‘The Masked Singer’ Creator Wonwoo Park Developing ‘Eurovision Song Contest’-Style Format In U.S.; Addresses Rudy Giuliani Controversy: “It Can’t Always Be Pleasant When The Mask Comes Off”

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: The Masked Singer creator Wonwoo Park is developing a Eurovision Song Contest-style format that will “bring people together regardless of nationality” and has addressed the Fox Masked Singer Rudy Giuliani controversy for the first time, stating it wouldn’t have happened in Korea.Speaking exclusively to Deadline at this week’s Mip TV, Park, who has just started a first-look development deal with Fox Alternative Entertainment and his Seoul-based production company DiTurn, said that due to the Ukraine conflict he has been thinking up ideas “for shows that aren’t bound by their country,” inspired by Eurovision.The format is being developed on paper and Park would soon like to take out to U.S.

networks.“I’m thinking of new shows where we can come together regardless of nationality,” he said. “It’s so important in this era with the Ukraine situation to think about entertainment programs that will make peace.”Park’s Fox partnership has only been in the offing for a few months following the conclusion of a similar Universal deal but he is bouncing a number of ideas around and was at Cannes’ Mip TV meeting Fox execs for the first time and pitching to global buyers.Coming up imminently is Fox’s Masked Singer episode that will feature Trump’s controversial former lawyer Giuliani, revealed by Deadline  in February, and Park addressed the controversy that caused judges Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke to walk off set by stating it wouldn’t have happened in the Korean version.“It would be taboo [in Korea] to have someone controversial or political on the show,” he explained. “But it can’t always be pleasant when the mask comes off and the more Masked Singer seasons [globally] we do, the more we realize you can’t always have