The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid-20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. They were commonly known by their first names: 'Moe, Larry, & Curly', and 'Moe, Larry, & Shemp', among other lineups. The act originally featured Moe Howard (born Harry Moses Horwitz), brother Shemp Howard (born Samuel Horwitz), and longtime friend Larry Fine (born Louis Feinberg). Shemp was later replaced by brother Curly Howard (born Jerome Lester Horwitz) in 1932. When Curly suffered a debilitating stroke in 1946, Shemp rejoined the act. After Shemp's death in 1955, he was replaced by bald-headed comedian Joe Besser, and eventually by Joe "Curly-Joe" DeRita (born Joseph Wardell). After Larry's stroke, Emil Sitka, a longtime actor in Stooge comedies, was contracted to replace Larry, but no film was ever made with him in the role, although publicity photographs exist of him with his hair combed similarly to Larry's posing with Moe and Curly-Joe prior to Moe's death. Larry's paralyzing stroke in 1970 marked the official end of the act.

The Stooges' hallmark was extremely physical slapstick comedy punctuated by one-liners, within outrageous storylines.

In the late 1950's, Moe Howard, the leader of the Three Stooges is at a low point of his life with his film career apparently over, and he won't earn a dime from the impending big profits when his films are shown on TV. In addition, he is being pestered by a young TV exec who wants his team for a live show at his city. Amidst all this, Moe can't help but think back to the past starting from the beginning of the team's career with Ted Healy and their break from him to eventually having a successful film career in shorts. Yet that can't obscure the tragedy of Jerome "Curly" Howard's stroke and death or the death of his other brother, Shemp. While he reminisces, Moe must decide whether to gamble on whether there will be a new generation of fans who will let the team to enter a new phase of their career. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@execulink.com)

Dramatization of the lives and careers of the famed slapstick comedy team. Performing comparatively menial work at Columbia Studios, the site of his greatest success, Moe Howard reminisces in 1959 about the previous thirty years. He remembers his early vaudeville days with his brother Shemp and Larry Fine as stooges to comic Ted Healy, the breakup with Healy and Shemp's departure from the act, Shemp's replacement by brother Jerry ("Curly") and their triumphs (and low pay) as the top comedy team in Columbia's shorts department, and the sad departures from the act and the apparent demise of the team. Written by Jim Beaver

Behind the hilarious slapstick comedy of the infamous Three Stooges lies a deeper and more dramatic story found in their off-screen lives. We are first introduced to the men in their early days of vaudeville, struggling to make ends meet. Then Hollywood calls and their years of hard work pay off, taking them to the "big time". However, struggles between each other and health issues create obstacles for the comedy group, yet somehow the group survives and becomes the legend we know and love. Written by Anonymous