“The Masked Singer” Season 12 Episode 5 Recap: Chess Piece Revealed

SPOILER ALERT: Details for “The Masked Singer” Season 12, Episode 5, “Barbie Night,” which aired October 23 on Fox, follow.

Checkmate. “Orange Is the New Black” star Laverne Cox was the next celebrity to be eliminated from “The Masked Singer.” On Wednesday's episode, it was revealed that she is the celebrity in the chess piece costume.

None of the panelists got it right. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg said it was Serena Williams. Ken Jeong thought it was Issa Rae. Robin Thicke calls himself Misty Copeland. Rita Ora said it was Tyra Banks.

“As a child, I was a rich target for others to tease. “It seemed like every part of me was something for others to pick on,” Cox-as-Chess-Piece said in her voiceover on “Masked Singer.” “And besides, I loved Barbie. But what hurt was that I wasn't allowed to play with her. The criticism and scrutiny continued over the years and made me question everything I love about myself. So I had to take control of my own board. And the only thing that helped me heal was the one thing I was missing all along: Barbie. I started buying them for myself and realized that it is never too late to have a happy childhood. Even decades later. And now they even modeled one after me. Barbie can be anything. She gave me and every woman the feeling that we too could be anything. That's why I'm here tonight to celebrate all of us. Every woman out there.”

Cox sang Chaka Khan's “I'm Every Woman” for her appearance on this week's episode. “Barbie Night” began with panelists McCarthy-Wahlberg, Thicke and Ora coming on stage and being told they were the best. Off to the side, a forlorn Jeong sang his version of “I'm Just Ken” from the “Barbie” movie.

Laverne Cox as Chess Piece joins Andy Richter as Dusty Bunny, Paula Cole as Ship, Marsai Martin as Woodpecker, Yvette Nicole Brown as Showbird and John Elway as Leaf Sheep as the celebrities to be unmasked in Season 12 of The Masked Singer .

Last week, Cox sang “Believe” by Cher and offered this voiceover: “Look, I love a fashion moment. I just never thought I would be here. There were times when I felt like a chess piece with no protection. People have doubted me my whole life. But I had to believe in myself. And take bold steps across the board to secure the crown and the leadership role that has changed my game.”

Returning for season 12 are host Nick Cannon as well as panelists Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, while Ora also returned to the panel for the second year in a row to fill in for Nicole Scherzinger.

Thematic episodes of The Masked Singer Season 12 include tributes to Mattel's Barbie on its 65th anniversary and the film Footloose on its 40th anniversary. Miley Cyrus will also be honored with an episode dedicated to her music catalog. Also new is a “Who Are You Fest” with music from “memorable festival lineups,” as well as a “Sports Night” and a “60’s Night.” Returning tentpole themes include “Soundtrack of My Life” and “Thanksgiving Night.”

New this season are cues that are “strategically embedded into costumes, song choices and stage moments.” And the fifteen celebrity contestants will be joined by a “celebrity masked ambassador” made up of previous contestants including Dick Van Dyke (Season 9 Gnome), Jewel (Season 6 winner as Queen of Hearts), and Ne-yo (Season 10 winner). as the cow) and DeMarcus Ware (Koala from season 11). And the “Ding Dong Keep It On” bell rings again this morning, but only one singer from the three group finals can be saved.

Season 12 features 15 contestants in new costumes, including Ship, Leaf Sheep, Woodpecker, Chess Piece, Bluebell, Buffalo, Showbird, Dust Bunny, Goo , “Strawberry Shortcake” and more.

Here were Group B's first performances in episode 4, “Sports Night,” on Wednesday:

Bluebell

Song: “Dance the Night” by Dua Lipa

Panel assumptions: Amy Adams, Anne Hathaway, Lindsay Lohan

Barbie note: Astronaut. “I have been ready to take you from this world ever since I arrived.”

Bluebell voiceover: “Barbie believes you can be anything. And as a young seedling, I believed I could be a star. I even wrote a list of all my goals and never doubted that they would come true. So when I had my first break, I thought: What could possibly go wrong? The answer? Everything. My career was shrinking, money was drying up, and I was struggling to keep up. But I never stopped believing in myself. So I started nurturing a new talent and suddenly a new career blossomed. And now I never miss an opportunity to dance the night away. Because every moment in life is blue.”

Previous song: “We Belong” by Pat Benatar

Previous panel guesses: Taylor Momsen, Elle Goulding, Paris Hilton, Leighton Meester

Goo

Song: “Miss Independent” by Ne-Yo

Panel assumptions: Al Green, Cee-lo Green, Kirk Franklin, Johnny Gill

Barbie note: Malibu Barbie House. “This is a dream house. Which is pretty fitting for Robin. Because I know he’s a fan.”

Goo voiceover: “You know, Barbie is about empowering young women. Show them that you can achieve your dreams. And there's a daredevil in my life – my future Mrs. Goo. I'll tell you how we met. At a theme park where, ironically, I was frustrated and grumpy. I was on guard. I was stewing alone on a bench when I looked up and saw her hand. She asked me to dance. And I immediately lost friendliness, playfulness and confidence. In that one moment I realized I had met my soft match. And I can't wait to be her Mr. Goo next year. Now she has encouraged me to be as playful as she is! For her, this appearance is the most independent of all women. The most romantic gesture? Before we say, 'I Goo'.”

Previous song: “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims

Previous panel guesses: Jon Batiste, Shaboozey, Khalid

wasp

Song: “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato

Panel assumptions: Miguel, Frank Ocean, Daveed Diggs

Barbie note: Puppets on stage. “Every minute that I’m out there, I take my live performances to a new level.”

Wasp voiceover: “Barbie may have her own dream house, and so will I. But it took me a while to realize it. I lived with over a dozen other family members. All hustlers. There was so much noise and love in the house, but one thing was missing: and that was my father. Without his guidance, I felt like I had no where to go. When I ventured out into the world as a young wasp with big dreams, I had to learn to stand alone. When I finally made it, I came home and my whole family was there. Much to my surprise, so did my father. And when I spoke to him privately, he told me he was proud of me. And for the first time, I felt like I had limitless potential. For every hard memory in the house, there was a good one. And most importantly, I made my dreams come true here. So I think it was a dream house after all.”

Previous song: “Rock Your Body” by Justin Timberlake

Previous panel guesses: Taye Diggs, Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo

Chess piece

Song: “I am every woman” by Chaka Khan

Panel assumptions: Tyra Banks, Misty Copeland, Issa Rae

Barbie note: Barbie Vanity Mirror Set. “I actually have this toy at home, but it’s the life-size version.”

Chess Piece Voiceover: “As a child, I was a rich target for others to tease. It seemed like every part of me was something for others to pick on. And besides, I loved Barbie. But what hurt was that I wasn't allowed to play with her. The criticism and scrutiny continued over the years and made me question everything I love about myself. So I had to take control of my own board. And the only thing that helped me heal was the one thing I was missing all along: Barbie. I started buying them for myself and realized that it is never too late to have a happy childhood. Even decades later. And now they even modeled one after me. Barbie can be anything. She gave me and every woman the feeling that we too could be anything. That's why I'm here tonight to celebrate all of us. Every woman out there.”

Previous song: “Believe” by Cher

Previous panel guesses: Serena Williams, Regina King, Ashley Graham

Last season's cast included Vanessa Hudgens, who won the Season 11 crown as Goldfish, defeating Scott Porter, who appeared as Gumball. Other cast members included Thelma Houston (Clock), Chrissy Metz (Poodle Moth), Corey Feldman (Seal) and Clay Aiken/Ruben Studdard (Beets), Jenifer Lewis (Miss Cleocatra), 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).

“The Masked Singer” comes from Fox Alternative Entertainment. Rosie Seitchik, Craig Plestis and Cannon are executive producers, while Seitchik serves as showrunner. The series is based on the South Korean format of Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.