'AGT' Mute Comic Ahren Belisle on How Technology Limits His Witty, Fast Thinking Delivery

Ahren Belisle

Ahren Belisle who has only been doing standup since winter 2022 is one of the frontrunners on tonight’s America’s Got Talent Live Shows, during which 11 artists will compete for only two spots in the finale.

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Ahren uses a text to speech app to communicate with the audience and deliver his standup routine, which is both a good thing and a bad thing.

Without the technology, Ahren wouldn’t be able to perform on AGT, but the technology is also the most difficult part of his act because sometimes it messes up.

“It certainly limits my witty, fast thinking and delivery,” he tells Parade in this exclusive email interview. “Writing jokes and editing jokes is a massive task because the app I use is not user-friendly or built for a comedian with hundreds of lines in an order that often get changed. At the same time, though, the way I deliver my comedy is great because it builds tension and it kind of suits my physicality and persona well.”

It was in the middle of winter in 2022 in Portugal that Ahren got up on stage for the first time and it was just last August that he began doing it regularly.

“I had never REALLY considered doing comedy, but I liked to go to shows,” he says. “I went to a show in Portugal and the comics thought I was funny and said I should try. By that point in my life, I was open to following my curiosity and trying things, so I did. I wrote some jokes and ran them by local comics, and they thought I was funny. Then, my friends James and Cathy helped me iron out my set.”

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Ahren modestly says he “crushed’ his first time doing standup, so he decided to keep doing it, but he still kept his day job.

“I didn't think about it as a career at first,” he says. “I thought I would never be a comedian. I thought it would just help me make my mental health content. Boy was I wrong, right!?”

As with his audition, tonight Ahren’s topic will be mental health and disabilities because it’s essential for him to talk about what he knows.

“It’s important to me to spread the lessons I've learned and try to make things better not only for me but also for everybody else, too,” he says. “I see comedy as a way of letting people into my world. Communicating my experiences and letting them see what it's been like to be me. I certainly plan to expand on it. I think every comic I look up to talks about what it's been like to be them and finds a way to bring joy about it and that's what I want to do.”

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But even more than sharing his experiences with others, doing standup has been a positive boon to his life as well.

“It’s given me a new avenue to express all these ideas in a way that's more easily digested, and plants seeds of thought,” he says. “It isn't like a debate where I try to convince you how to think, but I think it opens doors to alternative ways of thinking... about disability, about mental health, about society, about whatever I joke about. And it's amazing that I get to have fun while doing something I care about in my soul.”

Also, during our email exchange, Ahren explained a little more how the technology works, how he deals with hecklers, and how he would spend the $1 million AGT prize money.

How did you come to be on AGT? Did you apply or did they find you? 

I didn't apply. My friend Mike sent my TikTok to casting and they reached out to me. Casting built an audition reel on my behalf. I think I originally didn't make it through but during the final stages of casting, casting producers get to pitch their favorite acts and I grew a lot by then, I had been on the world's biggest live podcasts, and they used clips from that in the tape. And they loved me!

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Since Howie Mandel is the comic on the panel – and a fellow Canuck – was it most important to get laughs from him? Or maybe being a comic, he appreciated you more, so you had to work harder for the other judges?

I mean, I think there's nuance here. Obviously, getting appreciation from a legendary comic like Howie was super close to my heart and I was looking for and got that. But at the same time, it's really about enjoying yourself on stage and spreading the message you want to send. It's about the people watching. I want to educate and entertain. That's the most important thing.

I was super happy that Howie loved me though. And I was really happy with Sofia's response. All the judges and America had great things to say, and it meant a lot.

The majority of your act would be pre-recorded on a text to speech app, but how fast can you type when you want to go off book? How often does that happen?

My act isn't pre recorded, but my jokes are written and ready. I type fast enough. The biggest slowdown is when I need to fix a "Swipe-o" (typo) because I need to redo the word.

There's definitely silence when I adlib, but it builds tension. I think it's great delivery. Waiting makes the punchlines better.

I adlib a lot. I enjoy going off the cuff. I would guess I would go off the cuff in an above average quantity.

Do you have pre-recorded comebacks for hecklers?

Not really. I have things in mind that I know generally happen so they're easy to find in my brain but nothing pre written.

What would you use the $1 million for?

Most likely legal fees for a green card, and a cushion to chasing this wild new uncertain arts career. I've always been a safe engineer with a paycheck. This new entertainment career is a bit overwhelming, and I would love to have some safety there and be able to invest in myself. Eventually, I hope, I am doing both comedy and speaking and can give back as much as I can while taking care of me!

What’s your support dog’s name? How did you come to get him, how long have you had him, and what difference has he made for you?

His name is Al. I got him in November 2018. I applied for him in college. He was given to me by a Lions Club charity that's all privately funded (no subsidy) and its been amazing.

It's great to have a companion. He's amazing. He travels the world with me. Alone. Him and me. I can't imagine life without him.

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Who are your comic icons?

I love Taylor Tomlinson. I love the way she talks about her life experience and mental health issues and makes it so funny. I also love Daniel Sloss for the same reasons.

I also love the regulars.. Louis CK, Bill Burr.. I'm sure you can tell I have a bit of a brash and sarcastic comedic style like them. Tony Hinchliffe has been a huge help to me. Howie is one every Canadian looks up to.

If I had to describe my ideal comic vision for me, it would be Bill Burr and Taylor Tomlinson's love child.

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

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