Only in Dayton can you…ummm….uhhh… go to the Air Force Museum and….there has to be something else that sets it apart from the other cities all across the country. Life in the Miami Valley may seem mundane, but fear not as for Nov. 11 – 14, Wiley’s Comedy Club will host an event that isn’t done anywhere else in the entire nation.
For those four nights, legendary comedian Emo Philips will be in Dayton for his annual visit and after the hilarity of his standard set he will return to present a collection of new, un-tested material. Nowhere else but at Wiley’s, where Philips has been coming for longer than he can remember, does he try out the new jokes.
Born in the Chicago suburb of Downer’s Grove, before he became known for telling jokes, Philips often found himself as the punch line. “School was rough for me, but I fought back. Once I beat up the school bully with a baseball bat. Both his arms were completely broken. (Which gave me the courage),” said Philips.
For a time Philips also resided in New York City, whenever he longs to be back there he fills his humidifier with urine and feels as if he never left. Through his career, which spans over 25 years, Philips has gained followers from all across the country. Now social networking sites, such as Facebook can also be used to help spread Emo-philia to the masses. “Facebook is a great way to meet friends. My latest is a teenaged girl studying drama, kind of like a Mexican talking Spanish but still…” he said.
Throughout Philips’s routine are stories about his family, whom he’s thankful for not having to spend the upcoming holidays with this year. Thanksgiving was quite traumatic for him as a child. “There’s always that aunt with a mustache, and a boil on her forehead, who grabs you and gives you a big sloppy kiss…but when you try and go further with her….”
To attract women outside of the family, Philips doesn’t rely heavily on pick-up lines but tries to just acclimate himself to the situation. “For instance, once I was in a bar, and there was this hefty woman, and she had a sweatshirt that said GUESS. I said, ‘Thyroid Problem?’”
Beyond his unique vocal delivery, physical movements and sharp one-liners, Philips also sets himself apart from the others with his fashionable sense (or lack thereof). A lot of his shopping is done at charity resale stores. “At Wiley’s I’ll be wearing a gold-colored silk smoking jacket that I bought at the Kidney Disease Research Shop. I don’t know if I’d buy a pair of pants from them but…”
Don’t miss the chance to see Emo Philips at Wiley’s, Nov. 11- 14. Showtime is 8 p.m. on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. 9 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are $7 on Thursday & Sunday, $12 on Friday and $15 on Sunday. Call (937) 224-JOKE for reservations. Ten minutes after the feature performance is over, Philips will return to the stage to set Dayton apart from everywhere else and test the new material.
Learn more about Philips and watch some his clips at www.emophilips.com.
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