The New 3 Stooges

I'm an unabashed admirer of "The New Three Stooges" animated kids show even though I'll be the first to admit that not only does it not make a whole lot of sense, but it's profoundly disturbing on a subconscious level that's very hard to describe. The show format is somewhat inspired, with the boys hosting live action "wraparound" segments where they engage in their usual antics albeit slowed somewhat by advancing age ... and perhaps the knowledge that the routine was growing a bit tired.

Still it's miraculous television, the animation bizarre and with an twinge of middle 60s pre-psychedelia influenced pop art. Which isn't to suggest that the Stooges themselves were perhaps sharing hookahs between takes so much as the younger artists and animators working on the show probably were. The production also has a kind of post-Freudian neurosis to it that one might actually refer to as polymorphously perverse. Where the classic era Stooges represented a kind of anarchic form of surrealism (think Curly furiously building the framework of plumbing pipes around himself only to find that he's trapped when it's finished), the animated shorts have a more minimalist approach where the surreal juxtapositionings are suggested rather than spelled out by squeezing someone's head in a tailor's press.

The cartoons also don't tell "stories" so much as they explore archetypal settings: A western town, a trip to the dentist, babysitting duty or a camping expedition. The animators show only as much as might be needed to suggest such a setting and then allow all hell to break loose with a sort of free-form visual exploration where beginning & end meet, or effect proceeds cause. First we see the eggs oozing down Moe's cartoon face, then we realize that Curly Joe was trying to make pancake batter.

Back to the disturbing nature though ... there is something "wrong" about the mixture of the live action segments with these (by then) puffy looking aged performers closing folding camping furniture on each other's heads, pretending to be zoo attendees cleaning up after the elephants, and especially actually interacting with young kids as in one really freakazoid trip to the beach that sees Curly Joe dressed up like John Wayne Gayce & doling out bottles of unidentified lotions to little girls. Like, ew. Granted I'm viewing the material with the jaded sensibility of someone living in a time forty years after the material was filmed, but by golly this show was really, really weird, and even with the live-action segments unlike anything you may be expecting when you hear the name Three Stooges.

But, it's amazing television, and if you look around at your favorite discount retailer's bargain bin DVD selections you can usually find collections of them for a dollar or so. Usually they are packaged to make them look like "family" fare, which usually implies kids being able to watch them on their own, which might not be a wise idea. They are harmless, mind you, but the kids might start to think about what it all might mean, especially after the shows start giving them nightmares. And the conclusion they will inevitably come to is that you are one weird, sick person for thinking they might actually like it.

5/10: Neutral rating since it's so weird as to defy traditional critical review. And that's why I love it.

"The New 3 Stooges" is very little remembered today as a sixties classic animated series due to lasting only one year, and containing some of the cheapest animation in cartoon history. Like all the television animated series of that period, this is to be expected, but the simplistic art style and stiff, unmoving characters may not be for some people's taste. It's not a bad attempt however even despite this, and retains watchability for younger children and cartoon buffs through its simplicity.

The cartoons themselves are rather short even for that period in cartoon history, but this is to accommodate the extra addition of a sequence at the beginning and end of each episode starring the actual stooges. The viewer is first treated to watching the live-action clip, which is then cut in the middle so that "you can watch a cartoon while we figure our way outta this mess." After the animated part, which may or may not bear similar themes to the live-action, the stooges return at the end to finish their act. It is unfortunate that most DVDs that include episodes from the show exclude the live-action--to be able to pack more on the disc--and I can say I've only truly seen five complete episodes.

The cartoons are good and entertaining though cheap and lacking in real laughs. I myself have no problem with the way the stooges's routine is dumbed down, having only seen a couple of the trio's early shorts, but because of this change in dynamic fans may not like the show. The theme song is catchy, and I enjoy both parts of it--the live-action and cartoon, although it's not outstanding and awful from a technical point of view.

Legendary and timeless as well as way ahead of their time, the Three Stooges and their movies took slapstick comedy to heights that have not been reached again, more than a half century later. Their fluid chemistry and uncanny sense of timing made their routines side-splittingly funny no matter how many times they were recycled.

However, "The New Three Stooges" is more like a last gasp than a new beginning for the Stooges. Granted, the two Stooge stalwarts Moe and Larry are present (which is more than can be said for "The New Adventures of Laurel and Hardy"), but Curly Joe is a poor substitute for the original Curly. His performance makes you long for Shemp or Joe Besser, who are sometimes overlooked in Stooge lore. Curly Joe is way too subdued in the show - too passive to be one of the manic Stooges.

The show's episodes were formulaic. They featured one live action segment, which introduced a typical Stooges conflict, then segued into a cartoon Stooges short. Then it was back to live action, where the comical conflict was resolved in a manner only the Stooges can fathom.

I feel fortunate to have two episodes of the show on low-quality tape, despite its many flaws. One such flaw being the production values. The live action segments have all the budget of the average film school student's final project, as does the animation. Props are extremely limited. The cartoon animation is stiff and lacks the detail and color of more well animated shorts of the time from companies such as Warner Bros.

As for the plots, they're typical Stooge fare from the episodes I've seen. The Stooges deal with mean bosses (like in the Western railroad episode) and tackle odd jobs (like being police officers). They're back to their old schemes again, such as prospecting for gold. Even some of their old routines are present - like mistaking something else for syrup, specifically glue in one episode. Unfortunately the one thing not recycled from the old days is much of the slapstick comedy. Sure Moe scowls plenty and the Stooges get their fair share of bumps and bruises in the cartoons, but the face-slapping, head thumping action of yesteryear is sadly kept to a bare minimum, possibly due to the Stooge's ages.

When you look at all the show's flaws though, it's amazing the Stooges were able to deal with second-rate cartoons and their increasing ages and still make people laugh. The bit in one episode where Moe and Larry duel it out Western-style over a "fair dame" (played by Curly Joe) is classic. The cheesy sound effects and campy cowboy getup, combined with some hilarious lines is the perfect recipe for a laugh-out-loud skit. Their innate aptitude for childish antics make for comedy that is simultaneously idiotic and brilliant. And at the core, it is that special knack for comedy is the reason why the Stooges have made and still make many laugh, even in this flawed production.

Hi Im 13 years old and I'm a big Three Stooges fan! The New Three Stooges is A Short Film Of Them! Then a Cartoon Version. The cartoon is good. I like them and the short live action from Moe,Larry,Curly Joe, they are good but I like the movies alot better plus the old shorts with Moe, Larry, Curly alot better! But The new Three Stooges is still good and funny though!

After about a half decade or so of revived popularity and the acquisition of new generations of fans,the Boys continued in popularity. It was becoming increasingly apparent that the artistic* control of The 3 Stooges was rapidly passing from Moe's son-in-law, Norman Maurer to the team of Mother Nature and Father Time. Their own birth certificates were making a prima facia case their against their continuing in the Movie and TV businesses.

Certainly they would not be doing a comedy picture much longer, be it a short subject or a feature, with the same gusto as before. Who could? So, what to do? How to continue working for their fans, for themselves, for posterity?

The answer was Television Animation. There was a precedent for this genre already existing. There were two examples, as a matter of fact! In A.D. 1966, the top TV animation studios, Hanna-Barberra Productions, produced and released to local stations both "Laurel & Hardy" and "Abbott & Costello" cartoons. Following the usual H & B format, they used the half hour length. Each program has an opening introductory theme song, a signature theme, 3 cartoon shorts of about 7 or 8 minutes duration and in between bridge animations.

This system had been working well for the likes of Hucklebery Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, Ruff & Reddy, etc. So it was for "Abbott & Costello" and "Laurel & Hardy", and did have some more limited success.

Both members of The Laurel & Hardy team had died by this time. Oliver "Babe" Hardy passing away in 1957 and Stan Laurel in 1965. This "Laurel & Hardy " show had voices done by Larry Harmon(Stan)** and Jim McGeorge(Ollie). As for the Abbott & Costello cartoons, Stan Irwin did his best impersonation of Lou Costello on that sound track. But, Bud Abbott was still around on planet Earth and did his own voice. That would seem to be an advantage, a leg up, so to speak.

Well the Stooges were all there-at least the present day team who appeared in those Kiddie market features. Starting in 1959 with HAVE ROCKET WILL TRAVEL, the team consisted of original members, Moe Howard and Larry Fine. The Third Stooge was "Curly" Joe DeRita.*** So, Normandy Productions(Stooges own Production Co with Norman Maurer as C.E.O.), struck a deal with Cambria Animation Productions (of CLUTCH CARGO fame)to do a series. It was no FANTASIA, but it was not bad either, for Television Animation, I mean.

The format called for Color Photography and use of both Live Action and Animated Cartoon scenes. But these would not be of the mixed variety as employed by Max Fleischer's OUT OF THE INKWELL(Koko the Clown), Walt Disney's early effort, ALICE IN CARTOONLAND or the more recent WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT?(1988) and SPACE JAM(1996).

Each little cartoon episodic adventure had a prologue to it. In it, The 3 Stooges were always busy in some work capacity. Much like their old Columbia Shorts, they seemed to be "those three new men." Janitors in a Dentist's Office, Window Washers on Scaffolding, Factory Workers and Gas Station Attendants were typical of locales and occupations that they had.

After an animated color sequence featuring a most appropriate, snappy and up-beat original theme music, they would open at these prelude scenes(as good a place as any to open!), do a short, little bit of business which related to the upcoming animation's story. Then the Cartoon's Title, and we'd be off.

It seemed that THE NEW 3 STOOGES never got to be a powerhouse of an animated series, being always in syndication(somebody correct me if that's incorrect), but hardly any others did, except for Hanna-Barbera's and Filmation's series(and later some others), and that was mostly Saturday morning's time slot.**** THE NEW 3 STOOGES does remain dear to my own heart, though. The stories were quick, snappy, pleasant and very Stooge-like. That's a very important factor with any "adapted"(not "adopted") cartoon series.

And there's just one other point. The use of the Live Action opening sketches may have been the most original innovation of the series. We suppose that there those viewers who look at this aspect of the series as only a cost cutting device, foisted on our Stooges by some suits and began counters. We think not.

The live portion showed us the Boys in a contemporary setting. It also gave a chance to make use of another player or two. And even old Nemesis, Emil Sitka dropped-by once or twice.

That alone made the openings worth it!

* I'll bet you that The Stooges would be as surprised as anyone to hear "Artistic" connected with their work!

** Yes, the very same Larry Harmon of BOZO THE CLOWN fame!

*** Joe DeRita was the fourth guy to play the 3rd Stooge. The late brothers Jerry("Curly") and Shemp Howard being the earliest partners in the act(not together), and funny man Joe Besser, who was in the last couple of years of the shorts, chose not to continue, not wanting to travel and never being fond of the part anyway. On behalf of 3 Stooges fans everywhere,please let us offer a belated, "Thanks, Joe!"

**** Some notable exceptions were Hanna-Barbera's THE FLINTSTONES, THE JETSONS and JOHNNY QUEST. There was also CALVIN AND THE COLONEL by Messers. Freeman Gosden & Charles Correll, the former AMOS 'n' ANDY on the Olde Time Radio, late 1920's to mid 1950's.