Let's be real for a second. We've seen a lot of weird stuff on The Masked Singer. We've seen a giant snail that turned out to be Kermit the Frog. We've seen a literal gnome reveal himself as the legendary Dick Van Dyke. But The Masked Singer season 12 just wrapped up, and honestly, it felt like the show finally figured out how to keep us on our toes again.
The biggest shocker wasn't just who won, but how they did it. For the first time in the history of the American franchise, a group took home the Golden Mask trophy. And not just any group—we're talking about R&B royalty.
The Buffalo reveal that nobody (and everybody) saw coming
When the Buffalo first stepped onto the stage, most of us thought, "Okay, cool, another solo powerhouse." Then the harmonies kicked in. You could almost see Ken Jeong’s brain short-circuiting in real-time. It wasn't one guy; it was a trio.
By the time the finale rolled around on December 18, 2024, the internet was basically screaming the answer. But seeing Boyz II Men—Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris, and Shawn Stockman—actually pull off those masks was something else. They didn't just win; they dominated. Their version of "Waiting for a Girl Like You" during Footloose Night was arguably one of the best vocal performances the show has ever had.
It’s funny because Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg actually nailed it. She had this weirdly specific connection to them from her early days "courting" Donnie Wahlberg. It’s those kinds of "only on this show" moments that make the whole ridiculous premise work.
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Breaking down the Season 12 roster
This season had 15 contestants. That's a lot of felt and sequins. They split them into three groups, which kept the pace fast but also meant we lost some heavy hitters way too early.
Remember Ship? Paula Cole was under there. Her rendition of "Pompeii" by Bastille was haunting, but she got caught in a brutal Group A finale against the Buffalo. It felt a bit unfair, honestly. You have a "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" icon going home while a "Leaf Sheep" (who turned out to be NFL legend John Elway) is just happy to be there.
Then you had Wasp. This guy was the runner-up and, man, he could sing. When he took off the mask to reveal R&B singer Mario, it felt like a total redemption arc. He pushed the Buffalo to the absolute limit in the finale.
The unmaskings that actually surprised us
- Sherlock Hound: This was Bronson Arroyo. Yeah, the MLB pitcher. Who knew he had pipes?
- Ice King: Drake Bell. This one was a bit controversial online, but he stayed in long enough to do a Miley Cyrus tribute that was actually pretty solid.
- Chess Piece: The one and only Laverne Cox. She was eliminated during Barbie Night, which felt poetic in a way.
- Goo: This was Kobie Turner from the LA Rams. Between him and Elway, the athletes really showed up this year.
Why the "Ambassadors" mattered
This year they introduced this "Masked Ambassador" thing. Basically, former contestants like Ne-Yo (Cow) or Jewel (Queen of Hearts) would "endorse" a new singer. It added a layer of clues that actually made sense. For example, Nick Lachey was the ambassador for the Buffalo. Since he's a 98 Degrees guy, it pointed directly toward a boy band or vocal group.
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It made the guessing game feel less like a shot in the dark and more like a puzzle you could actually solve if you were paying enough attention.
The themes were actually good this time
Usually, theme nights feel a bit forced. But The Masked Singer season 12 leaned into nostalgia in a way that worked.
- Barbie Night: Celebrating 65 years of the doll.
- Footloose Night: A 40th-anniversary tribute that gave us some killer 80s covers.
- Who Are You Fest: This was a new one, mimicking big festival lineups.
The Miley Cyrus night was a standout too. It’s rare to see a show give flowers to a contemporary artist like that while they're still at the top of their game.
What we learned from the Season 12 finale
The finale wasn't just about the reveal. It was about the fact that groups can actually win this thing. For years, people complained that the show was biased toward solo singers. Boyz II Men proved that if your harmonies are tight enough, you can overcome the disadvantage of having to move in sync inside a giant furry suit.
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They performed "Coldplay's 'viva la vida'" and "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" by Cutting Crew. It was effortless. Even without the masks, those three sound better than most people do with a full studio setup.
How to win your next watch party
If you're looking to actually "predict" the winner next season, look at the height. Seriously. The producers try to hide it, but the way the Buffalo carried themselves—the way they stood in relation to Nick Cannon—was a dead giveaway for anyone who spent the 90s watching Motownphilly videos on repeat.
Also, pay attention to the "Masked Ambassadors." If the ambassador is a legendary soul singer, the contestant probably isn't a TikTok star.
Next steps for the superfan
Now that the season is over, what's next? You've got a few things to keep the momentum going:
- Check out the "Winner's Cut": Fox usually releases the full, unedited final performances on their YouTube channel. The sound quality is way better than the broadcast.
- Follow the athletes: Keep an eye on Kobie Turner and Bronson Arroyo. Both of them have mentioned wanting to do more music after their stint on the show.
- Prepare for Season 13: Casting is already rumored to be looking for more "groups" now that the Buffalo proved it's a winning strategy.
The show is definitely a bit chaotic, and Ken Jeong's jokes are... well, they're Ken's jokes. But as long as they keep pulling legends like Boyz II Men out of buffalo suits, we're probably going to keep watching. It's the weirdest, most wholesome thing on TV.