Tuesday night, the bubbly Tree was unmasked as the equally bubbly actress, Saturday Night Live veteran and singer Ana Gasteyer.
Jenny McCarthy had pegged Gasteyer as the Tree in last week's episode after cycling through other SNL performers who could give the personality and theatrical performance that The Tree gave. This means that McCarthy has three correct guesses for the season. McCarthy also pegged the identities of the Butterfly and The Flower—Michelle Williams and Patti LaBelle, respectively.
For Ken Jeong, the unmasking of Gasteyer was an apparent shock, as he and the actress are friends and have worked together in the recent production of A Christmas Story - Live!, yet he couldn't place her voice.
It turned out that The Tree isn't the only one among the remaining contestants to have connections to our judges. The Fox spent "one of the best weekends of his life" with one of the judges. The Leopard presented an award on the same show as one of the judges and, in his words, "wore a custom leather outfit" while doing so. The Thingamajig revealed he had collaborated with an artist that one of the judges had worked with, and the Flamingo said she shared "couch time" with one of the judges in 2013. The Rottweiler said that he'd been on the same list as one of the contestants, but not, he noted, People magazine's Sexiest Men.
Elsewhere, the Nicole Scherzinger/Thingamajig mock-showmance continued as he dedicated the John Legend ballad "Ordinary People" to her.
The Rottweiler impressed with a soulful ballad that provided his best performance of the season thus far, according to the judges.
The Fox spoke again about gaining his independence through the contest.
The Flamingo dedicated herself to flamboyance and performed an airport-themed version of "Go Your Own Way."
The Leopard revealed himself as a vegan tennis lover and sang a bombastic version of "Tonight (We Are Young)."
In other The Masked Singer News, the show's Super Bowl ad revealed the first costume of Season 3 exclusively through Entertainment Weekly—The Banana. The Masked Singer has the coveted post-Super Bowl slot this year, and its third season will begin February 2, 2020.
Tonight's episode is entitled "Two Masks Take It Off: Holiday Semi-Finals." However, instead of a double episode, it will be a single episode featuring a double elimination. With five contestants left in the hunt, only three will make it to Wednesday's finals. What will Ken Jeong Say? What will Jenny McCarthy wear? Tune in to find out!
8:09 p.m.: Nick Cannon opened the show with a "Twas the Night Before Christmas" - inspired rhyme that explained the upcoming double elimination before emerging in a mock-ermine trimmed Santa cape and security wearing red noses and reindeer antlers. Tonight's battle will be Christmas themed, and the judge's wardrobe—and that of the Masked Singers—have been holiday-ified.
The Fox is up first. He said being judged solely on his voice was "freeing," saying it's been the glue holding all the parts of his career together.
The Fox performed a showy version of Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas," complete with a ballerina dancing behind him.
"I've been a fan of yours since the beginning," said McCarthy of the Fox, who reported herself "moved" by his stage presence.
Each of the Masked Singers have brought a gift to be unveiled for the judges—which contains a clue hinting to their identities.
The Fox's contains a picture of The Rabbit—as played by Joey Fatone. Fatone encouraged The Fox to join the competition.
Guesses:
Jenny McCarthy and Ken Jeong renewed their Jamie Foxx guesses.
Robin Thicke guesses Wayne Brady.
Nicole Scherzinger guesses Tyrese.
8:17 p.m.: Next up was the Rottweiler, who said that the mask helped him stay "present" within the moment. "The Rottweiler has become an extension of me. I love it. I never want it to end."
The Rottweiler sang a very poppish version of The Killer's "Mr. Brightside."
"Who is it?" cried Jenny McCarthy when he finished, she added that she thought he'd be in the finals with that voice.
The Rottweiler's gift to the judges was a hand-drawn picture and a letter.
Guesses:
Jenny McCarthy guessed Steve Perry
Nicole Scherzinger repeated Robin Thicke's repeated guess that it's Darren Criss.
The Thingamajig was up next. He said that being in the semifinals was "the greatest gift he could've asked for," after a year of a lot of obstacles and adversity.
8:32 p.m.: The Thingamajig then performed "Winter Wonderland" as made famous by Bing Crosby.
Describing himself as the Thingamajig's biggest fan, Robin Thicke said he'd brought his A Game.
The Thingamajig's gift was a whip and hat from Indiana Jones—he's a movie buff and the clue would "require a little more digging."
Guesses:
Ken Jeong guessed Victor Oladipo, who's suffering from a knee injury which might have allowed him to be on the show.
Thicke guessed Montel Jordan.
Scherzinger guessed Dennis Rodman.
The Flamingo was up next, and she admitted she was crying hysterically inside of her mask during the finale last night. She'd sung in her church choir as a child, and she was afraid she'd fail if she took it further than a hobby.
The Flamingo sang "Hallelujah"as made famous by Jeff Buckley.
"That was the first chill that went up and down my spine during this show," said Thicke. "I think you are Flaming-oing to the finals."
The Flamingo's gift was a globe.
"I was baptized in Israel," said The Flamingo.
Guesses:
Adirenne Bailon became a firm guess thanks to the Israel clue from the Flamingo.
Jeong guessed Jessica Simpson.
8:43 p.m.: The Leopard admitted they did the contest so that they'd look cool in front of their cubs. It was nice to have street cred with them. "Being a father makes me prouder than anything else."
The Leopard sang "Big Spender" from the musical Sweet Charity.
"This cat came to fight!" Jenny McCarthy cheered.
The gift was a blueprint of the "dream home" for the Leopard and Nick Cannon.
Guesses:
McCarthy is sticking with Eric Benet.
Ken Jeong guessed Jeff Goldblum.
"Kenneth, if you were any colder you'd be in Alaska now," the Leopard said.
"That's exactly what Jeff Goldblum would do!" said Jeong.
Scherzinger is sticking with her Seal guess, which Thicke echoes.
The fans then voted for the double-elimination, which would be revealed ...after the commercial break.
8:48 p.m.: Eliminated First: Thingamajig
8:50 p.m.: Final Guesses:
Jenny McCarthy guesses Paul George
Nicole Scherzinger guesses Markelle Fultz
Robin Thicke sticks with his Montel Jordan guess
Ken Jeong guesses Victor Oladipo.
8:51 p.m: Ken Jeong is officially right! It's Victor Oladipo!
8:52 p.m.: Ken Jeong admitted he couldn't believe he was right and said Oladipo was "so talented."
Oladipo had a great time.
"Will you go on a date with Nicole?" asked McCarthy.
"We can go anywhere! Any time, any place, said Oladipo, who then sang an encore.
9:00 p.m.: Next eliminated: the Leopard
Final Guesses:
Scherzinger and Thicke guessed Seal
McCarthy guessed Eric Benet
Ken Jeong guessed Jeff Goldblum.
9:00 p.m.: Scherzinger and Thicke was right! The Leopard was Seal!
9:02 p.m.: "it was kind of fun and I'm sad it's over," Seal admitted.
Cannon mentioned he did it for his kids to make it happy.
"You were a really good sport!" Seal told Cannon, as Seal sang one more time.
