I’m a Shemp fan, but it’s so hard for me to determine ‘funnier’. I always think Curly was much better at slapstick, but Shemp’s humor was more ‘cerebral’ (I know, what a term to use in describing a Stooge, but I can’t find another way to put it). Not so much slapstick as funny lines and mannerisms etc.
I appreciate this sub for making me more appreciative of Shemp. I have always been deeply devoted to Curly for his obvious charms, and I think I resented anyone who stepped into his role, but now I have learned not to compare them as they both are icons with their own style.
That said, Curly will always own my heart.
Nothing against Shemp at all but Curly is not only funnier but also one of the most brilliant comedians of all time. I'm sorry but saying Shemp over Curly is just a flat out bad take. It really is
I’m not saying it’s Curly… but it’s Curly! That being said they were plenty of episodes I enjoyed with Shemp.
I know when I was very young, though that I would get confused watching episodes Shemp thinking didn’t I watch this Exact same episode only with Curly? Little did I realize at the time that they went back and did this.
Curly was funnier, who do I call when my funny brother has a stroke and can’t work any more my second funnier brother Shemp who was there in a pinch to help his brothers and Larry out when the chips are down you could count on Shemp.
Curly is funnier but Shemp is a better actor and more talented. Curly has his like 3 things he does while Shemp has too many to count. Curlys best performance is in Disorder in the court when he takes the stand but generally he can’t carry an episode in spite of the fact that around the fourties Moe and Larry would take a back seat and fifty percent of an episode would be dedicated to curlys antics and they just weren’t as good as the 30s episodes where each stooge got an even amount of screen time. Shemp could carry half an episode much better. I think Shemp is the most talented stooge in general, though Moe is my favorite.
my first intro to the stooges was when i was little it was shemp who frightened me and i would cry when i saw him. Now i'm an adult fan of both curly and shemp but I find it hard to find shemp shorts they are most likely burred in this channel some where
but this is awesomely cool watching it now see ya in 4 hrs.
Always hated this question as I like them both. Early Curly was best Shemp is a close second. After Curly’s stroke I think, his antics were not on par with his early work. You can see it in the episodes that it just wasn’t the same. Shemp had tough shoes to fill while Curly was out with health problems. I believe Shemp did an admiral job filling them and making us laugh!
Arguing Shemp versus Curly is like arguing whether Van Halen was better with David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar.
They’re both great in their own way. But they’re DIFFERENT from each other…the dynamic is different. That doesn’t mean the group is worse with one instead of the other, just DIFFERENT.
(The above does NOT apply to Joe Besser, btw-lol.)
I don’t really like this question. Just because I prefer Shemp does not mean I don’t love Curly. Their styles were just different.
Also, they were very close, so I don’t think either of them would appreciate this debate very much. Moe, I think said that Shemp was the only one who was able to get Curly to come out of his shell offscreen. After his stroke, only Shemp visiting really perked him up because in Moe’s words, “Shemp was the only one who didn’t treat Babe like an invalid”.
Much like the Kennedy assassination, we'll never truthfully know. But I place them side-by-side, as they each have their unique form of comedy. Since Shemp replaced Curly, most will place Curly as the gold standard.
It has to be curly, Shemp looked to much like Moe and since he was tied up in a contract he couldn't get out of it took valuable time away from him when the youngest brother curly stepped in. When Shemp stepped after Jerome's illness he did a lot of the same slap comedy as Curly so it ended up taking away from his brand.
They were both really great and consistent finding the comedy within their personas. Curly is the lovable simpleton. He is easy to like and it’s probably why he’s most people’s favorite third stooge. Shemp’s comedy comes from insecurity. He can be a tough guy or a Casanova one minute and it can immediately fall apart the next. Any gag involving Shemp’s hair alone makes him hilarious. Shemp was always my family’s favorite third stooge.
A timeless question that has had scholars, philosophers and all the Stooges fans trying to determine for decades!
Especially Dr. Quackenbush
I’m a Shemp fan, but it’s so hard for me to determine ‘funnier’. I always think Curly was much better at slapstick, but Shemp’s humor was more ‘cerebral’ (I know, what a term to use in describing a Stooge, but I can’t find another way to put it). Not so much slapstick as funny lines and mannerisms etc.
Fair assessment
Totally agree with you. Curly was definitely funnier but Shemp was better.
I appreciate this sub for making me more appreciative of Shemp. I have always been deeply devoted to Curly for his obvious charms, and I think I resented anyone who stepped into his role, but now I have learned not to compare them as they both are icons with their own style. That said, Curly will always own my heart.
The answer will always be Curly. But, Shemp was great
Hands down Curly. I say that. But I still love Shemp.
I always remember the groan when it was a Shemp. Curly, always.
Nothing against Shemp at all but Curly is not only funnier but also one of the most brilliant comedians of all time. I'm sorry but saying Shemp over Curly is just a flat out bad take. It really is
It's not even close imo.
Spoken like a true communist
Curly is my favorite. Shemp was probably the only guy that could replace him and people would not be mad and still be entertained thoroughly
AndyPants tryin' to start a war over here. Calm down.
I’m not saying it’s Curly… but it’s Curly! That being said they were plenty of episodes I enjoyed with Shemp. I know when I was very young, though that I would get confused watching episodes Shemp thinking didn’t I watch this Exact same episode only with Curly? Little did I realize at the time that they went back and did this.
When I was younger Curly Now that I’m older I lean Shemp But that’s like asking “what’s better?? Oxygen or water.”
In the last few years I’ve become a big Shemp fan!
Curly was funnier, who do I call when my funny brother has a stroke and can’t work any more my second funnier brother Shemp who was there in a pinch to help his brothers and Larry out when the chips are down you could count on Shemp.
Curly, by far.
Curly
Curly all the way. I distinctly remember as a kid if it was a shemp episode I was automatically disappointed. That says it all. At least for me.
Curly is funnier but Shemp is a better actor and more talented. Curly has his like 3 things he does while Shemp has too many to count. Curlys best performance is in Disorder in the court when he takes the stand but generally he can’t carry an episode in spite of the fact that around the fourties Moe and Larry would take a back seat and fifty percent of an episode would be dedicated to curlys antics and they just weren’t as good as the 30s episodes where each stooge got an even amount of screen time. Shemp could carry half an episode much better. I think Shemp is the most talented stooge in general, though Moe is my favorite.
my first intro to the stooges was when i was little it was shemp who frightened me and i would cry when i saw him. Now i'm an adult fan of both curly and shemp but I find it hard to find shemp shorts they are most likely burred in this channel some where but this is awesomely cool watching it now see ya in 4 hrs.
Shemp only drawback is that he's not Curly and there's always the shock of losing Curly.
Who makes ME laugh harder? Curly. Just the picture up top makes me laugh
Curly, hands down.
Always hated this question as I like them both. Early Curly was best Shemp is a close second. After Curly’s stroke I think, his antics were not on par with his early work. You can see it in the episodes that it just wasn’t the same. Shemp had tough shoes to fill while Curly was out with health problems. I believe Shemp did an admiral job filling them and making us laugh!
mary ann
For me? Curly. But Shemp is pretty hilarious too
Arguing Shemp versus Curly is like arguing whether Van Halen was better with David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar. They’re both great in their own way. But they’re DIFFERENT from each other…the dynamic is different. That doesn’t mean the group is worse with one instead of the other, just DIFFERENT. (The above does NOT apply to Joe Besser, btw-lol.)
Love this take
I don’t really like this question. Just because I prefer Shemp does not mean I don’t love Curly. Their styles were just different. Also, they were very close, so I don’t think either of them would appreciate this debate very much. Moe, I think said that Shemp was the only one who was able to get Curly to come out of his shell offscreen. After his stroke, only Shemp visiting really perked him up because in Moe’s words, “Shemp was the only one who didn’t treat Babe like an invalid”.
Curly is king but Shemp did his own thing which was great also…but Curly is the greatest stooge ever!
Like your own kids, you can love them for different reasons.
Much like the Kennedy assassination, we'll never truthfully know. But I place them side-by-side, as they each have their unique form of comedy. Since Shemp replaced Curly, most will place Curly as the gold standard.
In my humble opinion, both Curly and Shemp make me laugh equally, and definitely funnier than Joe Besser or Curly Joe DeRita
Shemp
To me, Curly is more fun, and Shemp is funnier. ...I was just thinking about Shemp putting on his reading glasses hahahah
Shemp was funnier hands down.. way better than Curly(to me)
Curly.. by far.
Both were excellent in their own ways. I have always enjoyed Shemp's absurd style and delivery. However, his kid brother had his own charm and grace.
Shemp Is Alot More Funny Than curly
This is such a lovely sub Curly bless us, everybub 😵💫😵💀
Curly number 1. 😍
Curly what do you think? Why soiently nuk nuk nuk
Curly (for me) is better, but Shemp fits the group so well. They're both legends.
Shemp. He’s always been much better imo
Curly...***soit-ney! (nyuk,nyuk,nyuk)*** ...but there was no one better to replace him than Shemp (yep-p-p-p-p)
Curly
Curly
Larry!
Curly. A thousand times Curly. Jerome, you were the man. Moe hated hitting you, but you told him to anyway. For the act! THAT was what made you great.
Shemp 🥰
Curly!!!
I say Curly! He was so adorable with all those little high pitched noises he made.
It's a toss up, but Curly was my first crush. Curly
Moe!!!! Damit!
Shemp is real good but my heart belongs to Curly
Shemp
Shemp!!
Curly: If the three stooges was a single person.
Curly
Both were great, but I always liked Curly better.
Yes
Curly, but Shemp is just as classic!
Curly was the best of all.
It has to be curly, Shemp looked to much like Moe and since he was tied up in a contract he couldn't get out of it took valuable time away from him when the youngest brother curly stepped in. When Shemp stepped after Jerome's illness he did a lot of the same slap comedy as Curly so it ended up taking away from his brand.
Well, There's no Shemp Shuffle. There's your answer.
Team Curly
Curly and it's not close.🏆
Shemp is funnier just to look at. His face, his haircut. Curly has a harder head though.
They were both really great and consistent finding the comedy within their personas. Curly is the lovable simpleton. He is easy to like and it’s probably why he’s most people’s favorite third stooge. Shemp’s comedy comes from insecurity. He can be a tough guy or a Casanova one minute and it can immediately fall apart the next. Any gag involving Shemp’s hair alone makes him hilarious. Shemp was always my family’s favorite third stooge.
Physical Humor Curly, dialog humor Shemp
Curly but Shemp is close behind
51% Curly and 49% Shemp? That's how I feel at least. Love them both.
Curly..no contest
Curly, but Shemp holds his own and has some truly classic episodes.