why Donny doesnā€™t seem right to me, it just doesnā€™t. I canā€™t see him moving that way, especially the part where he acted aggressive. > But Leif, yeah; I could see him doing that. Thatā€™s my guess too, but my sister pointed out the dog connection- didnā€™t Osmond have a song called puppy love? But wiki says Leif also started performing at age 5. Oh and Iā€™m guessing Tori spelling for unicorn, and Rumer Well s for lion. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/39 "2019-01-07T04:09:34Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Thatā€™s my guess too, but my sister pointed out the dog connection- didnā€™t Osmond have a song called puppy love? He did ā€“ it was a cover of a Paul Anka song. [Osmond recorded it as a solo act in 1972](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_Love_(Paul_Anka_song)#Donny_Osmond_version) (when he was 15), and it made it to #3 on the U.S. chart. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149/40 "2019-01-07T04:59:47Z")
This show is not that stupid. Itā€™s just dragged on for FAR too long. The performances, assuming they are live, are not bad, but I just watch on demand and go and do other things during the non-performance parts. The judges are idiots. No A-list stars are going to be on this show. Probably no B-list either. The reveal last week some some football player I had never heard of. And judges are saying ā€œMaybe itā€™s Beyonceā€ Come on. I like the performances so Iā€™ll just watch on demand. But itā€™s not like Tom Cruise or Lady Gaga is going to be on the show or anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-masked-singer-thread/827149.md?page=3)