While his screen persona is arguably the least defined of the Three Stooges, Larry Fine is frequently argued as the glue that holds the act together. While not as driven as Moe, as wild as Curly, or as physical as Shemp, Larry's role as the relative voice of reason (and his penchant for bizarre ad-libs) adds ballast to many a Stooges short. That, combined with his almost musically-acute sense of timing, means that studious viewers will easily find many ways in which Larry Fine's performance elevates the humor in most anything he appeared in.
Ryan is joined by Rachel for a close reading of four Three Stooges shorts, ranging from the very first one to Larry's personal favorite. A brief overview of Larry Fine's life, career, and legacy is also presented. Thematic talking points center on the philosophical possibilities inherent to comedy, a winding discourse that touches upon points made by Aristotle, Lenny Bruce, Kant, and Dave Attell. Naturally, Ryan and Rachel also discuss how the impact of the Three Stooges compares to the contributions made by the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Mr. Bean, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Dave Chappelle.