Magician Joel Mawhinney, known as Joel M, captivated the judges on America's Got Talent by appearing to destroy personal items belonging to judges Mel B, Sofía Vergara, and Howie Mandel. The stunt, which Mawhinney described as the "scariest experience" of his life, was part of his audition for the popular talent competition.
Mawhinney presented the judges with a seemingly risky act: he took their personal valuables, including a phone, a framed picture of a dog, and a bracelet, and proceeded to smash them with a hammer. The audience and judges watched in suspense as the items were destroyed. However, in true magician's fashion, the trick concluded with the reappearance of all the judges' prized possessions, seemingly unharmed.
Howie Mandel's phone reappeared inside a locked box that had been on the judges' table throughout the performance. The phone then began receiving text messages from Mawhinney, revealing the hidden locations of the other judges' belongings. Sofía Vergara's dog picture was found tucked inside her seat cushion, while Mel B's bracelet was discovered concealed within one of the show's iconic red buzzers.
The judges' reactions ranged from astonishment to amusement. Mel B, a former Spice Girl, expressed her belief in magic and gave a "yes," stating, "I don't know how you do it. I believe in magic but I loved it." Vergara found the magic "very impressive" and "very exciting," also voting yes. Howie Mandel, however, found the performance too slow, ultimately voting no. Simon Cowell agreed with Mandel about the pacing, noting that such a trick might not work on a live show, but he ultimately voted yes, acknowledging the audience's love for magic.
With three "yes" votes from Mel B, Sofía Vergara, and Simon Cowell, Mawhinney advanced to the next round of America's Got Talent, keeping his hopes alive for the competition's cash prize.