Keep in mind when the Stooges came on the scene. There was a major depression going on and their antics were so outrageous that they made people laugh in spite of their situation.

The earlier shorts with Curly were the best but some of the very earliest with Shemp were also good.

While we're at it I'd like to point out that although I watched at lot of the Stooges as a kid I never once had the urge to hit someone with a hammer in real life. Well, I did have the urge with some people ... we won't go there.