The 'Masked Signer' Judges Correctly Guessed the Skeleton's Identity During the Premiere

From Woman's Day

TV's biggest mystery may not be on your typical crime drama. Rather, it lies in Fox's reality performance show, The Masked Singer. The show, now in its second season, unveiled a whole new roster of anonymous celebs on the September 25 premiere. Among the new contestants was the Skeleton who wowed judges with his comedic skills and stage presence. After three chances to guess his identity, a couple of the judges ended up being correct.

Who Is the Skeleton on The Masked Singer?

On Oct. 16, it was revealed that the person wearing the Skeleton mask was Paul Shaffer.

The musician was David Letterman's band director on his late night show, so now all of the clues in the video packages make so much sense. The "keys" mentioned were those of the piano, one of Shaffer's instruments. And all the references to orchestrating things, playing second fiddle, and being instrumental were references to his musical ability. As for the nods to him being a sidekick standing in the shadow of his parter — well, Shaffer was second fiddle to Letterman on Letterman's show.

It wasn't until the Skeleton's final performance that anyone guessed Shaffer as an option. Previously, many fans and some of the judges seemed to think that the Skeleton was actor/comedian Martin Short. Some of the clues did match him, since he also played second fiddle to Steve Martin and has had a lengthy career focused on comedy. Judge Robin Thicke was also getting a Vegas vibe from him, and Martin Short does actually have a show coming to Vegas in October, according to KTNV Las Vegas. The Skeleton also said he'd "been around the block a few times," indicating that he was an older contestant. Martin Short is 69, but that clue also fit Shaffer who is 69 as well.

Some other fans and even judge Nicole Scherzinger thought the Skeleton could also be Teller of magic duo Penn and Teller. His name comes second to Penn in their shows and his "key" clue could have been that he received a key to Las Vegas in 2011.

In the end, though, Jenny McCarthy got it right when she guessed Paul Shaffer. McCarthy said she was tipped off by the voice, but also by all the clues to music in the video package. The clues were meant to be a lot harder this year (and they certainly threw some people off who were guessing Short and Teller), but McCarthy was still able to crack this case. She's also not the only one.

Shaffer told Entertainment Weekly after his elimination that David Letterman knew it was him weeks ago. "He knows about these nondisclosure agreements. So he says to me on the phone, 'You don't have to say anything, but I know it's you. I know how you walk,'" Shaffer recalled. "That's how he recognized me, from my walk. We were together every day for 33 years, after all."

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