The Masked Dancer recap: Ice Cube exits, revealed as Emmy-winning TV presenter

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Published on January 6, 2021 09:00PM EST

Warning: This article contains spoilers about The Masked Dancer season 1, episode 2.

We're happy to report that The Masked Dancer's Group B stepped it up in episode 2, after Tulip stole the show in the premiere. Virtually every dancer in the new batch gave Group A's Tulip a run for her money, although poor Ice Cube (the costume, not the rapper) melted and was the second overall contestant sent packing (which is slightly funny as Ice-T was unmasked in the premiere).

Once again, Craig Robinson was a lot of fun as host, and Ken Jeong has been shaping up to be a voice of reason on the show, which is a complete surprise to anyone who's watched The Masked Singer. Paula Abdul, Ashley Tisdale, and Brian Austin Green rounded out the panelists' table.

Sloth tore up the dance floor with a Richard Simmons-esque '80s aerobics routine set to the Romantics' "What I Like About You." He showed off his funny side with some physical comedy, and of course there were the high kicks and booty shaking.

Next was Ice Cube, who tapped alongside his dance partner to Postmodern Jukebox's cover of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." Like Moth, the competitor's clue package referenced the White House and had a certain political vibe.

"I think he's old," Tisdale said plainly, leading Jeong, of all people, to tell her that in TV talk Ice Cube would be called "seasoned." It's a little trippy to see the comedian schooling anyone when he's regularly scolded by Jenny McCarthy on TMS, but we liked what we saw of Ken 2.0.

Zebra then got down to Sergio Mendes' samba track "Magalenha," and didn't stop dancing even after his routine. Cotton Candy, who really wanted us to either think she's Pink or definitely not Pink, did a part-aerial, part-ballet act set to Pink's "Glitter in the Air" and had Pink references in her clue package. Whoever she is, we can't deny that her doing a split while spinning was impressive, especially as the show revealed she fell from pretty high up during rehearsals.

Last was Moth, who line danced to Brooks & Dunn's "Boot Scootin' Boogie" in a country-themed set.

Robinson then announced that Ice Cube received the least amount of votes and would be eliminated.

Ice Cube took off his mask to reveal ... Bill Nye the Science Guy!

The only panelist to guess the science educator and Emmy-winning TV presenter was Jeong, who somehow knew to connect the "CORN L" in Ice Cube's package to Nye's Ivy League alma mater. The periodic table and climate references were also nods to Nye's science background and climate change activism. And apparently Nye has a patent for ballet toe shoes, which explains the ballet slipper clue!

See you next Wednesday for the return of the four remaining Group A dancers: Shark, Tulip, Cricket, and Exotic Bird.

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