Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Jacob Stolworthy

The Masked Singer viewers shocked as fictional character unmasked in bizarre first for reality show

Photograph: Fox

The Masked Singer fans in the US were surprised by the first “celebrity” contestant to be unmasked on the new series.

Producers had been teasing the fifth season of the popular contest as a “game changer” and viewers certainly saw why at the end of episode one.

It turns out that they signed up a fictional character to participate as a contestant – namely Kermit the Frog.

The beloved Muppet was the one underneath the Snail costume and performed Hall and Oates song “You Make My Dreams (Come True)”.

Speaking about his decision to be on the series, Kermit told Variety over email:“After years of being your average everyday talking frog, I thought it would be fun to be someone else.

Kermit the Frog was unmasked as Snail on The Masked Singer (Fox)

The chance to become a snail – with my own built-in mobile home – was too good to pass up… I didn’t last on the show very long. But I loved every minute of it.”

It’s believed that Matt Vogel, who has voiced the character since 2017, was the one who performed the track. His costume was built around a battery-operated mobile cart device that Vogel – as the Muppet – controlled.

READ MORE:Joss Stone wins Masked Singer as Sausage

While none of the show’s judges guessed Snail’s identity, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg did say the person was “pushing out the Kermit the Frog sound”. Other guesses ranged from Seth MacFarlane to Billy Crystal.

Viewers were extremely surprised to see Kermit unmasked as a contestant on the show.

The Masked Singer’s UK edition recently concluded its second series, which crowned Joss Stone as the winner.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.