Liven up your winter with these TV competition shows
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Two new competition shows may make your winter less dreary.
From Fox comes “The Masked Singer.” Based on the format of a Korean show, this show is a singing competition with a few twists. The contestants are all celebrities: actors, musicians, athletes and the like. The twist? The celebs wear masks and costumes that cover them from head to toe, rendering them unidentifiable. The only ways to identify them are through their singing voices and a short video containing clues.
Joining viewers in trying to unravel the mysteries surrounding the singers’ identities is a panel of four judges. Along with offering guesses based on the available clues, the judges provide a running commentary on the performances. They keep the show moving along and provide the occasional laugh.
The cosplay mystery elements of “Masked Singer” are what makes the show work. Not only does unraveling the identities of the singers hook you and draw you in, but the costumes also add a lot of visual sizzle to the proceedings. Bottom line: If you’ve ever wanted to see a pineapple or a poodle sing, this show is for you.
Flip over to NBC, and you find “The Titan Games,” which is based on exercises Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has used to attain his mountainous physique.
Contestants go head to head in challenges that test all aspects of their athletic ability, their determination and their hearts. The show ends with the contestants competing in the harrowing obstacle course known as Mount Olympus. The competitors left standing are crowned Titans.
“The Titan Games” is a lot like similar shows like “American Ninja Warrior” and “Ultimate Beastmaster” but it adds two improvements. First, the head-to-head competition element is there through the whole episode. While other shows run their competitors through challenges one at a time until they go up against one another at the end of the show, prospective Titans battle head to head right from the jump. It adds tension and jacks up the drama.
Secondly, Johnson hosts the show. Johnson is so charismatic and fun to watch, and his presence adds a big bonus that other shows don’t have. Johnson interjects and comments on the action, all the time injecting humor and wit into the event.
Neither one of these shows is perfect. “Masked Singer” is pulled down a bit by the judges. Apart from Ken Jeong (who is pretty funny), none of the judges really add very much. In fact, Jenny McCarthy is very annoying, with her thuddingly unfunny commentary often distracting us from the performances.
Meanwhile, “The Titan Games” suffers a bit from feeling repetitive. We get player bios and then a contest. Then comes a bit from Johnson then more bios followed by another contest. Thankfully, enough memorable moments happen during the events to keep you locked in.
Overall, both “The Masked Singer” and “The Titan Games” are more fun than I was expecting. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the cosplay mystery aspect of “The Masked Singer,” while it’s hard to watch “The Titan Games” without coming away feeling inspired and pumped up. Both of these shows are terrific ways to pass the time on those frigid Idaho winter nights.