Negron’s version sort of combines many elements that made previous versions of the joke so great: he’s got details like Carlin, the nonchalance of Silverman, and Liebman's different angle. Depraved sex is very standard issue for this joke, but he keeps his segment fresh by making sex observations about society and himself, writ-large.
This part isn't so much a telling of the joke as it is a pre-telling of the joke, foaming the runway for the plane crash, which inevitably comes when he tells the actual joke. So, within the confines of the documentary, he’s transgressing on the already transgressive nature of the joke by using an approach none of the other featured comedians used, exactly. Very meta, Taylor!
This question is pretty subjective, right? By what standard are we deciding who won? Best traditional take on the joke? Probably Carlin. Most meta take? Negron. Most unique? Probably Silverman.
There just will not be consensus. In fact, most of you would probably have picked a different top five. But I am writing this and personally, Liebman is up there. My editor might pick Carlin, (Actually, it'd be The Onion's segment in the doc. -Ed) or the honorable mention of either Saget or Gottfried. You, dear reader, might like George the Mime’s take the best.
Regardless, I posed the question, so here's my answer. The winner of “The Aristocrats” is … Sarah Silverman, for most unique take. Well done, Sarah.
Some final thoughts about how this joke fits into the 2020s landscape: Throughout the documentary, many of the interview subjects noted that the content of the joke changes with time. Sure, most versions are still disgusting, but quite honestly, it's nothing most of us haven’t heard before. In fact, to any fan of darker humor or gross out humor, it’s probably pretty run of the mill.
Put another way: a bawdy telling of The Aristocrats doesn't shock anyone other than grandparents these days. So, dear readers, our final question for you to ponder is: has this joke become obsolete? Or are there yet more boundaries for the filthiest of us to cross?
Top image: Mighty Cheese Productions