Fox is Adding Three Crazy-Sounding Game Shows this Season
by Liam Mathews
Aug 2, 2018


The Fox network, in the midst of huge change as its studio partner gets absorbed by Disney, is already at the point of "alright, let's try this and see what happens."

Fox Entertainment Group CEO Dana Walden announced three new game shows at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, and they all sound absolutely bonkers.





The first is "The Masked Singer", in which celebrities perform karaoke while wearing elaborate, face-and-body-hiding costumes.

The panel of celebrity judges — Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke — then has to guess who the singer is. Fox teases that "celebrity competitors have earned a total of 65 Grammy nominations, 16 Emmy Award nominations, 16 multi-platinum albums and 4 Super Bowl titles."

It's based on a hugely popular South Korean format and hosted by Nick Cannon. "The Masked Singer" will premiere in January.





The next is "Mental Samurai", hosted and produced by Rob Lowe. On this show, it sounds like competitors will basically run a mental obstacle course? It's a little hard to envision.

"Not only does the course test their acumen in categories of knowledge, memory, numbers and sequencing, but players will also have to contend with being transported around the set at high speeds in a specially designed capsule that is capable of rotating 360 degrees," Fox says.

Rob Lowe is doing it because he's been into mental challenge shows since he won "The $10,000 Pyramid" when he was 15, which is a fun fact.





And finally there's "Spin the Wheel", which is created by Justin Timberlake and "The Wall's" Andrew Glassman. It's basically "Wheel of Fortune" but with trivia questions instead of word puzzles plus huge sums of money.

There's the possibility of winning $20 million in a game. Dax Shepard will host.

"Mental Samurai" and "Spin the Wheel" don't have dates yet, but will premiere in the 2018-2019 season.

https://www.tvguide.com/news/fox-game-shows-the-masked-singer-mental-samurai/

Mental Samurai sounds promising.

"Mental Samurai" Premiere Date
by Erik Pedersen
January 9, 2019


Fox has set a premiere date for the new reality competition series it’s billing as “the first-ever obstacle course for the mind.” Hosted and produced by Rob Lowe, "Mental Samurai" will bow at 9 PM Tuesday, February 26.

Here’s how we play our game: Pushing every aspect of human intelligence and mental agility, the series sees contestants battle the boundaries of their minds to answer questions accurately with speed and precision. Not only does the course test their acumen in categories of knowledge, memory, puzzles and sequencing, but players also will have to contend with being physically transported around the set at high speeds in a specially designed capsule capable of rotating 360 degrees.

People from all walks of life will compete, and underdogs will triumph, in the game that anyone can play, and almost no one can win.

https://deadline.com/2019/01/mental-samurai-premiere-date-rob-lowe-fox-obstacle-course-for-the-mind-1202532145/

Masked singer is fun!

Oh how the mighty have fallen. What a bunch of drivel primetime has become. So glad there are other places to watch real acting, and good television shows before the SJW's and the PC crowd took over. What a mess.

Here are my guesses for The Masked Singer. I’m pretty positive about some of these, some not so much.

Peacock: Donny Osmond
Unicorn: Tori Spelling
Bee: Gladys Knight
Poodle: Margaret Cho
Rabbit: JC Chasez
Lion: Rumer Willis
Raven: Ricki Lake

Not really sure bout Monster & Alien...maybe T-Pain and Miley Cyrus?

Here are my guesses for The Masked Singer. I’m pretty positive about some of these, some not so much.

Peacock: Donny Osmond
Unicorn: Tori Spelling
Bee: Gladys Knight
Poodle: Margaret Cho
Rabbit: JC Chasez
Lion: Rumer Willis
Raven: Ricki Lake

Not really sure bout Monster & Alien...maybe T-Pain and Miley Cyrus?

Yeah I'm enjoying it mostly. Except for the fact I think Jenny McCarthy is really annoying (I really can't stand her!) and Ken Jeong is somewhat annoying. But not to the extent that Jenny McCarthy is, I just wish she'd shut up and stop talking so much! Most everything that comes out of her mouth is just stupid.

Ed.

I guessed 2 that you have. Won't say for I think we all should wait and not ruin the fun of watching. Now that you may have told me, the thrill is lost. So sad.

Here are my guesses for The Masked Singer. I’m pretty positive about some of these, some not so much.

Peacock: Donny Osmond
Unicorn: Tori Spelling
Bee: Gladys Knight
Poodle: Margaret Cho
Rabbit: JC Chasez
Lion: Rumer Willis
Raven: Ricki Lake

Not really sure bout Monster & Alien...maybe T-Pain and Miley Cyrus?

The Poodle did turn out to be Margaret.

Mental Samurai premiere date is delayed a week to March 5.

http://blog.sitcomsonline.com/2019/01/networks-scramble-for-delayed-state-of.html

"The Masked Singer" renewed for Season 2.

https://deadline.com/2019/01/the-masked-singer-renewed-season-2-fox-1202545353/

Prediction: Alien=Latoya Jackson and Unicorn=Tori Spelling.

Unicorn = Tori Spelling. I knew it. (pats self on back) I thought it was her when I saw the typewriter.

I had a feeling that The Masked Singer would get renewed for a Season 2.

I had a feeling that The Masked Singer would get renewed for a Season 2.

Right! That show is good as it is

Right! That show is good as it is

It looks like a good one, so I'll have to start watching it one of these days.

"Mental Samurai" Premiere Date Shifted Again by Fox – Update
by Denise Petski
February 13, 2019


Fox said tonight that it has shifted the premiere date for reality competition series "Mental Samurai" for a second time in two weeks.

"Mental Samurai" will now make its debut at 9pm March 19th, following a new episode of "MasterChef Junior".

https://deadline.com/2019/02/state-of-the-union-address-premiere-date-moves-mental-samurai-masterchef-junior-fox-1202546345/

Prediction: Alien=Latoya Jackson and Unicorn=Tori Spelling.

I got both of those, but they were pretty easy to be honest.

Here are my guesses for The Masked Singer. I’m pretty positive about some of these, some not so much.

Peacock: Donny Osmond
Unicorn: Tori Spelling
Bee: Gladys Knight
Poodle: Margaret Cho
Rabbit: JC Chasez
Lion: Rumer Willis
Raven: Ricki Lake

Not really sure bout Monster & Alien...maybe T-Pain and Miley Cyrus?

The only one that stumped me was Alien and by week 3 I knew for a fact that was LaToya. Also, I thought rabbit was JC...but suspected it could also be Joey.

I also find it funny that on the day of the finale, T-Pain (the winner) released his new album...smells funny to me.

By the way, rabbit should’ve won!

Here’s my predictions for season 2 of “The Masked Singer”:

1. Joey McIntyre
2. Drew Lachey
3. Joey Lawrence
4. Toni Braxton
5. Melissa Joan Hart
6. Kelly Osbourne
7. Kellie Pickler
8. Alfonso Ribeiro
9. Vanilla Ice
10. John Schneider
11. Raven-Symone
12. Kim Fields

I never heard of TPain. Is he a rap singer?

I never heard of TPain. Is he a rap singer?

Yeah. I’m not a fan of his.

The only one that stumped me was Alien and by week 3 I knew for a fact that was LaToya. Also, I thought rabbit was JC...but suspected it could also be Joey.

I also find it funny that on the day of the finale, T-Pain (the winner) released his new album...smells funny to me.

By the way, rabbit should’ve won!

It looks like you got a lot of them right.

The only one that stumped me was Alien and by week 3 I knew for a fact that was LaToya. Also, I thought rabbit was JC...but suspected it could also be Joey.

I also find it funny that on the day of the finale, T-Pain (the winner) released his new album...smells funny to me.

By the way, rabbit should’ve won!

No, Donny Osmond should've won.

Ed.

"The Masked Singer" gets third season.

https://deadline.com/2019/05/the-masked-singer-season-3-to-premiere-after-super-bowl-liv-on-fox-1202613462/

Looking forward to season 2 of TMS starting!

Fox Sets Fall Premiere Dates
by Denise Petski
June 24, 2019


TV’s top new series last year "The Masked Singer" returns with a special two-hour season premiere Wednesday, September 25 at 8 PM ET/PT.

https://deadline.com/2019/06/fx-fall-premiere-dates-american-horror-story-mayans-mc-its-always-sunny-more-1202637121/

Fox Alternative Chief on Future of "Mental Samurai", "Spin the Wheel"
by Nellie Andreeva
August 9, 2019


This past midseason, Fox launched two high-profile new reality competition series, "The Masked Singer" and "Mental Samurai". While the former became a breakout hit and a pop culture phenom, earning a quick renewal and a spot on the network’s fall schedule, the future of "Mental Samurai", hosted by Rob Lowe, is still TBD.

“We are looking at it now,” Fox Alternative President Rob Wade told Deadline at TCA. “It is a show I am proud of, Rob Lowe was great. We are considering what to do with it now.”

“When the show launched, we looked at the ratings and they were OK; it didn’t overperform, but we were proud of what we did,” he said. “As summer came and we saw how shows performed on all networks, it was obvious that actually the [Mental Samurai] ratings were pretty solid. it’s something we have to consider.”




The "Mental Samurai" decision won’t be isolated.

“We obviously have a lot of other shows, So You Think You Can Dance, Spin the Wheel, Mental Samurai — we have to consider all those as a group,” Wade said, hinting that not all will make the cut. “I can’t pick up everything, I need to leave some room to take some shots.”

https://deadline.com/2019/08/so-you-think-you-can-dance-mental-samurai-spin-the-wheel-renewed-canceled-future-fox-alternative-chief-1202665190/

Fox Renews Rob Lowe-Fronted Competition Series "Mental Samurai" for Season 2
by Jake Kanter
February 25, 2020


Rob Lowe is taking his giant robotic arm Ava for another spin after Fox renewed competition series "Mental Samurai" for a second season. Casting is underway now and Season 2 will premiere on April 22.

Rob Wade, Fox’s president of alternative entertainment and specials, said "Mental Samurai" is a “one-of-a-kind show that brilliantly marries intellect and physicality.”




In addition to the Fox renewal, Warner Bros. International Television Production has built an exact replica of the "Mental Samurai" studio in Madrid, Spain, which will act as a production hub for international broadcasters to make the show. The format is already in other territories including Portugal, where TVI has commissioned two seasons.

“We bought one [Ava] so we could do the show in America — as soon as we were done shooting, the international division decided to make a hub to make it less expensive for some of our international partners,” said Mike Darnell, Warner’s president of unscripted and alternative television.

“Rob has told me, any English speaking — and maybe even non-English speaking countries — he will absolutely come and do the show,” Darnell explained.

https://deadline.com/2020/02/fox-renews-mental-samurai-1202859174/

"The Masked Singer" renewed for Season 4

https://deadline.com/2020/05/the-masked-singer-fox-season-4-1202928028/

"The Masked Singer" Renewed at Fox for Season 6
by Peter White
May 17, 2021


The costumes will likely get even crazier as "The Masked Singer" has been officially renewed for a sixth season.

The news, unveiled as part of Fox’s 2021/22 schedule, comes ahead of the finale for season five, which is set to take place on May 26.

https://deadline.com/2021/05/the-masked-singer-renewed-fox-season-6-1234758564/