The Masked Singer (American TV series) season 9

Nick Cannon, singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, television and radio personality Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, actor and comedian Ken Jeong, and recording artist Nicole Scherzinger all return as host and panelists. The second episode included Nick Viall and Shangela as additional guests, the third episode included Luann de Lesseps and Theresa Caputo as additional guests, the fourth episode included Helen Mirren, Zachary Levi, and Jim Lee as additional guests with Jennifer Nettles appearing in a post-credit gag, the fifth episode featured Nettles as a guest panelist, with Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Count von Count, Abby Cadabby, and Elmo's puppy Tango as additional guests, the sixth episode included Bill Engvall, Robert Woods, and Deana Carter as additional guests, the seventh episode included Young MC, Donnie Wahlberg (who portrayed "Cluedle-Doo" during the fifth season), Erik Estrada, and Charlene Tilton as additional guests, and the ninth episode included Daphne Zuniga and Mike Massimino as additional guests. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin appeared as a guest in the fifth episode along with his younger brother, Damir. The episode was filmed in January 2023, a few weeks after his cardiac arrest medical incident. ==Production==

The season is formatted similar to its predecessor, featuring three contestants in each episode, with one eliminated mid-show and taken to the VIP section and the other two battling it out in a Battle Royale. A champion is crowned at the end of each episode who then moves on to the following episode, with the other singer in the top two unmasking. However, it also introduces a gimmick known as the "Ding Dong Keep It On" bell, which allows a panelist to save a singer from elimination. The bell can only be used once per group. As a result, there was a special episode where those saved by the "Ding Dong Keep It On" bell compete for a second chance to stay in the competition. The season also features the return of themed nights, a gimmick introduced in the previous season. The season includes themes such as "Opening Night", "ABBA", "New York", "DC Superhero", "Sesame Street", "80s Night", "Country", "Movie Night", "Space", and “British Invasion”. Springer portrayed "Beetle" in the previous season. ==Contestants==

The contestants in this season are reported to have a combined 95,231,000 records sold, 28 Emmy nominations, 26 books, 10 gold albums, six Grammy wins, five lifetime achievement awards, five medals, four Golden Globe nominations, four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and two Tony Award nominations. One mask, "French Hen", was revealed in promotional material prior to the airing of the season, but did not participate in the season. Although nothing has been officially revealed about the celebrity participant, Variety has reported that a celebrity exited the season after testing positive for COVID-19, which ultimately led to Debbie Gibson's participation. ==Episodes==

Week 1 (February 15) • After being unmasked, Van Dyke sang "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from Mary Poppins as his encore performance. Week 2 (February 22) - "ABBA Night" Week 3 (March 1) - "New York Night" Guest performance: Panelist Robin Thicke performs "Living in New York City" • After being unmasked, Grandmaster Flash scratched along to "Good Times" by Chic as his encore performance. ===Week 4 (March 8) - "DC Superheroes Night"=== Guest performance: Panelist Nicole Scherzinger performs "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler • After being unmasked, Bolton performed his signature song "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" as his encore performance. Week 5 (March 15) - "Sesame Street Night" Guest performance: Sesame Street characters perform "Dynamite" by BTS Week 6 (March 22) - "Country Night" Week 7 (March 29) - "'80s Night" Guest performance: Young MC performs "Bust a Move" ===Week 8 (April 5) - "WB Movie Night"=== • After being unmasked, Snider performed an acapella version of his signature song "We're Not Gonna Take It" as his encore performance. Week 9 (April 12) - "Masked Singer In Space" Week 10 (April 19) - "Supreme Six" Week 11 (April 26) - "Battle of the Saved" • After being unmasked, Phillips performed "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens as his encore performance. Week 12 (May 3) - "Quarter Finals" (British Invasion Night) Week 13 (May 10) - "Semi-Finals" Week 14 (May 17) - "Finale" • After being unmasked, Briggs sang her signature song "River" as her encore performance. ==Ratings==