The Aristocrats is a documentary concerning an old joke concerning a guy telling a talent agent about a particularly disgusting act his family is involved in, one involving any number of taboos. The name of the act, "The Aristocrats." It is a sort of favorite among comedians, more to tell among themselves than on stage, since it simply is that disgusting -- especially on the retelling. And, this documentary has any number of comedians (both young and old) discuss the joke and provide different readings. Some pretty funny.
Nonetheless, the film has been somewhat overpraised. The charm, so to speak, is the offense nature of the joke, especially a telling by Bob Saget of Full House. It also is interesting to get different points of views, including the usual comic analysis provided by wordsmith George Carlin. Still, a little of this goes a long way, and it begins to feel like a sort of Friar's Roast situation: some honestly boring intercomic discussions and relatively lame joke telling.
Yes, even given the material. One gets the idea that Chris Rock is right: black comedians were used to doing blue since they did not get on more "respectable" stages. A dirty joke on its own only goes so far. And, I was simply bored a bit too often. Still, Sarah Silverman is funny, as was the preview of her new concert film. [I saw a form of it, Jesus is Magic, on stage, and it was not as funny as I hoped.]
The Washingtonienne, a thinly written roman-a-clef by Jessica Culter was pretty good. It starts off better than it ends, since this sort of witty and off color ride often can only be kept so good for so long. Still, for at least half the way, her bitchy and slutty account of a low level staffer (for a conservative senator) who sleeps around (often for money) and uses drugs with abandon is good fun. One also has some fun trying to determine who the people behind the fictional names are or how much is fully based on reality. [She was sued by one person portrayed in the book and cited, using initials, on her old blog.]
A good summer read.