The Aristocrats
Directed by	Paul Provenza
Produced by	Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette
Starring	Various
Editing by	Emery Emery
Distributed by	THINKFilm
Release date(s)	2005
Running time	89 Minutes
Country	United States
Official website
IMDb profile

The Aristocrats is a 2005 documentary film about the infamous dirty joke of the same name. It was conceived and produced by comedians Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza, edited by Emery Etter IV, and released to theaters by THINKFilm. The film is dedicated to Johnny Carson, as "The Aristocrats" was said to be his favorite joke. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Paul Provenza (born July 31, 1957 in New York City) is an actor, comedian and filmmaker. ... Paul Provenza (born July 31, 1957 in New York City) is an actor, comedian and filmmaker. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... ThinkFilm is a distibutor of independent films which was founded in 2001. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... “Moving picture” redirects here. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... The Aristocrats (also known as The Debonaires or The Sophisticates in some tellings) is an exceptionally transgressive dirty joke that has been told by numerous stand-up comedians since the vaudeville era. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Paul Provenza (born July 31, 1957 in New York City) is an actor, comedian and filmmaker. ... ThinkFilm is a distibutor of independent films which was founded in 2001. ... For other persons named John Carson, see John Carson (disambiguation). ...

The Joke

Main article: The Aristocrats (joke)

"The Aristocrats" is a longstanding transgressive joke amongst comedians, in which the setup and punchline are almost always the same (or similar). It is the joke's midsection — which may be as long as the teller prefers and is often completely improvised — that makes or breaks a particular rendition. The Aristocrats (also known as The Debonaires or The Sophisticates in some tellings) is an exceptionally transgressive dirty joke that has been told by numerous stand-up comedians since the vaudeville era. ...

The joke involves a person pitching an act to a talent agent. Typically the first line is, "A man walks into a talent agent's office." The man then describes the act. From this point, up to (but not including) the punchline, the teller of the joke is expected to ad-lib the most shocking act they can possibly imagine. This often involves elements of incest, group sex, graphic violence, defecation, coprophilia, necrophilia, bestiality, child sexual abuse and various other taboo behaviors. For the phase, see Punch line Punchline is a North American punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ... Ad lib (and ad-lib) are terms derived from the Latin ad libitum, meaning at ones pleasure. Ad lib is the adjective or adverb; ad-lib is the verb or noun form. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Incest is sexual activity between two persons related by close kinship. ... For the album by Circle Jerks, see Group Sex. ... Graphic violence is the depiction of violence in media such as film, television, and video games. ... Anatomy of the anus and rectum Defecation is the act or process by which organisms eliminate solid or semisolid waste material (feces) from the digestive tract via the anus. ... Look up coprophilia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up Necrophilia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up Bestiality in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Child sexual abuse is an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification. ... This article is about cultural prohibitions in general, for other uses, see Taboo (disambiguation). ...

The joke ends with the agent, shocked and often impressed, asking "And what do you call the act?" The punchline of the joke is then given: "The Aristocrats".

Notable featured comedians

The following notable comedians are featured in the film, telling the joke themselves and/or providing substantial commentary on its history:

Many other comedians were filmed but not included due to time constraints. According to a letter to critic Roger Ebert from Penn Jillette, Buddy Hackett and Rodney Dangerfield were both intended to be included, but died before they could be filmed (although some sources suggest Hackett insisted on being paid). Jillette also indicated that, this being Johnny Carson's favorite joke, Carson was also invited to appear, but declined^[1]. Jason Alexander (born Jason Scott Greenspan on September 23, 1959) is a Jewish American television, cinema and musical theatre actor, best known for his role as George Costanza on the hit television series Seinfeld. ... Hank Albert Azaria (born April 25, 1964 in Queens, New York) is a four-time Emmy Award-winning American actor, comedian and voice artist. ... Lewis Niles Black (born August 30, 1948) is a Grammy Award-winning American stand-up comedian, author, playwright, and actor. ... CD cover from the 1994 album Songs From the Steven Banks Show. ... David Brenner (born February 4, 1936) is an American standup comedian, actor, author, and filmmaker. ... Mario Cantone (born December 9, 1959 in Boston) is an American stand-up comedian and actor with numerous appearances on Comedy Central including Chappelles Show. ... Drew Allison Carey (born May 23, 1958) is an American comedian and actor. ... George Dennis Carlin (born May 12, 1937 in New York, New York)[2] is a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. ... Carrot Top on the cover of a portraiture book by Ryan McGinness Scott Thompson (born February 25, 1965[1] in Ottawa, Canada) known by his stage name Carrot Top, is a Canadian prop comedian famous for his thick, curly red hair and often self-parodying style of comedy. ... William Billy Connolly, CBE, (born 24 November 1942) is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter, and actor. ... Conway on the cover of Dorf Goes Fishing Tim Conway (born December 15, 1933) is an American comedic actor. ... Pat Cooper (born Pasquale Caputo on July 31, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American comedian. ... Andrew Dick[1] (born December 21, 1965) is an American comedian, actor, and voice artist best known for his roles on the sitcoms NewsRadio, The Andy Dick Show and Less Than Perfect and provided voiceovers in The Lion King II: Simbas Pride, Hoodwinked!, and Happily NEver After. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Susie Essman is an American stand-up comedian and comic actress in television and films. ... Carrie Frances Fisher (born October 21, 1956) is an American actress, screenwriter and novelist. ... Terrence Vance Gilliam (born November 22, 1940) is an American-born British filmmaker, animator, and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. ... Judy Gold (born November 15, 1962) is a Jewish-American comedian and actress in the television series All American Girl. ... Whoopi Goldberg performing stand-up at a benefit for Rainforest Action Network. ... Gilbert Gottfried (born February 28, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American stand-up comedian and actor noted for his grating voice, his Brooklyn accent and his tendency to shout. ... Dana Gould (born August 24, 1966) is an American comedian and comedy writer born and raised in Hopedale, Massachusetts. ... Eric Idle (born March 29, 1943) is a British comedian, actor, author and writer of comedic songs. ... Edward John Eddie Izzard (born February 7, 1962) is an English[1] stand-up comedian and actor, known for his cross-dressing. ... Richard John Colangelo (April 14, 1957[1] – March 10, 2007), better known by the stage name of Richard Jeni,[2] was an American stand-up comedian and actor. ... Jake Johannsen (born in Iowa City, Iowa) is an American comedian. ... John Edward Szeles (born September 9, 1958 in Detroit, Michigan), better known by the stage name The Amazing Johnathan, is an American stand-up comedian/magician. ... Lisa Lampanelli (born Lisa Lampugnale, July 19, 1961, in Trumbull, Connecticut[1]), often called the Loveable Queen of Mean, is an American stand-up comedian and insult comic. ... Richard Lewis Richard Philip Lewis (born June 29, 1947) is an American comedian and actor. ... Wendy Liebman is a female comedian known for serious sentences interrupted by quick jokes, and also belching. ... William Bill Maher, Jr. ... Howie Michael Mandel II (born November 29, 1955) is a Canadian comedian and actor, primarily for his roles on sitcoms and television. ... Merrill Markoe is an author, a television writer and a sometime stand up comedian. ... Jay Marshall (August 29, 1919 – May 10, 2005) was a famous magician and ventriloquist. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Michael McKean (born October 17, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician, best known for his portrayal of Leonard Lenny Kosnowski on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; as one of the members of Spinal Tap; as a Saturday Night Live cast member; and for other various appearances in... Lawrence J. Miller (best known as Larry Miller), born October 15, 1953 in Valley Stream, New York, is an American stand-up comedian and actor who frequently portrays babbling, obsequious yes-men, slightly odd friends, wisecracking professionals and other second-banana characters to headlining comedians in movies and television shows. ... Martin Mull (born August 18, 1943) is an American actor who has starred in his own TV sitcom and acted in prominent films. ... Taylor Negron (born Brad Taylor Negron August 1, 1958 in Glendale, California) is an American character actor who appeared frequently in comedies of the 1980s and on television. ... The Onion is a United States-based parody newspaper published weekly in print and daily online. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Penn & Teller at the 1988 Emmy Awards Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. ... Emo Philips is an American entertainer and comedian. ... Kevin Pollak Kevin E. Pollak (born on October 30, 1957 in San Francisco, California) is an American actor and comedian, best known for his uncanny impressions of Christopher Walken and William Shatner. ... Paul Reiser (March 30, 1957 – March 19, 2007) was an American actor, author and stand-up comedian, best known for his role in Mad About You. ... Donald Jay Rickles (born May 8, 1926 in New York City, New York) is an American comedian and actor. ... Christopher Julius Rock III[1] (born February 7, 1965)[2] is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. ... Gregg Rogell is a Professional Comedian who resides in New York City. ... Rita Rudner (born on 17 September 1956 in Miami, Florida) is an American comedienne and writer. ... Robert Lane Saget (born May 17, 1956) is an American actor, stand-up comedian and game show host best known for his role as Danny Tanner in the ABC sitcom Full House from 1987 to 1995, as host of Americas Funniest Home Videos from 1989 to 1997 and as... Harry Julius Shearer (born December 23, 1943) is an American comedic actor and writer. ... Sarah Kate Silverman (born December 1, 1970) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, singer and guitarist. ... Bobby Slayton (born May 25, 1955) is an American stand-up comedian known as The Pit Bull of Comedy. Slayton, a native of Massapequa, New York, is probably best known for a supporting role in the 2001 film Bandits. ... The Smothers Brothers are an American musical-comedy team, formed by real-life brothers Tom and Dick Smothers. ... Doug Stanhope (born March 25, 1967) is an American stand-up comedian and 2008 presidential candidate, seeking the nomination of the Libertarian Party. ... Not to be confused with John Stewart or John Stuart. ... Matthew Richard Stone (born May 26, 1971) is an Emmy-winning American animator, film director, screenwriter, actor and voice actor. ... Larry Storch (born January 8, 1923) is an American actor best known for his comedic television roles, including voiceover work for cartoons, and his live-action role the bumbling Corporal Randolph Agarn on F Troop. ... Rip Taylor (born Charles Elmer Taylor, Jr. ... Fred Willard (born September 18, 1939) is an American comedian and character actor, known for his improvisational comedy skills. ... Robin McLaurim Williams (born July 21, 1952)[1] is an Academy Award-winning American actor and comedian who has done television, stage, and film work. ... f u ... Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ... Buddy Hackett (August 31, 1924 – June 30, 2003) was an American comedian and actor. ... Rodney Dangerfield (November 22, 1921 – October 5, 2004), born Jacob Cohen, was an American comedian and actor, best known for the catchphrase I dont get no respect and his monologues on that theme. ... For other persons named John Carson, see John Carson (disambiguation). ...

Joe Franklin Controversy

The New Yorker reported that Sarah Silverman's telling of the joke led to veteran talk show host Joe Franklin, who is also featured in the film, to consider filing a defamation lawsuit against the comedian^[2]. Her version is autobiographical, told as if she had been one of the Aristocrat performers as a child. Silverman builds the story to include her family being booked on the The Joe Franklin Show, and ends with her punch line: a deadpan allegation that Franklin had raped her during a phony rehearsal for the show. The New Yorker is an American magazine that publishes reportage, criticism, essays, cartoons, poetry and fiction. ... Sarah Kate Silverman (born December 1, 1970) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, singer and guitarist. ... Joseph Fortgang (born March 9, 1926) is an American radio and television personality who uses the stage name Joe Franklin. ... A punch line is the final part of a joke, usually the word, sentence or exchange of sentences which is intended to be funny and to provoke laughter from listeners. ... Deadpan is a form of comedic delivery in which humour is presented without exhibiting a change in emotion or facial expression. ...

On the DVD commentary track, Paul Provenza indicated that he had explained to Franklin that it was only meant to be a joke, and defended Silverman by calling her straight-faced performance Academy Award caliber. Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ...

Friars Club roast footage

The film includes footage of Gilbert Gottfried's telling of the joke at a Comedy Central/Friars Club roast of Hugh Hefner which had been almost entirely censored when aired on television. Taped not long after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the incident occurred at a time when, according to one of the commentators in the Aristocrats film, entertainers were uncertain how much comedy was allowed in the aftermath of the attacks. Gottfried followed Rob Schneider who had received mixed results with his stand-up comedy performance in Hefner's honor. Gottfried was booed, some yelling too soon, when he began his performance with a 9/11-related joke ("Sorry I'm late — my plane had a connection with the Empire State Building") and, in response, he told an obscenity-filled rendition of the Aristocrats joke. According to the film, the telling was as much a cathartic experience for the audience as it was a shocking one, regardless of whether viewers were familiar with the joke or not. During his performance, Gottfried told the audience "They might have to clean this up for TV." Gilbert Gottfried (born February 28, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American stand-up comedian and actor noted for his grating voice, his Brooklyn accent and his tendency to shout. ... Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ... The Friars Club is a New York City club now with nationwide branches famous for its risqué celebrity roasts. ... A roast is an event in which an individual is subject to publicly bearing insults, praise, outlandish true and untrue stories, and heartwarming tributes. ... Hugh Marston Hefner (born April 9, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois), also referred to colloquially as Hef, is the founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine. ... A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly... This article is about the American actor/comedian. ... The Aristocrats (also known as The Debonaires or The Sophisticates in some tellings) is an exceptionally transgressive dirty joke that has been told by numerous stand-up comedians since the vaudeville era. ...

References

External links

• Official movie site
• Review / cast listing at nndb.com
• The Aristocrats at the Internet Movie Database
• New York Times Article about the 2005 movie, The Aristocrats
• Interview with the editor of the film
• Critical analysis of the film by Critical-Film.com reviewer Jason Pitt