Beloved 99-Year-Old TV Legend Brought Masked Singer Judges to Tears With Surprise Return to the Stage

The Masked Singer has featured a variety of movie star contestants from varied fields, however one of the crucial memorable celebrities was a legendary sitcom and film actor who was in his late 90s throughout his look – the judges obtained emotional once they came upon who he was. The Masked Singer has aired for 13 seasons, beginning in 2019, on Fox. This explicit look got here throughout the premiere of The Masked Singer season 9, which aired on Feb. 15, 2023.

Through the season premiere of The Masked Singer season 9, a personality often called the Gnome made his debut. The Gnome’s id was hidden beneath his elaborate, greenery-laden costume. With a bushy pink beard and an intricate cape, the Gnome’s identity wasn’t immediately clear. Even after listening to the character’s clues, it was nonetheless troublesome to guess who was hiding beneath the masks. That’s, till the Gnome was eradicated throughout the identical episode, and the reveal of his id made the judges and the viewers emotional.

The Gnome Was Dick Van Dyke

The Gnome Was Eradicated First On The Masked Singer Season 9

Because the season kicked off, judges Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong, and Nicole Scherzinger have been informed that the character Gnome could be competing, and the character was wheeled out onto the stage by two males wearing black fits. Primarily based on the Gnome’s costume, choose Jenny lamented that this may be a troublesome one as a result of it wasn’t clear how tall, massive or previous the particular person beneath the masks was. Throughout his intro package deal of clues, the Gnome said that he’d “grow to be a mainstay” within the public’s lives “over the course of [his] storied profession.”

“I actually have achieved all of it.”

Dick actually has had a storied profession. He first burst onto the scene as a Broadway star within the Nineteen Fifties, however his star turned the brightest when he was solid as Rob Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Present in 1961, reverse Mary Tyler Moore. The present turned an enormous hit, and catapulted Dick to superstardom. He went on to star in traditional motion pictures like Mary Poppins, Bye Bye Birdie, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A real icon, Dick’s received six Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award and a Tony Award. He was inducted into the Tv Corridor of Fame in 1995.

Because the Gnome, Dick went on to say he’d labored with comedians like Ben Stiller and Robin Williams, and carried out with Madonna and Lin Manuel Miranda, amongst others. He additionally boasted that he knew all of the presidents, mentioning Barack Obama and Joe Biden. One other clue was that Tony Danza’s face was emblazoned on a trophy held up throughout the Gnome’s clues package deal. Later, this may be revealed to be a Tony Award clue.

The Gnome Sang “When You are Smiling”

The Gnome Solely Had One Efficiency

After the Gnome’s clues package deal ran, his efficiency started. The primary noticeable concern with the efficiency is that the Gnome did not transfer round a lot. There was no choreography for the Gnome, and his voice sounded masculine. Nonetheless, the judges did not appear to have a clue who it might be. Because the judges watched the efficiency, it was clear they have been at the hours of darkness about who is perhaps beneath the masks, regardless of Jenny and Robin considering they acknowledged his voice.

Whereas background dancers moved round him, the Gnome stayed regular within the middle of the stage, barely shifting an inch. After it was revealed to be Dick Van Dyke beneath the masks, his lack of mobility made much more sense.

One other clue got here within the type of a Kennedy Middle Honors award, which the Gnome proudly mentioned. He informed an anecdote about assembly President Biden and saying he had as soon as been as tall as Biden, to which Biden replied that he as soon as had the identical quantity of hair because the Gnome. This sparked a clue within the judges’ minds that whoever was beneath the masks nonetheless had their hair.

Dick Van Dyke Was Eradicated First

None Of The Judges Guessed Accurately

Nicole mentioned that she was “captivated” by the Gnome and his efficiency. She guessed that Dustin Hoffman was beneath the masks. Robin guessed that the Gnome was both Mel Brooks or Dustin Hoffman. Jenny guessed Tony Bennett. Ken guessed Robert DeNiro. Clearly, not one of the judges have been sure who was beneath the masks, making his unmasking all of the extra outstanding.

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On the finish of the present, following performances by the Mustang (later revealed to be singer Sara Evans) and the Medusa (later revealed to be singer Bishop Briggs), the Gnome was eradicated, and his id was revealed. As his masks got here off and a gray-haired Dick was revealed, the judges could not include their feelings. Choose Nick Cannon referred to as having Dick, who’s at present 99-years-old, on the present “an honor,” and the viewers rose to their toes. Nicole started crying as Dick joked that it was “actual darkish in there” beneath the masks.

“You are our childhood,” mentioned Nicole.

“I really like you a lot. We love you, the entire world loves you a lot. It is an honor to have you ever on our present,” Nicole stammered by means of tears. She mentioned he seemed “good-looking,” and when Dick mentioned he was 97-years-old, the viewers cheered even louder. Ken shared that Dick was an enormous inspiration for his comedy profession, after which mentioned this was “the best reveal ever.” Dick then sang an encore efficiency of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from his legendary movie, Mary Poppins.

Dick Van Dyke Returned To The Masked Singer Stage in 2024

Dick Supported The Mud Bunny

In 2024, throughout The Masked Singer season 12, Dick made a triumphant return to the present as a Masked Ambassador for a personality often called the Mud Bunny, who would later be revealed to be Andy Richter. The Masked Ambassador is a former contestant who has a connection to a present contestant. The Masked Ambassadors come again to the present to assist in giving clues as to the id of the contestant in query.

“Good day there girls and gents, it is me, Dick Van Dyke. You might bear in mind me because the Gnome from season 9.”

In his video package deal, Dick joked that at 98-years-old, he “know[s] a bit of bit about accumulating mud” earlier than he launched Mud Bunny. On the finish, Dick wished Mud Bunny good luck and mentioned, “I am certain you are going to sweep the competitors.” Sadly, Dick’s Mud Bunny stamp of approval did not assist, as he was eradicated throughout the identical episode.

Supply: FoxTV/TikTok