FOX has announced it’s bringing a new singing competition to T.V. – but with a twist. The reality show, Alter Ego, already has a handful of celebrity guests signed on to participate, which has got the public buzzing.
According to TMZ, Grimes will be one of the first famous faces to serve as a judge on the new competition. The singer famously shares a son with SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk. Other celebrities that will be making cameos include Alanis Morissette and Will.i.am.
Don’t expect this show to be the next American Idol. Rather, the competition is taking inspiration directly from another singing show, The Masked Singer, which has its musical guests dress up in elaborate costumes to conceal their identities. Though the show debuted only in 2019, it’s part of a larger franchise that originated in South Korea.
The Masked Singer has amassed both controversy and wonder for its unique approach, but it only has a rating of 6.3/10 on IMDB, so take from that what you will. Its winners have included Nick Lachey, T-Pain, and Leann Rimes.
Alter Ego will take on a very similar formatting. Rather than dawning a head-to-toe costume, participants will perform as their “dream avatar,” Rolling Stone explains. A digitalized version of themselves will be crated thanks to special effects and motion capture technology. Former boyband star Nick Lachey has signed on to judge, while Rosci Diaz will be hosting.
Although a specific premiere date for the show hasn’t been revealed, it will likely debut sometime in the fall.
Rob Wade, who is the President of FOX’s Alternative Entertainment and Specials, believes Alter Ego will be ground-breaking since nothing of the sort has ever done before. He said the show will be an excellent demonstration that “merges talent and technology to revolutionize” singing competitions.
Wade added that the show will give musicians a chance to show off their vocal chops and perform in a once-in-a-lifetime sort of way.
This will be the first reality singing competition for Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, though given the nature of the show, it may not be too out of her element. The eccentric musician has experimented with AI technology in the past. For instance, she released an A.I. lullaby last October. At the time, Grimes partnered up with the Endel app to produce the radical music, which she said she already relied on to help her sleep, The New York Times reports.
Sources: TMZ, IMDB, Rolling Stone,