The Three Stooges

The Three Stooges were a classic comedy team, whose best known incarnation consisted of Moe Howard, Curly Howard, and Larry Fine, who had their roots in vaudeville as "stooges" to Ted Healy. They accompanied Healy to Hollywood but soon broke out on their own, appearing in countless Columbia film shorts emphasizing slapstick, physical violence, and pie-throwing. Moe and Larry were the only constants, with the third stooge filled variously by Shemph Howard (in vaudeville, one 1930 film appearance, and replacing Curly from 1946 to 1955), Joe Besser (1956-1957), and finally Curly Joe DeRita (1958-1975, for later television and film appearances). The classic trio of Moe, Larry, and Curly was frequently referenced on Muppet Babies, usually through stock footage.