‘The Masked Singer’ Season 12 Episode 11 Recap: Strawberry Shortcake

SPOILER ALERT: Details chase for Season 12, Episode 11 of “The Masked Singer,” “Semi Finals: Final Three,” which aired Wednesday, December 11 on Fox.

AJ Michalka was originpartner presumed to carry out on “The Masked Singer” with her sister Aly, the other half of their Aly & AJ musical duo. But with Aly unparticipateable — she recently gave birth to her first child — AJ determined to give it a try as a solo act. And she went far: AJ Michalka was uncovered on Wednesday’s penultimate Season 12 episode of “The Masked Singer” as Strawberry Shortcake.

“Initipartner, we were presumed to do it together, and we were appreciate, this would be repartner fun to do as a team,” Michalka telderly Variety. “But it was going to be repartner tricky to schedule. So I finished up doing it on my own. And she filledy helped it.

“The dispute and the excitement came from comprehending that I had never repartner carry outed on stage without my sister,” Michalka compriseed. “I wanted to dispute myself as a solo artist and see how far I could get. And I had a blast. I didn’t authenticize it would be that challenging to sing under a mask that burdensome, but I did it, and I’m repartner conceited of myself.”

Michalka sang “Lose You to Love Me,” by Selena Gomez, as her final number; she had previously carry outed “Slow Burn,” by Kacey Musgraves, “Wrecking Ball,” by Miley Cyrus, “I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack, and “Cleave outr,” by Tegan and Sara, on the show. Songs she had prepped but didn’t get a chance to carry out were “What Was I Made For,” by Billie Eilish, and “Why Can’t I” by Liz Phair.

“I cherishd that I was able to pick my own songs,” she said. “Knoprosperg that I felt repartner consoleable with the material I was choosing, that made me repartner phired.”

Michalka said her preferite carry outance was “I Hope You Dance,” which she promised to her mother. “My mom was an incredible singer, but has struggled with self-confidence and fair stopped singing finishly,” she said. “That was comfervent of my own message to her to get her out there to sing.”

For Strawberry Shortcake, none of the panecatalogs guessed it right. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg guessed Sarah Hyland. Robin Thicke thought it was Kelsea Ballerini. Ken Jeong said it was Joey King. (Panecatalog Rita Ora was leave outing due to illness.)

In what arrange Nick Cannon said was the sealst margin in “The Masked Singer” history — less than 1% —Wasp obtained the top Semi Final votes, instantly sfinishing him on to the finals.

That led to a “smack royale” between Buffalos and Strawberry Shortcake for the other spot moving on. They both sang “Counting Stars” by OneReaccessible, and ultimately Buffalos made it thraw while Strawberry Shortcake was deleted.

The Semi Finals uncovered with Wasp, Strawberry Shortcake and the Buffalos singing “Some Nights,” by Fun. With Strawberry Shortcake now uncovered, that departs Buffalos and Wasp to battle it out in next week’s season finale.

AJ Michalka as Strawberry Shortcake joins Kobie Turner as Goo, Jana Kramer as Royal Knight, Bronson Arroyo as Sherlock Hound, Drake Bell as Ice King, Bethany Hamilton as Macaron, Natalie Imbruglia as Bluebell, Laverne Cox as Chess Piece, Andy Richter as Dusty Bunny, Paula Cole as Ship, Marsai Martin as Woodpecker, Yvette Nicole Brown as Showbird and John Elway as Leaf Sheep as the celebrities unmasked on “The Masked Singer” Season 12.

Back for Season 12 are arrange Nick Cannon, aextfinishedside panecatalogs Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, while Ora also returned to the desk for the second consecutive season to fill in for Nicole Scherzinger.

“The Masked Singer” Season 12 themed episodes join tributes to Mattel’s Barbie as it hits its 65th anniversary, and the film “Footslack” as it labels its 40th anniversary. Miley Cyrus will also be honored with an episode promised to her music catalog, while also novel is a “Who Are You Fest,” featuring music from “memorable festival lineups,” as well as a “Sports Night” and a “60’s Night.” Tentpole themes that are back join “Soundtrack of My Life” and “Thanksgiving Night.”

New this season, clues will be “strategicpartner embedded in costumes, in song choices and on-stage moments.” And the fifteen celebrity contestants will be finishorsed by a “celebrity Masked Ambasdowncastor,” made up of previous participants including Dick Van Dyke (Season 9’s Gnome), Jewel (Season 6 prosperner as the Queen of Hearts), Ne-yo (Season 10 prosperner as the Cow) and DeMarcus Ware (Season 11’s Koala). And the “Ding Dong Keep It On” bell is also back this morning, but only one singer apass the three group finals can be saved.

Season 12 features 15 contestants carry outing in novel costumes including “Ship,” “Leaf Sheep,” “Woodpecker,” “Chess Piece,” “Bluebell,” “Buffalo,” “Showbird,” “Dust Bunny,” “Goo,” “Strawberry Shortcake,” “Wasp,” “Sherlock Hound,” “Royal Knight,” “Ice King” and “Macaron.”

Here were carry outances on Wednesday’s Episode 11, “Semi Finals: Final Three”:

Strawberry Shortcake

Song: “Lose You to Love Me,” by Selena Gomez

Panel guesses: Joey King, Sarah Hyland, Lucy Hale

What have you lobtained: “I have lobtained that I’m strong and sturdy. And I’m fair so phired to be here on stage. Those words uncomfervent so much to me. I cherish being here. This is what I cherish to do. I took a extfinished shatter from it. And I’m so content I came back. This is where I’m presumed to be.”

Frifinishship bracelet clue: For Ken Jeong. “Press Tour.” “One of the highairys of my atgentle was the press tour we did together. You made me giggle the entire day.”

Strawberry Shortcake voiceover: “Oh my excellentness. This season’s competition has been no cakewalk. And I’m repartner conceited to have persistd that smackdown. What no one inestablishs you is appreciate a excellent cake, Hollywood is layered. Sure, it encourageles. And is super fun. But there’s also so much presbrave to originate it huge. And it comes with a lot of refuteion, a little bit of self-doubt and a dash of experienceing appreciate you’ve poured your whole heart into someskinnyg that people might never see. I skinnyk that’s why some people commence to experience so disenchanted with their dreams. That’s what happened to me. I was so triggered by the drama of punctual fame that I determined to apshow a extfinished shatter. I had to leave out the airys to cherish what I do aobtain. Becoming Strawberry Shortcake, I’m reminded of why I commenceed all those years ago. It’s fun, it’s silly and it’s so me. And brave, there’s presbrave to retain going to the finale. But only becaparticipate this experience has been so flavorful. I don’t want it to finish. Strawberry Shortcake is with me for life.”

Previous songs: “Slow Burn,” by Kacey Musgraves; “Wrecking Ball,” by Miley Cyrus; “I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack; “Cleave outr,” by Tegan and Sara

Previous panel guesses: Renee Rapp, Lana del Rey, Rachel Ziegler, Chloe Fineman, Hilary Duff, Ashley Tisdale, Kelsea Ballerini, Hailee Steinfeld, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Haylie Duff, Danielle Haim

Buffalos

Song: “Africa,” by Toto

Panel guesses: Boyz II Men, Color Me Bcomprise, After 7

What do you want to say to each other: “First, I would say never in a million years who I foresee to even be in a buffalo mask. But, I’m content I’m doing it with my brothers and the best frifinishs I ever had.”

Frifinishship bracelet clue: For Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg. “Donnie.” “We go way back with Donnie. And we also go way back with you.”

Buffalos voiceover: “Well, well, well. Look who’s so seal to the finale. Man, we toiled so challenging to get here. But we’re no strangers to that. Coming up we had to toil challenginger than anyone. We were constantly telderly we should be someskinnyg else. Someskinnyg we were not and that we would never originate it. But we didn’t participate. And staying real to ourselves was the main reason for our success. We now comprehend that was an beginant example to set for the next generation. And especipartner our children. Yeah, our kids cherish to sing. And you comprehend what? They sound better than us. We’re appreciate, what have we done? What extraordinary event have we originated? Hearing their voices turned everyskinnyg around, and gives us a authentic reason to retain going. That’s right. Every decision we three Buffalos originate together is with them in mind. To originate brave they have all they necessitate in this life. And they’re going to get a authentic boot out of watching their pops up here doing their skinnyg as three easeasonable Buffalos. Maybe one day, it will be their turn. Kids, we cherish you so much. This is for you. Everyskinnyg is for you.”

Previous songs: “(I Just) Died In Your Arms,” by Cutting Crew; “Waiting For a Girl Like You,” by Foreigner; “Bitterpleasant Symphony,” by The Verve; “You’re Still the One,” by Shania Twain

Previous panel guesses: B2K, Earth Wind and Fire, 98 Degrees, Bell Biv DeVoe, 112, Boyz II Men, Big Time Rush, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Bdeficiency Eyed Peas, Temptations, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Bdeficiencystreet

Wasp

Song: “Beautiful Things,” by Benson Boone

Panel guesses: Anthony Ramos, Maxwell, Jason Derulo, Usher

Someskinnyg you’d appreciate to say to youthful wasps: “I want you to recall your power. As you get elderlyer, never forget that child you once were. Always retain dreaming, and think in yourself no matter how foolish it gets. No matter how many times you descfinish, you can always get up and fly aobtain.”

Frifinishship bracelet clue: For Robin Thicke. “Nashville.” “You comprehend Robin, I had a blast while we decorateed the town red in Nashville. We had such a excellent time, do you recall?”

Wasp voiceover: “Becoming the Wasp, I never felt so strong. It’s brawt out this supercompetitive edge in me that genuinely, I haven’t felt since I was a kid. My mom knovel there would be only so many opportunities for me to get out of the hood. So when she saw a poster for a talent show, she signed me up on the spot. I was shook. But I tapped into this fire inside of me and I won the whole skinnyg. And, an industry mogul was there who signed me on the spot. Talk about a turning point. Being here has brawt me back to when I was hungry for a prosper. And it’s a pretty skinnyg. Tonight, I comprehend I’m up aobtainst some steep competition. And genuinely, I’m terrified to leave out out on a chance to prosper it all in the finale. This gelderlyen mask is coming for the gelderlyen mask, you heard?”

Previous songs: “Rock Your Body,” by Justin Timberlake; “Skyscsexual attackr,” by Demi Lovato; “Ain’t No Way,” by Aretha Franklin; “Standing Next to You,” by Jungkook

Previous panel guesses: Taye Diggs, Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo, Miguel, Frank Ocean, Daveed Diggs, Mario, Craig David, Eric Benét, Usher, Maxwell

Last season’s carry outers joind Vanessa Hudgens, who won the Season 11 crown as Gelderlyfish, beating out Scott Porter, who had carry outed as Gumball. Other carry outers joind Thelma Houston (Clock), Chrissy Metz (Poodle Moth), Corey Feldman (Seal) and Clay Aiken/Ruben Studdard (Beets), Jenifer Lewis (Miss Cleocatra), Kate Flannery (Starfish), Charlie Wilson (Ugly Sweater), DeMarcus Ware (Koala), Colton Underwood (Love Bird), Sisqó (Lizard), Billy Bush (Sir Lion), Joe Bastianich (Spaghetti & Meatballs), Savannah Chrisley (Afghan Hound) and Kevin Hart (Book).

“The Masked Singer” comes from Fox Alternative Entertainment. Rosie Seitchik, Craig Plestis and Cannon are executive originaters, while Seitchik serves as showrunner. The series is based on the South Korean establishat originated by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.