By Steve Marinucci
Published May 15, 1997, San Jose (CA) Mercury News
WHY, SOITINLY! STOOGES TO GET TELEVISION TRIBUTE
'GREATEST hits'' usually refers to music, but in tonight's ABC tribute to the Three Stooges (8-9 p.m., channels 7, 11), we're talking a legacy of slap-happy comedy.
Earl M. Benjamin, one of the show's executive producers, says the special, ''The Three Stooges' Greatest Hits,'' hosted by Martin Short, features footage ''that's been in the vaults awhile from the Stooges' heirs that's never been seen before.'' Those clips include a home movie of Moe, Larry and Curly hamming it up before Curly's wedding.
In addition, Short interacts in some Stooges scenes, Little Richard will perform a new version of ''The Curly Shuffle'' and ''Brady Bunch'' star Barry Williams will offer a Three Stooges takeoff on his show's theme song.
The special is one of a number of projects in the works by Comedy III Productions to keep the Stooges' name alive, according to Jean DeRita, widow of Stooge Curly Joe DeRita. Also planned are two books -- a biography and ''the ultimate Three Stooges encyclopedia''-- a feature film with three new actors taking over the Stooges roles, and a live show. The first in a chain of retail stores selling Stooges merchandise is also planned for Los Angeles.
DeRita, married for 27 years to Curly Joe, says the program brings back some nice memories. ''I get very emotional when I watch it.''
