Cheech & Chong

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, an American and a Canadian respectively, formed their comedy duo in Vancouver. Their act, built on the hippie and free love era, the drug and counterculture movements, and a fondness for cannabis, brought them major commercial and cultural success during the 1970s and 1980s through stand-up, albums, and movies.

The pair first met in Vancouver in 1969. Chong, a Canadian, had started an improv group called City Works after seeing Second City while touring as a musician. Marin had moved north from Southern California to dodge the Vietnam War draft. City Works performed at Shanghai Junk, a strip club owned by Chong’s family, as part of a “hippie burlesque.” Marin briefly filled in as the group’s straight man. According to Chong’s autobiography, one night they came out to warm up a crowd for a new band of Chong’s but stayed onstage because the audience laughed so hard. Since the improv group hadn’t made money at the club—it drew big crowds that spent little—they decided to work as a duo and try other venues. After finding success, they moved to Los Angeles.

They did stand-up, put out many hit comedy albums, and starred in a string of low-budget films. Famous routines and songs include “Earache My Eye,” “Basketball Jones,” “Santa Claus and His Old Lady,” and “Sister Mary Elephant.” Their most iconic line, “Dave’s not here,” comes from their debut album. In 1974, they sang background vocals on “Twisted” for Joni Mitchell’s *Court and Spark*. The next year, they appeared on Hoyt Axton’s “No No Song” from his album *Southbound*, credited with “attempted temptation.” Their first feature film, *Up in Smoke*, came out in 1978 and grossed over $44 million on a tiny budget, leading to two sequels: *Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie* (1980) and *Nice Dreams* (1981). Later films—*Things Are Tough All Over* (1982), *Still Smokin* (1983), and the stoner-comedy departure *Cheech & Chong’s The Corsican Brothers* (1984)—were less successful. In 1979, Mira Costa College gave them the Comedy Medal. They had small supporting roles in Graham Chapman’s *Yellowbeard* (1983) and Martin Scorsese’s *After Hours* (1985). Their 1985 album *Get Out of My Room* featured the novelty hit “Born in East L.A.,” which later inspired a 1987 film starring Marin. Right after that album, Marin started a solo career, stepping away from their drug-themed act.

The duo split contentiously in the 1980s and didn’t work together for years. In 1992, they reunited to voice characters in the animated film *FernGully: The Last Rainforest*. In 1997, Chong appeared on Marin’s TV show *Nash Bridges* in an episode that referenced their “Dave” skit. In 2000, they voiced characters on *South Park* for the episode “Cherokee Hair Tampons,” but recorded separately. A 2003 episode of *Biography* showed they were open to reuniting. Plans for a new film were interrupted in February 2003 when federal agents raided Chong’s California company, Chong’s Glass, as part of a crackdown on drug paraphernalia. To keep his wife and son out of jail, Chong pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute drug paraphernalia in May 2003. In September, he got nine months in federal prison, a $20,000 fine, and forfeited $120,000 in assets. Released in July 2004, his cellmate was Jordan Belfort. In 2007, Chong appeared as a commentator in Brett Harvey’s marijuana advocacy documentary *The Union: The Business Behind Getting High*, discussing cannabis issues and his 2003 charge. The film also featured former Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell, seed retailer Marc Emery, and other advocates. In September 2008, Cheech and Chong reunited for the Light Up America comedy tour, starting in Ottawa and appearing on *The Bob & Tom Show*. On November 5, 2008, they released a Funny or Die video, “Cheech and Chong Get Out the Vote!,” urging people to vote the day after the election. On November 30, 2008, TBS aired a roast special, *Cheech & Chong: Roasted*, hosted by Brad Garrett at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas during The Comedy Festival, with guests including Chong’s wife. In March 2009, they recorded two shows at San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre for a reunion tour DVD. On April 17, 2009, during the Sydney leg of their “Cheech and Chong Light Up Australia” tour, police and drug dogs delayed the show, searching about 50 people and making six arrests.