Get ready for 'Masked Singer' spin-off, 'Masked Dancer,' thanks to Ellen

Brush off those ballet slippers, shine up the tap shoes, and make sure your pedicures are in order because the people that brought you your fave hidden-identity performance show are going all-in on masks, celebrities—and dancing.Because an addiction to The Masked Singer isn’t nearly enough, Fox is doubling down with a spin-off called The Masked Dancer. And, as the name implies, it’s all about the “fox”-trotting, the “bunny” hops and the “pony.” (Okay so full disclosure, we have no idea what kinds of animal costumes are in store just yet, but considering the mothership show’s history with wild outfits we have a feeling they’ll be all kinds of colourful.)The network revealed the news on January 7 at the 2020 Television Critics Association (TCA) Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif., confirming the series comes from none other than daytime dance mistress herself, Ellen DeGeneres.[video_embed id='1626960']RELATED: That time we met Ellen Degeneres[/video_embed]The recent Carol Burnett Award winner has been doing Masked Dancer segments on The Ellen Show, where she and guests try to successfully guess masked dancers’ identities. Celebs like Howie Mandel, Sean Hayes, Derek Hough, Colton Underwood, and even The Masked Singer panelist Ken Jeong have all played along. Now, primetime audiences can get in on that action too when the segment becomes a full-fledged series.

I almost died RT @kate4494: @howiemandel OMG! My daughter and I can’t stop laughing at you as the Masked Dancer on @TheEllenShow. We love it!!! Lol. You were so funny!! Love it!❤️❤️ #maskeddancer #howiemandel #ellen pic.twitter.com/HhNsaV5BVk

— Howie Mandel (@howiemandel) February 21, 2019

While we don’t have a premiere date or confirmed panelists just yet (raise your hand if you think Ellen should be one of them), this news comes just in time for the newest season of The Masked Singer, which features familiar faces Jeong, Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy and Nicole Scherzinger. Fox also announced at the TCAs that Jamie Foxx, who was a popular guess amongst viewers in season two but never actually appeared on the series, will also swing by as a guest panelist on the season three premiere.Guess that means he won’t be one of the masked celebs this time around either.

Yes @iamjamiefoxx!! #TheMaskedSinger https://t.co/TRbfLZr73R

— Nicole Scherzinger (@NicoleScherzy) January 7, 2020

Speaking of masked celebrities, we have 18 new ones whose identities we’re going to have us guessing come February. So far all we know is that, collectively, they have 69 Grammy Award nods, 88 gold records, 11 Super Bowl appearances, three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, more than 160 tattoos and one title in the Guinness Book of World Records.Oh yes, and they’re also wearing costumes that include a Robot, a Frog, a Mouse, a female Monster, a Llama and a Banana, for some reason. (We can’t wait to peel away at that one.)

I know this should feel creepy… but I can’t stop watching. ? #HappyNewYear pic.twitter.com/Wi4u2i3Sqn

— FOX (@FOXTV) January 1, 2020

Considering how well-received the season two winner The Fox/Wayne Brady was, not to mention the overall level of talent of all participants, we can’t wait to see what kinds of performances—and clues!—are in store.Luckily February is only a couple of weeks away.The Masked Singer returns for a third season Sunday, Feb. 2 to CTV following the Super Bowl.[video_embed id='1773592']RELATED: Jamie Foxx reveals he made 'Just Mercy' for his father[/video_embed]