Comic stars tell the sickest joke ever

The biggest names in comedy have got together to record the longest and sickest shaggy-dog joke ever committed to film.

Robin Williams, Billy Connolly, Eddie Izzard, Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Rock are among those who have contributed to the feature-length version of The Aristocrats, which will receive its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe this August.

The gag is a long-running in-joke that comedians have told among themselves since the earliest days of stand-up.

It begins with a family walking into a talent agent’s office, and the aim is to have the family indulge in the most offensive behaviour possible – encouraging a form of tasteless one-upmanship among comics backstage.

The tale ends with the lame punchline: “And what do you call this act?”/"The Aristocrats."

Now stand-up Paul Provenza and magician Penn Jillette, of Penn and Teller fame, have encouraged comedy stars to commit their version of the gag to film.

Others taking part includeEric Idle, Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, Emo Phillips and the staff of satirical newspaper The Onion.

The finished product, described as “heartfelt, private, backstage look at professional comedians fucking around… superstar comedians being funny for other comedians. “

A version of the gag created for the movie by the South Park team has already started circulating on the web. Click here to view it – although be warned, it is VERY sick.

Published: 12 May 2004