Masked Singer Unveils High Voltage as Soccer Legend Alexi Lalas
The popular television show The Masked Singer delivered a stunning revelation on its March 11 episode, unmasking the robotic competitor High Voltage as American soccer icon Alexi Lalas. This disclosure came after a tense battle royale, where High Voltage faced off against Pangolin, ultimately leading to his elimination and the unmasking that left both judges and viewers astonished.
Episode Highlights and Performances
The episode featured a dramatic showdown among four remaining contestants: the Crane, High Voltage, Pangolin, and Pugcasso. Before the individual performances, the group kicked off the show with a lively joint rendition of Katrina and the Waves' classic hit Walking On Sunshine, which included a playful theme featuring the Care Bears. High Voltage continued this theme by performing Daniel Powter's Bad Day as his first solo song, showcasing a surprisingly strong vocal ability that kept the judges guessing.
Throughout the show, High Voltage provided clues to his identity, including a cowboy on a horse and a statement about his love for country music. He even joked about feeling 22 for a long time, adding to the mystery. The panel of judges—Robin Thicke, Ken Jeong, Rita Ora, and Jenny McCarthy—offered a range of guesses, from actor Dax Shepard to football star Travis Kelce, and even speculated it might be a member of the country duo Big & Rich. However, they overlooked the most obvious hint: a soccer ball prominently displayed inside High Voltage's glass-domed head.
The Unmasking and Lalas's Reaction
After High Voltage lost the battle royale to Pangolin, who performed the Pointer Sisters' I'm So Excited alongside him, the moment of truth arrived. Before the reveal, judges received a final clue: a pair of vibrant yellow sports cleats, prompting guesses like Tom Brady, Julian Edelman, and Jason Sudeikis. Yet, it was Jenny McCarthy who had a last-minute epiphany about the soccer ball clue, though it was too late.
When Lalas removed his helmet, he couldn't contain his amusement, exclaiming, The freakin' soccer ball?! Right in front of your face on top of my head the whole time! He also humorously apologized for not being Tom Brady. During his debrief, Lalas explained that his singing voice, honed from performing in garage bands and chamber ensembles in his youth, had confused the judges, making it harder for them to connect him to his sports background.
Alexi Lalas's Illustrious Career
Alexi Lalas, now 55 years old, is renowned as a former American centre-back who gained fame during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, hosted in the United States. His distinctive red beard and shaggy hair made him unmissable on the field, and his talent led him to become the first American to play in Italy's prestigious Serie A league for Calcio Padova. Over his career, Lalas played for teams including the New England Revolution, MetroStars, Kansas City Wizards, and Club Sport Emelec in Ecuador.
After a brief retirement in 1999, he reversed course and joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2001, where he achieved significant success, winning the 2001 US Open Cup and the 2002 Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup. He was also named to the MLS Best XI in 2002 before retiring permanently in 2004. Post-retirement, Lalas transitioned into sports management, serving as general manager for teams like the LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, and San Jose Earthquakes. More recently, he has leveraged his expertise as a Fox Sports analyst, offering insights into the world of soccer.
The episode concluded with Lalas performing a mask-free reprise of Bad Day, celebrating his unexpected stint on The Masked Singer and leaving fans delighted by the surprising crossover of sports and entertainment.
