The Aristocrats

The Aristocrats is a film about the popular, but private, dirty joke among comedians of the same name. This film features about 100 hundred comedians telling "The Aristocrats" joke.

The joke is an ad-libbed dirty joke in which the set-up and punchline are always the same, but the descriptive, middle section is improvised by the comedian. The joke has been around since the vaudeville era and has been characterized as a "secret handshake" among comedians who try to top each other by making their version of the joke the dirtiest and most shocking.

Fast Facts

1. Starring: Various comedians such as Bob Saget, Drew Carey, Sarah Silverman
2. Director: Paul Provenza
3. Producers: Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette
4. Released: 2005
5. Run time: 89 mins
6. Joke is also known as "The Debonaires" or "The Sophisticates"
7. Said to be Johnny Carson's favorite joke

The Set-Up and Punchline

The joke always begins with a family act going to see a talent agent. The talent agent asks what their act is. At this point, the comedian improvises the details of the act. The description is as ribald as possible and usually scatalogical in nature. The punch line of the joke is always the same. The talent agents asks the family what the act is called. The proud response, "The Aristocrats!"

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