Was there a new ‘The Masked Singer’ episode last night? Here’s why not

No one was eliminated on “The Masked Singer” on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

But that’s only because a new episode didn’t air during its scheduled time slot. A cancer awareness TV special aired in place of the Fox reality TV show on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.

Here’s why the swap happened.

Why was ‘The Masked Singer’ not on last night?

“The Masked Singer” didn’t air on Wednesday, Feb. 18, due to a planned hiatus for the week, Entertainment Weekly reported. Fox had initially planned to air a prior episode from season 14, but swapped this for the two-hour cancer awareness special “The Real Full Monty,” the magazine reported.

What is ‘The Real Full Monty’?

“The Real Full Monty” follows several well-known male celebrities as they undergo a journey to learn a high-energy striptease dance performed before a live audience, according to a Fox press release.

The TV special was inspired by the award-winning 1997 film, “The Full Monty.” It originally aired in December 2024.

Why did ‘The Real Full Monty’ air last night?

Fox aired “The Real Full Monty” last night as a tribute to actor James Van Der Beek, who died on Feb. 11 at age 48 after battling colorectal cancer. The special’s mission is to raise awareness for cancer testing and research and encourage others to get tested early. During the show, each celebrity shares how cancer has personally impacted his life. Last night’s broadcast included a QR code where viewers could donate to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

Cast of ‘The Real Full Monty’

• Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish” star).
• Taye Diggs (Broadway star, TV and film actor).
• Chris Jones (Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle).
• Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf” actor).
• Bruno Tonioli (“Dancing with the Stars” judge).
• James Van Der Beek (“Dawson’s Creek,” “Varsity Blues” actor).

Where to watch ‘The Masked Singer’

“The Masked Singer” airs Wednesdays on Fox at 8 p.m. ET and is available to stream the next day on Hulu. The reality show will return next Wednesday, Feb. 25, for episode 7, titled “Spice Girls Night.”