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HBO premieres a film so filthy, so debased, so
profane, and so fraught with perverse references, that it
can only be called ... The Aristocrats.
OK, so some people
like to tell the joke with the alternate punchline "The
Debonaires" or "The Sophisticates" - but the premise is
always the same. "A man walks into a talent agent's
office" is usually how the joke begins, and "The Aristocrats"
(presented with a flourish) is how it must end. But inside
the joke - well, that's where the comedy, and lasting
affection for the joke among comics, lies.
As we learn, "The Aristocrats" joke dates back to Vaudeville
and, though it's certainly well-known among comics, is
almost never told to the paying public, partly because of its
raunchy content, and partly because its punchline,
ironically and appropriately, almost never gets a laugh. The
joke concerns an uncommonly affectionate family act
auditioning before a talent agent. After finishing, the
stunned agent asks them what they call their act. "The
Aristocrats," the agent is told.
What's so dirty about that?
Well, as this documentary amply proves, it's the details of
the performance that have provided generations of comics
the improvisational latitude to go deeper and bluer than
any man or woman before.
The Aristocrats was directed by Paul Provenza, himself a
stand-up comic and actor of note, and executive produced
by Provenza and Penn Jillette, half of the popular
comedy/magic team, Penn & Teller (who appear in the
film). As we learn at the end of the credits, Provenza and
Jillette dedicated their film to the late Johnny Carson;
apparently "The Aristocrats" was his favorite joke.
"The Aristocrats" is a joke which is alleged to have been told by,
and to, numerous stand-up comedians since the vaudeville era,
usually only among an audience of other comedians. Rarely if ever
told the same way twice, the joke usually begins innocuously
enough ("A man walks into a talent agency") and ends with a
single punchline ("The Aristocrats!"). However, its genius lies not
in its constants, but in the teller's individualized and ever-changing
accounting of the middle portion, in which the aforementioned man
(or woman) tells the agent what his (her) act actually involves.
This documentary utilizes numerous anecdotes, retellings and
musings from 100 comics, writers and (one) HBO executive to
trace the evolution of this single joke, offering a glimpse at what
has made it so appealing to comics - and repugnant to much of the
general public.
As we learn, "The Aristocrats" is rarely if ever told
the same way twice, and its advocates revel in their ability to out-
shock and out-disgust any renderings that have come before.
Originally, the "act" witnessed by the talent agent involved a man,
his wife, one or two children, and a dog. However, as the joke has
been passed down through the years, comics have been keen to
put new spins on who the participants of the act are, and just
exactly what they do.
For example, Lisa Lampanelli (one of the
few comics who actually tells the joke in her routine) has made the
members of the act a multi-racial lineup of social deviants. And
Sarah Silverman explains in deadpan fashion that she personally
was in a family act called "The Aristocrats," though it is no longer
listed on her resume.
Nearly everyone we see embellishes his or
her act with graphic descriptions of natural perversions limited only
by the comic's imagination and taste. As we see, when it comes to
telling "The Aristocrats," there's no such thing as going too far.
Summarizing The Aristocrats (the film) any further is beyond this
writer's ken or inclination; the film must be seen to be believed.
The bottom line: if you can't handle impossibly raunchy profanity,
and can't stomach sickening accounts (not images) of incest,
bestiality, defecation and sodomy, then The Aristocrats won't be
your cup of tea.
CAST: In alphabetical order: Chris Albrecht, Jason Alexander, Hank
Azaria, Shelley Berman, Billy the Mime, Lewis Black, David
Brenner, Mario Cantone, Drew Carey, George Carlin, Mark Cohen,
Carrot Top, Billy Connolly, Tim Conway, Pat Cooper, Wayne Cotter,
Andy Dick, Frank DiGiacomo, Phyllis Diller, Susie Essman, Carrie
Fisher, Joe Franklin, Todd Glass, Judy Gold, Whoopi Goldberg,
Eddie Gorodetsky, Gilbert Gottfried, Dana Gould, Allan Havey, Eric
Idle, Dom Irrera, Eddie Izzard, Richard Jeni, Jake Johannsen,
Amazing Johnathan, Alan Kirschenbaum, Jay Kogen, Sue Kolinsky,
Paul Krassner, Cathy Ladman, Lisa Lampanelli, Richard Lewis,
Wendy Liebman, Bill Maher, Howie Mandel, Merrill Markoe, Jay
Marshall, Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling, Chuck McCann, Michael
McKean, Eric Mead, Larry Miller, Martin Mull, Kevin Nealon, Taylor
Negron, The Onion editorial staff (Joe Garden, Todd Hanson, Tim
Harrod, Chris Karwowski, Carol Kolb, Maria Schneider), "Otto and
George," Rick Overton, Gary Owens, Trey Parker (as the voice of
Eric Cartman), The Passing Zone, Penn & Teller, Peter Pitofsky,
Emo Philips, Kevin Pollak, Paul Reiser, Andy Richter, Don Rickles,
Chris Rock, Gregg Rogell, Jeffrey Ross, Jon Ross, Rita Rudner, Bob
Saget, T. Sean Shannon, Harry Shearer, Sarah Silverman, Bobby
Slayton, The Smothers Brothers, Doug Stanhope, Carrie Snow,
David Steinberg, Jon Stewart, Larry Storch, Rip Taylor, Dave
Thomas, Johnny Thompson, Peter Tilden, Bruce Vilanch, Fred
Willard, Robin Williams, and Steven Wright.
THINKFILM Presents A MIGHTY CHEESE PRODUCTION
A film by PENN JILLETTE & PAUL PROVENZA
THE ARISTOCRATS Directed By PAUL PROVENZA
Produced by PETER ADAM GOLDEN Edited by EMERY EMERY & PAUL PROVENZA
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