It is surprising to be old enough to remember the 1980s and see how Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong are perceived today. These dumb fool dangerous Imaginable influences. His comedy albums and films were absolutely prohibited: representations of Pure Sin, celebrating sex and drugs and destructive behavior.
So, naturally, I looked for them and memorize them as much as I could. (I make a great Sister María Elephant.
And, of course, those films deserved their qualifications, but years later I recognized that Cheech & Chong were not crazy demonic, but Vaudevillian de la Vieja School shit Make fragments that only include material on smoking grass or hook with loose women. Actually, it is quite healthy when you look at it from a certain point of view.
Their careers (and lives) are reflected in their entirety in The last Cheech & Chong movieA new documentary that launched the (cough) 4/20. In him you will see all the classic bits of his years standing, his albums and his Central filmography“To see them Putz today as old.” There are some war stories of Hollywood repair days, as well as an idea of why possible are divided. There is also a fascinating look at his early years, when Tommy Chong was a guitarist and composer in a series of quite successful R&B griss, and when Cheech Marin studied to be a potter.
I had the great fortune to talk about Zoom, where they reminded me once again that Cheech “does not really sound like that”, but Chong … well, Chong does it a little. In fact, Cheech joined the zoom in a good connection on a desk in an office, while Tommy was on a phone that hunted in our talk. (Aw, man) in a way, he did ten more fun, and certainly grabbed me for the Boo Boo.
Decish: I feel that this documentary answered all the questions I have had about you. It is really good. I don’t know what is left to do.
Cheech Marin: only pays tribute.
Tommy Chong: But not paying fees.
We learn a lot about his years growing and how he fell into the world of improvisation theater, but not so much about the first influences for comedy.
Cheech: He was obsessed with comedy, a true student of her, either on the screen or in a record or reading Digest of the reader Stories I saw each comedian in the Ed Sullivan Showor whoever was on local television. There was a lot of that in Los Angeles on early television, comedians were the best to watch this “new medium”: television.
Chong: I grew up with the radio. Fortunately, the only one who wanted the radio in his room was me. My father was a truck driver and he was gone, my mother was not interested and Neith was my brother or sister. I was the right one, and I grew up with Jack Benny and Bob Hope and shows like The shadow and Amos and AndyIt was burned in my brain.
I remember the first comedy album I heard, was Andy Griffith. Do you remember that?
Blind [doing a Southern accent]: “Basebawl, is what Cawled was.”
Chong: No, no, it was football!
Cheech: Oh yes. “Footbawl”.
Chong: This was the first comedy I heard. It is like a type of Robin Williams, trying to describe football to a farmer. “You have to wear this cry through a field without Steppin” in Anythin. “This is far behind.
The movie does a good job explaining how you were the first “Rock ‘N’ Roll Comedians“And there is a great appointment of yours, Cheech, where you say that some critics thought that the humor of the culture and humor of the drug were too easy, but it was too easy, why was there no one else?
Chong: Yes!
Cheech: A boy, Pat Morita. You remember him as Mr. Miyagi. He was an early fan. I was in the multitude of Lenny Bruce, and with Lenny Bruce’s mother [talent recruiter Sally Marr]. Morita recognized what we were doing. At that moment he calls himself “the hip”, so he saw where we were going and we would cool the advice where he could.
What about George Carlin? There is some community with his work, especially his first days, was he friendly with you?
Cheech: I think only I only with him once. Or maybe ever with him.
Chong: He was in some of his programs, television pilots, where they tried different things. But, you know, when you are in those programs, you really don’t know the star. But when I met him, he was really shy. Like Robin Williams. It would be very silent.
The effect that Cheech and I had around the world of comedy was … [trails off.] Look, we are hurting only comedians, we were comedians who made their own films. We were in a special place, we were an alo … Anolo … anomaly? That is what is called?
Cheech: Yes.
Cheech & Chong has changed my life in many ways. On the one hand, if I am outside and smell marijuana, nine times I begin to hum “Pilot low” by war. This, for me, is Pot’s national anthem, and it is for you.
Cheech and Chong: Yes!
Did the war ever thanked you for putting them In smoke?
Cheech: Did they take them? Hmm. They used to open us for a long time on the road.
Chong: Yes, they were our opening act. We had a lot or big names that opened for us. [Including Bruce Springsteen – ed.] But it was our Roadie, Jimmy Root, after doing what we registered, found that perfect album to introduce us.
Cheech: And they still didn’t thank us! Still!
There is So much music In your work and you are Both musicians– What was the best concert you have attended?
Chong: How did you sit in the first row with the stones, do you remember? You never had tickets and ended on stage.
Blind [cracking up]: Oh yes! In Chicago in Soldier Field. It was a long history, but I ended up being paid on stage at a Stones concert. I thought I was going to play. I thought it was going to be a rolling stone, they would throw me a guitar.
It was quite interesting to see that size of a show, it was a great rock ‘n’ roll.
Wait, Mick Jagger introduced you? I said “AW correct”, Ere is Cheech! “
Cheech: Hey, I don’t know we were there, man. Two people who are with their old people on stage.
Tommy, the best show you have seen?
Chong: I have had many incredible moments. Once I spent an hour on stage with [jazz guitarist] Wes Montgomery. I was playing in a club in Vancouver, and everyone was waiting for a show, but made two shows. When he returned to the second show, everyone passed out. It was Junkie Heaven. I was the only boy who was in an upright position. So Wes did all his show, which was him and I talked about the guitar.
Can you imagine? Had nowhere to go, to sit there with me And answer my questions!
I have had some great experiences like that, as with Hendrix when I was with Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers. We were in England supporting Berry Gordy’s beautiful girlfriend, Chris Clark, and we made a concert in a place called The- The-[SILENCE! Chong’s Zoom winks out].
Cheech: That part has been removed by registration, otherwise it will be sued.
Chong [winking back in]: … so Jimi says I’ll play the bass! Then he takes poor Wes HendersonLow without treos and me and me Eddie Patterson Have our guitars, man, you want to talk[SILENCE! Chong’s Zoom winks out again].
Cheech: You can’t talk about that, he thought.
Cheech, what are you doing when this happens Chong simply evaporates in the ether in this way?
Cheech: Oh, you ask for a sandwich, take out a chair, ask for a drink, smoke a joint.
I guess we will talk about his solo work, Cheech, because Chong is not here, man.
Cheech: Did you really leave, chingo? Chingo Chongo, returns.
Oh, man, I broke Cheech & Chong!
Cheech: Okay, you can talk to me.
More vigorously, I am sure that everyone has been asking you this week, this crazy situation about the Boy who was sent to El Salvador“You can’t help thinking about your movie Born in East theAbout an accidentally swept and deported man.
Cheech: I’ve talked about that a lot of times Since the movie came out [in 1987] Because it continues to happen. This type of incident continues to happen, and the memory reaves with people. It’s as true as I made the movie.
Hopefully, huh … Hopefully I improve?
Cheech: So far he has not done so.
The documentary talks about his love for making ceramics when he was young, and how his interest there is what led him to Canada to meet Chong in the first place. I know you are still very active with healed art and organizing Cheech Marin Chicana Art and Culture CenterBut does it continue working in ceramics?
Cheech: partial. I obtained the “pot” part but not the “tery”.
No, I cooled it, because it is a very intensive process of several stages. You have to be There for all internships, and always traveling. I couldn’t continue, so I’m out of what is. But I yearn to each in a long time.
Is it the museum of what is most proud, outside your work with Tommy?
Cheech: Absolutely. People come from all over the world to see this museum. And it is just starting. The pride that gives the community is beyond belief.
Have you ever go there and imagine “I’m going to” go to my museum and see if someone recognizes me in the snack bar “?
Cheech: I have to use a costume. I go like Chong.
Clearly, it supports the decriminalization of marijuana that has happened in most, but not in all the United States. You have Made it a businesswhich is surprising because in many of the ancient albums the idea of legalizing marijuana was a phrase. My question is this: with decriminalization, the ventilate Or listen to a Cheech & Chong album or watch a Cheech & Chong movie has gone. Do you miss that in some way?
Cheech: Well, not necessarily. We always treat it as if wax Legal. There was no paranoia about it. Maybe some cases, as with “Dave is not here“Paranoia is part of this, but for us we operate as if it were part of life, part of our daily substance and the audience also had that feeling. Special in movies. Even scenes when The police were in the windowThere is never a “errrrrrrrrrrrr!” Son of real threat.
[Chong now kinda comes back to the Zoom. We see a black square with his name on it.]
Cheech: Tommy, can you hear me?
[To the melody of The Who’s “Tommy Can You Hear Me?”] Tommy, can you hear meeeeeee?
Cheech: hehe, yes. [Chong disappears again.]
Last question. I think of you as a man or a thousand voices. Just so far in your career, are you still playing and making funny voices in the shower?
Cheech: Do you have legs spying? Ohhhh, that’s a camera in the shower!
Listen, I do it all the time. My wife enters there “Who are you? talking TO? “” Ah, no, no, I’m, huh, singing. “” Aren “, you are making a strange voice!”
The last Cheech & Chong movie It is now in theaters. Showtimes and entries can be found in the Official website of the film.
Jordan Hoffman is a writer and critic in New York City. His work also appears in Vanity Fair, The Guardian and The Times of Israel. He is a member of the New York and Tweets film critics circle ate @Jhoffman About Phish and Star Trek.
