Cheech and Chong Buds Again

Iconic '70s stoners are back to prove they're doper than ever

By Josh Grossberg Jul 29, 2008 7:25 PMTags
Cheech Marin, Tommy ChongAP Photo/Matt Sayles

Harold and Kumar: a couple of pretenders. Those Judd Apatow-sanctioned stoners in Knocked Up and Pineapple Express: rank amateurs. Don't even mention Weeds.

No, get ready for the real-deal dope show: Cheech and Chong are firing up a new tour.

The iconic ganja kings are set to reunite for their first series of stage shows in more than a quarter-century.

Reps for Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong have called a press conference for Wednesday to unveil plans for the pair's Live Nation-promoted Hey, What's That Smell? tour. The event is scheduled to take place at West Hollywood's Troubadour, the club where the comedy duo first got rolling.

Cheech and Chong teamed up from 1972 to 1985, releasing nine marijuana-powered comedy albums and eight movies, including the cult hits Up in Smoke and Cheech and Chong's Next Movie.

After they split, Marin reinvented himself as a character actor, while, aside from a stint on That '70s Show, Chong become public enemy No. 1.

Just as he and Marin were beginning to talk a reunion, Chong's head shop was raided in 2003 and he was charged with conspiracy to distribute drug paraphernalia across state lines. The comic ended up serving nine months in federal custody and paid thousands in fines.

With stoner comedy back in vogue, and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Up in Smoke, Cheech and Chong decided the timing was right for a new joint venture.