Cheech & Chong
Cheech & Chong | |
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![]() Tommy Chong and Richard "Cheech" Marin in 2009
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Medium | Stand-up, television, film, books, radio |
Nationality | American, Canadian |
Years active | 1971–1985; 2002–present |
Genres | Latino comedy, stoner comedy |
Subject(s) | Recreational drug use, drug culture |
Notable works and roles | Up in Smoke (1978) That '70s Show Nash Bridges |
Cheech & Chong are a Grammy Award–winning comedy duo consisting of Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong[1] who found a wide audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their films and stand-up routines, which were based on the hippie and free love era, and especially drug and counterculture movements, most notably their love for cannabis.[1]
Contents
Career[edit]
The duo met in Vancouver, British Columbia in the late 1960s. Chong was a Canadian citizen, and Cheech had moved there from Southern California to avoid the draft at the height of the Vietnam War.[2] The pair performed stand-up shows, released many successful comedy record albums, and starred in a series of low-budget films.[1] Some of their best-known comedy routines and songs include "Earache My Eye", "Basketball Jones", "Santa Claus and His Old Lady", and "Sister Mary Elephant". Perhaps their most famous line is "Dave's not here", from their self-titled debut album.
Their early success culminated with the release of their first feature-length movie, Up in Smoke, in 1978.[1] It became something of a cult classic, and was also successful enough at the box office (grossing over $44 million despite a low budget)[3] to warrant two sequels: Cheech & Chong's Next Movie in 1980, and Nice Dreams in 1981. These were followed by the less successful Things Are Tough All Over (1982) and Still Smokin (1983). The pair attempted a departure from their stoner comedy with 1984's Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers.
Tommy Chong directed four of their films while co-writing and starring in all seven with Cheech Marin.
They also appeared in smaller supporting roles in Graham Chapman's Yellowbeard and Martin Scorsese's After Hours.
In 1985 the duo released their album Get Out of My Room, which included the novelty hit song, "Born in East L.A." (based on Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."). This song would later serve as the basis for 1987 film of the same name, in which Cheech Marin played the starring role. Immediately following the release of the album, Cheech Marin separated himself from the pair's drug-inspired act by working on a solo career.
Reunion[edit]
After their contentious parting in the 1980s, the duo spent years without working together. In 1992 the two worked together for the first time in several years, voicing characters in the animated film FernGully: The Last Rainforest.[4] In 1997, Chong made an appearance on Marin's TV series Nash Bridges, in an episode entitled "Wild Card", which contained a reference to their iconic "Dave" skit from their 1972 debut album. In 2000 both performers voiced characters in the animated television series South Park for the episode "Cherokee Hair Tampons", but their voices were recorded separately.[5] Both Marin and Chong indicated in a 2003 episode of Biography that they were willing to reunite.
The duo had plans to reunite for another film when Chong's California-based company, Chong's Glass, was raided by federal officials in February 2003, as part of a federal crackdown on "drug-related paraphernalia". In a plea bargain which allowed his son and wife to remain out of jail, Chong pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to distribute drug paraphernalia in May, and in September 2003 was sentenced to nine months in federal prison, fined $20,000, and forced to forfeit $120,000 in assets. He was released in July 2004. His cellmate was Jordan Belfort.[6]
With Chong released, the duo planned to resume production on a reunion film. A variety of titles were rumored, including Grumpy Old Stoners. But they announced in September 2005 that the reunion film had been canceled. Beginning in September 2008, Cheech and Chong reunited for the Light Up America comedy tour[7] which opened in Ottawa, making a radio appearance on The Bob & Tom Show. In March 2009, they recorded two shows at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio for a DVD release of the reunion tour.
In August 2012, Cheech & Chong appeared at the 13th annual Gathering of the Juggalos in Cave-in-Rock, IL.
In February 2014, Cheech and Chong appeared on an episode of Tom Green Live. In March 2014, they announced they were working on a new movie, with writer/director Jay Chandrasekhar.[8]
Additional notable media appearances[edit]
In 2007, Adam Scorgie's marijuana advocacy documentary The Union: The Business Behind Getting High starred Tommy Chong as a commentator about marijuana related issues and for his drug paraphernalia charge in 2003. The film had many other notable names such as former Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell, Canadian marijuana seed retailer Marc Emery, Canadian baking marijuana icon "Watermelon Girl", and other marijuana advocates like Author & Former 'Pot TV' Manager Chris Bennett and former High Times editor Steve Bloom.
On November 5, 2008, Cheech and Chong reunited for a timely message in a video on Funny or Die to encourage people to get out and vote on Wednesday, November 5, the day after the election. The video was titled "Cheech and Chong Get Out the Vote!".[9]
On November 30, 2008, Cheech & Chong were honored during the roast special Cheech & Chong: Roasted on TBS hosted by Brad Garrett which included other guests, among them Chong's wife. The event was filmed at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas during The Comedy Festival.[10][11]
On April 17, 2009, while on the Sydney leg of their "Cheech and Chong Light Up Australia" Tour, they had to delay the start of their show as it became the target of a drug operation by the New South Wales Police. About 25 police and four drug dogs were involved, searching around 50 people, with six people caught in possession of small amounts of cannabis.[12]
On January 25, 2010, Cheech & Chong appeared on Lopez Tonight. During a singing segment they started to perform their song "Mexican Americans", but it turned into "Get It Legal", in reference to their current U.S. tour. On March 1, 2010, Cheech & Chong were the guest hosts of WWE Raw in Oklahoma City.[13][14][15] On April 20, 2010 (4/20) Cheech and Chong's Hey, Watch This, the DVD filmed in San Antonio on March 14, 2009 was released.
In September 2011, Cheech & Chong appeared in a viral video posted on YouTube which at first appeared to be a trailer for a (non-existent) upcoming movie titled Cheech & Chong's Magic Brownie Adventure, but which at the end revealed itself to be a commercial for Fiber One 100-calorie snack brownies.[16]
In 2012, actor Tommy Chong revealed to CNN's Don Lemon that he is battling prostate cancer. It is unknown how this will affect any future projects.[17]
On September 28, 2014 they were guests of Doug Benson on his podcast Getting Doug with High.[18]
Discography[edit]
Albums[edit]
- Cheech & Chong (1971) US #28
- Big Bambu (1972) US #2
- Los Cochinos (1973) US #2
- Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album (1974) US #5
- Sleeping Beauty (1976) US #25
- Up in Smoke (soundtrack) 1979 US #162
- Let's Make a New Dope Deal (1980) US #173
- Get Out of My Room (1985) US #111
- Cheech & Chong's Greatest Hit (compilation, 1981)
- Where There's Smoke There's Cheech & Chong (compilation, 2002)
- Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie! Musical Soundtrack (soundtrack, 2013)
Singles[edit]
Released | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Peak chart position | Album |
---|---|---|---|
December 1971 | "Santa Claus and his Old Lady" b/w "Dave" (from Cheech and Chong) |
- | Non-album track |
August 1973 | "Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces" b/w "Don't Bug Me" |
15 | Los Cochinos |
November 1973 | "Sister Mary Elephant (SHUDD-UP!)" b/w "Wink Dinkerson" (from Cheech and Chong) |
24 | Big Bambu |
July 1974 | "Earache My Eye" b/w "Turn That Thing Down" (Non-album track) |
9 | Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album |
October 1974 | "Black Lassie" b/w "Coming Attractions" |
55 | |
September 1975 | "(How I Spent My Summer Vacation) Or A Day At The Beach With Pedro & Man" (Parts I and II) |
54 | Non-album tracks |
May 1976 | "Framed" b/w "Pedro's Request" |
41 | Sleeping Beauty |
October 1977 | "Bloat On" b/w "Just Say "Right On" (The Bloaters' Creed)" (Non-album track) |
41 | Let's Make A New Dope Deal |
December 1977 | "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" b/w "Santa Claus and His Old Lady" (Non-album track) |
- | |
August 1978 | "Up In Smoke" b/w "Rock Fight" |
- | "Up In Smoke" soundtrack |
September 1985 | "Born In East L.A." b/w "I'm A (Modern) Man" |
48 | Get Out Of My Room |
November 1985 | "I'm Not Home Right Now" b/w "Hot Saki" (Non-album track) |
- |
Filmography[edit]
Primary films[edit]
- Up in Smoke (1978)
- Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980)
- Nice Dreams (1981)
- Things Are Tough All Over (1982)
- Still Smokin (1983)
- Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984)
- Get Out of My Room (1985)
- Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie (2013)
- Up in Smoke 2 (TBA)
Secondary films[edit]
- Cheech & Chong Perform / Cheech & Chong Perform Again?! (concert films, 1978)
- A pre-Up in Smoke live performance, split over two separate VHS releases.
- It Came from Hollywood (compilation, 1982)
- Yellowbeard (1983)
- Born in East LA (1987)
- A spin-off from Get Out of My Room. Often considered a Cheech & Chong film (and has been packaged on DVD as part of the series both in America and overseas), though Tommy Chong does not appear in the film.
- Far Out Man (1990)
- From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
- a/k/a Tommy Chong (documentary, 2006)
- Cheech & Chong's Hey, Watch This! (concert film, 2010)
Notable side projects[edit]
- After Hours (1985)
- Both Cheech and Chong appear.
- "Rude Awakening" (1989)
- Cheech only
- The Shrimp on the Barbie (1990)
- Cheech only, though marketed in Germany as a Cheech & Chong-related film under the title Cheech ohne Chong - Jetzt rauchts in Neuseeland (loosely translated as 'Cheech without Chong - Smoking in New Zealand').
- FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
- Both Cheech and Chong provide character voices.
- The Cisco Kid (1994)
- Cheech only, though marketed in Germany as a Cheech & Chong-related film under the title Cheech ohne Chong - Jetzt rauchts in Wilden Westen (loosely translated as 'Cheech without Chong - Smoking in The Wild West').
- A Million to Juan (1994)
- Only a small role by Cheech, though still included in the "Cheech & Chong's Smoke Box" DVD set.
- McHale's Navy (1997)
- Two small roles by Tommy Chong, though still included in the "Cheech & Chong's Smoke Box" DVD set.
- Evil Bong (2006)
- Tommy Chong only, though still included in the "Cheech & Chong's Smoke Box" DVD set, among others.
- Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (2011)
- Both Cheech and Chong provide character voices.
Mobile applications[edit]
Cheech and Chong's The Fatty (2011)[19]
References[edit]
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- ^ a b c d "Up In Smoke". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
- ^ Marin, Cheech (2009). Greasy Love Songs (Media notes). Frank Zappa. Zappa Records.
- ^ "Up in Smoke, Box Office Information". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ Wollman, Jane (8 May 1992). "Speaking Up Stars lend their voices to animated characters". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 1G.
- ^ "116 - breayle: April 23, 2001 - News - South Park Studios". South Park Studios. April 22, 2001. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ "Jordan Belfort Cringeworthy Talk At LA Convention Center". Business Insider. 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
- ^ "Cheech And Chong Light Up America On Reunion Tour". Cinemablend.com. 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
- ^ "New Cheech & Chong Movie in the Works". March 24, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- ^ "Cheech and Chong Get Out the Vote!". Funnyordie.com. March 22, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- ^ Gallagher, Brian (November 18, 2008). "Cheech and Chong Set to Be Roasted". Movie Web. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- ^ "Cheech & Chong: Roasted". The Comedy Festival. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- ^ "Cheech and Chong fans busted for marijuana possession". Herald Sun. April 17, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- ^ "www.wwe.com". www.wwe.com. 2010-11-29. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- ^ McNichol, Rob (2010-03-02). "Raw, what is it good for?". The Sun. London. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
- ^ Adkins, Greg (2009-03-01). "A long, strange trip to WrestleMania". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
- ^ "Magic Brownie Adventure Movie". YouTube. September 12, 2011.
- ^ "Tommy Chong Cancer: 'Cheech And Chong' Star Battling Prostate Cancer". Huffingtonpost.com. June 10, 2012. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
- ^ Benson, Doug (2014-09-29). "Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong | Getting Doug with High". YouTube. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
- ^ "Cheech and Chong's The Fatty App". MEDL Mobile.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Official Live Nation Tour website
- HoboTrashcan's One on One with Tommy Chong An in-depth interview about politics, Cheech and Chong and Tommy's wife and kids
- L.A. Weekly photographs of Cheech and Chong's "Light Up America" reunion show at the Roxy Theater, September 18, 2008
- Cheech and Chong interview over reunion, "Light Up America" tour. December 10, 2008 The Riverfront Times
- Submerge magazine interview with Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, Jan. 2009
- First to confirm "Up in Smoke 2" Chronicles of The Nerds Interview with Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, Feb. 2010
- review, Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This by UnRated magazine