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The Masked Singer
Season 12
Promotional poster for season twelve, featuring "Chess Piece"
Starring	Robin Thicke Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg Ken Jeong Rita Ora
Hosted by	Nick Cannon
No. of contestants	15
Winner	Boyz II Men as "Buffalos"
Runner-up	Mario as "Wasp"
No. of episodes	12
Release
Original network	Fox
Original release	September 25 (2024-09-25) – December 18, 2024 (2024-12-18)
Season chronology
← Previous Season 11
List of episodes

The twelfth season of the American television series The Masked Singer premiered on Fox on September 25, 2024, and concluded on December 18, 2024. The season was won by vocal R&B group Boyz II Men as the "Buffalos", with singer Mario finishing second as "Wasp".

Panelists and host

Nick Cannon, singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, television and radio personality Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, actor and comedian Ken Jeong and recording artist Rita Ora all returned from the previous season. Ora was absent in the eleventh episode due to illness, so Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, and Ken Jeong appeared alone.

William Shatner, who portrayed "Knight" during the eighth season, appeared as a special guest during the first episode. Kevin Bacon appeared as a special guest during the second episode. Joel McHale and Nikki Glaser (who portrayed "Snowstorm" in the eighth season) appeared as guest commentators in the fourth episode. The Peanuts gang appeared during the ninth episode. Season five winner Nick Lachey, Robin's mother Gloria Loring, and Rita's husband Taika Waititi, the latter two appearing in the audience, appeared in the season finale.

Production

Much like the previous four seasons of the series, the twelfth season features the return of themed nights. Throughout the season, themes include nights dedicated to Miley Cyrus and the film Footloose. Additionally, other themes include a night dedicated to the toy-film brand Barbie, "60s Night", "Sports Night", "Who Are You Fest", and "Peanuts Thanksgiving". "Soundtrack Of My Life" was featured once again after having already been represented in the previous two seasons.

Contestants

The contestants were revealed between August 15 and September 23, 2024. The season features 15 contestants divided into three groups of five. This is the first season since the seventh season to not feature Wild Card contestants or contestants that join the competition later than the rest. Additionally, the "Ding Dong Keep It On" bell returned from the previous three seasons. The bell allows the panel to save one contestant from being eliminated throughout the three group finals and bring them to the quarterfinals.

On August 15, 2024, it was confirmed that former contestants such as Dick Van Dyke, Jewel, Ne-Yo, and DeMarcus Ware would appear as Mask Ambassadors for the new contestants throughout the season. Each Mask Ambassador has a connection to the contestant and serves as a clue to their identity.

The Buffalos made history as they became the first group ever to win in any version of the Masked Singer worldwide.

•  WIN  The masked singer won with their performance and advanced in the competition.
•  KEPT  The masked singer was saved from elimination by a panelist using the "Ding Dong Keep It On" bell.
•  SAFE  The masked singer was safe from elimination.
•  RISK  The masked singer was in the bottom two, but was not eliminated.
•  OUT  The masked singer was eliminated from the competition and unmasked.
•   The masked singer did not perform.

Episodes

Week 1 (September 25) - "Season 12 Premiere: Who Can It Be Now?"

Guest performance: Panelist Rita Ora performs "Who Can It Be Now?" by Men at Work

Week 2 (October 2) - "Footloose Night"

Guest performance: Panelist Robin Thicke performs "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins

Week 3 (October 9) - "Group A Finals: Soundtrack of My Life"

Group performance: "High Hopes" by Panic! at the Disco

• After being unmasked, Cole performed her signature song "I Don't Want to Wait" as her encore performance.

Week 4 (October 16) - "Group B Premiere: Sports Night"

Guest performance: Panelists Rita Ora and Robin Thicke perform "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by Scorpions

Week 5 (October 23) - "Barbie Night"

Guest performance: Panelist Ken Jeong performs "I'm Just Ken" by Ryan Gosling

Week 6 (November 6) - "Group B Finals: '60s Night"

Group performance: "Fun, Fun, Fun" by The Beach Boys

Week 7 (November 13) - "Group C Premiere: Who Are You Fest"

Week 8 (November 20) - "Miley Cyrus Night"

Group performance: "Party in the U.S.A."

Week 9 (November 28) - "Group C Finals: A Peanuts Thanksgiving"

Guest performance: Panelists Rita Ora and Robin Thicke perform "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oates

Week 10 (December 4) - "Quarter Finals: Merging of the Masks"

Week 11 (December 11) - "Semi-Finals: The Final Three"

Group performance: "Some Nights" by Fun

• After being unmasked, Michalka performed her signature song "Potential Breakup Song" as her encore performance.

Week 12 (December 18) - "Finale: A Champion Is Crowned"

Guest performance: Nick Lachey performs "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Andy Williams

• After being unmasked, Mario performed his signature song "Let Me Love You" as his encore performance, and Boyz II Men performed their signature song "Motownphilly".

Ratings

Notes

1. ^ While in the middle of their unmasking and per the chanting of the audience, panelist Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg used the "Ding Dong Keep It On" bell to save Goo from elimination, allowing the portrayer to keep their mask on and continue in the competition.
2. Brown was previously a guest panelist during the third season.

References

1. ^ Lauren Huff (August 15, 2024). "Masked Singer announces Footloose and Miley Cyrus theme nights, plus Dick Van Dyke and Jewel return". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
2. "The Masked Singer Season 12 Contestants". bracketology. September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
3. Dixon, Marcus (September 15, 2024). "'The Masked Singer' Season 12 costumes, judges and host". GoldDerby. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
4. Pucci, Douglas (September 26, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: ESPN Bests Fox and NBC in Demos Due to Caitlin Clark-Fueled Cable Record WNBA Playoff Game". Retrieved September 26, 2024.
5. Pucci, Douglas (October 3, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: ESPN Networks Top Prime Time Demos with MLB Postseason". Retrieved October 3, 2024.
6. Pucci, Douglas (October 10, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: Abbott Elementary Season Premiere on ABC Builds in Demos from Lead-In". Retrieved October 10, 2024.
7. Pucci, Douglas (October 17, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: Bret Baier's Sit-Down with Kamala Harris on Fox News was Most-Watched Interview of 2024 Election Season". Retrieved October 17, 2024.
8. Pucci, Douglas (October 24, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: CNN Outdraws All Networks Except NBC During Kamala Harris Town Hall". Retrieved October 24, 2024.
9. Pucci, Douglas (November 8, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: ESPN and Fox News Tops in Prime Time Demos". Retrieved November 8, 2024.
10. Pucci, Douglas (November 14, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: NBC and CBS Share Prime Time Victory". Retrieved November 14, 2024.
11. Pucci, Douglas (November 21, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: ABC Wins the Night Despite Slight Slippage for CMA Awards". Retrieved November 21, 2024.
12. Pucci, Douglas (December 3, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC and Peacock Sets New All-Time Viewer Record". Retrieved December 3, 2024.
13. Pucci, Douglas (December 6, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: 'Abbott Elementary' on ABC Delivers its Most-Watched Wednesday Night Telecast in 22 Months". Retrieved December 6, 2024.
14. Pucci, Douglas (December 13, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: CBS Tops Neatly All Key Demos in Prime Time with Two Hours of 'Survivor 47′". Retrieved December 13, 2024.
15. Pucci, Douglas (December 19, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: 'Survivor' on CBS Hits Season-High in Viewers and 18-49 with 47th Finale". Retrieved December 19, 2024.

• 2024 American television seasons
• The Masked Singer (American TV series)