The Masked Singer season 11 finale recap: Winner and runner-up revealed

SPOILER ALERT: Details for Season 11, Episode 13 of “The Masked Singer” and “Finale: One Mask Takes It All,” which aired May 22 on Fox.

“The Masked Singer” winner Vanessa Hudgens admits she didn’t necessarily play hide-and-seek: At least among her friends and fans, they quickly figured out she was under the goldfish costume.

“Rita [Ora] “I guessed it was me right from the jump,” Hudgens said. “But she’s also my friend. And we saw each other a few days before the first episode!”

Hudgens beat out Scott Porter, who this season played Gumball, to win the “Masked Singer” trophy. Coincidentally, Hudgens and Porter starred together in the 2009 film “Bandslam.”

Despite their history, Hudgens said production kept her completely in the dark as to who her rivals were. “I’m very invested every step of the way,” she said. “I was trying so hard to get them to change the way they did things because I was like, ‘I think it would be really fun for the contestants to know who the other contestants are!'” They keep you under covers. But I would do my shows and then sit backstage in my costume, completely covered up. , and watching everyone perform. Starting from the time Kevin Hart did his whole thing, I was just pissed off. You never know what’s going to happen with The Masked Singer.

Hudgens noted that the show’s production team takes confidentiality very seriously. “I didn’t see a single contestant,” she said. “If I was in the studio a lot, I would wear a face shield, a hoodie, and I would wear gloves so my hands wouldn’t be visible. It was very discreet. But when it comes to singing and performing, it’s something I love and have integrity in and I wanted to give it my all — Even if it is completely hidden behind the mask.

So, what made Hudgens decide to film The Masked Singer last fall? “It’s been an interesting time in our industry,” she said. “We were on strike and kind of thinking about where to take the next step. My fans have been very supportive and love it when they get anything from me while I’m singing. They’ve been asking for it for a while. I said, this is the perfect opportunity to give them that – And find out who the real fans are.

As for the goldfish winner, Rita Ora identified her friend Vanessa Hudgens, and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg agreed. Robin Thicke went with Hilary Duff. Ken Jeong said it was Nicole Scherzinger.

As for Gumball, no one got Scott Porter right. McCarthy, Wahlberg and Take went with Derek Hough; Jeong said it was Taran Killam and Ora guessed Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Vanessa Hudgens as Goldfish and Scott Porter as Gumball join Thelma Huston (The Clock), Chrissy Metz (Poodle Moth), Corey Feldman (Seal), Clay Aiken/Ruben Stoddard (Beets), Jennifer Lewis (Miss Cleocatra), and Kate Flannery (sea Star). Charlie Wilson (Ugly Sweater), DeMarcus Ware (Koala), Colton Underwood (Love Bird), Cisco (Lizard), Billy Bush (Sir Leon), Joe Bastianich (Spaghetti and Meatballs), Savannah Chrisley (Afghan Hound) and Kevin Hart. (Book) As revealed by the celebrities in “The Masked Singer” this season.

Hudgens joins previous winners Ne-Yo (Cow), Bishop Briggs (Medusa), Amber Riley (Harp), Teyana Taylor (Firefly), Jewel (Queen of Hearts), Nick Lachey (Piglet), LeAnn Rimes (Sun), Kandi Burruss. (Night Angel), Wayne Brady (Fox), and T-Pain (The Beast).

Returning for Season 11 is host Nick Cannon, along with panelists Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, while Rita Ora joined The Office to fill in for Nicole Scherzinger, who was in London to star in “Sunset Boulevard” on the West End.

Season 11 episodes of “The Masked Singer” included “The Wizard of Oz,” celebrating the 85th anniversary of the classic film; “Transformers” (marking the brand’s 40th anniversary) and musical tributes including “Billy Joel Night” and “Queen Night.” Additional themes include “Girl Groups,” “The Soundtrack of My Life,” “TV Night,” and “Bath Anthems.”

With sixteen popular singers, including three “wildcards”, Season 11 featured new costumes including “Gumball”, “Lizard”, “Ugly Sweater”, “Goldfish”, “Starfish”, “Book” and “Gumball”. ” and “Miss Cleocatra.” “, “Afghan Hound”, “Beet”, “Poodle Moth”, “Clock”, “Spaghetti and Meatballs”, “Lizard”, “Koala”, “Seal”, and “Mr. Lion”. According to the show, the contestants received In Season 11 they have 22 Grammy Award nominations, 11 platinum albums, 33 Teen Choice Nominations, 108 million records sold, 326 movie appearances, and 1.7 billion streams on Spotify.

Here are the offers for Wednesday’s episode 13, “The Finale: One Mask Takes All”:

Goldfish (Group 1 champion)

Song: “Heart of Glass” by Blondie; “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John

Painting Guesses: Lea Michele, Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Sarah Hyland, Julianne Hough, Hilary Duff, Carly Rae Jepsen, Nicole Scherzinger

Final words: “This experience has been so amazing and so special for me. It really surprised me. Because not everyone knows what I actually do. And the fact that you guys saw me, really saw me for what I love to do, lit a fire under the tail of the little fish. Thank you so much, this “It means the world to me.”

Package voiceover: “I’ve loved being able to swim into new territories like a golden girl at this point. When I was a little girl, I was never great at expressing myself. It’s not something I really grew up around. But lately I’ve been on a journey of self-discovery. And being here I was able to express myself, very freely. I come from a working class family with no connection to Hollywood at all so, there’s no reason for me to do that but I’m proving that with enough hard work and dedication, you can really do anything “And I’m so proud of my performance. I can’t wait to have kids when that time comes so I can say, ‘Look mommy! Go!'” Very. Because I’ve always thought of myself as an actor first, singing kind of comes second. Doing “The Masked Singer” is my way of giving everyone a musical moment and the response made me wish it would never end.

Previous songs: “The Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, and “The Child Returns” by Player; “The Show Must Go On” by Quinn; “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole; “You Should Know” by Alanis Morissette

Previous panel guesses: Lea Michele, Selena Gomez, Carly Rae Jepsen, Sarah Hyland, Kristen Stewart, Nina Dobrev, Hilary Duff, Vanessa Hudgens, Nicole Scherzinger, Hilary Duff, Julianne Hough, Ashley Tisdale, Selena Gomez

Gumball (Group Two Champion)

Song: “Latch,” by Revelation feat. Sam Smith; “Rebel” by Styx

Painting Guesses: Jamie Dornan, Taran Killam, James Marsden, Derek Hough, Kevin Jonas, James Van Der Beek, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scott Porter

Final words: “Tonight, this performance was about my folks. I told you they were in a rock band, but they could never pay the bills with their artistry. So, they worked hard — 40, 60, 80 hours a week just to get to the weekend, and do what They love it and performing on stage. I realize now why it was so special for them because I know tomorrow, I will be back to my day job and I am so grateful and honored to be on this stage.

Package voiceover: “Me at the end? What? This experience has been unreal. It’s been great to show what I’m capable of musically. But I fought for it. Surviving two SmackDown matches and two battle royals? In my life, I’ve had to fight for my vision.” Imagine trying something thousands of times and only succeeding at a few of them and yet, in Hollywood, that’s considered a victory. I’ve been on TV for almost two decades nonstop, and yet, being here, I feel like I’m finally here I was able to show my true identity tonight, I’m ready for the biggest fight of my life against Goldfish, so I’ll put my heart and soul into these last two shows, win or lose, this journey has changed everything The show, because it brings me so much joy. So, thank you, Masked Singer, for this experience. I really felt like a kid in a candy store.

Previous songs: “If I Only Had a Heart” by Jack Haley; “Wide Open Spaces” by The Chicks; and “Carry, O Prodigal Son,” by K.S.; “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz; “I Lived” by OneRepublic

Previous panel guesses: Chace Crawford, Kevin Jonas, Jamie Dornan, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Derek Hough, Taran Killam, Jack Black, Zachary Levi, James Marsden, James Van Der Beek, Jason Sudeikis, Taylor Kitsch

Last season’s performers included Ne-Yo as Cow, John Schneider as Donut, Macy Gray as Sea Queen, and Janel Parrish as Gazelle, joining John Oates as Anteater and Keyshia Cole as Candelabra. Sebastian Bach as Tiki, Ginuwine as Husky, and Ashley Parker Angel as S. More, Metta World Peace as Cuddle Monster, Luann de Lesseps as Hibiscus, Tyler Posey as Hawk, Billie Jean King as Royal Hen, Michael Rapaport as Pickle, Tom Sandoval as Diver, Anthony Anderson as Rubber Ducky and one-time special guest Demi Lovato as Anonymous.

Fox Alternative Entertainment is behind The Masked Singer, which is executive produced by showrunner James Breen, Craig Plestis and Nick Cannon. The series is based on the South Korean format created by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.