( indistinct radio chatter )
Four years ago, a secret game began.
"The Masked Singer!"
116 celebrities played, but only seven wore the crown.
Tonight a new game of "The Masked Singer" begins.
26 celebrities have been plucked from their star-studded lives,
stripped of their fame, good looks,
their limos, yachts, and private jets...
- ( shouting ) - Hey!
...and delivered to the most secure place
in television history...
- Hey! - ( squeals )
...where they'll sing for their lives under the mask.
- Epic, epic! - Who is under that mask?
But this season, there's a whole new twist.
Each week, only one secret celebrity
will move on as king or queen,
while the rest will be forced to reveal themselves.
- Who will be unmasked... - Who is this?
...and who will reign supreme?
- ( vocalizing ) - It's a cutthroat season.
- It's vicious. - ( vocalizing )
It's "Masked Singer" season eight!
Let the games begin.
- Whoo! - Yes!
- ♪ Who are you? - Season eight!
- Wow. - Whoo!
- Yeah! - Wow.
- This audience is looking sharp. - Yeah!
And we are rolling deep in star power,
major players, and A-list talent.
And speaking of A-listers, panel, how y'all doing?
- Yeah! - Missed you, Nick!
- I missed you guys. - I missed you too, Daddy.
This season will be like nothing you've seen before.
- We've got more celebrities than ever. - Whoo! Yeah!
All of them are vying for the most prestigious award
in the business, the Golden Mask Trophy.
- Whoo! - But in each show,
only one of them makes it through to the next episode
as the king or queen of "Masked Singer."
That's new, guys. That's pretty cool, right?
- Very cool! - So let's get this premiere party started.
First up, and ready to strike a chord, it's the Harp.
♪ I just wanna be, wanna be somebody ♪
- Whoo! - Yes!
- Oh, my gosh! - Wow, the Harp.
- ♪ Somebody - Oh, she's gorgeous.
- Majestic. - Right?
- Royal. - Almost like an angelic harp.
- Royal. - She looks young.
She's got grace. She's got class.
- She's got stage presence. - Wow. Glamorous.
- Right? - Beautiful.
Who's the plucky celebrity hiding in the harp?
Well, let's go looking for some clues. Y'all check it out.
I can't believe I'm here on premiere night,
but I am telling you, life does have a funny way
of putting you exactly where you need to be.
When I was a teenager,
I auditioned for the biggest show in the world.
- Both: The biggest show? - Like "American Idol?"
It was my dream,
but I didn't fit the mold and was turned down.
I was devastated, but I knew I had to keep going.
It was my uniqueness that later landed me
the opportunity of a lifetime...
...and became an idol for anyone
that felt like an outsider.
- A witch hat. - "Wicked"?
Or "Harry Potter."
The nos in my life made me stronger,
but I'm not taking no for an answer tonight.
♪ Made a wrong turn
♪ Once or twice
♪ Dug my way out
♪ Blood and fire
♪ Bad decisions
♪ That's all right
♪ Welcome to my silly life
♪ Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood ♪
♪ Miss knowing it's all good
♪ It didn't slow me down
- Season eight chills. - ♪ Mistaken
♪ Always second guessing
♪ Underestimated
♪ Look, I'm still around
♪ Pretty, pretty please
♪ Don't you ever, ever feel
♪ Like you're less than
♪ Less than perfect
♪ Pretty, pretty please
♪ If you ever, ever feel
♪ Like you're nothing
♪ You are perfect
♪ To me
♪ You're so mean
♪ When you talk
♪ About yourself
♪ You were wrong
♪ So complicated
♪ Look happy, you'll make it
( vocalizing )
♪ Such a tired game
♪ Yeah
♪ Don't you feel
- Yes! - Oh, my God!
♪ Yeah, pretty, pretty please
♪ If you ever, ever feel
♪ Like you're nothing
♪ You're perfect
♪ To me
♪ You're perfect
♪ To me
Wow. Whoo! Whoo!
All right.
- Nick: Wow. - Who is this?
Talk about a beautiful instrument.
Right? What a way to open up the show on season eight!
With a legend, obviously.
I mean, everything is bigger-- the audience, the talent.
That was out of the park. See you at the finale.
Yeah, you were beyond powerful. You command that stage.
I was just in awe.
I cannot wait to see who you are.
All right, well, I have the first
onstage clue of the season,
and we're gonna announce the clue
in the tradition of an award show.
First clue question is,
Harp, what accomplishment in your incredible career
are you the most proud of?
I think maybe the award I won for my acting.
No, no, no, no, no.
Actually, the one I won for my singing.
Wait, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no.
It's probably the one for my comedy
because I got to share that with my besties.
- No way! - Comedy?
- What the heck? - Wow, so are you guys picking up on any clues?
Man, when I think of a triple threat that could have an award
in music and in acting and in comedy,
I would think Queen Latifah.
- Oh! - Oh, yes. Good guess.
- They like that, Robin. - Robin: Because she's won a Grammy.
- Oscar-nominated. - That's a good guess.
I'm getting good at this game eight seasons later.
Well, you know, when I heard "auditioned for the biggest show on Earth,"
I immediately was thinking "American Idol,"
- like a Jordin Sparks. - Nicole: Yeah.
- Jenny: Even like a Fantasia. - Oh!
Ken: Well, speaking of "American Idol,"
this could be Jennifer Hudson.
- All right. - Robin: Wow. Yeah.
She has done everything. But the comedy clue to me...
- Yeah. - ...she was in my favorite movie of all time,
"Sex in the City 1." Let me finish.
That's your favorite movie of all time?
It is my favorite movie of all time
because there was sex and there were cities,
- and I loved it. - Jenny: Oh, my gosh.
That's probably the best guess you've ever given though, Ken.
- Thank you, Mommy. - Like, tying all the clues together.
It'll go to his head, and we just started.
Nick: Well, we did just start,
but it is off to a great start and an amazing performance.
Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up
one more time for the Harp!
Harp, you can head on back to the lair.
We'll see you a little bit later.
Season eight. We're back, baby.
- Yes! - Yeah.
Let's go!
Nick: Tonight for the first time ever...
We're gonna boldly go where you've never been before.
...four performers, three unmaskings...
- Oh, my God! - And only one moves on
as the king or queen of "The Masked Singer."
- ( screaming ) - Can you feel the love tonight?
- ♪ Who is that? - Whoo!
Welcome back to "The Masked Singer" season eight premiere.
- Whoo! - And it's time for our next singer.
- It's the Hedgehog. - Hedgehog?
♪ I like to move it, move it, I like to move it, move it ♪
- He's huge! - He's tall.
♪ Move it, move it, you like to move it ♪
♪ I like to move it, move it, I like to move it, move it ♪
Get it, Hedgehog. He's got a little rhythm. He's got a little move.
♪ You like to move it
He's loveable.
Me and the Hedgehog got some similar swag, I see. Okay.
It's time for some super spiky Hedgehog clues.
Ken, let's see if you're sharp enough to catch these.
I'm not.
It's so special to be here tonight,
but this isn't my first big premiere.
Some say this show is mad.
This is probably one of the more normal things that I've ever done.
Let's just say I've been naked in "Playboy."
I'm a part of one of the biggest groups of all time.
Maybe a famous guitarist, like a Keith Richards.
We've sold out the Hollywood Bowl,
Sydney Opera House, and I've even been a part of the Olympics.
I not only have a cult following,
but also a celebrity following.
Bradley Cooper, Jimmy Fallon,
Kate Beckinsale, Tina Fey, Elon Musk, they're all fans.
A knight. Maybe someone from "Saturday Night Live."
I'm here to sing you a little song and give you a big laugh,
just like I did that one time with the Queen.
Cheers to season eight.
( whistling )
- Yeah! - Oh, my God! Look!
Oh!
Yeah!
♪ Love, love me do
♪ You know I love you
♪ I'll always be true
- Who is that? - ♪ So please
♪ Love me do
♪ Oh, yeah, love me
♪ Love, love me do
♪ You know I love you
♪ I'll always be true
♪ So please
♪ Love me do
You hear an accent? I hear a little accent.
♪ Someone to love
♪ Somebody new
♪ Someone to love
♪ Someone like you
♪ Love, love me do
♪ You know I love you
♪ I'll always be true
♪ So please
♪ Love me do
♪ Whoa, love me now
♪ Yeah, yeah, love me, love me ♪
( vocalizing )
Yes!
That was amazing!
Yeah!
The Hedgehog definitely brought that sonic boom.
Great job. Classic.
Seriously, we've never had a band ever on the show on all of the seasons.
It felt electric. Didn't they sound amazing?
Robin: Yeah.
Let me tell you, Hedgehog, I dug it.
- ( Ken laughs ) - Nick: Yeah.
So any idea who could be inside the Hedgehog?
- I got some clues. - I love a good clue, Nick.
- We need some help. - All right, let's see what we got here.
All right, Hedgehog, you have had such an accomplished career.
Which award means the most to you?
Well, I won a Tony and a Grammy.
- Oh. - Won a Tony and a Grammy.
- Yes, sir. - Does that help?
I feel like this is just staring at me in the face.
This could be Ringo Starr himself,
because "Love Me Do" sounds exactly like-- hear me out.
- How dare you? - That's a good guess...
- Sold out the Hollywood Bowl. - ...for him.
- Legendary group. Okay. - Give him a little credit.
Okay, I'll change that guess. It's not Ringo Starr.
- It's Elton John. There you go. - Robin: Yeah!
- Jenny: Oh, my God. - That's what you get. That's what you get.
On three, let's get a "No, Ken." One, two, three!
All: No, Ken!
Nick: So, Robin, who do you think it is?
You know, the British voice, and there was a snake,
and I'm a huge Monty Python fan.
Me, too.
And it could be Eric Idle from Monty Python.
- That's a good guess. - See, I was thinking
- it could be John Cleese or Michael Palin. - Wow.
- He said there was a cult following. - Oh, all right.
We keep thinking, 'cause it's got a British accent, this guy is British,
but we've been fooled so many times.
He could be from Florida, you know?
Okay, I'm gonna pretend I didn't just hear that
and I'm gonna still go off the British clues
right now if that's okay.
And when I think of Great Britain,
I think of one of my favorite movies.
It took place in London.
- "Love Actually." - Jenny: Ah.
I think this could be though,
because he's hilarious and I love him,
he played the rock star in "Love Actually."
- Yeah. - Bill Nighy.
- Do you remember him? - Bill Nighy's a genius.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah. - He's brilliant.
Absolutely. Great guesses up there, y'all.
Keep it going for the Hedgehog.
Hedgehog, Hedgehog!
All: Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Hedgehog!
Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Hedgehog!
So let me get this right. Three people go home tonight?
Now it's three people go home and only person moves on.
- Wow. - It's like a new multiverse.
Totally!
♪ Who is that?
Welcome back to "Masked Singer."
Season premiere is off and running.
Now remember, from all of tonight's singers,
only one moves on to compete next week.
And up next, it's the Hummingbird.
Oh, look at that fabulous number.
Whoa, look at those wings.
- He moves okay. - The Tex-Mex Hummingbird.
Looks like the Hummingbird's been in my closet.
I'm excited for the kickoff of season eight
because I promise you this Hummingbird knows a thing or two about competition.
- It's in my DNA. - Jenny: Ooh.
- DNA. Family. - He's in the family.
- It's in the family. - I got my start with the help of Shaq
and formed a patriotic team that felt like family.
Football cleats. We got Tom Brady?
Hummingbird: Together we dominated the Super Bowl.
My career has been a revelation, but I'm only human,
and I'm so nervous to step on that stage tonight.
But here we go. I guess it's all or nothing.
♪ I don't need to be anything other ♪
♪ Than a prison guard's son
♪ I don't need to be anything other ♪
♪ Than a specialist's son
♪ I don't have to be anyone other ♪
♪ Than the birth of two souls in one ♪
♪ Don't know where I'm going
♪ But I know where I'm coming from ♪
♪ I don't wanna be anything other ♪
♪ Than what I've been tryna be lately ♪
♪ All I have to do is think of me ♪
♪ And have peace of mind
♪ I'm tired of looking round rooms ♪
♪ Wondering what I've got to do ♪
♪ Or who I'm supposed to be
♪ I don't wanna be anything other than me ♪
All right.
♪ I came from the mountain
♪ The crust of creation
♪ My whole situation is paved with clay and stone ♪
♪ And now I'm telling everybody ♪
♪ I don't wanna be anything other ♪
♪ Than what I've been tryna be lately ♪
♪ All I have to do is think of me ♪
♪ And I have peace of mind
- Yes! - ♪ I'm tired of looking round rooms ♪
♪ Wondering what I've got to do ♪
♪ Or who I'm supposed to be
♪ I don't wanna be anything other than me ♪
Talking about keeping it fly.
Giving us some good rock vibes.
Panel, talk to the Hummingbird.
Robin: Man, that was awesome, man.
You know, I think it was a great song choice.
Got everybody hyped up.
Great job. Great job.
All right, maybe another awards style clue
could help us out, right?
All the help we can get.
The clue is, Hummingbird,
what in your golden trophy room
- do you cherish the most? - What I cherish the most
is my special awards that are out of this world.
They're not exactly golden, they're silver,
but that doesn't mean second place.
Mm. I don't know.
This is screaming out, like, a football legend,
someone who's won two Super Bowl rings.
Someone like Peyton Manning,
who has football in his DNA.
Father Archie Manning,
Super Bowl, and he was friends with Shaq,
and if you look at his face, it kinda like Peyton Manning.
So I think I'm right.
Can I get a "No, Ken," on three? One, two, three.
All: No, Ken! Okay, let me finish.
Or I think this could be the greatest of all time.
He just got fined for not showing up to training camp
because he is here on "The Masked Singer."
This is seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady.
- Tom, welcome to "The Masked Singer!" - Jenny: Wow!
- That would be incredible. - Yes.
Well, I'll roll off of that.
Football clues, you know,
two rings, and there was a cowboy hat.
- I'm thinking Deion Sanders. - Jenny: Right?
Prime Time!
But this guy could be a singer.
Like a Rob Thomas, do you know what I mean?
Or Uncle Kracker. What's that guy from Nickelback?
- Chad? - Chad Kroeger.
Yes! Why not? He could really sing.
- He's pretty good. - Yeah.
Nick: All right, well, you know what?
Those are a lot of good guesses, and we had a great performance.
Y'all keep it going for the Hummingbird.
Great job, Peyton.
Flutter on backstage, Hummingbird.
I'm kinda stumped.
That's a tough one. That's a tough one.
Season eight, you know this is a mega star.
I wanna know who that is.
♪ Who is that?
Welcome back to our season eight premiere party.
- Whoo! - Yeah!
And it's time for our final singer, the Knight!
- Oh! - Oh!
- Look at that! - What is that?
- He's so regal! So strong! - What is that?
He's not-- he's not the tallest guy.
Is that a duck?
- Wow. - Wow.
- ( Knight laughs ) - Oh, my God.
- All right. - That is hilarious.
Knight just came in on a golden goose.
Wow. Whoa, whoa!
It's violent, too. All right, Knight.
- ( Knight laughs ) - Here are some clues.
I can't believe it's taken me eight seasons to be on "The Masked Singer."
I was holding out for the hosting gig, but Nick keeps having babies,
- so I guess he isn't going anywhere. - ( squawking )
Now I'm supposed to list off why I'm so famous.
Stuff like I'm Shakespearian trained,
that I'm on multiple walks of fame
and I've done stage, TV, starred in movies,
and worked with George Lucas, even released albums.
Solar system. Neil deGrasse Tyson?
I've done a great deal, but there some things I've never done.
I've never thrown a chair on national TV.
It was two chairs.
What can I say? I'm a passionate man.
Police badge. It could be a movie detective, like a Warren Beatty.
I've never sold a body part for profit.
It was a charitable donation.
And I've never mounted a golden goose while singing showtunes,
but there's a first time for everything. Giddy up!
♪ Have you seen the well-to-do ♪
♪ Up and down Park Avenue
♪ On that famous thoroughfare
♪ With their noses in the air
♪ High hats and narrow collars
♪ White spats and lots of dollars ♪
♪ Spending every dime for a wonderful time ♪
♪ If you're blue and you don't know where to go to ♪
♪ Why don't you go where fashion sits ♪
♪ Puttin' on the ritz
♪ Different types who wear a day coat ♪
♪ Pants with stripes and cutaway coat ♪
♪ Perfect fits
♪ Puttin' on the ritz
♪ Dressed up like a million dollar trouper ♪
The voice is like a voice-over voice.
- Familiar. - Yes!
♪ Trying to look like Gary Cooper ♪
♪ Super duper
♪ Dips his hat just like an English chappie ♪
♪ To a lady with a wealthy pappy ♪
♪ Very snappy
♪ You'll declare it's simply topping to be there ♪
♪ And hear them swapping smart tidbits ♪
♪ Puttin' on the ritz
♪ Yeah, puttin' on the ritz
- Yeah! - All right. All right.
- Putting on the ritz is right. - Yeah, come on!
Wow. Talking about making it a night!
- ( Knight laughs ) - We love to see it.
- Awesome job. - I don't even know what's going on right now,
- but I'm here for it. - But it's amazing, ain't it?
The madness, I love it.
First of all, let me say your actual tone is a vibe.
I just wanna squeeze your little knight thighs right now.
I know, and they're so spread out. I mean, he's so limber.
Maybe another-- stop! Why are you chasing me?
- You are ridiculous. - I'm dying here!
Watch you putting this beak, man.
Maybe another hint will shed some light on the Knight.
All right, I got a clue here, man. Put your goose away.
- Oh, my-- - I'm gonna--
- we're gonna be serious for a second. - Yes, I'm serious.
I've tried to be funny and that didn't work, so I'll be serious.
What do you cherish more,
the big awards or the small ones?
- I love all the awards. Every single one of them. - Ah.
The big ones, the small ones.
I got a little teeny one from my native country.
I got it embedded in my chest.
- Ken: What? - You know the vibes I'm getting
is like a male version of a Betty White.
- Betty White? Betty White? - I didn't say it! She did!
- I'm saying it. I'm saying it, but-- - She said Betty White, not me.
- Why are you hitting me with the duck? - She's too far away!
- Oh, my God. - Ken: Look at the clue.
It's staring you right in the face.
It's a Knight. He's riding it.
It could be Mr. "Knight Rider" himself,
- David Hasselhoff! - Oh, no, no! No, it's not!
- Robin: No. - Ken: There you go.
- My good friend-- - No, let me get this.
I'm good friends with the Hoff.
- Ken: He looks himself exactly-- - ( crowd jeering )
- Thank you. - Now, wait a minute.
David Hasselhoff is very tall, Ken.
But this outfit is designed where his actual head is where the goose is
- and his buttocks is where the Knight's head is. - ( jeering continues )
So he's inverted and collapsing on himself.
This kid's like seven, and he was booing you.
- Sit your ass down. - Wow.
To me, those clues were kinda leading towards
you know, the solar system, "Star Trek,"
William Shakespeare, William Shatner.
- Ken: Oh, good guess. - Nicole: Ooh.
- Ken: Loving it. - Jenny: Could be.
Nick: Why you giving William Shatner a thumbs down?
Nobody gives William Shatner a thumbs down.
- Any other guesses? - Well, you know, I'm all over the place here.
First I saw throwing chairs, I'm thinking Jerry Springer.
- You know what I mean? Somebody like that. - Ken: Good guess.
And then I saw the covers 'cause there was a cassette tape
that said "covers" on them. I'm thinking Weird Al Yankovic,
- But he's taller than that. - Jenny: Right?
They like that one, Robin.
Jenny: We don't know who you are obviously,
but those are respectable names.
Those are some high level names.
Either way, you got my goose, but I got to get control of this show.
Give it up for the Knight one more time, y'all.
Who is this?
Men In Black, please come help me out.
Go put that goose somewhere.
Okay, you've seen four incredible performances.
Studio audience, panel,
in just a moment, I'll ask you to vote for your favorite.
For the very first time,
the character with the most votes
will be crowned king or queen of "The Masked Singer."
The other three will be unmasked
and head back to their glorious mansions.
- Whoo! - Everyone, voting opens now.
- Whoo! - Oh!
Get ready for the results
and the first unmasking of the season.
It's "The Masked Singer." We'll be right back.
♪ Who is that?
Welcome back to "The Masked Singer" premiere.
- Yes! - It's time to unmask
the first singer of season eight.
Have the strings been cut on the Harp?
- No! - Is it time to flutter home
- for the Hummingbird? - Not the Hummingbird.
Is it time to say nighty-night to the Knight?
- Robin: Oh! - Oh!
Was he on point, or were the spikes not sharp enough for the Hedgehog?
( crowd cheering, shouting )
The results are in.
- The first singer of season eight... - The first one to go home.
- ...to get unmasked... - Oh, no.
- Oh, man. - Oh, my God.
Nick: ...is...
Oh! It's too soon.
- The Knight. - Oh, my God!
The rest of you head on back to the lair and await your fate.
Y'all keep it going for the Knight.
Make some noise.
Nick: We hate to see you go,
but we are excited to see who you are.
- Yeah. - Who is this?
I definitely believe it's a big name under this mask.
Knight, where-- where are you going, man?
I'm trying to fly away.
Calm down. Control your duck.
Panel, I need your final guesses.
Ken: It is so clear to me and the audience
he is authentically riding that goose.
He is a knight. He is "Knight Rider."
- This is David Hasselhoff. - Yes.
- I don't know what you're talking about. - How dare you?
- The boos just make me so happy.
- What? - I'm thinking that all of the clues
pointed to William Shatner.
We've got the solar system. We got William Shakespeare.
I think it's William Shatner, baby.
- Hello, Captain Kirk! - Robin: That's a good guess.
- Nick: Nicole? - The clues are leaning towards John Lithgow to me.
Brilliant actor.
And I'm sorry, has anyone ever seen "The Crown"?
That's right. He played Churchill, and he's a knight!
- I love her dedication. - All right. Robin?
This is a very weird costume,
and I saw the cassettes and the "cover,"
and I'm thinking this could be Weird Al.
All right.
Okay, panel, you've made your final guesses.
- Yes. - Let's see if any of you are right.
- Knight, you know what time it is. - All: Take it off!
- Take it off! - ♪ Who are you?
- Take it off! - ♪ Who, who, who, who?
Take it off! Take it off!
- Take it off! - Who is it?
The one and only legendary actor, author,
Emmy and Golden Globe winner,
- William Shatner! - Nicole: William Shatner!
We are not worthy! Shatner's in the building!
- Legendary. - Yeah, yeah.
- Thank you. - You are royalty.
What was it like being the Knight tonight?
Oh, here he goes-- you don't--
Take it. Whatever. You're William Shatner.
- You do whatever you wanna do. - That's right.
It was horrible.
I can't tell you how horrible it was.
I couldn't see anything. I can't walk.
The noise was deafening. The mask was obliterating.
- Oh, was that fun. - Oh, my God.
- Yes! - We love you, man.
- Well, we had fun. - Robin, what were you wanna say?
I was gonna say I was lucky enough to have Mr. Shatner
as a family friend of my father's for many years.
- I knew him when he was... - Yeah.
- You could sing even then. - Thank you, Will.
Thank you. Miss you.
Well, Mr. Shatner, thank you for doing our little old show.
- No kidding! Starstruck. - Thank you! Thank you!
And you're sticking around with us.
We gonna put you in the VIP.
You gonna get to see everybody else.
- Give it up for William Shatner! - Oh, where am I going?
I mean, that was actually William Shatner. I can't believe it.
- He's a 91-year-old living legend. - Right?
That was amazing.
Okay, let's check in backstage.
Harp, Hummingbird, and Hedgehog,
one of you will return next week as king or queen.
The other two will return to their respective celebrity compounds.
The next singer to be unmasked is...
The Hedgehog.
Nick: Come on out here, Hedgehog.
All: Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Hedgehog, Hedgehog!
Nick: Hedgehog, we hate to see you go,
but we're excited to see who you are.
But before we get to that,
panelists, I need your final guesses.
I'm still sticking with my "Love Actually" cast.
I'm doubling down on Bill Nighy.
- I love this guy. - Robin: Bill Nighy.
Ken, you're shaking your head no.
Yeah, the clues were all about being UK royalty,
especially with the Queen of England image,
so this is either Prince Harry, which just came to me just now.
- Robin: You could just-- - Okay, all right, you don't like that?
- It's Elton John. - Robin: Let that go right on by.
- Don't like that either. - Unlike you, I'm still standing.
This tiny dancer is Elton John.
- Nick: Robin? - I saw the suit of armor,
and I'm thinking "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
I think this is Eric Idle.
I think "Monty Python" also, but I'm thinking John Cleese.
He's been photographed with the Queen.
- He's won a ton of awards. - Yeah.
I think we're on the same wavelength, but I really think it's John Cleese.
- Different vocal tones. - Nick: Okay, panel.
You've given us your final guesses.
Let's see if any of you are correct.
Hedgehog, we gotta know, who are you?
- Who are you, Hedgehog? - Who is it?
- Audience, say it with me. - Jenny: Tell us now!
- Robin: Hedgehog! - Take it off! Take it off!
Take it off! Take it off!
- Robin: Who is it? - Take it off!
- Come on, Eric! Monty Python! - Take it off!
All: Take it off! Take it off!
- ♪ Tell me, who are you? - Take it off! Take it off!
- ♪ Are you - Take it off!
Oh, my God!
♪ Who is that?
Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!
Jenny: It's like back to back action!
Take it off! Take it off!
- Take it off! Take it off! - Who is it? Come on, Eric!
- Take it off! - Monty Python!
- ♪ Come on, tell me, who are you? ♪ - Take it off!
♪ Are you
- Oh! - Robin Thicke was right!
- Yes! I knew the voice. I knew the voice. - Come on, Robin!
Nick: The legendary Eric Idle!
I guess it was hot under there, huh?
It's a little hot in there, yeah,
and actually this is John Cleese's real body.
- Robin, you got it right. - Robin Thicke.
Thank you. Thank you. My father was the biggest Monty Python fan,
and he turned me onto you guys when I was about ten years old.
- I've seen every Monty Python movie. - Me, too.
- I've even shown them to my son now. - Aww.
I'm a huge fan, and I know your voice like the back of my hand.
- Well, thank you. - Nicole: Aww.
Truly a comedic genius, a legend.
Is there anything you want to say to your fans at home or to our panel?
And so I wrote to him and asked him if I could do it.
- Oh, wow. - I had a letter back saying,
"Yes, you can do the song,
but would you please tell me what show it is
so I can make sure to avoid it?"
Nick: Well, you did an outstanding job.
Here to perform unmasked once and for all
with a song I think we all know
from the iconic film, "The Life of Brian,"
the artist formerly known as the Hedgehog,
- it's the legendary Eric Idle! - Whoo!
♪ Some things in life are bad
♪ They can really make you mad
♪ Other things just make you swear and curse ♪
♪ When you're chewing on life's gristle ♪
♪ Don't grumble, give a whistle ♪
♪ And this'll help things turn out for the best ♪
♪ And
♪ Always look on the bright side of life ♪
- Aw. - Wow. Yes!
Oh, yes.
♪ Always look on the light side of life ♪
( whistling )
♪ If life seems jolly rotten
♪ There's something you've forgotten ♪
♪ And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing ♪
♪ When you're feeling in the dumps ♪
♪ Don't be silly chumps
♪ Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing ♪
♪ And always look on the bright side of life ♪
Come on.
( whistling )
Hey! ♪ Always look on the bright side of life ♪
( whistling )
- Oh, I love you! - Whoo!
- Yes! Love you! - Keep it going for Eric Idle.
- We love you! - Head over to our VIP section, Mr. Idle.
( fanfare )
Announcer: It's time for the king or queen to be crowned.
Now get your brick on!
Oh, oop-- sorry, wrong show.
I, uh-- here. You mind holding this?
I've gotta get over to "Lego Masters."
I'm up next, so-- you guys don't care.
Nick: Get out of here, Will. Okay, back to business.
It's our premiere extravaganza, and we are at a crucial point.
Who gets the crown and who gets the boot?
Let's get the Harp and the Hummingbird on out here.
- Oh, this is so cutthroat! - Wow.
( fanfare )
- This is a finale energy. - It is. It is.
Okay.
According to the votes cast by our panel and studio audience,
the first king or queen of season eight is...
Oh, boy.
Oh, man. This is so intense.
This is the most intense premiere ever.
- The Harp! - Nicole: Yeah!
There it is. Queen Harp, you're coming back.
Oh, look, we got the whole royal setup for you.
And, Queen Harp,
you will definitely be back here next week
to compete against two brand new singers.
But for now you can head on back, rest up,
hit the lair for some royal treatment.
And while we are still showing love,
y'all make some noise for Hummingbird.
- Hummingbird! - Yay!
We are so sorry to see you go.
But we can't wait to see who you are!
Who is Hummingbird?
Take it off!
- What? - No!
Who saw that coming?
You know, when they told me I had to wear a mask,
I thought they meant a face mask.
What a way to earn a living.