‘The Masked Singer’ Reveals Beloved 2000s Boy Bander
THIS POST CONTAINS spoilers for this week’s episode of Fox’s The Masked Singer.
On The Masked Singer Season 10’s disco-night episode, it seemed fitting to begin with the Saturday Night Fever hit “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps. During the Group A finals Wednesday night, S’More, Cow, and Gazelle took audiences to funkytown with upbeat tunes, glittering pantsuits, and disco-decorated dancers. In the end, S’More lost his groove and was revealed as O-Town’s Ashley Parker Angel, which panelist Jenny McCarthy guessed correctly.
“I love my boy banders,” McCarthy, who is married to New Kids on the Block’s Donnie Wahlberg, said after the unmasking, adding, “Your voice is so beautiful.”
The episode then jumped into the final battle between Gazelle and Cow. Although Gazelle hit piercing notes during Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” Cow’s slow-jams rendition of the disco hit landed him a spot in the finale. Minutes before Gazelle’s reveal, panelist Ken Jeong wasn’t ready to see the masked celebrity go and saved her from elimination by striking the bell.
“All season long, I’ve been emotionally captivated by your spirit, your vocals, and you,” Jeong said.
Angel climbed to stardom as a member of the boy band O-Town, with their single “All or Nothing” reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001. Following the release of O-Town’s second album, 02, the group began to lose traction. Following talks of a reunion in 2011, Angel told TMZ he turned down the offer in order to make a career shift.
Most recently, Angel joined the Broadway cast of Wicked in 2017, starring as the lead Fiyero. Angel also starred as Fiyero during the Wicked national tour in 2014.
After flashing clues of dumbbells and croc-tiled boots, S’more moonwalked to KC and The Sunshine Band’s “That’s the Way (I Like It),” and Cow strutted down a red carpet singing Anita Ward’s “Ring My Bell.” After the committed performances, Cow pointed to panelist Jenny McCarthy with an important clue: “This cow is absolutely a lady, but I have spent some time with your hubby.” The panelists later guessed Nelly, Ne-Yo, and Usher.
In a sea of disco lights, Gazelle serenaded the crowd to Donna Summer’s “On the Radio,” with Ken convinced it was Constance Wu. The episode also featured a performance by Taylor Dayne, who competed in the show as Popcorn in Season Four.
Last week’s episode saw controversial NBA champion Metta Sandiford-Artest (formerly Ron Artest) unmasked and in earlier weeks, Real Housewives of New York City star Luann de Lesseps, Teen Wolf’s Tyler Posey, LGBTQ trailblazer and tennis icon Billie Jean King, and Vanderpump Rules supervillain Tom Sandoval were all booted.
