quote:

Now, it's time for the big reveal — the moment we've been waiting for all afternoon. My heart begins pounding as the energy in the room builds and the eliminated contestant is brought back on stage. The judges reveal their final guesses and it's time for the contestant to "TAKE IT OFF!"

"Who Are You?" starts playing, and we all stand up, emphatically yelling "TAKE IT OFF!" as the contestant wrestles with their mask. A camera person runs on stage to capture a closeup of the eliminated character struggling with the headpiece. This is it, I think as the music speeds up. This. Is. It.

Then out of nowhere, as if the entire set had lost power, the music stops and the masked person ceases to move. Nick and the contestant then walk off without explanation as Jay makes his way back onto the stage. Everyone lets out a collective groan before Jay even says a word. We all know what's coming.

We're not going to find out who's behind the mask.

Instead, Jay tells us that another audience warm-up comedian is going to act out the reveal, and when he raises his hands, everyone has to act like we're shocked to discover who's behind the mask. We do just that. Minutes later, the audience managers thank everyone as we exit the studio. But there's a select 20 or so people at the front of the stage who don't leave. Only these 20 — family members and other top VIPS — are going to see who's behind the mask. The rest of us? It's time to pack up and call our Ubers.