‘Masked Singer’ unveiling of Mantis absolutely stuns the judges

Jaws dropped and hands went up in the air after the reveal of Mantis on “The Masked Singer”.

Medusa, Gargoyle, and Mantis, who were previously saved during the current ninth season, squared off on April 26 on “Battle of the Saved” night. During Wednesday’s program, two contestants were revealed, one of whom left the panelists speechless.

Robin Thicke assumed it was Dennis Quaid, Nicole Scherzinger assumed it was Steve Buscemi, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg assumed it was Kevin Bacon, and Ken Jeong assumed it was Brendan Fraser.

They were all wrong; the star of “La Bamba” was Lou Diamond Phillips.

“Robin…I don’t think I’ve ever seen a reaction out of you like this,” host Nick Cannon said.

Thicke said, “I love Lou Diamond Phillips. When I was right at that young boy’s age, two of my favorite movies were ‘La Bamba.’ My god, that movie had a huge impact on me. I listened to the soundtrack daily. And then ‘Young Guns,’ that was my thing.”

The singer added that he was not expecting to see Phillips but all the memories of growing up, watching and admiring the actor crept up. “What an honor to have you here.”

McCarthy Wahlberg also revealed that she and her husband, Donnie Wahlberg, had recently discussed him since he worked on “Blue Bloods.”

Still stumped Scherzinger said, “We feel really stupid, Nick.”

Meanwhile, Phillips revealed that his 15-year-old daughter Indigo inspired him to join the show since she and a friend “watched this show religiously.”

“But you guys have had just such wonderful, surprising, ridiculous guests,” he continued, adding in part, “So it has been a joy. It has been a joy to be on his show.”

The panelists likewise guessed incorrectly who the Gargoyle was. While many people guessed athletes, it was Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen who was behind the mask.

“I was so close,” Thicke said, after guessing fellow Charger Joey Bosa.

Allen stated that he has “always had a passion” for singing and was disappointed that he had to withdraw from the competition.

“Growing up, I have always been in choir. My mom made me sing all the time,” the athlete said. “Definitely always had a passion for it. I love singing around the homies, to the ladies, of course.”

He added that he was “way more nervous” being on stage than on a football field. “I was trying not to go home,” he said. “I didn’t want to go home.”