‘The Masked Singer’ Recap: Bear Can See Russia From Her House

Before we’re introduced to the final roundup of fresh, disguised faces this season -- that would be Group C -- let’s recap the way this all has gone down to-date. 

Group A started out with six, then proceeded to lose Lil Wayne, Drew Carey and, scandalously, Chaka Khan. The three remaining masked belters moved on to the Super 9. Group B followed suit and saw Tony Hawk, Dionne Warwick and Tom Bergeron booted from its ranks before the three members left standing joined their counterparts from Group A in the Super 9.

This brings us to Group C, the identities of which Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Nicole Scherzinger are tasked with figuring out, sans a guest panelist this week. Are they up for it? Host Nick Cannon points out that so far they “are two for six” in their Season 3 guesses. So, an emphatic “no” would be the answer to that question.

Night Angel

Here’s a costume you all should know, because it’s likely shown up in your nightmares at some point, much like the departed Taco is still showing up in mine. Night Angel’s clues are something to do with a motel (and, particularly, room numbers 4 and 6), gangster grandmas and references to song titles like “Landslide” and “The Boy Is Mine.”

The creepy-costumed diva knocks Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love A Bad Name” out of the park with a performance that Jenny calls “by far, the best” of the season. Robin thinks Night Angel is Taylor Dayne, while Jenny goes with Monica and Nicole guesses Lil’ Kim.

Bear

“After years of hearing all the phony baloney, I’m sick of everyone not knowing who I really am,” declares Bear during her clues package. “This mama bear is coming out of hibernation.” Oh, boy.

Turns out, Bear can rap a mean “Baby Got Back” like the best of college seniors drunk atop a table the night before finals. Willikers! Ken spouts out Tonya Harding’s name, while Robin is thinking Tina Fey. Ken then throws out Britney Spears, which prompts Nicole to do an eerily spot-on Britney vocal impression.

Astronaut

This helmeted dude drops clues about having been a heartthrob at one point and mentions “pitch perfect.” All of this seems to point toward former teen idol.

A solid performance of Lauren Daigle’s “You Say” follows, and Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson is Ken’s top guess. Jenny goes with Lance Bass, given that the former *NSYNCer had unrealized space travel ambitions in the early 2000s. Nicole, meanwhile, opts for Zac Efron.

T-Rex

This extinct beast bursts onto the stage dancing “like my 9-year-old son,” Robin says. T-Rex clues us in that she was “discovered by another who plucked me out of obscurity,” but then it happened -- a “cataclysmic event that changed my world forever.”

T-Rex is indeed a solid dancer, but can’t sing for her life. We’ll give her a gold star for trying with Pink’s “So What,” though. Kourtney Kardashian, Maddie Ziegler and, of all people, Rebecca Black, of “Friday” infamy, are the names thrown out by the expert panelists. (Thanks for the latter, Nicole.)

Rhino

Rhino legit looks like he’s about eight feet tall while standing next to host Nick Cannon. The “gentle giant” says he was once center stage and “the toast of the town every week,” until “being on top became an addiction.” Then he crashed and burned. There’s also an allusion to the Grand Ole Opry.

Rhino gives an impressive take on John Hiatt’s “Have A Little Faith In Me.” Jenny goes with Jason Aldean, while Nicole guesses Tim McGraw, who’s wife’s name is obviously Faith (Hill).

Swan

The night ends with sassy Swan, who appears to have studied ballet. She also gives us references to vampires and ghosts -- or as Jenny says, “horror vibes.” I’m here for all of this.

Swan does a Broadway-esque rendition of Peggy Lee classic “Fever.” Ken zeroes in on the fangs from the clues package and suggests Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev. Nicole throws out Jennifer Love Hewitt, formerly of The Ghost Whisperer, while Robin is thinking Sarah Michelle Gellar, of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I Know What You Did Last Summer fame.

Eliminated: The panel and audience alike seemed to dig Bear’s rapping with “Baby Got Back.” Alas, she’s voted off. I don’t know about you kids, but when Sarah Palin’s head pops out from under the mask, it’s the biggest shock I’ve certainly had from three seasons of this surreal show so far.

Sarah Palin rapping in the age of Coronavirus. What a time.