The premise of "The Masked Singer," a reality competition series originating in South Korea, is famously wild yet incredibly successful. It features famous personalities from various fields—music, acting, sports, and even politics—donning elaborate, stunningly designed costumes to perform songs for a panel of judges and a live audience. The judges attempt to guess the celebrity behind each mask, while viewers vote for their favorite performances. The least popular contestant is eliminated weekly, revealing their identity before departing. Adding to the intrigue, subtle clues about the celebrities are integrated into their costumes and staging.

Host Nick Cannon, who has been with the show since its 2019 premiere, affirmed that despite skipping its second installment in 2025, the longer hiatus didn't disrupt the team's rhythm. The show operates as a well-oiled machine, largely due to its consistent panel. Jenny McCarthy, Robin Thicke, and Ken Jeong have served as panelists since the beginning, with Rita Ora seamlessly taking over for Nicole Scherzinger after her departure in 2023. Ora praised the welcoming environment, noting, "They just made me feel so at home... There were no rules, and that's kind of where I live. I thrive when there's a world where I can be free, and that's what this show's about." Cannon echoed this, describing Ora as a "free spirit" who perfectly fits the show's "zaniness and fun."

Stepping onto "The Masked Singer" set is an immersive experience, often likened to Oz or Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The scale is massive, featuring a sleek, circular black stage, trippy projections, giant practical props, and hundreds of spotlights that transport viewers to another world. Even after 14 seasons, McCarthy emphasized that the creative directors ensure the show maintains a "Grammy Award-winning" level of greatness. While it hasn't won a Grammy, the show has garnered numerous accolades, including an Art Directors Guild Award nomination, a Guild of Music Supervisors Awards win, a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Competition Program, and two Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for its iconic costumes. These costumes are not only visually stunning but also mobile enough for singing and dancing, and they ingeniously hide clues about the celebrity's identity. Panelists, including Ora and Thicke, are consistently amazed by the costume designers' creativity and their crucial role in maintaining the competition's spirit, often disguising body types so judges must rely solely on voice.

Season 14 promises to be "Bigger and More Beautiful Than Ever," according to Cannon, who teased a premiere packed with reveals. Ora corroborated this, claiming the unmasked celebrities are "just so much bigger every year," a significant assertion given past participants like Patti LaBelle, Demi Lovato, and Billie Jean King. Cannon finds the element of surprise particularly rewarding, noting the show's role in "talent discovery," where athletes or TikTok personalities reveal unexpected vocal talents. Among the panelists, Ken Jeong has a surprising knack for guessing athletes, reportedly achieving 90% accuracy, citing his NBA fandom and past encounters with singing athletes like Victor Oladipo (Thingamajig in Season 2). Robin Thicke, meanwhile, fondly remembers NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski as White Tiger.

The panelists employ diverse strategies to crack the clues. Jeong is known for his unconventional guesses, admitting they often start as early as Episode 1. Thicke observes that the judges typically get closer to the truth after hearing a contestant sing three or four times. Cannon, as host, believes his proximity to the performers gives him an unfair advantage, allowing him to hear their real voices and sense their energy. Rita Ora, with her extensive musical background, focuses on vocal techniques such as breathing, runs, and specific ad-libs, distinguishing professional singers from nervous novices. McCarthy and Jeong are "clue connoisseurs," meticulously examining visual elements, subtle Easter eggs, numbers, or abbreviations embedded within the costumes and staging that are not mentioned in clue packages.

Fans have vocally expressed a desire for Nicole Scherzinger to return, a sentiment shared by Rita Ora, who would gladly welcome her back. Cannon suspects Scherzinger, who has achieved significant success in theater since her departure (winning Olivier and Tony Awards for "Sunset Boulevard"), will eventually appear under a mask. The panelists debated how challenging it would be to identify her. Ora believes she could recognize Scherzinger's voice, especially given her theater background, but acknowledges Scherzinger's experience on the judging side would make her adept at trickery. Thicke and McCarthy agreed, highlighting Scherzinger's chameleon-like ability to disguise her voice and perform spot-on impressions of artists like Britney Spears, Celine Dion, and Steve Perry. Despite her vocal prowess, Thicke speculated he might still recognize her through her distinct body language and moves.

The long hours spent together have forged a strong, family-like bond among the cast. Jeong described getting paid to have fun with friends as an "incredible gift" and expressed immense gratitude for his role. Thicke echoed this, emphasizing the rarity of finding both a hit show and beloved colleagues. The cast appreciates the lighthearted playfulness of the show, which Jeong feels offers a welcome contrast to the precision often required in acting. He enjoys the freedom of "mastering the art of getting things wrong and having fun with it," a competitive spirit he also embraces in his personal life. "The Masked Singer" continues to air Wednesday nights on FOX.