Cheech and Chong - Definition and Overview

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, a.k.a. Cheech and Chong, were a comedy duo who found a wide audience in the 1960s and 1970s for their stand-up routines, which were based upon the 1960s "hippie," "free love" and (especially) "drug culture" movements. Cheech played a cholo from Los Angeles, while Chong was a burnt-out "druggie" whose entire life revolved around getting high.

The duo released a number of successful comedy albums, and starred in a series of low-budget movies. Their best-known comedy sketches include "Earache My Eye," "Santa Claus and his Old Lady," and "Sister Mary Elephant." Perhaps their all-time most famous line is "Dave's not here, man".

Image of the Cheech and Chong comedy album Cheech and Chong's Greatest Hit.

The duo separated in the 1980s due to creative differences. Cheech Marin worked on a solo career, finding success in a one-hit wonder song entitled "Born In East L.A." (based on Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."). He did character voices for several animated feature films, including Disney's Oliver and Company (1988), as well as starring in various comedy films including Shrimp on the Barbie. and as a lead in the CBS television series Nash Bridges.

Tommy Chong also pursued a solo career, starring in such comedies as Far Out Man. He had co-starred on the Fox Television series That '70s Show where he still played a burnt-out hippie.

Tommy Chong's California-based company, Chong Glass, was raided by federal officials on February 25, 2003, as part of a federal crackdown on "drug-related paraphernalia." Tommy Chong pleaded guilty to charges of distributing drug paraphernalia in May and on September 11, 2003 was sentenced to 9 months in federal prison, fined USD$20,000, and forced to forfeit USD$120,000 in assets. He served the time between October 8, 2003 and July 7, 2004.

Comedy Albums

• 1971 Cheech & Chong
• 1972 Big Bambu
• 1973 Los Cochinos
• 1974 Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album (contains Earache My Eye)
• 1976 Sleeping Beauty
• 1979 Up in Smoke (Soundtrack)
• 1980 Let's Make a New Dope Deal
• 1981 Cheech and Chong's Greatest Hit
• 1985 Get Out of My Room
• 2002 Cheech and Chong Anthology

Filmography (Cheech and Chong)

• 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)

External links

• The Official Cheech and Chong home page (http://www.cheechandchong.com)