That Dave Letterman debut was 100%. For a guy to come out with such a distinctive and uncharted persona and to hit on all cylinders like that is pretty amazing.
I have not seen any other comedians do that on their debut; let alone to be consistently asked back on one of the most popular late night shows including Carson after Dave was reaching more of us younger people in the mid eighties. Now it’s a totally different thing for any comedian thanks to this last administration and foolish kids who were either too naive and/ or ignorant enough to think they ever had a chance of inserting a Marxist into the White House and their woke ideology constantly causing us to change anything else inside of our own acts! I grew up with Billy Burr and he wasn’t changing a thing in his own style, but then again he could afford not to now; couldn’t he. Happy New Year 🎈 Viva Le Trump come January 20th officially in charge yet again! Greetings from Boston Massachusetts 🇺🇸
At 33 minutes I realized Emo might be on Twitter, so I wrote to him and said: I am binge watching all your old appearances on Letterman and Conan. You Sir are a comedic genius! Einstein was a genius but somehow he never made me laugh." Within a minute he gave me a thumbs up and he liked my reply! Made my whole life!
When Trump won in 2016 and all of a sudden most comedians on Twitter went full anti-Trump instead of writing jokes, there were two I followed that continued to be hilarious: Andy Richter and Emo Philips. As a political atheist myself, I will always appreciate them for that.
Ohana Films: So, what was he like as a "normal person"? Did you speak to him? Does he actually look, act & sound 'normal'? Is he wearing a wig on stage? Any stories?
Introduced to Emo as a kid by accidentally stumbling across his record E=MO2, in the back of my dad's collection. I would memorize my favorite bits and recite them to kids at recess. I was confused why my fourth grade peers had no idea how to comprehend what was going on. Thank you Don for putting this together.
I'm only 15 minutes in and haven't stopped crying from laughter. I've always loved Emo's bizarre humor. Thank you for all the time you've spent compiling all this great stuff.
After I performed with Emo the first time, I bought his CD and he signed it, "To Drift, King of the Excommunicated Mormons". I never told him I was ex-Mormon.
@M Perkins I never asked him, but I did material about being ex-Mormon at a future show with him. He's very nice, always did a great show each time. If you have an opportunity to see him in a comedy club, you'd get to meet him. He meets/takes pictures with/signs autographs for everybody that wants.
@@katjoe1974 Thank you! I was a convert, only in from '06-07 in central Illinois. Congrats to you too. It's fun to watch it starting to crumble. Church history is so much more fun to study since I got out.
Some of us can spot you guys a mile away. ;-D Just funnun' but actually SOME people from certain parts of the Country have their own "look". From generations of the same families staying in the same region...for...generations. Though w/that beard you don't look Utahan. (-;
Big fan of EMO since '83. Notice how prudent NBC 'bleeped' this after 12:53 ? Fairly harmless great one liner joke! 'From the way she responded, you could've sworn that she was conscious... from the tip of her head, to the 'TAG' on her toes!'...🤣
I was a kid when I started watching Letterman. I think he became my fave because of the many eccentric people he had on his show. All of your YT collections - I didn't realize how many times he had so many great comedians on his show.
Just saw him open for Weird Al last night in Sydney Australia. Was hilarious as always. My sons were with me as well only aged 8 and 10. They came for Weird Al but discovered Emo and now they are fans of his too.
I just love Emo. I was in high school when i saw him on VH1 and didn't get him. I thought..."surely this contrived persona will burn out soon and we can get on to other things." Here i am 30 years later listening to TH-cam realizing he was around for at least 10 years before my first encounter (when he was doing just fine btw), and now i know him to be the brilliant comic he has always been. Funny how time lets one catch up.
Now, I watched Letterman from day one, and nearly every single night all the way through. And I have never seen this guy before! I even did stand up for years and never heard of him. I was crying with laughter at his jokes and his demeanor. Fantastic.
I knew you would get around to posting Emo eventually. This was great. He was/is such an unusual and clever comedian. Definitely a different sort and on Dave's show he seemed to be a good fit. Thanks Don!
This guy is way ahead of his time. I know at the time he was playing a character but he actually ends characterizing a whole generation that does not exists when he invented the character. That's awesome!
I’ve seen him live a few times back in the 80’s…his quirkiness is what makes me love his sense of humor so much…he is still one of my faves to this day 😂
@@rayjr62 well they have make up and prosthetics and so on I mean Johnny Depp is playing Alice Cooper in an upcoming biopic that's kind of similar wouldn't you say? You don't have to agree with my comment I respect your opinion it's fine thanks for sharing your thoughts
I first saw Emo while working in a pub in Huntington NY. He was on TV and I was able to drift out of the kitchen between orders and watch his special. Must have been 87? Later I saw him in person in Buffalo NY. It must have been around 1993. He sat next to me as the warmup was finishing. He was gaunt and I think tall. Regardless he was brilliant that night. He fielded audience input and created an experience, mostly centered around cole slaw. I am betting that being too good at strange sunk his own boat. I miss my Emo.
...it was a bit shocking to me seeing him suddenly old in that last clip. His persona was so childlike, I guess I always expected him to remain the same. This is precisely why I have avoided mirrors these last few years.
I totally didn't recognize him with the haircut. He's back to his old look, now, albeit with gray hair. I was lucky enough to see him live in the past year. Like Gilbert Gottfried, he keeps a lot of his old material in his act.
Interesting censorship in the 2nd clip--"tag" in the "tag on her toe" joke was muted out. So sex with the unconscious was ok, but necrophilia was just a bit too far...
That joke at the end of the first segment is gold! Haha I thought he was going to say he had an Oedipus complex, homosexual tendencies, and inferior complex. But it's even better with his punchline.
Definitely interesting to hear a few of his earlier jokes, before he got them completely figured out. His 3 albums are definitely worth getting, as well as his Hasty Pudding video, if only for the paper folding joke.
I THINK Emo Phillips was someone that introduced me to Late Night. I dunno, the mind is hazy, but I didn't really watch Letterman when I was a kid, but Emo's segments were amazing, so I started watching Late Night because of it... i think.
![Emo Philips / Эмо Филипс [Русские субтитры]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xD_tBFACte8/mqdefault.jpg)
In 1989 he signed my CD, “Screw you Linda! I’ll never forget homecoming.”
My name is Michael. I’m at least 10 years younger than him.
That’s actually genius haha if I’m ever famous I’ll just sign random shit with the wrong name
He signed mine (ca. 2001) "Dear Alan, thank you for curing my poodle of impotence."
Signed an autograph to me, his seventh favorite non-Mormon.
@@AlanCanon2222 LOL 😆
🤣🤣🤣 omg ....
Met Emo Philips after a show at ZANIE'S in St. Charles. He signed my sketchbook: "To Martin, my favorite...oh darn, ran out of room. Love, EMO."
sweet
That's awesome. I would treasure that. Love Emo
Always....always....ALWAYS on...
I'm in this message thread to mine more Emo Autographs. I love it! Thanks commenter, and naturally, Emo!
That Dave Letterman debut was 100%. For a guy to come out with such a distinctive and uncharted persona and to hit on all cylinders like that is pretty amazing.
I have not seen any other comedians do that on their debut; let alone to be consistently asked back on one of the most popular late night shows including Carson after Dave was reaching more of us younger people in the mid eighties. Now it’s a totally different thing for any comedian thanks to this last administration and foolish kids who were either too naive and/ or ignorant enough to think they ever had a chance of inserting a Marxist into the White House and their woke ideology constantly causing us to change anything else inside of our own acts! I grew up with Billy Burr and he wasn’t changing a thing in his own style, but then again he could afford not to now; couldn’t he. Happy New Year 🎈 Viva Le Trump come January 20th officially in charge yet again! Greetings from Boston Massachusetts 🇺🇸
At 33 minutes I realized Emo might be on Twitter, so I wrote to him and said: I am binge watching all your old appearances on Letterman and Conan. You Sir are a comedic genius! Einstein was a genius but somehow he never made me laugh."
Within a minute he gave me a thumbs up and he liked my reply! Made my whole life!
When Trump won in 2016 and all of a sudden most comedians on Twitter went full anti-Trump instead of writing jokes, there were two I followed that continued to be hilarious: Andy Richter and Emo Philips. As a political atheist myself, I will always appreciate them for that.
@@melissap9808 Political Atheist, I love that. Now I know what to call myself, also! Thanks!
He was my neighbor in Chicago. It was always strange to see him at the grocery store as a normal person. One of the all time best comedians.
That would be great to see. I've never seen him break character. It would be interesting to see him in a "normal" situation.
@@daveidmarx8296 You can't even find any clips of him breaking character anywhere online. He's done an incredible job of protecting that character!
Ohana Films: So, what was he like as a "normal person"? Did you speak to him? Does he actually look, act & sound 'normal'? Is he wearing a wig on stage? Any stories?
@@daveidmarx8296 - Frank Sidebottom was another who was great concealing his true identity and never broke character as well.
B4 he found his parents or as an adult? :P
Introduced to Emo as a kid by accidentally stumbling across his record E=MO2, in the back of my dad's collection.
I would memorize my favorite bits and recite them to kids at recess. I was confused why my fourth grade peers had no idea how to comprehend what was going on.
Thank you Don for putting this together.
This version of "The Joker" is so much more compelling.
100% agree 😂😂
Bruh. Busted my sides.
He's like a medieval joker trying to make the king laugh so that he'll spare his life. :D
Ya, Dave doesn't get shot in the head.
Dude don't make me spit my drink on my phone again. Im dead😅
13:17 For those of you who'd like to know the full unbleeped punchline, it's "From the tip of her head to the tag on her toes."
I hope I die before all old clips are half bleeps.
How pathetic that they bleeped 'tag'. Pretty soon it'll be nothing but 'chicken crossed the road' jokes only allowed.
Why the fuck is that bleeped
Thanks....
You're the best! ❤
I'm only 15 minutes in and haven't stopped crying from laughter. I've always loved Emo's bizarre humor. Thank you for all the time you've spent compiling all this great stuff.
After I performed with Emo the first time, I bought his CD and he signed it, "To Drift, King of the Excommunicated Mormons". I never told him I was ex-Mormon.
Drift Krinsky hey a fellow escapee! Glad you made it out.
What. ..the. ...Fuck, Man?!
@M Perkins I never asked him, but I did material about being ex-Mormon at a future show with him. He's very nice, always did a great show each time. If you have an opportunity to see him in a comedy club, you'd get to meet him. He meets/takes pictures with/signs autographs for everybody that wants.
@@katjoe1974 Thank you! I was a convert, only in from '06-07 in central Illinois. Congrats to you too. It's fun to watch it starting to crumble. Church history is so much more fun to study since I got out.
Some of us can spot you guys a mile away. ;-D
Just funnun' but actually SOME people from certain parts of the Country have their own "look".
From generations of the same families staying in the same region...for...generations.
Though w/that beard you don't look Utahan. (-;
Emo is great. The type of material he does is really difficult to create. Very sharp, quirky and offbeat. Thank you for posting this collection.
He was married to comedian Judy Tenuta for awhile, check her stuff out too (might be Tenuda)
"Emo, Emo, Emo..."
"I'm the one in the middle you drunken bum!" :-D
When I was a child I discovered Emo Phillips and my respect for humanity has been steadily decreasing ever since.
Emo's a genius. You know a surprise is coming with every joke, but you'll never guess what it is.
You are correct sir!
"Both his arms were broken, which gave me the courage." That's like Mark Twain level, right there.
I've somehow completely missed this guy, just found out about him today. Many thanks for this collection!! Really enjoying it, he's genius!
Many laughs will be had!
Emo is like Steven Wright with Pee Wee’s enthusiasm 😂
Thanks Don, I totally forgot about Emo Phillips; always thought he was so quirky and funny!
Was? He's still touring strong, luckily!
hathawbj Cool
Thanks Don, this is a treat! Emo's "E=MO²" is my favourite comedy album of all time.
Big fan of EMO since '83. Notice how prudent NBC 'bleeped' this after 12:53 ? Fairly harmless great one liner joke! 'From the way she responded, you could've sworn that she was conscious... from the tip of her head, to the 'TAG' on her toes!'...🤣
I came here looking for the bleeped part of that joke. It had been too many years since I saw it and couldn't recall. Thanks!
The 80s were a great time for quirky comics like Emo, Pee Wee and Jim Varney to thrive with their niche comedy.
Steven Wright in that list too.
You can still find dozens of people with that similar eccentric charm in your average university chemistry classroom
@@davidgomez3044 HA HA
Dont.forget Judy Tenuta, The Little Flower, Slave goddess, what a riot.
I was a kid when I started watching Letterman. I think he became my fave because of the many eccentric people he had on his show. All of your YT collections - I didn't realize how many times he had so many great comedians on his show.
Just saw him open for Weird Al last night in Sydney Australia. Was hilarious as always. My sons were with me as well only aged 8 and 10. They came for Weird Al but discovered Emo and now they are fans of his too.
I love how he stays in character during the interview segments. Brilliant.
I just love Emo. I was in high school when i saw him on VH1 and didn't get him. I thought..."surely this contrived persona will burn out soon and we can get on to other things."
Here i am 30 years later listening to TH-cam realizing he was around for at least 10 years before my first encounter (when he was doing just fine btw), and now i know him to be the brilliant comic he has always been. Funny how time lets one catch up.
7:15 Emo smells his hand after shaking Dave’s hand. Lmao
What's that about??? M.O'B
If you never want to shake someone's hand again, do that move. 😂
Harmony Korrine looks like he studied Emo for his appearance
I have seen Emo at least twice since 2015. He is just as fresh, sharp, and funny as he was in earlier career.
"A guy came up to me the other day and asked me 'Emo, do people really come up to you?'"
Now, I watched Letterman from day one, and nearly every single night all the way through. And I have never seen this guy before! I even did stand up for years and never heard of him. I was crying with laughter at his jokes and his demeanor. Fantastic.
He also had a handyman show on the weird Al movie UHF
@@royevansthecosmiccowboy242 Thanks!
I knew you would get around to posting Emo eventually. This was great. He was/is such an unusual and clever comedian. Definitely a different sort and on Dave's show he seemed to be a good fit. Thanks Don!
This guy is way ahead of his time. I know at the time he was playing a character but he actually ends characterizing a whole generation that does not exists when he invented the character. That's awesome!
yes!
I’ve seen him live a few times back in the 80’s…his quirkiness is what makes me love his sense of humor so much…he is still one of my faves to this day 😂
Your channel is the greatest gift I know. Thank you
Emo signed my CD with the sentence, "Don't take this into the MRI machine. Emo". I still have it.
Adrian Brody could play this guy in a movie
Why would he?
@@rayjr62 why not? Last thing I seen him in was Houdini this guy would be a cake walk for him
@@davemustaki134 Dude, if this was say, 24 years ago. I could see it. But now? Adrian is too old to play Phil Soltanec (a.k.a. "Emo Philips")
@@rayjr62 well they have make up and prosthetics and so on I mean Johnny Depp is playing Alice Cooper in an upcoming biopic that's kind of similar wouldn't you say? You don't have to agree with my comment I respect your opinion it's fine thanks for sharing your thoughts
That asthmatic attack joke slays me
I remember being so confused by him when I was a kid in the 80s, but super intrigued by him at the same time. I really appreciate him now.
It's great to be indoors, indeed, Emo ❤
Yeah, screw David letterman, that fucking jerk, should have been BEGGING to shake Emo's hand.
Love Emo. Thanks, Don!
Absolute genius! I saw him a few years ago in Tacoma. Best standup show I have ever seen!
You can see Emo's delivery at the beginning is much faster than he normally does. Guess Dave had a strict time limit.
Or he was quite nervous and rushed through his performance.
Outstanding to say the least.
@@dongiller Or both.
This is the first I ever heard of him! I love his jokes!
Dave: Are you Finnish?
Emo: No, we have about a minute left...
😄😄😄😄😄
One of my all time favorites. Love Emo.
He's a very intelligent comic, and currently on tour with Weird Al. Would love to be a fly on the wall listening to those two together! 🤣
" One night I was sleeping alone ......thanks to the exterminator". Emo Philips.
Another..
"I like going to the park and watching the children run around because they don't know I'm using blanks." - Emo Philips
Emo one of the best unique comics ever. Thank you Emo your impromptu comedy was a classic.
I first saw Emo while working in a pub in Huntington NY. He was on TV and I was able to drift out of the kitchen between orders and watch his special. Must have been 87?
Later I saw him in person in Buffalo NY. It must have been around 1993. He sat next to me as the warmup was finishing. He was gaunt and I think tall. Regardless he was brilliant that night. He fielded audience input and created an experience, mostly centered around cole slaw. I am betting that being too good at strange sunk his own boat.
I miss my Emo.
@29:54 "I'm no stranger to sarcasm" hahaha perfect
ahhhhh Emo !🧡 Thanks Mr. Giller 🧡
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! (thank you)
I failed to appreciate Emo then. Does that mean he was ahead of his time? Or I was behind mine?
I dont know. But enjoy some coleslaw.
He was ENTIRELY AHEAD of his time!!!
I also failed to appreciate him then. Of course, I think it's less a comment on my taste and more a comment on me not being born yet.
as a younger person i'd so he was ahead of his time. people tend to appreciate weirding styles of comedy more nowadays
Yes
Haha, so this is who Harmony Korine drew his inspiration when going on Letterman!
thank you for being our friend
So many good jokes went right over the audiences' heads.
They were sitting
@@angrysumoxxx so much about stand up comedy...
Just because you didn't laugh doesn't mean you didn't get it
He signed my cd To Dave,King of Cole Slaw
...it was a bit shocking to me seeing him suddenly old in that last clip. His persona was so childlike, I guess I always expected him to remain the same. This is precisely why I have avoided mirrors these last few years.
I totally didn't recognize him with the haircut. He's back to his old look, now, albeit with gray hair. I was lucky enough to see him live in the past year. Like Gilbert Gottfried, he keeps a lot of his old material in his act.
@bad1dobby lol
@bad1dobby I don't think I worked tho
I remember where i was when i first saw Emo. At the initial hearing.
Always love the Surrealist comedians, like Emo, Steven Wright and Brother Theodore.
20:10 when he asks if everyone had a nice christmas and the one guy sternly says NO!
It kind of sounds like sarcastic Dave L. into his mic to Emo's left at his desk to me?
Interesting censorship in the 2nd clip--"tag" in the "tag on her toe" joke was muted out. So sex with the unconscious was ok, but necrophilia was just a bit too far...
Thanks for spoon-feeding me that punchline... I backed it up and tried to read lips but couldn't put together. What a bit!
AnimalsAreWacky ...well, the Cosby show was still big in those days, right?
laughed so hard! thank you
@@pashadyne You mean "the former"? If so, I agree!
Never saw this guy growing up. He is hilarious!😂😂
"I loaned my friend 8000 dollars for plastic surgery and now I don't know what he looks like."
An Emo collection for the ages.
It's interesting to watch Letterman slowly warm up to Emo as time progressed. Early on, it seemed like Emo genuinely weirded him out.
Man, that last appearance really surprised me. I would never have recognized him.
He looks like an old feminist cat lady. Ironically, he looked much more masculine with his old bob.
wayyy over their heads,,,Hedberg was heavily influenced by emo
Wow, the founder of EMO right there in person!
Is it weird that I find him attractive? He’s so funny!!! Just got into him a few weeks ago actually!!!
Emo had/has mad drip. I LOVE his getups
He is my eternal man crush.
no he’s cute af
Of course it's weird.
That 2001 appearance is startling change lol
That joke at the end of the first segment is gold! Haha I thought he was going to say he had an Oedipus complex, homosexual tendencies, and inferior complex. But it's even better with his punchline.
I always loved the character he voiced on Home Movies
Ryan Anthony 😂
Shannon!!
I’m not sure I was put on this earth for a purpose but I think I’ll be taken off of it for one lol
He was great on Dr. Katz.
Also hilarious as Shannon on Home Movies
Emo is LEGEND!
Sooooo UNIQUE, seeing him for the first time in the 80s was something
"Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps."
-Emo Philips
You can tell Dave has a deep fondness for some of his comedian guests in particular. How commendable to give an odd act like this, a debut like that.
Well he earned the returned gigs, funny as hell. He had Dave in stitches with the sit-down bit about his name.
Definitely interesting to hear a few of his earlier jokes, before he got them completely figured out. His 3 albums are definitely worth getting, as well as his Hasty Pudding video, if only for the paper folding joke.
Finding Emo!
I’d forgotten about this guy. Funny stuff.
Weirdly, Classically Funny! I love EMO!
This guy's alot funnier than I remember
Same here. I was too young to understand all the nuances.
@Jack CaseyNo. My brain never questioned it, but thanx for the correction ass soul. Now watch how every little error will be highlighted in your life
@Chi Sam of course I'm smarter for haven't crossed your path. Every fool, genius, clown and idiot I encounter makes me smarter
WOW I NEEDED THAT!!! M.O'B
Emo Philips is a treasure!
150 IQ comedy for 80 IQ audiences. Refreshing to not have to use the f-word or screaming to get a laugh.
Funny how you're speaking of intellect while being dumb enough to get upset over swear words, as if that speaks to anyone's intelligence.
Why did they cut out "tag on her toes"?
with his childlike persona, dull smiling semi feminine face and page boy hair , Emo is amazing.....
Reminds me of Joe the shop teacher from UHF.
@NewsPoop: Imagine that.
"Is my face red?"
Emo must have felt like he bombed. But I was rolling in the floor
He tells jokes that make you have to think, never good with a new audience like this.
WOW l NEEDED TO SEE THIS!!!M.O'B
I never realized how quick Emo s with comedy
I THINK Emo Phillips was someone that introduced me to Late Night. I dunno, the mind is hazy, but I didn't really watch Letterman when I was a kid, but Emo's segments were amazing, so I started watching Late Night because of it... i think.
"She takes her breast out and feeds him... cereal or what ever." Weird family. :'D
Brent spinner could be his doppelganger
I bet his hands are cold
30:10 great set up and punch line!
I also think he was the inspiration for Stuart on Mad TV 😂
Good call, I was thinking the same thing.
Maybe. But Stuart wasn't funny. Stuart was one of the things that made me HATE MadTV.
He wore the same shirt in the 2nd and 3rd appearance, and on his album. I think he like that shirt.
He signed my cd, "King of Herpes"