Ep 12. Brideless Groom

In "Brideless Groom," season 5 episode 12 of the Three Stooges Collection, the trio find themselves caught up in a chaotic and hilarious search for a bride. The episode opens with the boys gathered around the bedside of their friend and landlord, Shemp. His uncle has just passed away, and according to the will, Shemp will inherit $500,000 - but only on the condition that he gets married before 6 o'clock that evening.

With the clock ticking, the Stooges set out to find Shemp a bride. What follows is a series of misadventures and comedic mishaps as they try to locate a suitable match in time. Their efforts lead them to a variety of potential candidates, including a burlesque dancer, a blacksmith, and an aging opera singer. Each encounter is more absurd than the last, and the Stooges' attempts to win over these women are met with nothing but chaos and slapstick humor.

As the deadline draws nearer, the boys grow increasingly desperate. They resort to desperate measures, including faking a wedding ceremony and even kidnapping a bride-to-be. Meanwhile, Shemp's own efforts to woo a potential bride - the beautiful and aloof Miss Hopkins - are repeatedly foiled by the Stooges' bumbling antics.

In typical Three Stooges fashion, "Brideless Groom" is chock-full of physical comedy, sight gags, and rapid-fire puns. The Stooges' performances are as energetic and outrageous as ever, with Moe dishing out his signature slaps and punches, Larry providing the lovable buffoonery, and Shemp delivering his trademark screeches and yelps. The episode's plot may be simple, but the Stooges' zany antics and quick-witted banter keep the laughs coming from start to finish.

One of the episode's standout scenes involves the Stooges visiting a fortune teller in search of guidance. The seer - played by frequent Stooges collaborator Emil Sitka - predicts that the boys will experience great misfortune in the pursuit of love. Undeterred, the Stooges press on with their search, only to find that the fortune teller's prediction couldn't be more accurate.

As the finale approaches, the Stooges find themselves in a series of increasingly absurd predicaments - including a wild car chase and a chaotic confrontation with a gang of angry suitors. But even as the clock runs out and Shemp's chances of receiving his inheritance seem dashed, the boys remain determined to succeed. Whether they manage to pull off a last-minute miracle or fall flat on their faces, "Brideless Groom" is a classic Three Stooges romp that is sure to leave audiences laughing out loud.