Cheech & Chong still smokin' on reunion tour

By John Benson

You never know what you’re going to get with Cheech & Chong.

Actually, that’s not true at all. For the most part, you know exactly what the ’70s stoner comedy duo – known for its various hit movies, including their 1978 debut feature film, “Up In Smoke,” which was the highest grossing comedy (over $100 million) of 1978 – is capable of. However, the one caveat is apparently you never know what you’re going to get when interviewing Cheech Marin, 62, and Tommy Chong, 70.

At least that’s what the Youngstown Vindicator found out recently during a phone interview with both entertainers who are promoting their “Light Up America” reunion tour, which comes to Cleveland Friday at the State Theatre. Specifically what was somewhat surreal was the conversation unexpectedly featured Cheech & Chong going in and out of character. Here a sampling of the insanity, hilarity and comedic stylings fans can expect to see in person at their upcoming gig.

Q. After over 20 years apart, why is America so excited about the Cheech & Chong reunion?

TC. Because in these economic times, you need an escape and what better way to escape than with a smokeless joint in Cheech & Chong.

Q. So why tour now?

TC. God came to us in the form of a burning bush.

CM. He said, “Now is the time. Lead my people out of the wilderness of the Bush years.”

TC. God said America needs a laugh.

Q. Back in the '70s you guys provided plenty of laughs for baby boomers. How big of a market was Cleveland for the act?

CM. It was a big market for us. I remember staying at Swingos, the show business hotel. It was great. One time we were there and it was us, Toto and the cast of ‘Bubbling Brown Sugar.’ There was a party on every floor.

TC. And the Buzzard (WMMS-FM 100.7), I still have some T-shirts from them.

Q. In looking back at the rise and reign of Cheech & Chong, how do you feel the act was viewed by other comedians and industry insiders?

TC. We never did get kudos from comedians. Comedians kind of looked at us, and as a matter of fact we looked at ourselves, as more like a music act that did comedy. There was always music in our act somewhere. And we were the only comedians that had music. And then Steve Martin came along with ‘King Tut,’ but I think we got a lot of bad raps because of the dope content of our act. Because we weren’t comedians doing dope jokes, we were dopers doing comedian jokes.

CM. They were all just jealous (expletive) anyways.

Q. Speaking of your legacy, in recent years it appears as though Hollywood has rediscovered the comedic power of marijuana with hit films such as “Knocked Up” and “Pineapple Express” containing so many pot-flavored storylines.

CM. It’s like we were the father of those kids.

TC. We actually capitalize on it. Whenever they’re successful, then the rentals of our movies increase. So we get the residual effect. They’ll say, “I want to rent ‘Pineapple Express,’ and I want to rent ‘Up in Smoke,’ ‘Nice Dreams’ and ‘Next Movie.’” So it all helps. I’m a big fan of Seth…what’s his name? Rogen. And I like his brother Joe Rogan.

CM. And the fact that he came up with that hair restoration cream.

TC. Oh yeah, Rogaine.

Q. Considering these are different times than the ’70s, are audiences still partaking in a certain Cheech & Chong-friendly pastime while attending your shows?

TC. I was going to tell you I quit smoking pot but I quit buying pot. If I want to get high I just go to a Cheech & Chong concert.

Q. Tommy, after recently watching your “a/k/a Tommy Chong” documentary, which details how you were arrested and subsequently sent to jail for nine months for selling drug paraphernalia, do you feel as though you’re a martyr for the marijuana movement?

TC. Yes I do, and I expect to get paid for it. I’ve got a feeling that we’re going to get marijuana reclassified and out of the schedule 1 thing and into an herbal classification to just end all of this foolishness. And then Cheech & Chong will really own the world.

Q. So what does the future of Cheech & Chong look like?

TC. We’re going to probably run for a political office. I think we’d make good drug czars.

CM. Cheech & Chong should run for God.

TC. No, I don’t want the responsibility.

CM. OK, vice-God.

TC. I’ll settle for drug czar. I want to be the guy that tells everybody what drugs to take.

Q. Any chance of a new movie or album from Cheech & Chong?

CM. We’re going to start making vinyl because the record industry is so vinyl now.

TC. No, we’re going to do ringtones. The future is in ringtones, and we’re going to make garden gnomes. Wouldn’t that be great, Cheech & Chong garden gnomes.