a/k/a Tommy Chong Screening in Toronto

The award-winning documentary, a/k/a Tommy Chong, will have a special screening this Saturday at the Toronto Freedom Festival. Tommy won't be attending because "The media isn’t going to portray this as anything but a big smoke-out" so it won't help the legalization movement.

Eye Weekly asked Tommy about the Jimi Hendrix sex tape that was announced today. "It certainly gives new meaning to the term ‘Purple Haze,’" Tommy said.

When asked about Cheech and Chong being compared to Harold and Kumar, he said the difference is "The movies we did never presented our characters as victims — we were the ones responsible for all the mishaps. And we were playing up certain stereotypes."

Purchase the a/k/a Tommy Chong DVD.

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Cheech to Star in Remake of Witch Mountain

Cheech Marin will star in Disney's Race to Witch Mountain, a remake of the 1970s Witch Mountain movies.

A UFO expert enlists the help of a cabbie to protect two siblings with paranormal powers from the clutches of an organization that wants to use the kids for their evil plans.

The film also stars Wayne "The Rock" Johnson and from the original film, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann. Cheech will play a helpful mechanic.

Race to Witch Mountain will be released in 2009.

Video: Interview with Tommy and Shelby Chong and Josh Gilbert

AndyCamsHits posted an interview with Tommy and Shelby Chong and a/k/a Tommy Chong director Josh Gilbert. It was filmed at Liberace's penthouse.

Video: Cheech and Chong on KRTH Radio

Last Friday, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong were on the KRTH morning show. They were promoting the 30th anniversary screening of Up In Smoke.

KRTH was nice enough to post video.

Special Screening of a/k/a Tommy Chong Thursday

There will a special screening of the award-winning film a/k/a Tommy Chong Thursday night at the Modernist Society in Washington DC.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with director, Josh Gilbert. The screening starts at 9PM.

For more details.

Tommy Chong Talks Obama

Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin both agree that they want Obama to be President.

During a recent interview with Stumped Magazine, Tommy told writer Zach Freeman
“Obama will be our next president. And within his first year as president he will have decriminalized [marijuana]."

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Cheech has also been to at least one Obama rally in recent months.

Celebrate 4/20 with a/k/a Tommy Chong

To celebrate the most important day of the year pick up a/k/a Tommy Chong.

a/k/a Tommy Chong chronicles the entrapment and incarceration of comedic legend Tommy Chong. Josh Gilbert's "a/k/a Tommy Chong" offers a sometimes frightening, often hilarious account of Operation Pipe Dreams, a nationwide drug paraphernalia sting operation spearheaded by former Attorney General John Ashcroft.

After a fully armed SWAT team raided the 65 year-old comedian's home in February of 2003, Tommy Chong was sentenced to 9 months in federal prison for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute drug paraphernalia through Chong Glass, a family business specializing in handmade glass water pipes, or "bongs." Of the 55 defendants prosecuted, Tommy Chong was the only one with no prior convicitons to receive jail time. Justifying the 9 month sentance, the prosecutor cited the classic 1978 movie Cheech & Chong film "Up In Smoke" as evidence that he had become wealthy "trivializing law enforcement efforts to combat marijuana trafficking and use."

a/k/a Tommy Chong depicts the government's wrongful persecution of Tommy Chong via Operation Pipedream. I don't care if you're a pothead, college professor, pro-drugs, anti-drugs, or never even heard of Tommy chong...you'll enjoy this film.

For Cheech and Chong fans, they've included tons of rare home movies, Tommy's stand-up act, old interviews and tv appearances. Director Lou Adler, Cheech and Chong's first agent, Chong's family and other people supply candid stories about Cheech and Chong.

For those interested in free speech and politics, the film discusses how Tommy was the only person from Operation Pipedream to receive a prison sentence. The film also talks about how 9/11 and Tommy Chong's bust helped launch US Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan's career.

The frame job...Did you know that an undercover DEA agent repeatedly called and emailed employee's of Chong Glass trying to get them to ship to Pennsylvania? They repeatedly told him no. Josh Gilbert, this film's director, includes the audio of these phone calls.

The DEA agent called and emailed them approximately twenty times stating that he has a tobacco license and asking what the problem was. The employees kept telling him it's against the law. The agent said he spoke to his lawyer and his lawyer said it was legal.

The DEA agent then visited the Chong Glass factory and ordered anything that wasn't in stock. After creating the glass, the DEA agent said he couldn't make it back there to pick up the order. Unfortunately for Chong Glass, this order was taking up a lot of space in the warehouse and was preventing them from fullfilling other orders. Out of desperation, Chong Glass shipped the order to PA.

Forty-five armed agents raided factory which only had one employee there at the time.

It was a setup from the start. Tommy was completely railroaded.

We could write about this film for hours. There is so much content which is edited together brilliantly. The film is very touching. Check out a/k/a Tommy Chong when it comes to your neighborhood.

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Tommy Chong Signs Deal with Live Universe

Tommy Chong has signed a deal with Live Universe, owners of livevideo.com. Tommy's video channel will go live very soon. We'll provide a link when it does.

The first episode will feature video from tonight's 30th anniversary screening of Up In Smoke in Sherman Oaks, CA, including the Q&A session with Cheech and Tommy.

Live Universe was founded by myspace founder Brad Greenspan.

Cheech and Tommy also did a radio show promoting Up In Smoke. If anyone has audio of that, please let us know.

The Highest People of All-Time

G4 created a list of the highest people of all-time. Willie Nelson, Snoop Dog and the dopemaster himself, Tommy Chong, are some of the people on the list.

They say that they're "pretty sure that at this point Tommy Chong is weed."

Number one on the list is the crew of Apollo 13 because they were so high up in space. G4 must have been high when they wrote that joke. So not funny!

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The Winnipeg Sun listed Cheech and Chong as the top stoner duo.

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Happy 4/20 Everyone!

Happy 4/20 everyone!

To celebrate watch G4 channel's “Code Monkeys: The Story of 420,” featuring guest star, Tommy Chong at 5:00 pm ET/PT,

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong to Attend Up in Smoke Screening

How cool is this?

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong will be attending a 30th anniversary screening of Up In Smoke this Sunday (4/20) in Sherman Oaks, California.

Raise a glass with us as ArcLight Sherman Oaks helps UP IN SMOKE celebrate its 30 birthday, Sunday, April 20 with a newly restored, 35mm print of this '70's classic. Two directionless musicans, a Chicano guitarist (Cheech Marin) and a White drummer (Tommy Chong), meet up in a chance encounter and embark on a series of odd adventures, including being the unwitting partcipants of a bizarre marijuana smuggling plot.

Q&A TO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW THE 7:30PM SCREENING WITH WRITER/ACTOR/ACTIVIST TOMMY CHONG AND WRITER/ACTOR CHEECH MARIN.

Sorry, it is sold out.

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Cheech Marin Shooting Another Episode of Lost

Cheech Marin will be returning to ABC-TV's Lost as Hurley's dad. The shoot takes place in Hawaii next week. It is the last episode of the season. It airs May 15th and is titled "There's No Place Like Home (1)." Sounds like a cliff hanger.

Cheech last appeared in two flashback scenes in the February 28, 2007 episode. The scenes were amazing. It's available on itunes if you missed it.

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Natasha Rubin to Perform at LACMA

Pianist and Cheech Marin's girlfriend, Natasha Rubin, will be performing at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on June 22nd. Cheech Marin will be there.

Cheech's art exhibit will also be on display at LACMA from June 15 thru November 2.

Tommy Chong Provides Foreward for Pot Culture Book

The new marijuana bible - POT CULTURE: The A-Z Guide to Stoner Language & Life, written by Shirley Halperin and Steve Bloom, with a foreword by Tommy Chong - is officially being released on 4/20.

POT CULTURE lists more than 500 people, places, words and slang phrases (from “Acapulco Gold” to “zooted”). It’s also a how-to guide, an atlas, a book of manners, a cultural manifesto, a cookbook, and a cross-referenced history lesson on the world of weed. With hundreds of photos and illustrations, maps and charts, sidebars and first-person accounts, POT CULTURE dazzles and informs, educates and entertains about a subject that’s gone from taboo to practically mainstream.

POT CULTURE also brings you closer to the high-life of celebrity stoners, with facts, quotes, and photos of the famous (Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Dave Chappelle) and the legendary (Bob Marley, Willie Nelson), as well as contributions by Fall Out Boy’s Joe Trohman, Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Superbad star Jonah Hill, America’s Next Top Model winner Adrianne Curry, and many more.

From Howard Stern's Vault: Tommy Chong Needs Crackhead Bob

Howard TV, Howard Stern's on-demand cable television channel, is now showing a classic episode From The Vault. In "Tommy Chong needs Crackhead Bob," Stern proposes that Tommy use wackpacker Crackhead Bob as his new movie co-star.

It's hysterical, uncensored and is found under "Favorite Guests."

Howard TV is only $10-12 month (depending on your cable provider). It's well-worth it.

Cheech is Guest Judge on VH1's Viva Hollywood

VH1 is gathering the hottest group of aspiring Latino actors who think they have the stuff to be America's Numero Uno Telenovela Star.

The cast of fiery wannabes will live together, fight together, make love together...while competing for the coveted title and a Hollywood prize package that includes a contract with Telemundo, the biggest telenovela production company in the United States.

This season, guest judges include Cheech Marin, Cristian de la Fuente, Daisy Fuentes, Charo and Perez Hilton.


video.vh1.com

International Songwriting Competition Announces 2007 Winners

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is pleased to announce its 2007 winners. Renowned for its prestigious celebrity judges, ISC received over 15,000 songs from amateur and professional songwriters from 100 countries worldwide, confirming ISC's status as the leading global songwriting event. More than $150,000 in cash and prizes is shared among the 59 winners, including an overall Grand Prize of $25,000 (US) cash, the largest cash Grand Prize of any songwriting competition in the world, and $30,000 in merchandise and services.

For a complete list of 2007 ISC winners and to hear the winning songs, go to www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm

It is with great pleasure that ISC bestows its highest honor, this year's Grand Prize, to Eduard Glumov (Aktobe, Kazakhstan) and Z. Mulls (Swarthmore, PA, USA) for their song "I'm Not Your Friend." The song, entered in the Rock category, was lauded by the ISC judges for its originality, arrangement, and compelling melody.

The collaboration between Eduard Glumov and Z. Mulls - from Kazakhstan to the USA, from one side of the globe to the other, perfectly reflects ISC's mission of creating a competition that is inclusive of songwriters worldwide. Glumov, a singer/songwriter, and Z. Mulls, a lyricist, met each other on MusesMuse.com, a songwriting resource website, and their musical collaboration produced the winning song.

Candace Avery, the founder and director of ISC, states, "It is amazing the way technology and the Internet allow songwriters from different parts of the world and cultures to collaborate, culminating in international partnerships such as this. I'm very proud that "I'm Not Your Friend" is the ISC Grand Prize winner because it epitomizes the core intention of ISC, to foster songwriting around the world."

Eduard Glumov, born in a small province town in the Soviet Union, started writing songs very early but became serious about songwriting at the age of 13 when his father was arrested and imprisoned for anti-Soviet activity. Later in the '80s, the era of political turmoil and unrest gave way to Perestroika, enabling Eduard to tour with his rock band. In the '90s, he began a studio career, writing, recording and producing songs and instrumental music for different artists, for theaters, and TV. He plans to release an indie CD in the USA in the near future.

Z. Mulls professes that writing lyrics is not a profession, but an avocation, stemming from a lifelong love of musical theatre and songwriting in general. He posts his lyrics on various websites, looking for collaborations with artists. He calls himself "a wordsmith in search of a melody."

In addition to the Grand Prize winner, many other deserving songwriters also share in the prestige and kudos of winning their respective categories in ISC 2007. With a total of 19 categories and First, Second, and Third Place in each, (along with a list of Honorable Mentions), ISC covers all genres of contemporary music, including rock, jazz, r&b/hip-hop, blues, and much more.

For the first time in the competition's history, the majority of winners (59%) come from outside the USA. The winners represent diverse cultures and come from all corners of the globe, from Brazil to Senegal, Scotland to Iceland, New Zealand to Brazil, Canada to the USA, and beyond. Receiving more international entries than any other songwriting competition, ISC is recognized as the pinnacle of excellence in rewarding achievements in songwriting throughout the world.

The big news for ISC this year is the dominance of Australian songwriters as winners in many different categories, including a clean sweep of the Rock category. This is the first time that songwriters from a country outside the USA have won First, Second, and Third Place in a specific category. It is especially remarkable that Australia, a country of only 20 million residents, has produced ten winners in this year's ISC, attesting to its dynamic music scene. Aussie winners range from up-and-coming, unsigned songwriters to established award-winning artists such as Gotye, Eskimo Joe, Clare Bowditch, Abby Dobson, and more.

Applauded for its high caliber of judges, ISC compiled a stellar panel of judges for the 2007 competition, including: Tom Waits; Loretta Lynn; Julian Casablancas (The Strokes); Nelly Furtado; Ray Davies (The Kinks); Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Ornette Coleman; Youssou N'Dour; Sean Paul; Jerry Lee Lewis; "Weird Al" Yankovic; Black Francis (Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Cassandra Wilson; David Cross; Craig Morgan; John Mayall; Joe Satriani; Toby Mac; Michael W. Smith; Chris Hillman (The Byrds); John Scofield; Hinder; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Cheech Marin (Cheech & Chong); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Macy Gray; Peter Hook (New Order); Paulina Rubio; Tiesto; Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Mona Scott-Young (President, Violator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami, pioneer of Latin radio); Angel Carrasco (President, 605 Discos and Sr. VP A&R, Sony BMG Latin America); Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Nancy Wolpert (VP Home Entertainment and Nick Records, Nickelodeon/BMG); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People); and Paul Majors (CEO/Founder Majors Music).

Tommy Chong Tells TMZ Cheech is Mad at Him

TMZ asked Tommy Chong if Cheech and Chong will ever reunite. Tommy tells TMZ that Cheech is mad at him right now because of things he'll be saying in his book Cheech & Chong: The Unauthorized Autobiography.

Watch TMZ interview here.

The book will be released in August.

Pre-order Here.

Tommy Chong to be on G4's Code Monkeys: The Story of 420

G4 presents a ‘420’ block of programming exploring the culture, myths and latest trends surrounding the pop culture phenomenon that has come to be known as ‘420.’ The only network on television that delves into ‘420’ mythology, G4 will treat viewers to an expanded “Attack of the Show” special exploring the ‘420’ culture and history from the island of Jamaica, a special episode of “Code Monkeys: The Story of 420,” the second season premiere of snowboarding reality series, “The Block” and several popular ‘420’ films.

G4’s ‘420; block kicks off at 1:00 pm ET/PT with the quintessential ‘420’ comedy “Half Baked,” starring David Chappell followed by a live two-hour “Attack of the Show” special from Jamaica, exploring the island and reporting on the latest news and trends from this ‘420 nation.’

Following, G4 will present a special all new episode of its animated 8-bit comedy, “Code Monkeys: The Story of 420,” featuring guest star, Tommy Chong at 5:00 pm ET/PT, and premiere the second season of “The Block,” which will introduce a new cast and location in Big Bear, California at 5:30 pm ET/PT.

Rounding out the evening will be “Reefee’s Madhouse,” G4’s comedic interpretation of the cult classic “Reefer Madness,” airing at 6:00 pm ET/PT, and “Grindcore, Class of Nuke ‘Em High” at 7:00 pm ET/PT.

G4’s ‘420’ Programming Guide:

G4 Movies – “Half Baked”
1:00pm & 8:00pm
The hilarious adventure of three lovable party buds as they try to bail their friend out of jail. But just when the guys have mastered a plan, everything comes dangerously close to going up in smoke! Stars Dave Chappelle, Jim Breuer, and Harland Williams, with guest appearances by Snoop Dogg, Jon Stewart, Willie Nelson and Tommy Chong.

“Code Monkeys: The Story of 420”
5:00pm, 7:30pm & 12:30am
To allay the wait for the new second season, G4 delivers an early episode exploring the pop culture phenomenon of ‘420’ which the characters prove to know so well. The special features guest star Tommy Chong who leads the “Code Monkeys” crew on a hazy adventure filled with plenty of high-jinks. Armed with a magic map, the crew will embark on a treasure hunt for the meaning of ‘420.’

G4’s '420’ block of programming will present an in-depth look at a pop culture phenomenon that peaks the interest of G4 viewers. The variety of programs presented, including specials, premieres and pop culture classics, will give viewers a unique opportunity to learn about origins of the pop culture phenomenon, see how it’s celebrated across the planet, and enjoy all of the comedy associated with it.

G4tv.com will also explore the pop culture phenomenon with a multitude of 420-related news, top ten lists, behind-the-scenes videos and special features, only available on the G4tv.com website.

Cheech to be on Grey's Anatomy

Cheech Marin will be on the April 24th episode of ABC-TV's Grey's Anatomy. This will be the show's first episode since the writer's strike ended.

Description of the episode:
Time has passed but not much has changed. Sexual angst still runs rampant in the halls of Seattle Grace. Derek and Rose have been dating and Meredith has noticed the activities of her current off-again ex-boyfriend. The doctor's are in the midst of a competition.

Celebrity Participants Announced for 2008 BMW Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament

Samuel L. Jackson, Dennis Quaid, Luke Wilson, Greg Kinnear, Kurt Russell, Catherine Bell, David James Elliott, Wayne Gretzky, Janet Jones Gretzky, Dave Coulier, Stefanie Schaeffer, Patrick Warburton, Oliver Hudson, Michael Pena, Jason Dohring, Kevin Sorbo, Josh Kelley, Cheech Marin, Javier Colon, Lucas Black, Steve Azar, Gary Valentine, Mark Rypien, Branford Marsalis, Pat Green, George Rogers, Ben Wright and Jennifer Mills are the celebrities that are scheduled to compete in this year’s BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament.

Best known as one half of the no-holds-barred duo of Cheech and Chong, Cheech Marin has starred in films such as Up in Smoke, From Dusk till Dawn, Desperado, The Great White Hype, and as a caddie in the golf movie Tin Cup. Most recently, Marin appeared on the television drama Nash Bridges. He was also the voice of Banzai in The Lion King. This is Marin’s sixth appearance.

The 2008 BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament will be played May 15-18, 2008, at Bright's Creek Golf Club, The Carolina Country Club and Thornblade Club golf courses. All four rounds will be televised live by the Golf Channel.

The BMW Charity Pro-Am is the only tournament on the Nationwide Tour where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Nationwide Tour professionals in a three-day better-ball competition. Amateurs, celebrities and pros will rotate between each of the three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the 14 lowest scoring pro-amateur/pro-celebrity teams advancing to play Sunday’s final round at Thornblade Club. Celebrities will play once at each course on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The professional winner of the overall 72-hole event will take home $121,500 from the total purse of $675,000, which is one of the largest purses on the Nationwide Tour, as well as a brand new BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle. Amateurs and celebrities will compete for individual prizes and cash donations to the charity of their choice out of the beneficiaries selected by South Carolina Charities, Inc.

The first seven tournaments have raised more than $5.7 million for 80+ area charities.

Machete Trilogy in the Works?

One of the best and most underrated films of all time was 2007's Grindhouse. The film, which was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, was a double-feature inspired by the low-budget grindhouse films of decades past.

During the "intermission," fake movie trailers were shown. The most popular trailer was Machete. It stars Danny Trejo and Cheech Marin. Cheech Marin is Trejo's gun-toting priest vigilante brother. Memorable quote..."God forgives, I don't."

Rodriguez and Trejo frequently hinted that a full-length Machete film was in the works. This past weekend, Trejo told Bloody Disgusting that "Robert Rodriguez is still working on getting Machete off the ground" and that the Weinsteins want to make it a trilogy.

Rodriguez may start working on Machete after he finishes his current project.

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