Writer: Shemp was a "poor excuse" for a Stooge

falsealarms · **on:** July 14, 2011, 01:25:36 AM

One newspaper columnist wrote this last week -

"Shemp, Curly Joe and Joe Besser were poor excuses for Stooges, and certainly not in Curly Howard’s comedic category."

This is undoubtedly one of the most idiotic statements about the Stooges that I've seen in a long time. It's one thing to prefer Curly to Shemp -- a lot of people do -- but there's also a sizable faction who prefer Shemp. But to say Shemp was a "poor excuse" for a Stooge is one of the dumbest things I've seen in eons. Not only that, but to lump Shemp in with Besser and DeRita is unthinkable.

http://www.charltoncountyherald.com/articles/2011/07/06/opinion/editorials/doc4e14859c023b3693896582.txt

Desmond Of The Outer Sanctorum · **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2011, 07:25:10 AM

Personally, I think it's a bit unfair even to lump Joe in with Curly-Joe; but at least that's understandable.

But Shemp, the favorite of my entire household, being a "poor excuse for a Stooge"? Them's fightin' words where I come from!

FineBari3 · **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2011, 08:33:50 AM

I left my response to this article and the moron who wrote it! (There is a place to put your remarks after the article).

QuinceHead · **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2011, 08:37:05 AM

Thanks for bringing this to our collective attention.

As Bugs Bunny used to say all the time, "What a maroon!"

I'll certainly agree that Curly and Shemp had different approaches to comedy, and that they certainly weren't in the same comedic category, but to call him a "poor excuse for [a] Stooge" -- especially when he originated the Third Stooge role back in the Ted Healy days -- shows a distinct lack of research.

As Moe used to say, "Ohhhhhh -- ignorant, eh??"

For duty and humanity,
JohnH aka QuinceHead

Quote from: falsealarms on July 14, 2011, 01:25:36 AM

One newspaper columnist wrote this last week -

"Shemp, Curly Joe and Joe Besser were poor excuses for Stooges, and certainly not in Curly Howard’s comedic category."

This is undoubtedly one of the most idiotic statements about the Stooges that I've seen in a long time. It's one thing to prefer Curly to Shemp -- a lot of people do -- but there's also a sizable faction who prefer Shemp. But to say Shemp was a "poor excuse" for a Stooge is one of the dumbest things I've seen in eons. Not only that, but to lump Shemp in with Besser and DeRita is unthinkable.

http://www.charltoncountyherald.com/articles/2011/07/06/opinion/editorials/doc4e14859c023b3693896582.txt

QuinceHead · **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2011, 08:52:59 AM

Hey folks,

FYI, I posted a reply to this article -- I see that others from here have done so as well! I did my best to be civil, but...

For duty and humanity,
JohnH aka QuinceHead

Curly4444 · **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2011, 10:43:26 AM

You gave em hell guys & gals, good going. That writer was indeed a un-informed moron. Shemp had his own unique style of comedy, and just because you didn't get it, didn't make him a poor excuse" for a Stooge.

shemps#1 · **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2011, 03:42:46 PM

Yawn...it's just the guy's opinion and I'm not going to lose sleep over it. Unfortunately he's far from the only Stooges fan that thinks that way; whenever Howard Stern talks Stooges it's "everything after Curly left sucks".

There's a term the kids today on the Internets use for people who get angry when someone writes or does a video review panning something they like; it's called being "butthurt".

Liz · **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2011, 07:27:17 PM

I wouldn't go so far as to say that Shemp was a "poor excuse" for a Stooge. I like him, but he's not Curly. Nowhere close.

ProfessorStooge · **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2011, 09:33:53 PM

I also found that statement incredibly surprising. How can anyone possibly say that Shemp was a poor excuse? He was a Stooge before Curly. It's true that many fans favor Curly, but to label Shemp a "poor excuse" is totally wrong.

ThunderStooge · **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2011, 12:15:00 AM

It's been said a few times already, so I guess I'm just preaching with the chorus. Although I regard Shemp and Curly in an equal light, I can understand why many fans prefer Curly's more spastic style. But to lump Shemp with the Joes as "poor excuses" to be very inaccurate. Especially when you observe their work indepth, and set biases aside.

xraffle · **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2011, 09:34:52 AM

Shemp was an excellent replacement for Curly. It's hard to fill in Curly's shoes, so I couldn't imagine anyone else doing a better job than Shemp. Curly was very energetic and was full of silliness. Shemp, on the other hand, had a more laid back type of comedy. His style was more natural and some people don't seem to like that. So, they assume that he's bad, which is obviously not true.

Desmond Of The Outer Sanctorum · **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2011, 10:49:17 AM

Quote from: xraffle on July 15, 2011, 09:34:52 AM

His style was more natural

I think that's what the Shemp fans in my house like about him. Curly seems less like an actual person than Shemp does -- or any of the others, for that matter.

metaldams · **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2011, 02:59:48 PM

I was looking at those replies, and somebody posted under the name "metaldams." I can tell you that wasn't me. I'm not going to get too upset about it since that is not my real name, but geez folks, if you want to respond to this guy, try using your own moniker.

Frankly, this is just one guy's opinion and like Jim, I don't take too much stock in it. I'm totally used to non hardcore fans dissing on Shemp, and they are entitled to their opinion, just like I'm entitled to disagree.

Liz · **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2011, 03:13:22 PM

Quote from: xraffle on July 15, 2011, 09:34:52 AM

Shemp was an excellent replacement for Curly. It's hard to fill in Curly's shoes, so I couldn't imagine anyone else doing a better job than Shemp. Curly was very energetic and was full of silliness. Shemp, on the other hand, had a more laid back type of comedy. His style was more natural and some people don't seem to like that. So, they assume that he's bad, which is obviously not true.

Despite what I just said, I have to agree with this fact. When you compare Shemp with Joe and Curly Joe, it is clear that he is the best replacement.

So, to rephrase what I had posted before: replacement-wise, Shemp is terrific.

Desmond Of The Outer Sanctorum · **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2011, 07:20:55 AM

Quote from: metaldams on July 15, 2011, 02:59:48 PM

I was looking at those replies, and somebody posted under the name "metaldams." I can tell you that wasn't me.

I was wondering about that. It makes me wonder whether the person was embarrassed to be a Besser fan, or (worse) was only satirically pretending to be one!

metaldams · **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2011, 11:19:24 AM

Quote from: Desmond Of The Outer Sanctorum on July 16, 2011, 07:20:55 AM

I was wondering about that. It makes me wonder whether the person was embarrassed to be a Besser fan, or (worse) was only satirically pretending to be one!

I have my theories, but let's just say us posters who have been posting for a decade know what I'm talking about.

There's a forum on this site dedicated to such a phenomenon.

vomit · **Reply #16 on:** July 18, 2011, 02:48:53 PM

Quote from: falsealarms on July 14, 2011, 01:25:36 AM

One newspaper columnist wrote this last week -

"Shemp, Curly Joe and Joe Besser were poor excuses for Stooges, and certainly not in Curly Howard’s comedic category."

This is undoubtedly one of the most idiotic statements about the Stooges that I've seen in a long time. It's one thing to prefer Curly to Shemp -- a lot of people do -- but there's also a sizable faction who prefer Shemp. But to say Shemp was a "poor excuse" for a Stooge is one of the dumbest things I've seen in eons. Not only that, but to lump Shemp in with Besser and DeRita is unthinkable.

http://www.charltoncountyherald.com/articles/2011/07/06/opinion/editorials/doc4e14859c023b3693896582.txt

Just shows some people should not have children. Shemp was the BEST....and one of the original stooges. End communication.

shemps#1 · **Reply #17 on:** July 18, 2011, 09:10:35 PM

Quote from: vomit on July 18, 2011, 02:48:53 PM

Just shows sompe people should not have children. Shemp was the BEST....and one of the original stooges. End communication.

So anyone who has a differing opinion on Shemp Howard than you should not procreate? Or would this apply to anything, as in "anybody who disagrees with me about anything should not have children"?

vomit · **Reply #18 on:** July 19, 2011, 02:39:36 PM

Quote from: shemps#1 on July 18, 2011, 09:10:35 PM

So anyone who has a differing opinion on Shemp Howard than you should not procreate? Or would this apply to anything, as in "anybody who disagrees with me about anything should not have children"?

Absolutely! What I say is absolute. Don't question it!

Sorry for the sarcasm. Just think that opinion stinks. Don't read too much into it, I had about 4 Blatz in me when I posted that!

QuinceHead · **Reply #19 on:** July 19, 2011, 03:02:47 PM

Quote from: vomit on July 19, 2011, 02:39:36 PM

Sorry for the sarcasm. Just think that opinion stinks. Don't read too much into it, I had about 4 Blatz in me when I posted that!

Is your name Hassan Bin Sobah??

"I've had a few too many myself!"
"Shaddap!"

For duty and humanity,
JohnH aka QuinceHead

shemps#1 · **Reply #20 on:** July 19, 2011, 06:43:44 PM

Quote from: vomit on July 19, 2011, 02:39:36 PM

Absolutely! What I say is absolute. Don't question it!

Sorry for the sarcasm. Just think that opinion stinks. Don't read too much into it, I had about 4 Blatz in me when I posted that!

You sound like me in the MTS forum.

It's just so many times whether it's an opinion like this guy's or a review of a video game or movie on the internet I've seen people absolutely flip their lids when the person disagrees with them. With video games in particular it is bad, with people basing their opinion of the review on whether they agree with rather than if the review itself was good or not. I can kinda understand since most people don't want to hear they spent $50-$60 on shit but really everyone should be allowed to state their opinion on something without being cursed out or called an idiot for it.

If I disagree with someone's opinion and feel passionate enough to say something I'd rather try to open the door for intelligent discourse about it than call the other person "retarded" or something of the like.

vomit · **Reply #21 on:** July 21, 2011, 02:25:18 PM

Quote from: shemps#1 on July 19, 2011, 06:43:44 PM

You sound like me in the MTS forum.

It's just so many times whether it's an opinion like this guy's or a review of a video game or movie on the internet I've seen people absolutely flip their lids when the person disagrees with them. With video games in particular it is bad, with people basing their opinion of the review on whether they agree with rather than if the review itself was good or not. I can kinda understand since most people don't want to hear they spent $50-$60 on shit but really everyone should be allowed to state their opinion on something without being cursed out or called an idiot for it.

If I disagree with someone's opinion and feel passionate enough to say something I'd rather try to open the door for intelligent discourse about it than call the other person "retarded" or something of the like.

No problem....not trying to stir the pot too much!! Have a good one!

JazzBill · **Reply #22 on:** July 24, 2011, 04:48:25 PM

Faeriegirl · **Reply #23 on:** July 24, 2011, 07:51:07 PM

Personally I'm a big fan of Shemp Howard, once voted the Worlds Ugliest Man Alive, He had the comedic timing and the sweet innocences (yeah right) that made me like him so much, heck my husband is a Shemp fan too and tries ot act like him at times, though he has thankfully not blown up a stove.... yet