Buffalos, Strawberry Shortcake, and Wasp battle it out in The Masked Singer semi-finals with a model new never-before-seen spherical of opponents, and a consequence so shut the vote margin is decrease than a single share degree — so who fell on the fallacious side of the numbers?
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is also over, nonetheless the friendship bracelets have been flying all through The Masked Singer semi-finals as a result of the panelists found of personal connections they share with the three remaining finalists.
Buffalos, Strawberry Shortcake, and Wasp have all belted out unbelievable performances all season prolonged, leaving audiences breathless with heartfelt moments of vulnerability and window-shaking moments of pure power.

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And however, they someway all managed to keep away from losing their biggest performances however for this semi-finals current. Whatever the outcomes, the stage was set for an unbelievable finale. And whereas Rita Ora missed the episode as a consequence of feeling beneath the local weather, she’s going to in all probability be once more for the large finish!
Sadly, after the tightest voting margin inside the historic previous of the current — with Nick Cannon revealing there was decrease than one share degree distinction — definitely one in every of these masks was going to fall merely temporary.
Who gave it their all solely to go home one week sooner than the finale? And did anyone on our illustrious — ahem — panel of specialists make the suitable guess? There’s only one answer to find out!
Let’s soar correct in with this week’s masks. And don’t fret, sooner than we get to the shocking unmasking(s), we’ll make you power by the horrible (and sometimes good) guesses made by our illustrious panel of Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, and Ken Jeong first. We do this on account of we love … to torture you.

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FILLER: Prime 3
(“Some Nights,” Fulfilling.) The night kicked off with a rollicking current piece from the remaining singers — and with 5 of them on the stage, it was a very full sound. Strawberry Shortcake held her private because the one female in a self-discipline of male voices, whereas Wasp proved better than succesful as a solo male artist. Buffalos are already a powerhouse group with killer harmonies, nonetheless we observed that solo second from definitely one in every of them. And collectively, there was experience to spare, setting the stage for a night of stiff opponents — and one heartbreaking reveal.
ROUND 1: Semi-Finals
Strawberry Shortcake
(“Lose You to Love Me,” Selena Gomez) Strawberry Shortcake may have had a barely tilted masks tonight, nonetheless that effectivity was straight coronary coronary heart. It was palpable and heartfelt from the first bear in mind. We felt her emotions by each line of pitch-perfect bear in mind provide. It isn’t a easy observe to cowl on account of there’s nowhere to cowl vocally, nonetheless Strawberry Shortcake was out in entrance of it proudly, boldly, and beautifully.
Clues & Guesses: Typically you should step away from the dream to relearn how one can acknowledge it, on account of most wishes embrace numerous drag. That was Strawberry Shortcake’s experience in her semi-finals clue bundle deal, the place she opened up about feeling disenchanted by pressure, rejection, and self-doubt. She talked about she was triggered by her early fame, leading to an prolonged break. Now, she’s found the love and pleasing as soon as extra.
When requested what she’s found on this journey, she shared, “I’ve found that I’m resilient, sturdy, and I’m in order that utterly joyful to be on the stage.” She thanked the panel for his or her sort phrases, saying this experience once more inside the spotlight confirmed her “that’s the place I’m imagined to be.”
Her on-stage Friendship Bracelet revealed a connection to Ken with the message “Press Tour.” She outlined, “One in every of many highlights of my occupation was the press tour we did collectively. You made me chuckle all day.”
Throughout the quarterfinals, Strawberry Shortcake made it clear that she typically wouldn’t do this form of issue … alone. She’s proud of herself for taking time for herself, even when her family and buddies being busy doing their points was part of her motivation for taking this chance. She talked about she’s been part of a “bundle deal bunch” her full life, so this was all very thrilling and new.

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“Hey sis, you is perhaps utterly crushing it, I’m so proud of you,” received right here her cellphone title clue. “It has been so fantastic to see you develop over time and easily get increased and better frequently. And keep in mind, I’m always with you, it doesn’t matter what, so go in the marketplace and current the world you’ll be able to one thing, ‘set off I do know you is perhaps. And me and your nephew are rooting for you.”
Last week’s clue bundle deal was all about her connection alongside along with her mother, sharing that they used to sing on the tops of their lungs for the holidays whereas baking. Now, though, stage fright has stolen her mother’s voice, and it’s Strawberry Shortcake’s hope that this journey will encourage her mother to sing as soon as extra.
She moreover talked about having had an opportunity to appear in a Thanksgiving parade, whereas we observed a pen with musical notes on it, a cow in a ballet costume, and a stagecoach with horse. Her on-stage clue was novelty mouse ears, to which she outlined, “Mouse ears have been instrumental in how I acquired my start.” And naturally, you’ll have the ability to’t say “mouse ears” with out fascinated by Disney.
Last week’s bundle deal was all about her connections to Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus, along with that they shared the an identical wishes, attacked them the an identical method, grew up in entrance of the world, and even shared a stage at one degree. She talked about the duo even leaned on one another after hobnobbing with the an identical brothers, and breaking their hearts.
Visually, we acquired an apple, a “Banana Montana” clapperboard after she threw a script inside the air from a director’s chair, and a capturing star. Her on-stage clue was a pair of crimson boxing gloves, one with a blonde wig and the other a marijuana leaf. “Miley has always been in my nook. She was even by my side after I made my debut,” Strawberry Shortcake outlined.

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Season 7’s Ringmaster, Haley Orrantia, launched her pal as Strawberry Shortcake’s Masked Ambassador, calling her “a pageant favorite.” She shared they’ve been collectively by a number of of Haley’s “biggest milestones,” too.
Speaking for herself, Strawberry Shortcake talked about that she’d always dreamed of performing in an infinite music pageant as a headliner, nonetheless wanted to simply accept sitting on the sidelines. That’s, until she acquired the choice to open “a few of the iconic ones.” She often called that day every sweet and a “gradual burn,” nonetheless nicely definitely worth the wait.
Seen clues all via included sunny sunglasses, a kitten, rainbows, hearts, Instagram footage, mushrooms, and an ice cream cone. On stage, her t-shirt be taught “Break a Leg,” to which she added, “My breakthrough perform confirmed the world my potential.”
With a model new friendship bracelet, Ken speculated his press tour connection to Strawberry Shortcake might have been all through a Hangover movie promotion tour the place he met Joey King. Jenny, though, thought-about Sarah Hyland, who’s undoubtedly confirmed off her singing chops sooner than. Robin’s guess was Lucy Hale, which as soon as extra associated to promotional excursions for Ken’s Dr. Ken current, as did Hyland.
Nonetheless none of those guesses align so properly with all of the clues. You probably can tie every the mouse ears and the cow to the Disney Channel genuine film Cow Belles, which was the debut for Aly and her sister — and our favorite guess — AJ Michalka.
The kitten suggests every her Catra perform on She-Ra and her perform with Aly on Hellcats. Plus, AJ utterly dated one in every of many JoBros (Joe, in precise reality), so that vibe moreover is smart. Oh, and that Hannah Montana connection is perhaps that she has talked about sister Aly was offered that perform sooner than Miley landed it, whereas she was offered the perform of Lilly Truscott.
Plus, we now have nonetheless acquired closing week’s touting that she’s an aunt now, so we is perhaps remiss if we didn’t moreover bear in mind that Aly gave starting to her son on April 21 of this yr, making AJ Michalka a model new aunt!

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Buffalos
(“Africa,” Toto) Buffalos took good thing about their amount for some ad-libbing and runs by the chorus to boost this effectivity. Always a crowd-pleaser, they undoubtedly stayed true to the spirit of the distinctive whereas injecting it with their unbelievable harmonies and extremely efficient voices. There was undoubtedly numerous intelligence in how they constructed this effectivity to every highlight their experience, and assemble to a crescendo that leaves the viewers every glad and wanting additional.
Clues & Guesses: For the semi-finals, Buffalos paid tribute to their children, who they talked about sing even increased than they do. Do they sing collectively, though, Robin puzzled. They talked about doubters at the start of their careers, nonetheless how staying true to themselves helped them get hold of their success and allow them to be that occasion for his or her children and the next period.
As they’ve spoken about their bond collectively sooner than, Nick requested what they’d say to 1 one different. One Buffalo replied, “Properly first I’d say, certainly not in a single million years would I imagine I would even be in a Buffalo masks. Nonetheless I’m glad I’m doing it with my brothers and the proper buddies I’ve ever had.”
Their Friendship Bracelet connection was with Jenny, with the phrase “Donnie,” referring to her husband, Donnie Wahlberg. “We go method once more with Donnie,” outlined one Buffalo. “And we moreover go method once more with you.”
Their quarter finals bundle deal was all about their bond of brotherhood, which wanted to beat an infinite obstacle when “one factor occurred” to definitely one in every of their amount that “ruined their delicate combine.” All of their deliberate joint everythings have been “often called off.” Nonetheless they’ve been able to regroup and can be found once more stronger than ever.
Their cellphone title was from Babyface — certain that Babyface! — who suggested them, “You guys are merely killing it. I’ve certainly not seen you look increased or additional ridiculous. So keep it up, convey home the trophy.” They revealed that after getting the prospect to work with him, “It modified our lives.”

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The trio chosen The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” for his or her third effectivity on account of they associated with that bittersweet feeling. Of their clue bundle deal, they opened up about shedding a guiding mild that impressed them as they’ve been breaking by after they misplaced him out of the blue.
They talked about that they sang collectively whereas laying him to leisure and thought that’s more likely to be it for them, nonetheless they know he’d want them to proceed. Seen clues inside the bundle deal included a Lifeless End sign, a ringing bell, and camouflage umbrella.
“We now have been on this enterprise for a very very very long time,” definitely one in every of them talked about on stage after their effectivity. “We now have gained a lot and we now have misplaced a lot. The enticing issue is, we’re proper right here correct now sharing our story with you.” The other two circled spherical him in help as he acquired emotional.
The on-stage clue was a t-shirt that reads “Halftime Current,” with the explanation, “This halftime t-shirt has aged over time, like us, nonetheless we’re capable of let you realize this effectivity was in entrance of one in every of many biggest audiences on the planet.”
Their second clue bundle deal observed the trio describe themselves as rebels who found each other alongside the way in which during which certainly not really cared what totally different people talked about about them. It emphasised that they’re humorous — whereas suggesting some might assume they take themselves too considerably — and that they’re rich. Like, method rich.
Their bar-set bundle deal included an emphasis on three beer mugs, a recreation of poker, and a black “poison” bottle. Their clue received right here out as a mini-“Motown” tractor. “We’re barely drained correct now on account of we’re busy using this tractor to mow lawns all through metropolis,” they outlined.
Season 5 winner Piglet (a.okay.a. Nick Lachey) shared a seemingly singular Buffalo’s story in his first clue bundle deal, talking about his powerful upbringing in “roach-filled beds at night.” In the middle of the day, he practiced at a bus stop. When Buffalo talked about catching his large break at a cattle title, we observed footage of Betty White and Vanna White.

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From that auspicious beginning, Buffalo went on to journey the world and star in two of crucial sitcoms of all time. Nick received right here once more to call Buffalo a “nationwide treasure,” along with the point of interest at his Super Bowl occasions. Additional footage included a poster of a soccer participant at that bus stop and Buffalo holding up a film reel.
Buffalo’s closing line was, “Merely you wait,” which evokes Hamilton. Their-on-stage clue the first week was a crown.
After getting her friendship bracelet, Jenny reminisced regarding the groups Donnie has toured with as part of New Kids on the Block, zeroing in on Boyz II Males for her guess. She well-known that they’ve been there when she and Donnie started courting, with Wanya Morris even on a secret date with them early on.
Ken talked about that whereas 99 p.c of him wishes to associate with Jenny to Boyz II Males, “One p.c of Ken Jeong is gonna with Color Me Badd and I’ll let you realize why.” That one almost cleared the dais sooner than Robin dug deeper into the Babyface archives to go looking out his brothers’ trio After 7.
Jenny quickly recognized she has no precise connection to that group, though, whereas her exact guess is according to what emerged as the proper guess primarily based totally on the clues (and their iconic, velvety voices).
Riffing on closing week’s clue about shedding definitely one in every of their very personal, Boyz II Males was rocked when Michael “Mike Bass” McCary wanted to go away as a consequence of persistent once more points in the long run acknowledged as numerous sclerosis. As he saved the state of affairs secret sooner than his departure, the band members felt he wasn’t giving his all, leading to a rift.
Oh, and as for Babyface, he solely co-wrote and produced “End of the Freeway,” one in every of many biggest hits of the ’90s, which catapulted them to the next stage of their occupation. Oh, and Wanya has six children, 4 of whom moreover make up their very personal R&B group, WanMor, which hints at that subsequent gen.

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Wasp
(“Beautiful Points,” Benson Boone) Wasp left all of it on the dance flooring with a younger beginning connecting instantly with the panel sooner than making his answer to the stage and pouring himself into that extremely efficient chorus. This was a tour de energy effectivity that raised the bar on an already mind-blowing night of performances. His vocal fluctuate and administration in a number of sounds and sorts is unparalleled. Already a powerhouse contender for the trophy, he merely upped his private recreation with this one.
Clues & Guesses: Competing on The Masked Singer has reignited that aggressive drive in him that Wasp says was first awoke after his mother signed him up for a experience contest in hopes it might help him uncover his method out of the hood … and he gained it! Even increased, an “enterprise mogul” was in attendance, and the remaining is historic previous.
“I would really like you to remember your power,” he suggested his youthful followers. “As you develop previous, at all times do not forget that child that you simply simply as quickly as have been. Always preserve dreaming and picture in your self to the fullest it doesn’t matter what, how darkish it’s going to get, what variety of cases you fall. You probably can always arise and fly as soon as extra.”
His friendship bracelet was for Robin, with Wasp together with, “I had a blast as soon as we painted town crimson in Nashville. We had such an excellent time, you keep in mind?’ That left Robin scrambling to provide you who all he’s “painted town crimson” with.
Wasp shifted his focus to love for the quarter finals … the place he’s moreover struggled. Whereas driving the blue bike that kicked off his effectivity, he talked about not understanding what love was from any real-world examples, which will be why he flew fast and free looking for that rom-com magic.
He talked about he failed better than as quickly as alongside the way in which during which, and even had only a few U-turns he talked about must’ve been illegal, nonetheless he’s presently in love and hopeful that probably he’s lastly not off course. His on-stage clue was a cellphone title from a appreciated one, which for Wasp was his cousin.

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“Hey Wasp, it’s your biggest pal and cousin,” he talked about as Wasp acquired visibly emotional. “You certainly not cease to amaze me. You’ll be able to so many points it’s ridiculous, from inserting out hits to dwell theater to starring in one in every of many biggest displays of the final decade, you’re a large star. I do know you’ve received acquired what it takes to win this issue.”
Last time we checked in with him, Wasp paid tribute to his mother, who handed away after going via her “darkest battle,” that he wasn’t outfitted to help her overcome. He talked about her as his protector and his hero, sharing that she appreciated Halloween and having fun with dress-up — even saying she’d almost certainly must placed on his wasp costume.
As he talked, we observed an old-timey (treasure?) map, a stethoscope, and a shot of a lava lamp subsequent to a DNA strand behind him. His ’60s invention was the ATM, with a $1,000,000 withdrawal triggering funds to fly all over the place. “That’s an attention-grabbing bill,” Wasp talked about, displaying Robin’s face on a million-dollar bill. “Similar to this bill, I’ve moreover hit a million,” he added.
For his second effectivity, Wasp pulled once more the curtain on his crowded upbringing, rising up with better than a dozen relations dwelling beneath the an identical roof, with Wasp describing all of them as “hustlers.” The one issue missing was his dad.
He talked about that when he lastly stepped out and made it, though, he returned home to love and help from his full family, collectively along with his father. His dad even expressed how proud of him he was. Clues inside the bundle deal included a folding ladder, a theater marquee collectively along with his establish, and a crimson crab.
His on-stage toy was a Barbie stage with two dolls standing on it, each with one arm raised, one on a bit of little bit of a pedestal. “Every minute I’m in the marketplace, I take my dwell performances to new heights,” Wasp outlined.
The Wasp’s Masked Ambassador is Ne-Yo (a.okay.a. Season 10 winner Cow), who talked about, “I imagine it’s about time for my boy the Wasp to enter this recreation. I’ve recognized him since he was latest on the scene and he gained giant success by taking my phrases of data. I imagine he’s acquired what it takes to snag the Golden Masks trophy, just like I did in Season 10.”

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Wasp then opened up about rising up in a difficult neighborhood, saying there’s no trigger he would have made it out. “Nonetheless I found to dig deep and wrestle,” he talked about, sporting a pair of boxing gloves. He then talked about that his occupation blew as a lot because the “biggest screens and phases on the planet.” Ne-Yo talked about he had the ladies swarming.
Completely different seen clues included a shot of Mars and a lightbulb over Ne-Yo’s head whereas talking about his phrases of data. For Sports activities actions Night, the singers launched an athletic shoe from home to indicate their life. Wasp’s honeycomb themed basketball sneakers left him saying, “Modern kicks help me carry on my recreation.”
Fascinated by what Wasp talked about about their time collectively in Nashville, Robin speculated about Anthony Ramos, though he didn’t keep in mind partying with him and the one Nashville connection he might provide you with was probably Hamilton toured there. Yeah, it wasn’t good, with Robin admitting, “I don’t keep in mind a lot.”
Jenny mused by artists like Maxwell and Jason Derulo, who has a “Heartbeat” observe to tie to that clue, nonetheless Ken was feeling great assured that probably, lastly, merely this as quickly as, he is perhaps correct and Usher could possibly be on this current. At this degree, we hope Usher does do the current so Ken can not guess him and nonetheless get it fallacious! He did get a experience current connection as Usher appeared on Star Search.
As for intelligent guesses, though, we’re nonetheless leaning in direction of Mario. He was raised by his grandmother in west Baltimore whereas his single mother struggled with heroin behavior, and he’s beforehand talked about having 18 relations dwelling in his house.
Ne-Yo wrote “Let Me Love You” for him, cementing that connection. He moreover starred inside the TV adaptation of theatrical manufacturing Lease, giving us our marquee — and the ladder, too, whereas we’re at it, for its distinctive staging.
And whereas he can’t tout Star Search on his resume, Mario did compete at a experience current at Coppin State College at age eleven the place he was discovered and signed by producer Troy Patterson, in the long run leading to a file deal with Clive Davis’ J Data in his early youngsters.

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FIRST RESULTS
Sooner than the first outcomes, everyone acquired a bonus clue collectively from the three finalists with a friendship bracelet for Nick and a bear in mind that be taught, “From performing with you to attending your epic occasions, all three of us have connections to you, the legendary Nick Cannon.”
As for the first outcomes, the night merely appeared to assemble from one good effectivity to the next, which can be very unhealthy data for Strawberry Shortcake. Jenny declared Buffalos the proper effectivity of the season, nonetheless that was sooner than Wasp launched down the house.
All of that suggests that Strawberry Shortcake’s passionate, heartfelt and beautiful effectivity is extra and extra once more inside the recollections of the viewers and panel. In fact, all three acts have been unbelievable tonight and gave performances worthy of advancing, nonetheless we would undoubtedly ship Wasp straight by from proper right here as he really was on one different stage.
After what was the closest margin inside the historic previous of The Masked Singer — by decrease than one p.c, per Nick — the artist advancing routinely to the finale was Wasp. If the masks that was inside a share degree of them moreover advances, we is perhaps one for one unbelievable (and intensely shut) finale!
ROUND 2: Smack Royale
Combining the Smackdown and Battle Royale format into one factor mannequin new, the Smack Royale sees the two masks competing by performing the an identical observe back-and-forth on the an identical time, very like the Battle Rounds on The Voice. Now, did they need to rehearse this in every potential combination, or are they solely winging it?
Strawberry Shortcake v Buffalos
(“Counting Stars”, OneRepublic) This was an attention-grabbing experiment that wasn’t totally worthwhile in execution as you wanted to listen to laborious to hearken to if Strawberry Shortcake was part of harmony elements or if that was merely Buffalos. It would want labored increased in an actual one-on-one. It moreover felt identical to the affiliation featured additional of them singing collectively or on excessive of one another than in solo breakout moments. The tip consequence was a spherical that felt barely additional muddled than it must be and us additional undecided than ever about who we wished to see advance as everyone appeared to hold out pretty properly. We’re going to say that Buffalos appeared to put rather more physicality and keenness into their performances.

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UNMASKING 13
One different shut second spherical continued to indicate merely how sturdy these semi-finalists are. It’s really laborious to say definitively that each of them have been in a singular league than the other on the night, so we would have liked to look once more all through the season.
The finale is a fruits of a season-long journey, so by that mark we’d say that Buffalos will get the sting as they’ve offered distinctive, extremely efficient and distinctive preparations the complete method. In the long term, the panel agreed, after calling the pairing a “Supergroup,” sending Buffalos into subsequent week’s finale, and the highest of this journey for Strawberry Shortcake.
- Robin Thicke: Kelsea Ballerini
- Jenny McCarthy: Sarah Hyland
- Ken Jeong: Joey King
The panel was shifting within the applicable route with Disney connections, nonetheless they appeared to miss a number of of the totally different clues, like that extremely efficient sister connection, in order that they didn’t land on the suitable guess as a result of it was definitely proud new aunt and sister to Aly, AJ Michalka beneath the masks.
Regardless that she was none of their guesses, AJ continued to the contact everyone’s hearts alongside along with her farewell messages as Robin reiterated she was top-of-the-line singers to ever grace the stage, whereas Ken recalled their connection whereas telling her how “unbelievable” she was on this current.
The Masked Singer reveals its Season 12 winner subsequent Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
