The Wild Card Twist on 'The Masked Singer,' Fully Explained
Although the new Wild Cards don't get as much screen time as the original contestants, viewers still get to know them well enough.
Updated March 27 2024, 1:34 p.m. ET
It seems as though with every new season of The Masked Singer comes a another plot twist (or two), as if there weren't already enough featured in the hit reality singing competition series. In Season 5, producers decided to shake things up a bit by adding the Wildcard twist into the mix — and it was the game-changer we had all been waiting for. But what exactly is a Wild Card on The Masked Singer?
The show, which now stands tall beside its competitors like American Idol and The Voice, teased us with the Wild Card long before explaining what it was. But it’s actually far less complex than you might guess.
Who are the Wild Cards on 'The Masked Singer'?
The Wild Card contestants are those who join the competition later in the season, generally after the initial group of singers has been established. They act as an element of surprise, making the competition even more exciting than it already is.
The very first Wild Card costume of Season 5 was introduced by guest host Niecy Nash, but not until every member from Group A had taken the stage. The contestants in Group A included Robopine, Seashell, Raccoon, and Russian Dolls. After the mystery Wild Card completed their performance, they were also immediately put at risk of getting voted out — just like the contestants they were going up against.
This meant Robopine, Seashell, Raccoon, and the Russian Dolls of Season 5 all had a chance to progress to the next round if the Wild Card player didn’t do their best to impress. In Season 6, even though the Wild Card player is considered a late addition to the group, they can still be kicked out right away. This allows viewers to keep the players they know better in the game longer.
Wild Card contestants on 'The Masked Singer' don't get a as much screen time as others.
The producer of The Masked Singer is James Breen and his input about the different changes throughout the show are important to the overall success of the singing competition. With each new season, The Masked Singer has gotten more and more popular, and a huge reason why is that they’re open and willing to add new ideas.
James discussed the addition of the Wild Card Twist before its Season 5 introduction saying, “They’re just joining the game later, but we still get to know them. I’d say one of them, in particular, gives you one of the emotional performances of the season and one of the most emotional stories” (per Gold Derby) In other words, although the new Wild Cards won’t get as much screen time as the original contestants, we'll still get to know them well enough.
Who are the Wild Cards in Season 11 of 'The Masked Singer'?
Season 11 introduced Wild Card contestant Sir Lion in Episode 3, adding him to Group C. He will face off against Poodle Moth, Clock, and Lizard. Sir Lion gave a memorable performance, singing the iconic Frank Sinatra song “Love and Marriage.” Following his performance, judges went in with their guesses, suggesting he is either Ryan Seacrest, Anderson Cooper, or Andy Cohen.
New episodes of The Masked Singer air Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. EST on Fox, and are available to watch the next day on Hulu.
