“I couldn’t wait to call everyone I know.
And then I realized I can’t call anyone I know.
It’s that big and that good.”
Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg.Michael Becker / FOX
What did Rita bring to the show this season?
JENNY MCCARTHY-WAHLBERG:And I learned a lot from her.
She came in because she had some pretty big shoes to fill.
‘Wizard of Oz’ night on ‘The Masked Singer’.courtesy of Fox and The Masked Singer
We love Nicole [Scherzinger].
So we were so happy for her.
And she came in like an old friend, like an old sister, an old cousin.
She’s already part of our family and hopefully will be for a long time.
Michael Becker / FOX
Fox has teased an “absolutely insane reveal” in the premiere as well.
What was going through your head during this major celebrity unmasking?
That’s the biggest name we’ve ever had and we’re in season 11.
I know we level up, but this would bereallyleveling up.
So when [redacted] was unmasked, we freaked out.
I couldn’t wait to call everyone I know.
And then I realized I can’t call anyone I know.
It’s that big and that good.
Is it fair to say that’s the wildest thing that happens this season?
I will tease everyone on the performance by Jenny McCarthy that they will see this season.
There’s an episode called “Girl Groups.”
And I’m with Rita, I’m with Robin [Thicke] who can sing amazingly.
So I feel like Peter Brady, when Peter was singing “Time to Change.”
I feel like that person, so I would be so nervous.
And that’s where Rita helped me backstage.
I’m like, I don’t know what I’m doing.
It is a challenge for me.
So I’m a little scared.
You’re gonna give your husband, Donnie Wahlberg, a run for his money!
He actually helped me!
[Laughs]
What else can we expect from the theme nights this season?
I will brag the"Wizard of Oz" episodewas glorious.
They didn’t hold back.
There’s no shortcuts here.
We went all out forWizard of Oz.
Of course it’s perfect for him.
And you guys will just love it.
They’re conversing with us.
I asked to hire one for my bodyguard and he was conversing with me.
So that will blow your kids' minds.
There’s a Billy Joel night.
Does this season see you return to dominance or who would you say is the best guesser this season?
It only took 10 seasons for him to get it right.
[Laughs] I think I do.
I think I dominate this season.
I dominate a lot, but I feel like I’m back.
Yeah, I do.
I leave everyone in my dust.
And who was the worst?
It’s too mean girl for me to respond, but he sits to my right.
[Laughs] I love you, Robin.
So I come in with that kind of knowledge.
So it’s kind of easier for me.
What sets season 11 apart?
So it kind of brought tears to my eyes.
When people yell “boo” in the audience for Ken, he gets so overwhelmed.
He’s like, “Should we give Ken a hug after the show?”
He takes on emotion and is so sensitive.
So I’m a little bit more…
I know Nicole is not the only one busy during her non-Masked Singertime.
What can you tell me about your vision for Formless Beauty, your makeup line?
We’re coming for the big guys.
We’re only a couple years old and it’s doing so well.
I am following the Environmental Working Group, their guidelines, which are over 900 pages of unacceptable ingredients.
We follow their strict rules.
But it also works.
I wanted the performance to be just as good as the cleanliness and we did it.
Let’s raise the beauty bar so for everyone behind us, we can lead by example.
If we did it, that means they can do it.
The Masked Singerairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.
