Top 10 Craziest Rules The Masked Singer Contestants Must Follow
#10: Competitors Must Sport a Designated Top When Not in Costume
Anyone who has watched “The Masked Singer” will be familiar with those “Don’t Talk To Me” hoodies— you know, the one you wish you had for before your morning coffee? Executive producer Craig Plestis explained it’s not just about maintaining anonymity but also to make things run smoothly on set. Contestants will tend to be accompanied by someone wearing a “Talk to Me” sign, so it just helps avoid any confusion or accidental slip-ups. Additionally, participants are required to wear visors, gloves, and even avoid showing any leg to ensure full coverage. And if someone’s body shape could give them away, they can just layer up!
#9: Contestants Cannot Bring the Costumes Home with Them
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Those all-covering outfits prove useful, especially since the costumes can’t leave the lot. You wouldn’t see Pineapple catching waves, Llama trotting down the street, or egg browsing the dairy produce at your local grocery store. Plestis essentially wants to avoid scenarios where, let’s say, Ne-Yo is giving an interview from home, and some eagle-eyed fans spot a little cow print in the corner of the shot. Or Victor Oladipo talks up the NBA’s latest season but forgets to take off one little Thingamajig. According to panelist Jenny McCarthy, they don’t get to keep the costumes after the show either. Well, where would you even store Monster, and what would you do with it?
#8: Every Participant Must Sign Extensive NDAs
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Fans know the show is pre-recorded. So imagine you’re a contestant having to keep this massive secret during filming and staying tight-lipped until your unmasking finally airs. Could you do it? We’re not sure we could! So, how does the show stop people from cracking? Well, several former contestants have mentioned signing, to quote Adrienne Bailon-Houghton (a.k.a Flamingo), a “very, very confidential, very serious NDA.” According to Plestis, more effort is invested into protecting the show’s secrets than planning the entire structure. Drew Carey (a.k.a Llama) also discussed staying silent and dodging questions about another contestant (and former “Whose Line” castmate) Wayne Brady (a.k.a Fox).
#7: Contestant Fraternizing Is Forbidden
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Picture it: a Llama, a Banana, a T-Rex, and a Night Angel walk into a dressing room. Sounds like the setup to a great joke, right? However, it’s not something you’ll be seeing backstage on “The Masked Singer.” Drew Carey shared that when he signed up, he thought contestants would all sit around chatting until showtime. However, in reality, contestants are isolated, and if they cross paths, speaking is off-limits. Brady explained that it wasn’t even until they were deep into the series that he even heard anyone else in soundcheck. Contestants discover their fellow competitors’ identities alongside the audience, proving the old adage true: celebs are just like us!
#6: No Pre-recorded Vocals Here!
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There’s been a lot of speculation over whether or not the contestants sing live. Plestis insists they do (but backing vocals are sometimes added later). Also, they only have one shot to get it right. Indeed, Rob Gronkowski revealed that after he flubbed his lyrics to “Good Vibrations,” there was no do-over. Plestis acknowledged that singing in a mask certainly poses quite a challenge, which was considered during the design process. However, singers wear in-ears and can opt for head-worn mics— in case you were wondering how the sound isn’t muffled by the masks. Host Nick Cannon added that contestants may use some autotune in songs already renowned for digital vocal effects.
#5: Contestants Are Required to Conceal Their Identities During Rehearsals
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During rehearsals, contestants must maintain their anonymity. Whether clad in full costumes or those “Don’t Talk to Me” hoodies, their identities remain totally concealed. Most staff members, from writers and directors to dancers, have no idea who’s on any given season; they get to play the game like the rest of us! Can you imagine rehearsing with someone like Bee, Gnome, Snail, or Flower, only to find out months later who they really are? Our minds would be so blown that we’d still be picking up the pieces by the next season’s premiere. Also, if you’re a celeb considering going on the show, better sharpen those time-management skills; rehearsal schedules are tight to minimize contact.
#4: Competitors Can’t Roll Up in Their Own Wheels to the Set
Like a stealthy operation straight out of a spy or heist movie, producers have a sneaky way of getting celebrities to set without attracting attention. Contestants can’t drive themselves; instead, they meet their assigned driver at random places. For example, Joey Fatone (a.k.a Rabbit) had to meet his driver at a 7-Eleven, while Drew Carey’s pick-up point was a shopping center parking lot. Sometimes, they’d even pull the old double bluff by switching cars and sending pesky paparazzi off their trail. Celebs are never picked up from home, and drivers often don’t know who’s in their backseat. This covert operation turns the journey into a high-stakes adventure worthy of its own suspenseful plotline.
#3: Contestants’ Guests Gotta Go Incognito Too
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Celebs typically come with a whole posse, including managers, publicists, and sometimes even family. Naturally, they may need to keep some of their closest contacts informed about their activities. Luckily, “The Masked Singer” team has thought of that too! Not only are the contestants’ entourage also expected to sign an NDA, but they must go undercover, as well, whenever they’re on the lot. As Plestis explained, this is L.A., after all, and the Hollywood pond isn’t as big as we might think. So, to minimize the chances of anyone connecting this celeb to that manager or that celeb to this agent, their identities are kept as much under wraps as the contestants.
#2: Competitors Are Under a Strict “Zip-It” Policy
Backstage at “The Masked Singer,” you won’t catch celebs gabbing and blowing their cover with their voices. Onstage, their voices get warped, but behind the scenes, it’s a bit more old-school. Got something to say? Whisper it to your assigned producer! Sometimes, they even break out the trusty whiteboard (let’s just hope nobody recognizes their handwriting). Meanwhile, contestants are only ever called by their character names. Even their contracts are carefully crafted to avoid connecting any real names with the show! Plestis joked that one occupational hazard is that he still refers to the celebrities by their costume names even after their true identities are revealed.
#1: Participants Must Consent to Rigorous Security Monitoring
We’ve seen just how seriously “The Masked Singer” guards its secrets. Past contestants have opened up about the ironclad security measures; some even joked that it’s tighter than Fort Knox! Meanwhile, Plestis humorously likened it to “being in lockdown at a government facility.” Bailon-Houghton also divulged that her first meetings with producers went down in a “secret warehouse,” and from there on out, she was only called Flamingo. However, before anyone signs anything, they get the full rundown of the security rules they’re expected to follow. Every little detail is planned meticulously, maybe even rivaling some intelligence agencies. Who knows, maybe one day they’ll start taking a page from “The Masked Singer’s” playbook! Which rule do you think is wilder than a broccoli singing “Old Time Rock & Roll”? Unmask your thoughts in the comments.
