# What's wrong with Emo Phillips? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573 "2005-01-13T17:38:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/1 "2005-01-13T17:38:53Z")
Or is it ALL an act? I’m watching him on “The World Stands Up” on Comedy Central, and he’s changed a LOT from UHF and when I heard him on the Dr. Demento show. He seems to be incapable of controlling his body, except when devoting quite a lot of effort, and he always seems to be gasping for breath. I guess it could all be part of an act, but it doesn’t seem effected at all. Anyone know what’s up? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/2 "2005-01-14T17:07:18Z")
I saw him live in Cleveland last fall. I stood right in front of him while my friend got some autographs on some CDs he bought from Emo. His mannerisms do not change during signing, which is common with many comedians. My personal belief is that whatever’s wrong with him, really is wrong with him. I would not be terribly surprised, however, if I were wrong. I’d say I’m 85% certain his mannerisms are genuine. Remember though, according to what he said on stage, this guy has been touring since the '70s. If he was really all that seriously ill, and he was like that in the beginning, we’re talking about a slow-acting condition… or perhaps just one of those things that gets bad, and then will never get better or worse. My biggest argument in favor of his mannerism being legitimate is… well, it’s not FUNNY. It actually distracts me from his act, which is hilarious in and of itself. Why would he fake that mannerism? Then again, maybe it makes other people laugh, and I just don’t get it. I didn’t “get” Seinfeld until I was 22 or so. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/3 "2005-01-14T17:21:10Z")
I’m not aware of this person, so I can’t comment on whether it’s genuine or not, but it sounds like some sort of neurological condition. Huntingdon’s disease, medicated Parkinson’s, Tourette’s, something like that maybe? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/4 "2005-01-14T17:29:21Z")
I always assumed it _was_ part of the act. To me his mannerism didn’t reflect a condition as much as it supported the idea of his character having such a strange thought process that it affected his comprehension and use of body langauge. Although, he does in some ways remind me of an old friend who had cerebral palsy. My friend’s condition made him exert much effort in order to speak or gesture. The exertion would sometimes cause his voice or body language to have a greater emphasis then he intended. Emo’s early stuff reminded me of a twist on old Gerry Lewis skits. Gerry’s goal was to emphasize klutziness. Some say he made fun of the disabled but the intent was for the viewer to identify with his charactures lack of grace; not his disability. ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/5 "2005-01-14T21:44:48Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > Or is it ALL an act? Obviously, it’s too much cole slaw. > [@emo phillips](#): > > “Well, To me it’s like a symbol for the whole universe, for the cosmos. The chopped cabbage is us; we were like one universal spirit and then we’re chopped through life. And we’re apart then. You know what I mean? But then the love is the mayonnaise that holds us together. And you, I think, are the severed mouse head in the middle of the bowl. I don’t mean that in an offensive way but in the best of all possible ways. Because you’re the extra protein!” ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/6 "2005-01-14T23:45:37Z")
Many years ago, I saw a comedian in San Francisco called Bob Goldthwaite, who became a somewhat well-known comedian called Bobcat Goldthwaite. Aside from the fact that his material was most peculiar, bizarre, morbid and somewhat frightening, his mannerisms, vocal and physical, were essentially a combination of tics. He’d screetch and growl. Very very weird. I never knew if it was just a nervous and only minimally controlable response to the stress of performing in front of people or if he had something wrong. My WAG was that if you called him up in the middle of the night, he’d speak just like us. p.s. I hope Emo’s just weird. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/7 "2005-01-15T00:30:27Z")
My WAG? Hollywood hates to employ actors with known nuerological disorders. It’s a career kiss of death. My take is that Emo’s problems are real but he’s game enough to eke out a living on the stand-up circuit, whereas Bobcat’s tics and quirks are schtick. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/8 "2005-01-15T00:34:43Z")
I’ve seen bobcat drop out of character (briefly) a couple of times. I’ve never seen emo be anything but emo. ---
**Author:** ![Weeks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@Weeks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeks)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/9 "2005-01-15T04:53:21Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Many years ago, I saw a comedian in San Francisco called Bob Goldthwaite, who became a somewhat well-known comedian called Bobcat Goldthwaite. Aside from the fact that his material was most peculiar, bizarre, morbid and somewhat frightening, his mannerisms, vocal and physical, were essentially a combination of tics. He’d screetch and growl. Very very weird. I never knew if it was just a nervous and only minimally controlable response to the stress of performing in front of people or if he had something wrong. My WAG was that if you called him up in the middle of the night, he’d speak just like us. p.s. I hope Emo’s just weird. I worked with him on a show. He’s as normal as they come. ---
**Author:** ![Alvis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alvis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alvis)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/10 "2005-01-15T05:14:16Z")
> [@Weeks](#): > > I worked with him on a show. He’s as normal as they come. I submit to you that it takes a man far greater than human to woo Nikki Cox. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/11 "2005-01-15T05:34:23Z")
Crikey, she’s a foot taller than him, too! Bobcat’s my new god. ---
**Author:** ![transporterguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@transporterguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/transporterguy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/12 "2013-03-22T06:27:41Z")
…But his delivery is very unique. He was married to Judy Tunuda and the 2 were very weird together. Have you seen Josh Blue!!! This guy will kill you. Bobcat did a lot of blow and was living with Nikki Cox( Go figure that one out) and I did see him at the Kimmel show, 3 or4 times…also weird. Bobcat directed the show for years…. ---
**Author:** ![FuzzyOgre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@FuzzyOgre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuzzyOgre)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/13 "2013-03-22T11:13:02Z")
Lots of comedians are like that. When I watch Mitch Hedberg, I sense something different about him. He has a strange mannerism, an awkward way of talking, and a prosody which is atypical. I’ve met lots of people that do drugs, and they do not comport themselves like that. Dan Aykroyd is another example. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/14 "2013-03-22T13:42:49Z")
> [@FuzzyOgre](#): > > Dan Aykroyd is another example. I’ve met Dan Aykroyd a few times and I’m not sure what you mean. While he is… ummm… well, kind of a jerk, he’s a normal human being. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/15 "2013-03-22T13:57:55Z")
He was married to Judy Tenuta. That should explain everything. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/16 "2013-03-22T14:10:49Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’ve met Dan Aykroyd a few times and I’m not sure what you mean. While he is… ummm… well, kind of a jerk, he’s a normal human being. First: Zombie thread. Just mentioning it. Second: I believe that Aykroyd has gone [on record has having Asperger’s](http://www.celebrities-with-diseases.com/celebrities/dan-aykroyd-suffers-from-mild-tourettes-and-aspergers-2-3892.html). Perhaps that’s what was meant. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/17 "2013-03-22T14:19:09Z")
EDIT: nvm, my post was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/18 "2013-03-22T14:31:49Z")
I think I remember some sort of interview with Emo where he’s not in his on stage persona and just talks and acts ‘normally.’ ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/19 "2013-03-22T14:55:43Z")
> [@FuzzyOgre](#): > > Lots of comedians are like that. When I watch Mitch Hedberg, I sense something different about him. He has a strange mannerism, an awkward way of talking, and a prosody which is atypical. I’ve met lots of people that do drugs, and they do not comport themselves like that. > > Dan Aykroyd is another example. With Mitch Hedberg, in addition to the (obviously fairly heavy) drug use, he also apparently had a surprisingly high level of shyness & stage fright… hence the dark glasses, hiding behind his hair, style of sometimes self-deprecation in connection with a joke that didn’t go as planned, etc. As for Emo Philips, hmm… here’s a relatively recent clip of him… [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQWNTsEybGM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQWNTsEybGM) He certainly has the same non-verbal tics he had in the 70s, perhaps moreso but at least as much. I wonder though, since they don’t really LOOK out of character or involuntary, I’m “Team it’s an act” as opposed to “Team Cerebral Palsy” or something similar. Consider… today it’d be harder to create a persona of the guy that has a condition… a generation ago I don’t think it would have had a stigma to the same extent. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573/20 "2013-03-22T15:14:54Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Many years ago, I saw a comedian in San Francisco called Bob Goldthwaite, who became a somewhat well-known comedian called Bobcat Goldthwaite. Aside from the fact that his material was most peculiar, bizarre, morbid and somewhat frightening, his mannerisms, vocal and physical, were essentially a combination of tics. He’d screetch and growl. Very very weird. I never knew if it was just a nervous and only minimally controlable response to the stress of performing in front of people or if he had something wrong. My WAG was that if you called him up in the middle of the night, he’d speak just like us. p.s. I hope Emo’s just weird. I remember the first time I saw Bob, and my reaction was, gee, that’s gonna be an exhausting act to keep up! He was like Don Rickles on speed (in case anyone’s old enough to remember Don, especially on Johnny Carson). I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that either of them is ADHD, but manages to act normal when necessary. No idea about Emo, but he’d be funny either way. “My wife is really evil. I think she goes to the Devil once a week, for lessons on being more evil. I don’t know what she charges him.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-emo-phillips/284573.md?page=2)