I’m thinking it was the coming of age of the last generation to regularly watch the Stooges in their childhood, when they were regularly on TV.

In the 70s, the Stooges had a couple of TV cartoons, Robotic Stooges from 1977, and reruns of the New 3 Stooges from 1965, and also reruns of the live action Stooges show from 1960-1972

They also appeared as guest stars on Hanna Barbera shows like Scooby Doo.