In the world of reality TV, where celebrities don masks that would make Halloween enthusiasts green with envy, The Masked Singer reigns supreme as the ultimate game of musical hide-and-seek. Beloved stars transform into elaborate costumes, belting out tunes while a panel of judges plays detective, attempting to unmask the hidden talent.
Enter Drake Bell, former Nickelodeon star, who recently stepped onto this gloriously ridiculous stage as the Ice King, a character more suited to a fantasy realm than a singing competition.
"I was literally sitting behind the mask like, 'Did Jenny McCarthy just say my name? Like, no way. That is so cool,'"
Bell recounted, his inner fanboy momentarily eclipsing his performer's cool. And who could blame him? For a child of the '90s who grew up watching McCarthy on Singled Out, having her correctly guess his identity (even if it was momentary) was like receiving a cosmic high-five from pop culture royalty.
Drew Bell shares about his time on The Masked Singer
Bell's journey to The Masked Singer wasn't his first rodeo. Having previously competed in the Mexican version of the show, he approached the American edition with the confidence of a seasoned musical mystery man.
"I was fortunate enough to have the experience of doing The Masked Singer: Mexico. And so when The Masked Singer America called, I was like, 'Oh, absolutely.'"
The show's production was no joke. Bell was stunned by the military-precise scheduling that would make a Swiss watchmaker look disorganized. "They have it down to the minute. I mean, they're like, okay nine o'clock to 9:18 you're in vocal rehearsal. Then from 9:18 to 9:32, you're in dance rehearsal."
It was apparent to all - as the judges struggled to try and guess his voice, that Drew Bell was having the time of his life with this one. The judges' guesses were truly a source of unexpected entertainment to him. Bell was amused and flattered when they suggested musicians like Joe Jonas and Pete Wentz. "I was like, 'Really?'"
But nothing compared to the moment Jenny McCarthy nailed his identity (even though she took it back moments later, opting to go with 'James Franco,' flattering as it is) when he proclaimed:
"I watched Singled Out when I was a kid... I've been a fan of you forever, and the fact that you even guessed my name just blew my mind."
A journey of healing and growth: Details explored
Following the emotionally challenging documentary Quiet on Set, which exposed dark aspects of his past in children's television, The Masked Singer offered Bell a therapeutic outlet.
"To be able to do something again that's so out of my element... it is really nice to be able to get into doing something like that after such a rough year."
Moreover, for Bell, the mask represented more than just a costume—it was a ticket to artistic liberation. "That was a really freeing experience, you know, because I'm singing songs that I haven't sang before or would never sing. And I don't do choreography on stage. I can't find the guitar."
The elaborate production of The Masked Singer—complete with "smoke and snow and all the confetti"—allowed him to completely transform. "It really just gave me the opportunity to just lose myself in the character."
And when asked if this is something he would consider doing again, His enthusiasm was unequivocal. "I'd be on it," Bell exclaimed. "It's a rigorous and tough experience, but at the same time, you're having so much fun that you're like, 'Yeah, I'm exhausted and yeah, I got to do it, but it's just so fun.'"
And truly, in the wonderfully weird world of The Masked Singer, fun is the name of the game—masks, mystery, and all.
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The Masked Singer is available to stream on Hulu and Fox.com.
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