REEFER MADNESS REDUX: CHEECH AND CHONG RETURN

Comedy Duo Still Going Strong With Stoner-Type Humor

Honestly, writing a story about Cheech and Chong without using drug
references is not possible.

Yes, they are now senior citizens, nearly three decades removed from
their last tour together, and Tommy Chong has publicly stated that
even though he's now one of pot's biggest advocates, he hasn't
touched the stuff since federal agents stormed his home in 2003 and
he wound up spending nine months in prison for selling drug
paraphernalia (more on that later).

And yes, both are successful individually. Richard "Cheech" Marin,
for example, is an actor who caddied for Kevin Costner in "Tin Cup"
and seems to be a favorite of director Quentin Tarantino with roles
in "Grindhouse," "Desperado" and "From Dusk Till Dawn." And let's not
even begin to get into his voiceover career.

But let's be honest. The name of their tour that comes to the Waikiki
Shell Thursday is "Cheech and Chong: Light Up America."

That zero drug reference/tolerance policy? Doomed from the start.

You've got "Cheech and Chong, Up in Smoke." "Cheech and Chong, Still
Smoking." Possibly next up: "Cheech and Chong, "Grumpy Old Stoners."
(More later).

You may be wondering how these guys have been able to build a career
on stoner-type humor, oblivious to the world outside the cannabis -
and we're not talking about its soothing power for cancer patients.
So here is every cheesy pop culture pot reference suitable to define
who these guys are and where they've been the past four decades.

'Dazed and Confused'

The 1993 stoner/drunk film has a huge cult following, but to C&C
fans, dazed and confused must have been what the comedy duo was
thinking when they parted ways 27 years ago, ending a hugely popular
partnership that spawned seven movies, 10 comedy albums and pioneered
the way for flicks like, well, "Dazed and Confused."

So, what happened?

"We got sick of each other," Chong said matter-of-factly during a
telephone interview with both men. "We stayed in touch because people
made sure Cheech knew what I was doing, and I knew what he was doing
. even if we didn't want to know. There's just a lot of anal people
out there who wanted us back together. It's like when salt and pepper
shakers aren't sitting together. It drives people crazy."

Quotes that last

"All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine." - The
epic quote is one of Sean Penn's funnier, clueless moments, when he
had a sense of humor as Jeff Spicoli in the 1982 flick "Fast Times at
Ridgemont High."

Stoner quotes, however, basically started with some of Cheech and
Chong's memorable bits:

"Sister Mary Elephant" is a classic bit featuring a nun trying to
rein in her stoner students. "Class ... Claaass ss ... Cllllaaaassss
.. Shaddd-ddupppp! ... Thank you," were buzz words when this bit
came out as a single in 1972.

"Dave's not here, man!" A whole routine released in 1971 centered
around Cheech trying to get a stoned Chong to let him into the
apartment because he has the "stuff," and he thinks the cops are
following him. No matter what he says, Chong's reply: "Dave's not here, man!"

"Basketball Jones, I got a Basketball Jones ..." Yep. Cheech and
Chong actually gave the world "Basketball Jones" in 1973 on the "Los
Cochinos" album. The song was a parody featuring Tyrone Shoelaces and
his love of basketball. His tune is still sung on courts all over the
world, but most players have no idea how or what a Basketball Jones is about.

Until now.

'Up in Smoke'

Their first movie set the standard for stoner flicks. YouTube the
trailer from 1978 and, somehow, it's still relevant and funny today.
Back then they tried to bring the first van built entirely of
marijuana across the Mexican border and into the United States.

It grossed more than $41 million and spawned several sequels, pretty
much defining their movie themes and careers.

'Maui Wowie'

Yep, Chong uttered those words in "Up in Smoke," when he told Cheech
what was in maybe the world's largest joint while they were driving
down the highway in a smoke-filled car.

But "wowie" also describes their lives.

Cheech had never played golf prior to teaming with Costner in 1996
for "Tin Cup," but he's now a 9-handicap who plans to play some golf
while he's in the Islands.

That Chong mentioned Maui isn't surprising. He frequents the Islands
often and can be seen in local "Natural High" commercials. He was
also "Leo" on "That '70s Show."

"Wowie" is also a way to describe Chong's September 2003 arrest for
selling drug paraphernalia through his family business. He spent nine
months in federal lockup, was fined $20,000 and forfeited his
Internet domain name, www.Chongglass.com, along with more than
$100,000 in cash and all of the paraphernalia seized when federal
agents stormed his home.

"It was like a cold shower," Chong said. "It changed my whole way of
thinking. I was just a bit of a 'let life take me where it takes me,'
guy, but when that hit me, I became more of an activist."

The arrest and sentence delayed their initial reunion, too.

"We had some talks over the years, but they always seemed to end in
fights and then the arrest," Chong said. "We finally got together
again because of our families. My daughter intercepted an e-mail and
replied for me without my knowing it. Next thing you know, we're
talking. I missed him. He's always going to be a part of my life."

'Half Baked'

The 1998 flick probably tackled pot smoking more than any other film
since Cheech and Chong first teamed up.

And they promise they're not done. Thursday's concert is part of a
reunion tour where they are performing more than 100 live shows, and
when the tour ends, a movie will follow, they said.

"Maybe Grumpy Old Stoners," Cheech quipped.

"Or 'Faster and Furiouser,' " Chong added.