''Jerks of All Trades'' (identified on the title card only as ''“The Three Stooges”'') is the title of an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

television pilot filmed on October 12, 1949. It was

The Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short-subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical, farce, and slapstick comedy. Six total ...

' first and only pilot made with

Shemp Howard Shemp Howard (born Samuel Horwitz; March 11, 1895 – November 22, 1955) was an American comedian and actor. He is best known as the third Stooge in The Three Stooges, a role he played when the act began in the early 1920s (1923–1932), while i ...

in the role of the third stooge. Filmed before a live

studio audience A studio audience is an audience present for the recording of all or part of a television program or radio program. The primary purpose of the studio audience is to provide applause and/or laughter to the program's soundtrack (as opposed to canne ...

, it was a pilot for a planned TV series on the then-new

ABC Television Network The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network that serves as the flagship property of the Disney Entertainment division of the Walt Disney Company. ABC is headquartered on Riverside ...

. The pilot film is currently in the

public domain The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no Exclusive exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly Waiver, waived, or may be inapplicable. Because no one holds ...

and is available on home video. The pilot was not broadcast, and the series never went into production due to objections from

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

, who held the trio under contract. To avert a legal hassle, Columbia instead licensed a package of 30 shorts from the film series to

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.Grossman, Gary H. ''Saturday Morning TV'', Dell Publishing, 1981

Plot

The series entails the Stooges exploring various occupations weekly in pursuit of potential success, with each endeavor invariably descending into chaos, thus providing comedic fodder. In the pilot episode, they venture into the realm of interior decorating. Upon meeting their new client, Mr. Pennyfeather, Shemp inadvertently stains Pennyfeather's attire, provoking his ire. Subsequently, The Stooges engage Pennyfeather in a mischievous challenge, featuring their renowned "Texas" routine. Amidst slapstick antics, they forcibly remove Pennyfeather from their office. Shortly thereafter, they are summoned by another client to manage her household. Within the confines of the client's residence, The Stooges, while attempting wallpapering, inadvertently wreak havoc. To their dismay, the client turns out to be Mrs. Pennyfeather, and the house is revealed to be Mr. Pennyfeather's domicile. In a tumultuous turn of events, Mr. Pennyfeather returns home to find himself adorned with wallpaper, prompting a recognition between him and The Stooges. Enraged, both Pennyfeathers assail The Stooges with paint and utensils, while also exchanging barbs over their decision to engage the trio. Ultimately, Moe, Larry, and Shemp emerge defeated and injured, leading them to expunge "interior decorators" from the plethora of services listed on their office door. The list humorously includes a variety of comically misspelled potential occupations for future episodes, ranging from physicians and lawyers to engineers and babysitters.

References

External links

*
''Jerks of All Trades'' at ThreeStooges.net
* {{ThreeStooges The Three Stooges Television pilots not picked up as a series Unaired television pilots

Plot

See also

References

External links