The Three Stooges (1 Viewer)

[Combat]

Have to admit that I am a fan. Could watch these guys all day long. The recent box sets are a godsend. Women seem to hate them though. Hard to believe. It's not classic stuff like Laurel and Hardy or the Marx Brothers, but hard to beat for light entertainment.

 

[theBaron]

"Whyyyy yoouuuu!"

Yes, men love 'em, women hate 'em. You can put a Hell's Angel and an MIT grad student in a room together, and they have nothing in common, but show them a Three Stooges short, and when Moe hits Larry in the head with a shovel, they'll both laugh.

"Hey, Moe--I figured out what's wrong with these pipes! They're clogged with wires!"
"Well unclog 'em!"

And I often think of "You Nazty Spy!":

"If I'm takin' Mickey Finnland, I better get Russian!"
"Yeah, quit Stalin!"
"So be it!"

 

[Scott]

Although the Stooges usually get "punished" at the end of some of their shorts, I think men like that they get away with things that they themselves can't. Even with all the slapping, the Stooges usually pull together to get something done.

The Marx Brothers, Benny Hill, Laural and Hardy and WC Fields also serve the purpose of men doing or saying things we wish we could, usually to women. WC Fields often targeted with words, people like a destructive blind man or a bratty child or his own horrible family. The Our Gang kids usual victims are adults and bullies although the kids usually learn a lesson at the end.

My kids had no experience with the Stooges on TV and I had to make a point of showing my daughter a Stooges short on Youtube so she knew what people were talking about.

The British had a 1930s group, the Crazy Gang that you can see on Youtube. They have to an acquired taste.

 

[Combat]

One thing that is least appreciated is how difficult it is to pull off this type of comedy. Most of the early comedians learned their trade in front of live audiences which is a brutal, but effective learning experience. Chaplin, L&H, WC Fields, the Marx Brothers etc. In addition, the audience has to buy into the notion that the characters are naive and not very bright. Something the Stooges perfected. Laurel and Hardy have a child like quality to their antics. That's something not many modern actors can pull off. I think Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther was about the last one to do it well.

 

[lancer]

Grew up with The Three Stooges on TV in the late 50's, early 60's, and really relearned them while in college. They are very funny. Also loved the antics of Laurel & Hardy. They were just brilliant. I never developed much affection for the Marx Brothers but I do find some of their classic stuff funny. The Stooges should be required viewing. -- Al

 

[Scott]

There's a clip on Youtube of the UK sitcom Outnumbered. One child comments on Laurel and Hardy with "What's Funny about failing to deliver a piano?"

 

[gk5717]

My all time favorite old TV comedy series is Amos n Andy.
Please this is not racist, that series is just flat out funny!
The Honeymooners and All in the Family are a close second.
Gary

 

[Scott]

I remember Amos and Andy and I just thought they were funny. I saw a program from the time where the white radio actors playing Amos and Andy introduced the black TV actors to the public. There were black TV actors at the time in sit-coms usually playing maids and servants but they were no more silly characters than the white actors. Things were "tense" in the 60s all around when the show ended. The show never went into reruns as I remember.

 

[lancer]

My all time favorite old TV comedy series is Amos n Andy.
Please this is not racist, that series is just flat out funny!
The Honeymooners and All in the Family are a close second.
Gary

"You're going to the Moon, Alice. Bang! Zoom!". What a classic series. One of the best sit-coms ever done. -- Al

 

[gk5717]

"You're going to the Moon, Alice. Bang! Zoom!". What a classic series. One of the best sit-coms ever done. -- Al

Can you imagine now the political incorrectness of Ralph making a fist and threatening to punch Alice to the moon!
Or how about some of the terms Archie Bunker used in referring to someone of a different persuasion.
Gary

 

[Combat]

Gleason was a mega star in his day. So the fact that he could sell himself as an apartment dwelling bus driver was an amazing feat of acting. Art Carney wasn't too shabby either. I think they filmed the Honeymooners live without any editing.

 

[Mitch]

gk5717...
Does that not show how far we have not come that you feel compelled to apologise beforehand that something may be seen or taken as racist. Its sad.
Mitch

My all time favorite old TV comedy series is Amos n Andy.
Please this is not racist, that series is just flat out funny!
The Honeymooners and All in the Family are a close second.
Gary

 

[Scott]

A quick look at the history of the show had the most well known racism charge against the radio program with white actors rather than the TV show. I had a look at a couple of episodes on Youtube last night. While the main characters were funny characters, many of the "straight man" characters played by black actors were police, doctors, businessmen, or clergy. A white viewer would see something like "normal" black Americans. Amos and Andy episodes also had some serious and emotional parts to their stories.

Growing up with these shows, I got the idea that these were funny characters, not people that I would not let vote. Racial humor on TV today is MUCH stronger and goes both ways.

One Stooges episode did have a cook saying "white people sure are crazy!" He was talking about the Stooges of course.