America's Got Talent: Married couple from Ontario compete against each other during auditions 

America's Got Talent Season 20's ninth night of auditions had a surprising twist that had nothing to do with magic or stunts. Instead, it came from a married couple who chose to face off on stage.

Instead of collaborating like other couples, Ontario-based comedians Matt O'Brien and Julia Hladkowicz opted to compete on America's Got Talent, each bringing their unique punchlines to the stage. With Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara in attendance, their lighthearted competition provided a new twist and a few chuckles to the night's schedule.

O'Brien first took the America's Got Talent stage and earned four Yes votes from the judges with his comedy routine. Shortly after, Hladkowicz appeared for her audition and revealed their marriage to the surprised judges. The revelation created a unique situation where spouses would potentially advance in the same competition category. Hladkowicz utilized her set to mock her husband's snoring tendencies, transforming their home life into humorous fodder. The pair met at Toronto's Comedy Bar in 2010 and have performed independently throughout their relationship.

What happened during Matt O’Brien and Julia Hladkowicz’s America's Got Talent audition?

Matt O'Brien impressed the America's Got Talent judges with his humorous performance, garnering four Yes votes to advance in the competition. His performance exemplified the characteristics that made him a well-known comedian.

Julia Hladkowicz then gave her own audition, originally portraying herself as another Ontario comic. When Howie Mandel inquired if she knew O'Brien, she casually mentioned their marriage. The announcement startled the judging panel, who had not expected this link.

O'Brien dashed onto the platform to give his wife a sympathetic kiss, demonstrating their shared encouragement despite the challenging conditions. Hladkowicz appeared comfortable with the situation, displaying confidence about potentially outperforming her husband.

The couple originally met in 2010 at Toronto's Comedy Bar, where they were both pursuing their stand-up careers. Initially, they were hesitant to pursue romance owing to comedy business rules against dating fellow performers. Matt eventually decided to ignore the unwritten rule about comedians avoiding relationships.

They married twice, first in an intimate Ottawa ceremony in 2016, then at Las Vegas' Graceland Chapel with an Elvis impersonator. The Vegas wedding lasted five minutes, with Matt noting they paid extra for the "good Elvis" with authentic sideburns.

Now based in Los Angeles, they perform across the country while maintaining separate acts. They occasionally co-host shows or share billing when venues book them together, creating cost savings for clubs needing fewer hotel rooms.

How do they maintain individual identities?

Despite their marriage, both comedians have preserved distinct professional identities. They regularly compete for the same opportunities within the industry, treating their relationship and careers as separate entities. This approach allowed them to audition individually on AGT without conflict.

"We've always been two separate acts," Matt explained, emphasizing their independent career paths.

Julia reiterated this attitude, stating that they never planned to compete directly but happened to work in the same sector.

Their America's Got Talent experience exemplifies their overall approach to balancing marital and career goals, proving that couples can support one another while seeking individual achievement in competitive professions.

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You can watch America's Got Talent on NBC and stream it on Peacock.

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