Hermes Phettberg

Hermes Phettberg (born October 5, 1952 as Josef Fenz) is an Austrian artist, comedian, actor, author and talk show host. His nom de plume is taken from the ancient Greek god Hermes.

Early life and career

Phettberg grew up in the village of Unternalb near Retz in a family of winegrowers. Following a brief stint as a bank clerk and continued education, he became assistant vicar with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna.

In the mid-eighties, he was co-founder of the groups "Libertine Sadomasochismusinitiative Wien" and of project "Polymorph Perverse Klinik Wien".

1990s

Beginning in 1991, he participated in productions of the theatre group "Sparverein Die Unz-Ertrennlichen."

In 1992, Phettberg began writing the column "Phettbergs Predigtdienst" (Phettberg's sermon) for the weekly Vienna magazine Falter. The column is written in the form of a sermon, building upon the scripture passages for each respective sunday in the Catholic liturgical year. After a health-related hiatus (see below), he resumed writing in early 2007.cite web
last = Dusl
first = Andrea Maria
title = Jetzt mit Philishave
work = Falter
publisher = Falter Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H.
date = April 4, 2007
url =http://www.falter.at/web/print/detail.php?id=457
accessdate = 2007-09-23 ] From November 12, 1994 and throughout 1995, he was the host of the ORF talk show "Phettbergs Nette Leit Show", which featured interviews with primarily Viennese celebrities, scientists, and people from exotic occupation groups. The opening question for the guests, "Frucade oder Eierlikör?" (Frucade or eggnog) became well-known and was also used as the title of a book featuring excerpts from interviews during the show's run. [de icon cite book
last = Phettberg
first = Hermes
coauthors = Kurt Palm
title = Frucade oder Eierlikör
publisher = Droemer Knaur
date = 1996
pages = 429
isbn = 3426605368 ]

When ORF broadcast 19 episodes of the show from June 1995 to April 1996, Phettberg quickly gained fame with a larger audience in Austria as well as Germany and Switzerland, owing to his unconventional questions and the relentless presentation of his own problems, sexual phantasies, and celebration of gaps in his general education. [imdb title|0299364|Phettbergs nette Leit Show] [de icon cite book
last = Tozzer
first = Kurt
coauthors = Martin Majnaric
title = Achtung Sendung: Höhepunkte, Stars und exklusive Bilder aus 50 Jahren Fernsehen
publisher = Ueberreuter
date = 2005
pages = 239
isbn = 3800070901 ]

A draft resumé from 1999 translates as: "Am pornographer, columnist and wreck. Would like to talk." [ [http://www.phettberg.at/lebenslaeufe03.htm Draft resumé] from the official homepage]

2000s

In 2000, Phettberg pioneered internet broadcasting with a weekly show, in which he delivered his "Phettberg's sermon" column while being bonded and whipped.

In March 2001, together with Thomas Holzinger, he produced a full week, or 168 hours of continuous live internet broadcast, during which Phettberg was guarded in the prison of the so-called "Arche Phettberg" (also the title of the show) by half-naked young men in blue jeans.

Also in 2001, he appeared as himself in the TV documentary "Gipfeltreffen - Hermes Phettberg trifft Helge Schneider" by Roger Willemsen. [imdb title|0371691|Gipfeltreffen - Hermes Phettberg trifft Helge Schneider]

In 2003 and 2004, Austrian terrestrial TV station ATVplus featured him in a show called "Beichtphater Phettberg", produced and directed by his recurring team of artist companions: Thomas Holzinger, Mandy E. Mante and Paul Poet.

Since then, Phettberg has participated in a variety of artistic and public sexual performances, as well as in numerous talk shows. He is also presently a proponent for the foundation of a "Hochschule für Pornographie und Prostitution".

Health issues

On October 23, 2006, Phettberg suffered a stroke, followed by another shortly after. His condition and the subsequent long therapy and rehabilitation phase forced him into a work hiatus. During rehab, he lost 70 kilograms in weight.

Phettberg in fiction

In 1995, Fritz Ostermayer and Hermes Phettberg together wrote and published "Hermes Phettberg räumt seine Wohnung zamm" ("Hermes Phettberg tidies up his apartment"). [de icon cite book
last = Ostermayer
first = Fritz
authorlink = Fritz Ostermayer
coauthors = Hermes Phettberg
title = Hermes Phettberg räumt seine Wohnung zamm
publisher = Edition selene
date = 1995
pages = 115
isbn = 385266019X ]

In 1999, Austrian author Franzobel published a play named "Phettberg: Eine Hermes-tragödie" which premiered at the Vienna Volkstheater. The play is loosely centered around an exaggerated version of Hermes Phettberg's life and character. [de icon cite book
last = Franzobel
authorlink = Franzobel
title = Phettberg: Eine Hermes-tragödie
publisher = Edition selene
date = 1999
pages = 105
isbn = 3852660998 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.phettberg.at/index.html www.phettberg.at] — official homepage
*