Emo Philips

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{{Infobox Biography |subject_name= Emo Philips |image_name= Tv_weird_al_emo_philips.jpg |image_caption= Emo Philips on The Weird Al Show |date_of_birth= February 7, 1956 |place_of_birth= Chicago, IL |date_of_death= |place_of_death= }}

Philip Soltanek better known by his stage name Emo Philips (born 7 February 1956) is an American actor, producer and stand-up comedian from Downers Grove, Illinois.

His stand-up routine is characterized by his eccentric appearance, falsetto voice, and surreal humor.

The unusual medieval-style bob haircut he sported early in his career, the exaggerated swings of his voice between registers, and his tendency to contort his body into awkward poses during delivery give him a bizarre stage presence. Some of his jokes play on the idea that he is crazy; for example:

"Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps."

Some of his material is reminiscent of Steven Wright's one-liners or near one-liners with a surreal twist. For example:

"If you can make one person laugh, then you are already doing better than Tony Danza."
"I was walking down the street, something caught my eye...and dragged it fifteen feet."
"I don't have to tell you folks about scuba diving. So, that'll save some time."
"Emo is really Swedish for, Honey, he bobbed to the surface again!"
"When I was ten, my parents moved to Downers Grove, Illinois. When I was 12, I found them."

Unlike Wright, however, Philips' persona is that of a strange, nerdy misfit, unlucky at love, looked down upon by society and prone to unconventional and occasionally antisocial behavior. Some more examples:

"I'm a great lover, I'll bet."
"You know, a lot of girls go out with me just to further their careers...damn anthropologists."
"I love to go down to the schoolyard and watch all the little children jump up and down and run around yelling and screaming...They don't know I'm only using blanks."
"At my lemonade stand I used to give the first glass away free and charge five dollars for the second glass. The refill contained the antidote."
"I ran three miles today... finally I said, 'lady, take your purse.'"
"I was in a bar the other night, hopping from barstool to barstool, trying to get lucky...but there wasn't any gum under any of them."

Image:E=mo2.jpg

"Nothing gets me going in the morning like a nice, piping hot, cup of coffee. Oh, I've tried other enemas..."

Philips has also had acting roles on television shows such as Miami Vice and The Weird Al Show (in The Weird Al Show, he looked directly into the camera, waved and yelled, "Hi Mom!....I'm sorry. Your cameraman looked just like my mother."); Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist; Home Movies; and Space Ghost: Coast to Coast. He has appeared in films, including UHF (1989) and Desperation Boulevard (1998), and was associate producer of the film Meet the Parents (2000).

Philips has recorded three comedy albums. He has recorded a few songs, including "Treat Her Like a Lady." His album E=mo² won the 1985 New Music Award for best comedy album. It has recently been re-released along with his Live at the Hasty Pudding Theatre album on a single CD.

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