The Three Stooges: Hey Moe! Hey Dad! Episode Rating Graph

Reluctant to admit who he was, the son of Moe, Paul Howard begins a 100 year journey through the legacy of the greatest comedy team of all time, The Three Stooges. It all starts in the 1890's when the sons of a strong-willed Jewish mother learn about love, laughter and schtick on the streets of Brooklyn, and young son Moe embarks on an acting career on a Mississippi riverboat.

Two Howards and one Fine become The Three Stooges and step up from second bananas in Vaudeville to growing acclaim as Columbia Picture's brightest dim bulbs. Shemp quietly exits the trio as little brother Jerome joins with gusto and brilliance as he shaves his head and becomes the lovable "Curly.· Can they really make it in the big time? ..... "Soitanly!"

It's the 1930's and Moe's son, Paul, is born. It's a new era as The Three Stooges endure the Great Depression and give an upper cut to the upper crust in an avalanche of wildly popular movie shorts. The Stooges are on a roll, but Curfy's off-screen antics leave The Three Stooges just a pratfall away from disaster .... and you ain't heard Nyuking yet!

Paul witnesses first hand as Curly's downward spiral continues while The Three Stooges Hollywood star bums even brighter. They are busier than ever and surrounded by a talented cadre of wildly inventive writers, directors and character actors which combine to create some of their best comedy shorts. Success takes them abroad, but storm clouds are gathering and something rotten is in the air.

The Stooges goose step their way through WN II with hilarious war comedies, and become the first to parody Hitler and the Nazis. Paul stands by as his Dad privately mourns the loss of an old partner. In the end, family, friends and fans are all brought to tears as Curly takes his final curtain call.

The 1950's herald a booming post-war economy as Paul grows professionally as an artist, and Moe's older brother Shemp comes to the rescue of the celebrated comedy trio. Tragedy strikes again a few short years later as Shemp unexpectedly joins Curly in the great beyond. There's also a new phenomenon sweeping the nation and the world. It's called TV, and it's about to knock the future right on its keester.

Enter Joe Besser in a suit as the boys try to replace the irreplaceable loss of two brothers. In the new era of TV, Columbia Pictures finally shutters it's shorts department and The Three Stooges end 23 years of "Short" but sweet careers at Columbia Pictures. Paul feels the tension at home as the winds of change blow upon the Stooges yet again and a lovable old friend enters the picture.

Moe and Larry are shocked to discover that what TV took from them at Columbia Picture, it gave them back much more. The release of Three Stooge shorts in TV syndication all over the world gave birth to millions of new, young fans yammering for more Stooges. Joined by Curly Joe, The Three Stooges feature movie career blasts off. But as they clown around with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Ed Sullivan, the fickle finger of fate delivers them another yet another awful poke.

Son Paul bids his final good-byes to both Moe and Larry, and Paul marvels at the great outpouring of love and affection from millions of fans all over the world as the legacy of The Three Stooges lives on stronger than ever. Now all the world's a STOOGE and a prodigal son comes full circle to embrace his family's rich history. Who knows, The Three Stooges are good for at least another 100 years, or more!