'America's Got Talent' Auditions: Stand Up-Comic Performs For First Time In Front Of His Children, Wins Audience With Humor [VIDEO]
A stand-up comic from New Jersey performed recently on NBC's America's Got Talent, but it wasn't the crowd that had him a bit nervous.
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Joe Matarese, 46, has been doing stand-up comedy for 25 years, but on NBC he performed for the first time in front of his children. The father of two pointed out his wife with their 6-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter in the wings as he came out on stage.
Judge Heidi Klum assumed Matarese would be singing, but when he informed them that he would be doing comedy, judge and fellow comedian Howie Mandel became visibly interested.
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Matarese connected with the audience through his talk of empty bars and his over 40 Men's Softball team. He proved even more relatable when he began talking about parenthood, something most people strongly identified with. The comic received a standing ovation from the audience, though he was still a little worried about how his kids had taken it.
According to Matarese, he had to give his son a "pep talk" prior to the show explaining that he would be making fun of him on stage.
Apparently, however, he had nothing to fear, receiving a "thumbs up" from both his son and Klum.
"It is amazing that we have not heard of you yet" Mandel admitted after the performance.
Howard Stern mirrored his enthusiasm. "They way you handle this audience," the judge declared, "you are so good it is inspiring."
The audience cheered as Matarese was unanimously voted into the next round.
America's Got Talent continues on NBC with eliminations Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
