The Eye Poke
The Three Stooges’ eye poke joke is among their most enduring jokes. This maneuver was first used in a bridge game between Larry and Shemp. The two got into a fight over Larry’s alleged cheating in the game. Shemp poked Larry twice in the eye because he was lying, which infuriated him. They added this attack to their repertoire of physical assaults, and it has become one of the most recognizable jokes in movie history.
The Eye Poke
Word Play
The titles of certain episodes of The Three Stooges, like those of most TV shows, are puns on common words. Some episode names, like “3 Dumb Clucks” and “Beer and Pretzels,” were based on 1960s-era film titles, while others, like “Jail Birds of Paradise,” “Disorder In The Court,” and “Yes, We Have No Bonanza,” were not. When it wants to be, even slapstick comedy can be intelligent and funny. The Stooges were aware that their audience would find the references amusing.
Word Play
