Editing Cheech & Chong (section)

==Career==

===Early years===
[[File:Cheech and Chong 1972.JPG|thumb|left|Cheech and Chong in the early 1970s]]
The duo met in [[Vancouver|Vancouver, British Columbia]], in 1969. Chong was a Canadian citizen, and Cheech had moved there from [[Southern California]] to avoid the draft at the height of the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Greasy Love Songs |title-link=Cruising with Ruben & the Jets |others=Frank Zappa |year=2009 |first=Cheech |last=Marin |publisher=[[Zappa Records]] }}</ref> Chong had formed an improv group called "City Works" after seeing Second City Improv while touring as a musician. City Works performed as part of a "hippie [[burlesque]]" at Shanghai Junk, a [[strip club]] owned by Chong's family. Marin briefly joined City Works as a replacement for the original straight man.<ref name=autobiography>{{cite book |title=Cheech & Chong: the unauthorized autobiography|author=Tommy Chong |year=2008 |publisher=Simon Spotlight Entertainment |page=70-84}}</ref>

According to Chong's book ''The Unauthorized Autobiographyæ'', the two came out one night to warm up the crowd for a new musical group of Chong's, but never relinquished the stage due to the audience's strong laughter. As the improv group had not been a financial success at the strip club—they drew a large but low-spending crowd—the two decided to form a comedy duo and play different venues. Successful as a duo, they eventually moved to Los Angeles.<ref name=autobiography/>

===Mainstream success===

The pair performed stand-up shows, released many successful comedy record albums, and starred in a series of low-budget films.<ref name=NYT/> Some of their best-known comedy routines and songs include "[[Earache My Eye]]", "[[Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces|Basketball Jones]]", "[[Santa Claus and His Old Lady]]", and "[[Sister Mary Elephant]]". Perhaps their most famous line is ''"Dave's not here",'' from their [[Cheech and Chong (album)|self-titled debut album]].

Their early success culminated with the release of their first feature-length movie, ''[[Up in Smoke]]'', in 1978.<ref name=NYT/> It became a [[cult classic]], and was also successful enough at the box office (grossing over $44&nbsp;million despite a low budget)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=upinsmoke.htm|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|title=Up in Smoke, Box Office Information|access-date=June 25, 2012|archive-date=June 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608010623/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=upinsmoke.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> to warrant two sequels: ''[[Cheech and 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 (film)|Still Smokin]]'' (1983). The pair attempted a departure from their stoner comedy with 1984's ''[[Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers]]''. Their most recent starring vehicle as a duo was 2014's ''[[Cheech & Chong's Animated Movie]]''.

Chong directed four of their films while co-writing and starring in all seven with Marin.

They also appeared in smaller supporting roles in [[Graham Chapman]]'s ''[[Yellowbeard]]'' and [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[After Hours (film)|After Hours]]'', as well as a Joni Mitchell song ("Twisted" on the album ''[[Court and Spark]]'').

In 1985 the duo released their album ''Get Out of My Room'', which included the novelty hit song "[[Born in East L.A. (song)|Born in East L.A.]]" (based on [[Bruce Springsteen]]'s "[[Born in the U.S.A. (song)|Born in the U.S.A.]]").  This song later served as the basis for the 1987 [[Born in East L.A. (film)|film of the same title]], in which Marin played the starring role. Immediately following the release of the album, Marin separated himself from the pair's drug-inspired act by working on a solo career. <!-- Marin and Chong have articles describing their solo careers in more detail. -->

===Reunion===
After their contentious parting in the 1980s,<ref>{{cite book |last=Marin |first=Cheech |date=2017 |title=Cheech is not my real name – but don't call me Chong! |location=New York |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |pages=175–178 |isbn=9781455592340 |author-link=Cheech Marin }}</ref> 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]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wollman |first=Jane |date=8 May 1992 |title=Speaking Up Stars lend their voices to animated characters |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |page=1G }}</ref> In 1997, Chong made an appearance on Marin's TV series ''[[Nash Bridges]]'', in an episode titled "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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/news/355585/116-breayle-april-23-2001|title=116 - breayle: April 23, 2001 - News - South Park Studios|publisher=South Park Studios|date=April 22, 2001|access-date=December 27, 2012}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Both Marin and Chong indicated in a 2003 episode of ''[[Biography (TV series)|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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/jordan-belfort-cringeworthy-la-convention-center-2014-11 |title=Jordan Belfort Cringeworthy Talk At LA Convention Center |publisher=Business Insider |date=2014-11-03 |access-date=2015-08-25 |archive-date=August 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827074743/http://www.businessinsider.com/jordan-belfort-cringeworthy-la-convention-center-2014-11 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cinemablend.com/music/Cheech-And-Chong-Light-Up-America-On-Reunion-Tour-11540.html |title=Cheech And Chong Light Up America On Reunion Tour |publisher=Cinemablend.com |date=2008-07-31 |access-date=2015-08-25 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727203822/https://www.cinemablend.com/music/Cheech-And-Chong-Light-Up-America-On-Reunion-Tour-11540.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> which opened in [[Ottawa]], making a radio program appearance on ''[[The Bob & Tom Show]]''. In March 2009, they recorded two shows at the [[Majestic Theatre (San Antonio, Texas)|Majestic Theatre]] in [[San Antonio]] for a DVD release of the reunion tour.

In 2011, both performers were guests stars on the animated sitcom ''[[The Simpsons]]'', on the episode "[[A Midsummer's Nice Dream]]". The episode focuses on a fictitious separation of the duo, with [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] taking Chong's place.

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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.celebstoner.com/news/celebstoner-news/2014/03/23/new-cheech-and-chong-movie-in-the-works/|title=New Cheech & Chong Movie in the Works|date=March 24, 2014|access-date=May 5, 2014|archive-date=May 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504004350/http://www.celebstoner.com/news/celebstoner-news/2014/03/23/new-cheech-and-chong-movie-in-the-works/|url-status=live}}</ref>