Cheech & Chong 2.0: Tamer, Wiser, and Digital
- Details
- Category: Interviews
- Created: Thursday, 29 April 2010 17:00
- Published: Thursday, 29 April 2010 17:00
- Written by Lupe Haas
Watch Cheech & Chong's RED BAND Trailer 
Much has changed since their hugely popular cult film Up In Smoke debuted in 1978, but Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong remain strong on the subject of legalizing marijuana and playing up the slacker role. Cheech and Chong sat down with CineMovie to talk about their new audience, medicinal marijuana, and why they reunited.
Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong partnered up again in 2008 for a stage tour and filmed the San Antonio show for Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This. While Chong jokes 'money' was the reason for their reunion, Cheech admits he missed the stage and touring. "I couldn't access that part of my past. It was half of a treasure map. We put the two pieces together." After taking back the Cheech & Chong brand back from other parties, Cheech said they're "enjoying the harvest."
Tweens coming of age discover the Cheech & Chong movies and recordings every year, joining the millions of fans loyal to the comedic two-some. Cheech saw this young audience showing up for their live shows and recognizes that their humor is 'juvenile.' Chong adds "we have the ability to make young kids laugh."
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Cheech takes it one step further calling their influence a "rite of passage" and a "social phenomena." "You get to be 13, 14, 15 you've discovered Cheech & Chong the movies, pizza, and dope all around the same time."
Cheech & Chong updated their comedy routine for the 21st Century but getting high and the thrills of pot still dominates their jokes and skits as well as our conversation. In the early days of Cheech and Chong, the subject was still very taboo but today legalizing marijuana is a topic on everybody's mind especially these proponents of the weed. Chong showed his commitment to his favorite past-time by showing off his medicinal card. Chong predicts once pot is legalized, it will be readily available through a prescription. Cheech also admits to having a medicinal card...somewhere, and feels pot will be "legalized in a nationwide basis in three years." 
Cheech & Chong's brand of humor and raunchiness shocked mainstream audiences back in their early years and many movies since have copied their style with stoner/slacker movies such as Harold & Kumar, Dazed & Confused, The Big Lebowski and many more.
By comparison, Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This may seem tame by today's standards but the older and wiser pair will no doubt continue to influence new followers in this digital age with Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This when it debuts on multiple platforms on their favorite day 4/20.