Announcer: America, prepare yourself,
for a brand-new event from the "masked" universe.
♪ everybody dance now
it's the premiere of "the masked dancer."
♪ everybody dance now
please welcome your host, craig robinson.
♪ everybody dance now
and the 10 masked celebrities
competing for the diamond mask trophy are...
And here to help us discover who's behind the mask,
it's your panel-- paula abdul, dr. Ken jeong,
ashley tisdale, brian austin green.
And now, the craziest dance event the world has ever seen,
it's "the masked dancer."
♪ everybody dance now
- yes! - Whoo!
Welcome to "the masked dancer" premiere.
Just so you know, this will be a very different show
from our brother from another mother, "the masked singer,"
because here we don't hear them sing. We see their moves.
And there are so many more clues
to help you to figure out who's under the mask.
Here's how it's gonna work.
Craig: Ten highly accomplished and decorated superstars
have been rehearsing in a top-secret location.
Now they are ready to take the stage
in an epic dance competition.
This is not just a dance show,
it's a musical mystery show.
You really notice things, like how somebody walks,
how they carry themselves.
- He is buff. - You have a very powerful stance.
This is someone who's a superstar.
Ho!
Pay close attention,
'cause there are clues everywhere,
from the way they move to the choreography,
even the costumes.
And when you see this, that's another clue.
Plus, for the first time in "masked" history,
we hear their actual speaking voice.
Inspired.
Who are you?
Tonight, the first five celebrities
dance their hearts out.
When the dancing is done, our panel and audience will vote.
The celebrity with the least amount of votes will be eliminated...
- Take it off! - ...And forced to unmask.
- Oh! - Oh, my god!
We got a premiere to do. Let's get this dance party started.
Oh, my god. I'm so excited.
- Here we go. - Whoo!
We're kicking things off with the last thing
you want to see on your raft in the pacific ocean.
The hammerhead!
- Oh, look at that! - Paula: Yes!
- Look how athletic he is. - Wow, he's buff.
Paula: Oh!
- He's fast. - Ken: Oh, my god.
Be careful, craig! Be careful!
That dude is funny. Entertainer, for sure.
Who could that be?
Craig: Well, what secret superstar
is underneath the hammerhead mask?
Here are some clues to clue you in.
As a shark, I've always been killing it.
( laughs ) I'm a workaholic.
Oh, what kind of burger is that?
Maybe a wahlburger?
But things have never come easily to me.
I made them happen.
Like a bulletproof coffee.
- Joe rogan. - Ah.
I became famous almost too quickly.
That early fame... ( sighs )
...It felt great at the time, but then it started to feel
like my best moments were behind me.
He looks like an athlete. Is he a swimmer?
I had departed from who I was,
and shifted into who I thought everyone wanted me to be.
I realized I just wasn't happy.
( screams )
so now I'm revisiting everything I missed out on...
I mean, maybe he was on "baywatch"?
...By swimming away from what comes easy
and straight towards everything that used to scare me.
I pumped the brakes on where my life was headed.
Now, moving backwards is the way I move my life forwards,
staying hungry for learning, for love, and for live.
- He's just so ripped. - You're pretty hung up on body type.
I'm a little jealous. I won't lie to you.
Craig: Pay attention, there are clues everywhere.
Give it up for hammerhead.
♪ everybody
oh, my gosh, I love this song.
- ♪ rock your body right ■ - I am definitely getting pop star vibes.
♪ backstreet's back, all right ♪
yay!
♪ oh, my god, we're back again ♪
♪ brothers, sisters, everybody sing ♪
♪ gonna bring the flavor, show you how ♪
♪ got a question for you, better answer now, yeah ♪
♪ am I original?
♪ yeah
♪ am I everything you need? You better rock your body now ♪
♪ everybody
♪ yeah
♪ rock your body
♪ yeah
♪ everybody
♪ rock your body right
♪ backstreet's back, all right ♪
♪ throw your hands up in the air ♪
♪ and wave 'em around like you just don't care ♪
♪ if you wanna party, let me hear you yell ♪
oh! Look at those moves!
♪ 'cause you got it going on again ♪
♪ yeah, yeah, yeah
♪ everybody
♪ rock your body, right
♪ backstreet's back, all right ♪
good job!
Ashley: Oh, man.
Yes!
- Ken: Hammerhead? - Brian: Yeah.
He did the dang thing. Yes, sir.
What a way to kick off the series,
- much less the show. - Yes.
That was unbelievable.
He is a performer, that's for sure.
When I come on the stage, when I'm at a party,
something kicks in and I get everybody lit.
I bring the hammer every time, let's go!
Brian: Yes. Wow.
Maybe you're not a trained dancer,
but you're an entertainer.
You like getting everybody into the party,
and that was very apparent with what you did.
All right.
Because we need all the help we can get,
tonight we'll be removing
the voice modulation from our dancers' audio
so we can hear their real voice.
Hammerhead, you can say one word and one word only.
Yep, it's the game I call word up.
♪ word up
come on, ken. Get up here.
♪ no matter where you say it ♪
♪ you'll know that you'll be heard ♪
listen.
Dramatic.
- Dramatic? - Dramatic.
- Someone who's an actor. - Actor?
- Yeah, hmm. - But did you hear his accent?
His voice sounds younger, and how he said it,
it kind of sounds like a surfer way to say something.
He really held that word long.
I feel like there was a point to that.
- Well, maybe it was almost comedic. - Paula: Yes.
He does remind me carrot top, just 'cause of his physique, he's a great comic.
- And there were carrots. - There were carrots in the clues.
Brian: That's a good guess.
- That's good. - Paula the balla'.
What clues are you picking up on?
Well, whoever you are, you're definitely someone
- who loves to be onstage. - Brian: Yeah.
In your performance, I was picking up a lot on boy band dance moves.
- Yeah. - And you danced to a backstreet boys song.
- That's true. - It wasn't really about the choreography so much
as the youthfulness, so obviously
I think of niall horan or liam payne.
In the clue package, the cup of coffee says joe.
There's someone that could be your stature. It could be joe jonas.
Ah. That's a great guess.
Brian: I did notice, from the clue package,
references to lifeguarding and surfing.
- Right, right. - You appear to be very muscular,
as this man is.
He was actually in the movie "baywatch," so maybe zac efron.
Ken: Good guess.
Someone who knows something about zac efron,
maybe you ask the source. The tis, maybe?
I don't know. Maybe.
I don't know. I'm not getting zac vibe from him.
Zac efron is a much better dancer, no offense.
Brian just wants to be friends with zac efron, but...
Who doesn't?
I think at this point all we do know
is that hammerhead nailed it.
- Yeah, yeah. - Excellent job.
Head backstage and download "sharknado 18."
I can't wait to find out who it is.
Craig: These are our panel's hammerhead guesses.
Use #themaskeddancer and set us straight.
Oh, my god, this is it, guys.
What a way to kick off the series premiere, right?
I wonder who it is. I wonder who it is.
Craig: Coming up, four more costumed superstars will take the stage...
- Paula, the tulip is tapping! - Paula: A tapper.
After my own heart.
This is ll cool.
- Venus williams? - Ariana grande.
...Before the first unmasking in "masked dancer" history.
Who are you?
It's the premiere of "the masked dancer."
♪ take it off, take it off
- whoa! - Yeah!
Welcome back to the world premiere
of "the masked dancer."
now we meet our next competitor.
Say hello to the tulip.
- Tulip? - ♪ I don't care
♪ I love it
♪ I don't care
♪ I love it
wow, look at her energy.
- ♪ I love it ■ - looks really tiny.
♪ I don't care
she's got stage presence. She can move.
♪ I love it
that is somebody that is used to being in front of people.
- Ashley: Yes. - Now, I don't want to be a petal pusher...
But you guys at home need help figuring out who this tulip is,
so maybe this will help.
Hey, guys, I thought I wouldn't have anything
to talk about in this video.
- 11. - 11 on the cereal.
Can it be millie bobby brown?
But then I found this gem.
I don't want this to sound like one of those
good guy/ bad guy stories,
but growing up, I was teased all the time.
- Okay, acrobatic club. - Ooh, like a gymnast.
Likely a gymnast, yeah.
My confidence tumbled.
But I tried my best to not let trolls get in my head.
I packed up my things and found a new, sunnier place to call home.
- The three clicking heels. - Oh, like "wicked.
- "wicked." - where people were chill
with the stranger things about me.
For the first time, I felt like
I could really breathe and be myself.
Tonight, my dance is dedicated to anyone searching
to find their place in the world.
After all, we're all in this together.
Ashley: Oh, my gosh. "we're all in this together."
is that a "high school musical" shout-out?
All in this together.
- Aw. - Whoa, whoa.
Give it up for the tulip.
( music playing )
♪ listen up, y'all, 'cause this is it ♪
♪ the beat that I'm banging is delicious ♪
paula: What?
- Oh, my god. - Paula, the tulip is tapping.
I know!
♪ you could see me, you can't squeeze me ♪
♪ I ain't easy, I ain't sleazy ♪
♪ I got reasons why I tease 'em ♪
♪ boys just come and go like seasons ♪
- ♪ fergalicious - ♪ so delicious
♪ but I ain't promiscuous
♪ and if you was suspicious
♪ all that is fictitious
♪ I blow kisses
♪ that puts them boys
that is a dancer!
♪ they be lining down the block just to watch what I got ♪
♪ it's so delicious
♪ it's hot, hot
♪ it's so delicious
♪ I put them boys on rock, rock ♪
♪ it's so delicious
♪ they want a taste of what I got ♪
♪ fergalicious
♪ t-t-tasty, tasty
♪ t to the a to the s-t-y, girl, you tasty ♪
♪ t to a to the, to the, to the-- ♪
♪ to the d to the e to the l-I-c-I-o-u-s ♪
♪ to the d to the e to the, to the, to the t ♪
- the tiktok sign! - That is the tiktok sign.
- Maybe it's a tiktok star. - That was mind-blowing.
Craig: Oh, man. Let's see what the panel
has to say about that performance.
I don't know if it's the baby,
but I'm, like, super emotional. I wanted to cry.
I was so excited. You're moving me to tears.
It might be a little bit of the baby.
First of all, a tapper! After my own heart.
- Oh, my god. - Yes.
- Your footwork is clean and precise. - Yeah.
- You are definitely a trained dancer. - Totally.
I'm blown away. Like...
Ashley: Yeah.
All right, time to remove the voice modulation
off our dancers and get a one-word clue straight from their mouth.
It's word up.
♪ word up
♪ it's the code word
♪ no matter where you say it ♪
♪ you'll know that you'll be heard ♪
triple.
Ken and brian: Triple.
Ashley: She sounds young.
I mean, she had honey in her voice,
much like you do, ken.
- This might be a singer. - Triple threat.
- There-- okay. - Oh! Yes.
The way you move, I think you're fairly young.
- I saw tiktok. - Yes, yes.
- There's a little clock. - Ken: Yeah.
And two of the biggest tiktok stars
are addison rae and charli d'amelio.
- But I believe addison is a lot taller. - Brian: Yeah.
In the clue package, I picked up that she was bullied.
I just feel like, you know, the sassiness, the tiktok--
I would say you are charli d'amelio.
Charli was part of an anti-bullying campaign.
She's the biggest one on tiktok.
She's a dancer, so she knows tap.
Ken: Good guess.
Paula, I see them wheels turning.
Well, definitely I can tell this is not your first time dancing.
You are totally in control of your tiny little body.
Ken: I feel like it was a mirror image.
I feel like it was another paula abdul.
- That's what I think, guys. - Well...
Tulip, are you wearing your hair in a ponytail underneath your mask?
Is she allowed to ask questions?
- Well, I just did. - Yes, you did.
You are queen paula.
- Answer the lady. - Yes.
How does that help us, paula?
Well, someone who's been bullied,
and I saw three heel clicks.
See, that's like "wizard of oz" to me.
Yes, but I know someone who has a connection.
Okay, who, who, who?
Okay, ariana grande is being considered
to be a lead for film-- "wicked."
ken: Oh.
And ariana's got that ponytail that she does not take down.
And ariana can definitely dance.
Yeah. Your dancing is just so outstanding.
People like jenna dewan can tap,
um, like jennifer love hewitt can tap.
- Yep. - But looking at the clue package, they had glee club.
And I famously recurred on "glee"
for an amazing two-episode arc.
Famously, yeah. Famously.
I was playing the father to heather morris.
She can tap. What if this is my tv daughter heather morris?
Look at the way she's shrugging. That's a qualified yes to me.
It could be heather morris of "glee."
proud of you, baby. I'm your daddy.
Brian: That's a good one.
Whoever you are, you are absolutely amazing.
I believe she's a triple threat. I do.
- Ashley: Amazing. - Thank you, tulip.
I think she's gonna be around for a long time.
You guys, who is she?
Craig: Did our panel soil their britches with their tulip guesses?
Tell us using #themaskeddancer
and enlighten us.
Coming up, it's a cricket jumping for your love and your vote.
Plus, which famous face is getting unmasked
at the end of the night?
Find out here on the premiere of "the masked dancer."
♪ take it off, take it off
whoa! Whoo! Yeah!
Craig: Welcome back. It's the premiere of "the masked dancer."
now we meet our next competitor. Say hello to the cricket.
( music playing )
♪ return of the mack
oh, wow. He's so tall.
Maybe he's a basketball player.
♪ return of the mack
♪ once again, return of the mack ♪
that dude is committed.
Ken: Maybe someone who's a comedian.
- I like this guy already. - Ashley, huh?
- Wow! - Yes.
The cricket has arrived.
So, what celebrity chooses a costume
many have killed with the back of their flip-flops?
Maybe these first few clues will help you figure it out.
Honestly, I never thought I would do a show like this.
Me, cricket, dancing? No way.
He's not a professional dancer.
But I've always bet on myself.
I had to give it a try.
- 90210. - I see that.
What?
I've been pretty lucky in life.
But when it came to love,
it always felt like I was getting punk'd.
- Punk'd? - Ashton kutcher, maybe?
I needed support, a foundation to stand on.
But then...
It was love at first sight.
I hit the jackpot, and we became the ultimate power couple.
Is this someone who performs in vegas?
She was my rock and I was her apprentice.
Someone on "celebrity apprentice."
she taught me the art of bounce,
and tonight I'm ready to jump for my love.
Give it up for the cricket.
( music playing )
♪ your eyes tell me how you want me ♪
♪ I can feel it in your heart beat ♪
- what? - Oh, nice!
♪ I know you like what you see ♪
- who is he? - Ken: Wow.
♪ hold me, I'll give you all that you need ♪
yeah, oh, look at that.
♪ you're so excited, I can feel you getting hotter ♪
♪ oh, baby, I'll take you down ♪
♪ I'll take you down
♪ where no one's ever gone before ♪
♪ and if you want more, if you want more ♪
♪ more, more
♪ then jump for my love
♪ jump in and feel my touch ♪
♪ jump if you want to taste my kisses in the night ♪
♪ then jump, jump
- ♪ jump - ♪ ooh, yeah
♪ you know my heart can make you happy ♪
♪ you know these arms can feel you up ♪
♪ you wanna taste my kisses in the night ♪
♪ then jump, jump, for my love. ♪
you've got moves!
- That was super fun. - What? What?
The fact that he's still in character now...
Speaking of crickets, ken, are you going on tour any time soon?
He's just so entertaining and fun.
I'm, like, laughing and giggling throughout.
- Yeah. - Ken: Yeah.
Ashley: Obviously, he's funny. He's a comedian.
Like, I think we're, like, mirroring each other
when we do this. Like, we do it together.
Okay, cricket.
Well, I hope at the moment you're a man of few words
'cause it's word up.
♪ word up
♪ it's the code word
♪ no matter where you say it ♪
♪ you'll know that you'll be heard ♪
accomplished.
- Accomplished? - Accomplished.
His voice sounds older.
It's so smooth, so familiar.
- Yeah. - It could be a singer.
You know what? He's in character.
He does commit, which I like,
so it could be a comedic actor.
It could be an actor like ryan reynolds.
"green lantern." green cricket.
- It all makes sense. It's simple math. - Yeah, all ties together.
You know what I mean? It all works.
Brian?
Brian: Okay, so, I saw the ace cards.
Thinking "ace ventura."
- craig: Oh. - It could be jim carrey or something,
that's very accomplished.
But I saw the 90210 thing on the slot machine...
- Right, right. - ...And it really got me thinking
about a friend of mine.
He was in vegas dancing with chippendales.
This friend of mine has an amazingly big, toothy, loving smile.
So I think that this might be ian ziering.
Hmm, that's a good guess.
All right. Ashley?
Ashley: At first I thought he was an athlete.
But having seen him dance, I saw the way you committed
to your character, so now I think you're an actor.
- Paula: Yeah. - From the clue package, vegas stood out to me the most.
I feel like you could be ashton kutcher...
- Ken: Oh. - ...And "what happens in vegas is a movie that he starred in.
Also, he's in a relationship with mila kunis
and they're a power couple.
Oh.
But I think the only thing our panel can agree on
is that you dance awfully good for a cricket.
I love this guy.
Who is he?
Craig: These are our panel's cricket guesses.
Do you want to take a fly-swatter at 'em?
Let us know using #themaskeddancer.
Don't forget, we will be in our regular time slot
for the group b premiere, Wednesday, January 6th.
After the break, we meet a disco ball with some serious uptown funk.
It's the first unmasking in "masked dancer" history.
Don't go anywhere.
♪ take it off, take it off
welcome back to the premiere of "the masked dancer."
now it's time to meet a character as synonymous to dance parties
as energy drinks and broken furniture.
Meet the disco ball.
( music playing )
- paula: Oh, boy. - Ken: This guy's been around the block.
That's a veteran walk. That's like how a veteran walks.
♪ my, my, my, my, my, my boogie shoes ♪
ken: Look at that.
- Swag! Yes. - That is a smooth guy right there.
All right, I need this in my life.
I need that whole outfit.
What celebrity is bold enough to dress as a disco ball
on a dance competition show?
Maybe this will help sashay you to a correct answer.
( music playing )
some people think they know everything about me,
but I'm here to show off my true colors.
I grew up on a rough block
and lost both my parents at a young age.
But once I discovered my passion,
my life changed for good.
It's been my fountain of youth, my miracle.
Wasn't samuel l. Jackson in a shark movie?
Yes.
Now I pour everything into my family.
Everybody counts on me.
I wake up ready to serve and protect.
- A gavel. - They've been to jail, maybe?
I'm no stranger to the spotlight,
but I'm not expendable just yet.
- Definitely it's older. - He's been around.
I'll keep disco ballin' all night long.
- Army salute. - At the end, there was an army salute, yeah.
Craig: Give it up for disco ball!
( music playing )
♪ this hit, that ice cold, michelle pfeiffer, that white gold ♪
♪ this one's for them hood girls, them good girls, straight masterpieces ♪
♪ stylin', wildin', livin' it up in the city ♪
♪ got chucks on with saint laurent ♪
♪ gotta kiss myself, I'm so pretty ♪
♪ too hot, hot damn
I like it!
♪ I'm too hot, hot damn
♪ make a dragon want to retire, man ♪
♪ I'm too hot, hot damn ♪
♪ say my name, you know who I am ♪
♪ I'm too hot, hot damn ♪
♪ am I bad 'bout that money? ♪
♪ break it down, girls, hit your hallelujah ♪
♪ girls, hit your hallelujah ♪
- uh-oh. - ♪ girls, hit your hallelujah ♪
lots of confidence on the stage.
♪ 'cause uptown funk gonna give it to ya ♪
♪ Saturday night and we in the spot ♪
♪ don't believe me, just watch ♪
- hey! - Uh-oh!
♪ don't believe me, just watch ♪
♪ hey, hey, hey, oh
♪ uptown funk you up, uptown funk you up ♪
♪ say, what?
♪ uptown funk you up, uptown funk you up ♪
- ♪ say what? - Oh, look at that.
♪ uptown funk you up
salute!
Awesome! That was fun.
- Salute. - Disco ball.
This was a discotheque, and you were the ball on the ceiling
just turning around like a disco ball does. That takes talent.
Brian: Yeah.
You have some swag, for sure.
- Oh, oh! - Oh, oh, oh, oh!
Great disco tush. Oh, my god, so much talent.
Maybe someone who's a comedian?
- I wouldn't say comedian, necessarily. - I don't think so.
He has complete confidence in what he's doing,
like an old-school entertainer.
- Like an old-school entertainer. - Yeah, I get that, too.
- Yeah, the popping and the locking. - Uh-oh.
- Do that again, paula. That was really good. - Pop.
- Pop-- wow. - Okay.
Now it's time for word up.
You only get one word, disco ball, so make it good.
♪ word up
♪ it's the code word
grammy.
- Grammy? - He's definitely a lot older than I thought.
That's called sexy adult voice.
Right, ooh.
Ooh, little romance here.
Grammy. So, obviously, he's a grammy-winner.
Maybe not for the obvious singing.
- Right. - Maybe you don't know this,
but comedians can win grammys, too.
All right, panel, what clues are you picking up on?
I believe it could be mc hammer,
because there's a gavel in the clues for hammer.
- He's won a grammy. - Yeah.
- Oh, oh, oh. - Oh, look at that.
Disco ball's mocking your guess.
- Brian? - I think this could be seasoned rapper like rev run
or diddy or, like, coolio,
'cause he has so much swag coming out here.
- Yeah. - But based on the clue package,
I saw a bone with a j,
which is a reference to his nickname,
so I think that this is ll cool j.
Yes, that's a good one.
Ken, what do you think?
I think this could be a seasoned performer.
Maybe older. I saw the motown moves.
And going by the clue package, there's the word "miracle."
and the word up clue of "grammy," to me that sealed the deal.
So I think the disco ball
is the legendary smokey robinson.
I believe ken is right, but whoever you are,
you did such a great job.
All right, disco ball, you can head backstage.
I don't want anyone to leave, but at the same time,
I'm dying to know who is in every costume.
My daughter is the reason that I'm participating,
so it will make me feel very proud...
Unless she thinks I suck.
Craig: Did our panel's disco ball guesses have you balling?
Tell us using #themaskeddancer.
Coming up, it's our last performance of the night
from the flyest bird I know.
Plus, I'm yanking somebody's mask off.
Don't go anywhere.
( music playing )
welcome back.
It's the premiere of "the masked dancer."
our next competitor, it's our newest
brightly feathered friend.
Women in black, release the exotic bird.
( music playing )
oh, her hips don't lie.
Yeah!
Look at that confident walk. Yes!
She is so tall.
Look at those legs. That is somebody that is active, for sure.
Any celebrity names flying out at you for the exotic bird?
- ( cheering ) - well, here's a whole bunch of clues
to help you "quack" the case.
British narrator: Deep within the secluded tropical terrain,
we find a species of bird in their natural habitat--
at the top of a race track.
Hey, who said that?
A race track? This is an athlete.
Get out of here! This is my story.
I'm exotic bird, and here's a few things about me.
Glitter coming out of the gun. Mariah carey? She was in "glitter."
as you can probably tell, I'm a little competitive.
I started when I was a teenager.
I was lucky enough to win big pretty quickly.
- Oh, a perfume line. - Jessica simpson has perfume.
But it definitely wasn't easy after that.
I felt attacked a lot, for losing,
for my relationships,
even just for being a big bird.
( sighs )
but I'm not going to let those shamers control my life.
Someone who's into cooking. Khloe kardashian?
Win or lose, I will keep flying.
Okay, narrator, back over to you.
British narrator: Let's watch now as she stretches her wings
to fly free and dominate the masked dancer
like a true warrior.
Exotic bird!
- She is so tall. - Could be an athlete.
Craig: Let's hear it for the exotic bird.
( music playing )
♪ d-d-d-d-dy
♪ ay, daddy
♪ play n' skillz
♪ katy perry
♪ cómo te llamas, baby?
♪ a little mescal got me feeling spicy ♪
ken: Look at that.
♪ I know that we don't speak the same language ♪
- ♪ but I'm gonna let - yes! Oh, my goodness.
♪ hola, me llamo katy
♪ a little mescal got me feeling naughty ♪
♪ I know that we don't speak the same language
♪ so I'm gonna let my body talk for me ♪
( man singing in spanish )
♪ I like your poom-poom, girl ♪
( man singing in spanish )
uh-oh. Oh!
♪ I like your poom-poom, girl ♪
( man singing in spanish )
look at that footwork.
♪ you could be my puerto rican dream ♪
♪ and I'm your california girl now ♪
♪ I got the poom-poom, boy
- way to go. - Amazing.
- Oh, man. - So good!
Yeah!
Craig: The exotic bird.
Good job.
That was fun.
Let's see what the panel has to say
about that performance.
Yeah, if she's not a trained dancer,
she certainly catches on fast
- and picks up the whole vibe and groove. - Yeah.
There's something athletic about her movement.
I'm thinking someone who's just a natural performer.
It's a natural performer, I think.
She has natural ability. She can dance.
Ashley: Yeah.
Now, exotic bird, it's time for a game
barely sweeping the nation.
Word up.
- ♪ word up - come on, ken.
Scored.
- Oh. - Scored.
Scored. Competitive.
- Scored, yeah. - She has a sexy voice.
Maybe she's scored some guys with those hips shaking.
- Ah. - A-ha!
Panel, putting all the clues together,
who do you think this is?
You're definitely somebody that has a ton of training.
- Paula: Yep. - Based on what you look like and how you move,
I'm thinking olympic athlete,
sort of on the path of, like, a marion jones
or a hope solo.
Well, I think you have some good guesses there,
but you know what, with your movement,
I know you're a performer, like maybe fergie
or maybe lady gaga.
- I'm not sure. - No.
But you're taller than them,
so I think you might be jennifer hudson.
Ken: Oh. That's a good guess.
Sweet kenny j?
Looking at the clue package, there's something in 2007
that I believe fits the profile of the exotic bird.
Venus williams won wimbledon in 2007.
And if you look on the track, there's, like, competing,
there's a glitter gun, and venus is always glam on the court, we know that.
Venus williams, welcome to "the masked dancer."
okay, did our panel's exotic bird names
have you flipping the bird at your tvs?
Don't be shy. Use #themaskeddancer and tell us.
Don't go anywhere. Stay put. It's time to vote.
Audience, and our super fans across the country,
now you must choose your favorite of the night.
The one with the least amount of votes will unmask.
This is so hard. I love them all.
I don't want to see any of them go.
Here we go.
The first dancer of the season
with the least amount of votes
to unmask and waltz their butt home...
...Will be revealed right after this break.
Oh, man, that ain't doing it right.
Welcome back to "the masked dancer" premiere.
Five very talented but ridiculously dressed characters stand before me.
Ugh, this is so hard. I don't want any of them to go.
The first dancer of group a to be voted of is...
- Disco ball. - ( all groan )
oh.
The rest of you have officially advanced to the next round.
Disco ball,
you have sadly faced your last dance.
- So sad. - Love you, disco!
Love you!
Now, to help you with your final guesses,
I'm gonna give you each the chance to ask disco ball a question.
Paula?
Have I possibly seen you on the big screen or small?
- Both. - Aha. Okay.
Ken?
Have I ever heard you on the radio, hmm?
- Possibly. - Possibly.
- Okay, all right. - Wow.
- Brian? - Have you ever won an award
other than a grammy?
Yes.
Were you famous in the '90s?
- Yes. - Interesting.
- Did that help? - Possibly.
- You know? Really?
Craig: It's almost time for our first megastar to be unmasked.
But first, we need guesses, people.
Brian, who is this?
Um, there was the shark fin in the fountain.
I know he was in the movie "deep blue sea."
what really led me to this was the grammy clue,
this guy hosted the grammys a few times.
This is ll cool j.
Ken?
I think it's someone who is a veteran,
- who's a grammy legend. - Brian: Yeah.
During the performance, yeah, I saw the motown moves,
and grammy legendary musician who I possibly heard on the radio.
In the '90s, he released some hit songs.
"ballin's" in the clue and I'm bawling
like "tracks of my tears" bawling.
I think this is smokey robinson.
That's good.
And, paula?
When I saw j phone, one of my favorite actors
played j-bone in a movie back in the day.
And also in your performance, I saw him doing an army salute,
and he did a lot of army movies.
And he's certainly been on the big screen and the small.
- I think it's ving rhames. - Wow.
- Interesting. - All right. Ashley?
Okay, so, I saw a gavel and I thought of a hammer,
which, you know, to me is mc hammer.
Huh.
But then I thought maybe it could be a tv judge.
He also said, "can't slow down"
and "all night long," which we all know
are famous songs by lionel richie.
Oh, hello!
Okay, now, these are your final guesses.
Let's all see who's behind the mask.
Guys, I can't wait to see who this is.
- Yeah! - Yes.
Audience, say it with me.
( all chanting ) take it off! Take it off!
Craig: Take it off, disco ball!
Take it off!
Oh, a chin strap.
( cheering )
ice-t!
( all screaming )
get outta here!
Grammy-winning artist, actor, hip-hop legend.
( screaming continues )
original gangster.
Oh, my god.
I gave y'all a clue.
- Goat! - Ken: Legend!
That's so cool.
Yes!
I thought had it when you said "old school."
I was like, "uh-oh."
my god, the gavel. How did I miss that? "svu."
yes, yes. 22 years.
You've had an incredible career.
Is this one of the craziest things you've ever done?
Absolutely the craziest thing I've ever done.
But my daughter watched "the masked singer."
and at first I was like, "eh, eh, eh."
and then when I seen lil wayne take the helmet off,
I'm like, "okay, this is cool."
- then when I see busta take it off... - Yep.
I'm like, "I'ma get a call eventually."
- yeah, right? - I'm very excited to be here.
This is very cool. Fun experience.
Paula: We're so honored to have you.
Love you, man. Huge fan.
- Thank you. - Really.
Smokey robinson?
Smokey robinson was ice-t back in the day.
True, true.
Let me ask you then, what was the salute?
I was in the military for four years.
- 25th infantry division. Yes, sir. - I didn't know that.
- Thank you for your service, sir. - Thank you. Thank you.
Craig: We'll see you in the new year for our group b premiere,
Wednesday, January 6th.
And right after that, it's the return
of the iconic game show "name that tune."
get off your sofas,
'cause here to perform their last dance,
unmasked once and for all,
the artist formerly known as the disco ball,
ice t!
( music playing )
yeah!
♪ don't believe me, just watch ♪
♪ hey, hey, hey
♪ uptown funk you up
♪ uptown funk you up, uptown funk you up ♪
♪ uptown funk you up