Henry Phillips (comedian)

{{Short description|American musician, actor and comedian (born 1969)}}

Henry Phillips (born November 14, 1969) is an American comedy musician and actor. He co-wrote and starred in Punching the Clown and its sequel Punching Henry. He has made many appearances in films, television shows and podcasts, and is the creator of the web series "Henry's Kitchen".

Early life

Phillips was born on November 14, 1969, in Los Angeles, California.{{Cite web |title=Henry Phillips - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/henry_phillips |access-date=2023-06-06 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en}} He started playing guitar when he was 8 years old and was inspired by Billy Joel as a teen.{{Cite web |last=Kozell |first=Isaac |date=2016-08-19 |title=The Awkward Musical Comedy of Henry Phillips |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/08/the-awkward-musical-comedy-of-henry-phillips.html |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |title=Henry Phillips Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/henry-phillips-mn0000675920/biography |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}

Career

In 2005, Phillips appeared on season 9 of Comedy Central Presents.{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Gaby |date=2013-09-09 |title=The most awkward how-to tutorial on YouTube |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/henrys-kitchen-special-lemonade-youtube/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}} In 2009, he co-wrote and starred in Punching the Clown, and appeared in the comedy special 4:20 Hour Stand-Up, directed by Lee Abbott and starring Doug Benson.{{Cite web |date=2009-10-13 |title=4:20 Hour Stand-Up {{!}} Apple TV |url=https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/420-hour-stand-up/umc.cmc.5rutya9rq2yz882a3mremgxfq |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Apple TV |language=en-US}} From 2013, Phillips directed and starred in the television and web series You and Your Fu*king Coffee.{{Cite web |title=Amazon.com: You and Your Fu*king Coffee : Henry Phillips, Mike Judge, Henry Phillips, Daniel Kellison, Doug Deluca: Prime Video |url=https://www.amazon.com/You-Your-Fu-king-Coffee/dp/B01FEPH59O#:~:text=Amazon.com:%20You%20and%20Your%20Fu*king%20Coffee%20:,Phillips,%20Daniel%20Kellison,%20Doug%20Deluca:%20Prime%20Video. |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=www.amazon.com}}{{Cite web |date=2016-04-01 |title=Henry Phillips' Latest "You and Your Fu*king Coffee" Has Something to Do with The Hindenburg Disaster – The Comedy Bureau |url=https://thecomedybureau.com/hindenburg-you-fn-coffee-henry-phillips/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |language=en-US}} The series stars Mike Judge and is produced by Jash.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Bradford |date=2013-05-24 |title=Watch Mike Judge and Henry Phillips's New JASH Web Series 'You and Your Fucking Coffee' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/watch-mike-judge-and-henry-phillipss-new-jash-web-series-you-and-your-fucking-coffee.html |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}} The series is described as being about "a man who politely asks for coffee, and in doing so, ends up destroying the lives of those around him."{{Cite web |last=Blazenhoff |first=Rusty |date=2013-05-24 |title=You and Your Fucking Coffee, A New Web Series With Mike Judge & Henry Phillips |url=https://laughingsquid.com/you-and-your-fucking-coffee-a-new-web-series-with-mike-judge-henry-phillips/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Laughing Squid |language=en-US}} On July 22, 2014, Phillips appeared on Season 2 Episode 4 of Drunk History. In 2016, he co-wrote and starred in Punching Henry, a sequel to Punching the Clown.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Roger |date=2017-02-19 |title=Movie Review: Phillips remains comic also-ran in "Punching Henry" |url=https://rogersmovienation.com/2017/02/19/movie-review-phillips-remains-comic-also-ran-in-punching-henry/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Movie Nation |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Megh |date=2017-02-14 |title=Check Out a Clip from 'Punching Henry' Featuring Tig Notaro and Henry Phillips |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/02/check-out-a-clip-from-punching-henry-featuring-tig-notaro-and-henry-phillips.html |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}} From 2016 to 2019, he had a recurring supporting role as John Stafford in Silicon Valley.{{Cite web |title=John Stafford - Silicon Valley {{!}} TVmaze |url=https://www.tvmaze.com/characters/294830/silicon-valley-john-stafford |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=www.tvmaze.com}}{{Cite web |title=Funny Music Friday: The sharp, soulful wit of Henry Phillips |url=https://thelaughbutton.com/funny-music-friday-henry-phillips |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=The Laugh Button - 800PG News |language=en-US}} In 2018, he directed My First Comedy Special. The film was produced by Big Ugly Laugh Productions, LLC, and stars Grey Griffin.{{Cite web |title=My First Comedy Special streaming: watch online |url=https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/my-first-comedy-special |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=JustWatch |language=en}}{{Citation |title="My First Comedy Special" (2018) |url=https://en.kinorium.com/2122318/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=My First Comedy Special (2018) |url=https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/my-first-comedy-special-2018 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}

Phillips's several web series include "Henry's Kitchen", "The Loner" for IFC,{{Cite web |author=BWW News Desk |title=PUNCHING THE CLOWN Opens At NY's Quad Cinema 10/22 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/PUNCHING-THE-CLOWN-Opens-At-NYs-Quad-Cinema-1022-20101021 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=1970-01-01 |title=The Independent Film Channel Partners With Film Group, "Mr. Mudd", To Develop Original Content For Web, Broadband And Television |url=https://www.amcnetworks.com/press-releases/the-independent-film-channel-partners-with-film-group-mr-mudd-to-develop-original-content-for-web-broadband-and-television/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |language=en-US}} "Loser", and "The Highway Man",{{Cite web |title=Henry Phillips {{!}} |url=https://talesoftheroadwarriors.com/henry-phillips/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |language=en-US}} a Patreon series.{{Cite web |title=Tales of the Road Warriors {{!}} Listen to Podcasts On Demand Free |url=https://tunein.com/podcasts/Music-Podcasts/Tales-of-the-Road-Warriors-p1186720/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=TuneIn |language=en-us}} He has also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Phillips has said he would not be doing stand-up comedy if not for Doug Stanhope. He also appears on Stanhope's 2000 album Something to Take the Edge Off.{{cite web |date=December 2011 |title=Episode 232 - Henry Phillips |url=http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_232_-_henry_phillips}}

= Cooking =

Phillips holds a strong presence as a comical cook. He creates cooking content via Twitch{{Cite web |title=Twitch cooking streamer discovers one song Alexa won't play |url=https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/twitch-cooking-streamer-discovers-one-song-alexa-wont-play-2003447/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Dexerto |date=5 December 2022 |language=en}} and his satirical YouTube and Patreon web series "Henry's Kitchen", a cooking show where Henry gives lessons whilst being comically inept at his work. "Henry's Kitchen" has been praised by critics. Writer David Britton states "[only] a true genius could purposely edit something this poorly."{{Cite web |last=Britton |first=David |date=2016-09-01 |title=Henry Phillips' New Standup Special Is Neither Here Nor There |url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/henry-phillips-neither-here-nor-there/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}} Jenn Harris from the Los Angeles Times describes one episode as "amazing".{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Jenn |date=2014-07-11 |title=Henry Phillips makes baked spaghetti, and the video is amazing |url=https://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-henry-phillips-baked-spaghetti-20140711-story.html |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Gabe Dunn in 2013 said, "Is it parody or just plain weird? It's hard to tell, but you'll laugh either way." From September to November 2018, Phillips hosted Henry's Kitchen: Masterclass, a cooking show produced by Thrillist.{{Cite web |date=2018-10-22 |title=Henry Phillips' Henry's Kitchen Is Back and Now Putting on a "Masterclass" – The Comedy Bureau |url=https://thecomedybureau.com/henrys-kitchen-masterclass-henry-phillips/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Thrillist |title=Henry's Kitchen |url=https://www.thrillist.com/henrys-kitchen |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Thrillist |language=en}} He is also the author of two cookbooks. Henry also performs "Henry's Kitchen live on [https://www.twitch.tv/henlips1 Twitch]

= ''Neither Here Nor There'' =

In 2014, Phillips performed his hour-long debut comedy special Neither Here Nor There at the Lyric Theatre in Los Angeles. It was directed by Steven Feinartz and produced by United Comedy LLC. The show featured Mark Cohen, Audrey Tess, Brendon Walsh, and Todd Glass.{{Citation |title=Henry Phillips: Neither Here Nor There (2016) |url=https://letterboxd.com/film/henry-phillips-neither-here-nor-there/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |language=en}}{{Citation |title="Henry Phillips: Neither Here Nor There" (2016) |url=https://en.kinorium.com/8231759/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |language=en}} The show released exclusively on Vimeo on Demand on August 15, 2016,{{Cite web |date=2016-08-15 |title=Henry Phillips' Neither Here Nor There Is Now Streaming as a Special on Vimeo on Demand – The Comedy Bureau |url=https://thecomedybureau.com/henry-phillips-neither-here-nor-there-vimeo/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Henry Phillips new album "Neither Here Nor There" lands July 22nd |url=https://thelaughbutton.com/henry-phillips-new-album-neither-lands-july-22nd |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=The Laugh Button - 800PG News |language=en-US}} and released as an album on August 19, 2016.{{Cite web |title=Henry Phillips explains that things are "Neither Here Nor There" |url=https://thelaughbutton.com/henry-phillips-explains-things-neither |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=The Laugh Button - 800PG News |language=en-US}}

Style

Phillips does folk-style and comedy music. His albums feature a mix of live tracks and studio recordings. He is often compared to Tom Lehrer, a musical satirist known for his humorous songs.

Phillips typically portrays a classic loser character who is hapless with women and unsuccessful in show business. His musical style is frequently in ballad form where the sincerity of the musical style contrasts with the sad or angry lyrics which become comically absurd as the song progresses.

Graham Reid describes some of Phillips' humor as "wickedly funny" whilst "very close to being offensive".{{Cite web |date=2017-10-09 |title=Henry Phillips: The Bitch Song (1995) |url=https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/fromthevaults/3177/henry-phillips-the-bitch-song-1995/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Elsewhere by Graham Reid |language=en}}

Discography

On the Shoulders of Freaks (1997)
Number 2 (1999)
Why Haven't I Heard from You (2005)
L.A. Dream (2010)
Neither Here nor There (2016){{Cite web |title=Henry Phillips on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/henry-phillips/154015697 |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=Apple Music |language=en-US}}

Filmography

The following films and television shows were directed or written by Phillips:{{Cite web |title=Henry Phillips: Movies, TV, and Bio |url=https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Henry-Phillips/amzn1.dv.gti.dcfc3972-dcf1-4363-8582-f267637f0e10/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=www.amazon.com}}{{Cite web |title=Henry Phillips |url=https://en.kinorium.com/name/807592/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Kinorium |language=en}}