Emmett is notable for his wry witticisms and flamboyant fashion sense. He has a wide variety of jobs throughout the series: working in a clothing store, becoming a porn star for Ted's website, running his own catering business, and working for a news station delivering segments as the Queer Guy. He is best friends with Ted Schmidt, and they become romantically involved later in the series. It is a short-lived relationship, however, as Ted faces serious problems with drug addiction that causes animosity between him and Emmett.Although superficially Emmett may seem to be somewhat stereotypical, even a stock character, throughout the five seasons his character becomes quite dynamic and complex. This complexity is enhanced by frequent anecdotes concerning his childhood in Hazlehurst, Mississippi and other references that hint at the challenges he has overcome.