PASADENA, CALIFORNIA: Barry Brewer Jr, hailing from the South Side of Chicago, began his stand-up comedy journey in 2002. Fast forward to 2023, he finds himself on the 'America's Got Talent' stage, where he revealed that he had torn his Achilles while playing basketball. Despite the unfortunate mishap occurring before his audition, Barry showed up on stage with the help of crutches. With some playful banter from judge Howie Mandel, who quipped "Break a leg!" before host Terry Crews assisted Barry in sitting behind an electric piano.
To progress in the auditions, an act needs a minimum of three "yes" votes from the panel of four judges: Sofia Vergara, Howie, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell. If two or more judges buzz to express their disapproval, the act is immediately eliminated. Fortunately, Barry didn't face that fate and moved on to the next round. 'AGT' fans found his performance refreshing as he skillfully incorporated music into his act and addressed real issues of importance.
Barry Brewer Jr. does not let a torn achilles hinder his audition
"I didn't want to miss this chance to perform for you guys," Barry shared before his act, adding, "I was going to do stand-up comedy, but I'm going to do sit down today." He explained that he's a musician who grew up playing in church on the Southside of Chicago. After a churchgoer found him funny, they suggested he tell jokes at a church concert. Taking that advice, Barry's first performance earned a standing ovation, inspiring him to pursue musical comedy ever since. He used the keys of a piano to enhance his storytelling style of comedy, humorously describing the contrasting experiences of playing in a White church versus a Black church. He also addressed the challenges he faces as a Black man when traveling by airplane for a vacation, highlighting important societal issues alongside plenty of laughter. Sofia shared her pleasure in seeing a comedian "mix it up with music" after her four seasons on the show, while Howie found Barry "likable and charming." Heidi didn't want his act to end, and Simon praised it as "really clever" with the potential to make a "positive difference." All the judges unanimously voted "yes" to see Barry perform in the next round, excited to witness more of his talent and meaningful messages.
'He went where no one dare to go'
Fans commended Barry for talking about real issues that exist in American society. One fan said on Instagram, "Great proformance! Funny, great positive message, a breath of fresh air", while another added, "He is talking about some real societal issues out there." Some on Twitter pointed out, "God has truly blessed this young man!" Another Tweeted, "He was really funny and I like how he adds the music with it."
Another user added, "He was really Funny & relatable for everyone. Especially church folks . Shout to a fellow Chicago resident. Show off your Chicago style. Good things come from Chicago Southside." Another speculated, "He has his thing! Diamond in the rough for sure." Another defended Barry saying, "For those commenting here that this is racism: It is not racism. It’s joking about cultural differences. lighten up, not everything is to be viewed from hate. Chill. He was awesome "
Tune into NBC on Tuesdays to catch new episodes of 'America's Got Talent' Season 18 at 8 PM/ET.
