Why Chevy Chase Was Cut Out of ‘The Aristocrats,’ Despite Claiming to Tell the Best Version of the Joke

To the joy of comedy fans, and the horror of families who were just looking for a nice cartoon about jazz-playing felines, the 2005 documentary The Aristocrats delved into the history of the notoriously filthy joke about a family pitching a vulgar stage show to a talent agent. While we all know the punchline — “The Aristocrats!” — it’s the uniquely grotesque nuances of each comedian’s version that makes the movie so interesting.

The Aristocrats featured interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy — from Chris Rock, to Sarah Silverman, to George Carlin. Also Carrot Top. But the most memorable version of the joke was probably the one told by the late Gilbert Gottfried. Note: The clip is not safe for work, unless you work in the talent agency from the joke.

One celebrity you won’t see in the movie is Chevy Chase, which is odd because Chase is referenced in the first minute of the doc. Michael McKean describes rumors that Chase started a “secret society,” which included John Belushi and former Saturday Night Live head writer Michael O’Donoghue, that used to throw “Aristocrats” parties. Chase’s “coven” of comedians would try to make the joke last for as long as possible, using the same combination of characters, and without repeating anything.

According to the authorized biography I’m Chevy Chase… And You’re Not by Rena Fruchter, Chase filmed his version of the joke for the documentary, but then refused to sign the release forms. Apparently this was because “he realized his daughters might see the film.” Although you’d think that he’d be more concerned about them seeing Under the Rainbow.

According to co-director Paul Provenza, the real story was a tad more complicated than that. In an interview for Classic Conversations with Jeff Dwoskin, Provenza revealed that Chevy was seemingly “not in the best of health” at the time. After acknowledging that he really did hold “Aristocrats” parties during a preliminary phone call with Provenza, when it came time to shoot the interview  Chase “denied ever having any of those parties.” 

He also “denied even knowing the joke, and then proceeded to do it.” Chase’s “Aristocrats” lasted for between 30 and 40 minutes. But when Provenza and his co-director Penn Jillette gave him the release, he “threw it in our faces and said ‘I’m not signing that.’” 

When the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Provenza ran into Chase, who complained that he wasn’t in it. Chase copped to his “mistake” and asked if he could still be included. So Provenza and Jillette agreed to send Chase’s reps the release forms once again, which would allow them to add in some of the existing footage, on the condition that Chase wouldn’t have a say on the final edit.

But after sending the documents, a response came back reading: “Chevy Chase is not going to sign this.”

Chase still contends that he tells the “best Aristocrat joke” although it “requires a certain persona and a cellar filled with men.” He also claims that he once told the joke to two professors while he was attending Bard college and “they laughed so hard I think it changed my mark in one of the classes.”

It’s hard to take his word for it, of course, because there’s absolutely no video evidence to back up his story.

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