What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T10 WHATS UP! December 27, 2020 - January 2, 2021 spread worldwide, although it's usually modified to fit each country's culture during pro- duction. Some of the countries where the series has really taken off include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Slovakia, Isra- el, Russia, Greece, Ukraine and Finland. And while the idea for "The Masked Singer" came to Plestis while immersed in Asian cul- ture, the idea for "The Masked Dancer" came about in a much more roundabout way. After the first episode of "The Masked Singer" aired, Ellen DeGeneres ("The Ellen DeGeneres Show") introduced a spoof version of it called "The Masked Dancer" on her talk show. The segment was an instant hit, with some of the panelists from "The Masked Singer" — including Ken Jeong and Nicole Scherzinger ("Men in Black 3," 2012) — joining in the fun. Even the show's host, Nick Cannon ("Drumline," 2002), participated. After DeGeneres' show aired the spoof, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" producers were contact- ed by Fox about the possibility of a television series based on her "The Masked Dancer" segment. In January 2020, at its winter Television Critics Association press tour, Fox announced a co- operative production between itself and Warner Brothers, and thus "The Masked Dancer" was born as a standalone series. Casting for "The Masked Dancer" started in January 2020, and filming followed shortly thereafter. The format of the show, as mentioned, remained true to its parent program — from the premise to the cos- tumes and the clues — though it was, in some ways, much trickier than the "The Masked Singer." As singing can easily be done solo, it is not uncommon for dance routines to be performed in pairs or in a team (not to men- tion that it also brings an ele- ment of pizzazz and added con- fusion to the piece when it fea- tures multiple moving parts). So, although we might see a couple of solo performances through- out the pioneer season, be pre- pared for most dances to be per- formed in a coupling or group. Also crucial to the show's main format is secrecy — an ele- ment that goes beyond the stage and penetrates the very fabric of the show's production. To safely ensure that a celebrity's identity isn't revealed prior to a pre-re- corded show being aired, non- disclosure agreements are stan- dard issue for all those involved. And because the panelists might be able to identify several stars by their management team and assistants, costumes and make- up are necessary for the team of the performing star at all times on set as well. A-list celebrities are all set to take the stage in "The Masked Dancer," and you can rest as- sured that the same amount of care and thought will go into de- signing and hand-crafting the costumes for this show as went into the costumes for all four seasons of "The Masked Singer." And since the show's contes- tants will be performing a dance number, the costumes must also be appropriately designed to ac- commodate freedom of move- ment. According to the trailer for the upcoming series, released in November, some of the dis- guises you'll see on this new show will include cotton candy, an exotic bird, a sloth, a zebra, a tulip and a cricket. Any guesses yet? Make sure you don't miss out on the series premiere of "The Masked Dancer" airing Sunday, Dec. 27, on Fox. Paula Abdul stars in "The Masked Dancer" continued from page T2 Keep 'em guessing: Fox introduces 'The Masked Dancer' TV FEATURE Celebrations 5 x 5