What Made Showbird Change Its Mind After 11 Seasons of Turning Down 'The Masked Singer'

It was a reunion that 'Community' fans had been waiting for, as alum Ken Jeong, also the judge of 'The Masked Singer,' got to see a familiar face - Joel McHale, also known as Showbird, join the show.

A recent episode of 'The Masked Singer' featured Joel McHale, the actor who rose to fame with his iconic role as Jeff Winger on 'Community.' However, before becoming Showbird, McHale had been asked to participate in the show multiple times but turned it down.

The main reason behind his refusal was the fact that he had never been a fan of singing competitions. Despite this, his 'Community' co-star and 'Masked Singer' host, Ken Jeong, kept persuading him to give the show a try.

According to McHale, what finally made him say yes was when his kids told him to participate in the show. This decision turned out to be a good move, as it not only brought a fun experience for McHale but also brought in some quality family time and a memorable reunion with his co-star.

However, despite his long history with 'The Masked Singer,' McHale decided not to reveal himself as Showbird until later on. This made for some suspenseful moments as contestants and the audience were left trying to figure out the identity behind the colorful costume.

McHale gave an impressive performance of Elton John's hit song, 'Rocket Man,' but eventually got eliminated towards the end of the season.

In a post-episode interview with Entertainment Weekly, McHale spoke about how he struggled with the intense competition on the show and how much he enjoyed his conversations with the other contestants about their experiences behind the masks.