Tonight on The Masked Singer season 5, fans were introduced to the first wildcard, which sadly spelled the end for Raccoon. The way the wildcard twist works is that the new wildcard player competes with the existing group in an attempt to win their way into the competition. If they do, one of the original group goes home. That is exactly what happened when the show's first wildcard Orca joined Group A. Orca's performance was impressive enough to secure a spot and send Raccoon packing. Raccoon's reveal was not a surprise to fans but it was a shock to the judges.
Raccoon's first clue package was heavy on clues about a troubled past before turning his life around. This led to guesses like Gary Busey by Jenny McCarthy and Joe Pesci by Robin Thicke. This week's clue package was heavy on boxing clues, leading to guesses like Tony Danza and Sylvester Stallone. Other names like John Voight and Danny DeVito came up as well. Despite their incorrect guesses, the entire panel was extremely excited by the reveal. As one of the most recognizable actors in Hollywood, with over 400 acting credits to his name, it's no surprise Trejo would get that reaction, even from other celebrities.
This week's new clues were a dead ringer for Trejo. The coffee was for his restaurant, Trejo's Coffee and Donuts. His start as an actor was documented well in the clues. The boxing clues represent how Trejo, who was a boxing champion while in prison, came to the set of a movie to help out someone who was trying to resist the temptation of drugs on the set. That movie was Runaway Train, explaining the train clue. Raccoon said he trained a leading man and Trejo was recognized by the screenwriter of the movie and asked to train its star, Eric Roberts. This, as Raccoon said, launched his career because Trejo was actually put in the movie.
The bat clues on the self-portrait were a nod to Trejo's role as the voice of Bane in the Batman universe series, Young Justice. Last week's clues fit just as well. Raccoon spoke of his troubled past and how he was a monster who was not innocent. He promised God that he'd only do good if he got a second chance. Trejo spent 11 years in and out of prison for various crimes, but he recounts a specific serious charge he faced after a prison altercation. He said he prayed for God to help him get through it so he could turn his life around.
Raccoon said he related to Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a book he read often. Trejo has stated that reciting The Wizard of Oz and The Hunchback of Notre Dame got him through many dark times in prison. The clues for Raccoon all fit Trejo well but most fans didn't even need the clues. The actor is so well-known (and has such a distinct and unique voice) that it took only a few lines of his first song for fans to realize that Raccoon was Machete star, Danny Trejo.
The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on Fox.