Friday, December 16, 2022

Concert For George Producer John Beug Dead At 75

 John Beug, veteran music industry executive and film and television producer died on October 15 in Northern California. He was 75.

John Beug was a trailblazing producer and influential executive working at the intersection of the music and film industries. He is best known as the producer of documentaries including the recent Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall as well as The Doors: When You're Strange, Tom Petty: Runnin' Down A Dream and concert films such as Concert for George, the all-star tribute to George Harrison. Beug was a key figure in music filmmaking; his work dates back to the dawn of MTV and through the DVD boom of the 1990s to the present day's golden era of music documentaries.

John Beug was born in 1947, in Chicago to Theodore and Lucille Beug. He was one of five children with two older brothers, James Beug and Thomas Beug and two younger sisters, Virginia Low and Barbara Dyson.

He began his professional career as a talent booker for Northwestern University and Chicago area venues. He booked acts as disparate as Joni Mitchell and Cheech & Chong, the latter leading him to a job with producer Lou Adler in Los Angles. During his tenure with Adler's Ode Records, he was involved with the building of The Roxy, the fabled music venue on the Sunset Strip and the production of Cheech & Chong's Up In Smoke and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

A passionate music and film fan, Beug was an early proponent of the music video format. He produced A-ha's award-winning, ground-breaking "Take On Me" video for Warner Bros. Records and caught the eye of Mo Ostin, the label's legendary Chairman who hired him in 1986 to head Creative Services for the company. At Warners, Beug supervised countless award-winning videos, including Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer," R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion," Traveling Wilburys "Handle With Care," and Neil Young's "This Note's for You."

Beug was quick to see the potential of the DVD format for musical artists and would produce concerts and documentaries for DVD, notably Nothing But The Blues directed by Martin Scorsese, Fleetwood Mac's The Danceand Eagles: Hell Freezes Over. Under the Rhino imprint, Beug produced four years of the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival and won a Primetime Emmy in the process. Grammy Awards followed for Concert For George, Tom Petty Runnin' Down A Dream, directed by Peter Bogdanovich and When You're Strange: A Film About The Doorsdirected by Tom DiCillo, co-produced with Dick Wolf.

Beug was known as sensitive to artists' concerns and was, thus, collaborative, aesthetically attuned, and passionate about doing great work. He built relationships with artists such as George Harrison, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Don Henley, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Van Halen, Seal and R.E.M., buoying their careers while serving as their sounding board for film and television projects for the rest of his life. He retired from Warner Music Group in 2014.

Beug was a confirmed bachelor until meeting Carolyn Mayer, a producer and Disney executive whom he wed in 1994. They were an instant family of five with Ms. Mayer's children Nicholas, Lauren and Lindsey, all of whom shared an affinity for art, music and culinary pursuits.

John Beug's deep bond with his children and their love for each other helped them to move forward in their lives after the immense tragedy of losing Carolyn in the 9/11 attacks. He took great pride in serving for over sixteen years on the Board of Trustees at Rhode Island School of Design, an institution very dear to him. He found joy in cars, watching F1 racing and collecting them. Beug bought, sold and then re-bought a 1996 Porsche 993, a clear favorite among his automotive acquisitions over the years.

John Beug found love again with Cidney Vinall, whom he married in 2015. Seeking a quieter, slower pace of life, the couple moved from Los Angeles to Northern California in 2019. She survives him as do Lauren Beug and Nathan Boldman; Lindsey Beug and Marcus Wood; Nicholas Mayer; James Beug; Thomas Beug; sister Virginia Low and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. His sister Barbara Dyson predeceased him.

A memorial event for John Beug is being planned for early 2023 in Los Angeles. 

A fund is being established in his name at Rhode Island School of Design.

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Notes from Cheech and Chong Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson Part Deux

 If you get your brain to filter out Leslie Jones' shouting, you can hear some good Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Mike Tyson stories.

Cheech and Chong will no longer tour.

Cheech and Chong already made $4 million in two months from their weed chews.

Cheech and Chong once opened for The Allman Brothers, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers.

James Brown visited Tyson in prison.

Cheech and Chong met James Brown on a plane.

Cheech and Chong played basketball with Marvin Gaye.

Diana Ross discovered Chong's band, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, after seeing them with her boyfriend, Berry Gordy, at a club in Vancouver.

Chong met Muhammad Ali at Bobby Taylor's place.  Chong was friends with a stripper that Ali had been with.  Chong and Ali were on the elevator to Taylor's place, having never met each other.  Chong says to Ali "Lady Scarlett says hi." Muhammad Ali wondered how this guy (Chong) knew her.

Bobby Taylor and Tommy Chong discovered the Jackson 5.  Years later, Cheech saw Michael Jackson in Lou Adler's bar above the Roxy.  Michael confirmed that Bobby and Tommy discovered them and that Bobby let the Jackson 5 stay with him.

Chong was in a band named The Shades.  They converted a Vancouver theater into a dance hall (Blues Palace).  They hired the Ike and Tina Turner review for $700.  Ike wanted to hook up with women so he told women that Tina was his sister.

Elvis would send Cheech and Chong a signed Christmas card every year.

Bombed at the Bitter End in NYC after partying all day/doing blow with John Belushi.

Note from this site: Interesting to see Tommy Chong and Cheech getting along.  During the initial leg of their reunion tour, they took separate planes, stayed in separate hotels, didn't speak with each other during the meet-and-greets.


Friday, December 02, 2022

Cheech and Chong to Appear at SF Sketchfest

 SF Sketchfest has announced a slate of new acts for its long-delayed 20th anniversary celebration, which is scheduled to take place from Jan. 20 to Feb. 5 at venues across San Francisco.

Among the additions to the lineup is a three-night residency by comedian Fred Armisen; performances by Maggie Lawson and Timothy Omundson, James Adomian, and the Sklar Bros.; and concerts by the Red Room Orchestra featuring music from the “Twin Peaks” and “Repo Man” soundtracks.

After SF Sketchfest was canceled in 2021, the comedy celebration was originally slated to return this past January, following a virtual Festpocalypse! live-stream event. But the long-running comedy festival’s anticipated live return was postponed to 2023 due to rising COVID-19 omicron cases.

Highlights of the previously announced schedule include a screening of the 1973 film “The Long Goodbye” at the Castro Theatre with Elliott Gould; a 20th anniversary celebration of the mockumentary, “A Mighty Wind,” with “Schitt’s Creek” stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara; and tributes to Cheech & Chong, Laraine Newman, and David Alan Grier.

The festival also includes an all-star roast of “Evil Dead” star Bruce Campbell; a “Perfect Strangers” 35th anniversary special; and a staged reading of  “I Married a Monster From Outer Space” with Dana Gould, Bobcat Goldthwait, Laraine Newman, Janet Varney and others.

The complete schedule is available on SF Sketchfest’s website.

Tickets, priced between $22-$55, are available now at sfsketchfest.com. Those who bought passes to attend SF Sketchfest 2022 can use their tickets for the upcoming dates, organizers said.

It's been 50 years since Cheech & Chong pulled up on the comedy scene and we're celebrating their trail-blazing comedy by giving them the SF Sketchfest Tribute treatment. Join icons Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong for a high spirited conversation that will have you rolling in your seat. Moderated by legendary journalist Ben Fong-Torres.

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Ben Feigin Dies: ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Executive Producer Was 47

 Award-winning producer Ben Feigin, who served as an executive producer on Schitt’s Creek, died Monday of pancreatic cancer. He was 47.

Feigin played a key role in the launch of Schitt’s Creek by crafting its unique business model. He sourced non-traditional financing and sold the series on a non-exclusive basis to multiple licensees worldwide. He also masterminded the show’s top-grossing international tour with LiveNation, as well as the Netflix documentary Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt’s Creek Farewell, its pop-up immersive experience that sold-out in under one minute around the globe, and even turned an entire town in upstate-New York into a permanent Schitt’s Creek.

He won multiple awards for his work on the comedy, including a 2020 Emmy, a 2021 Golden Globe, and a 2021 Producers Guild Award.

Born in Silver Springs, MD, Feigin graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara and began his career at Warner Brothers. He then joined William Morris as an agent trainee in the storied mailroom, where he met his wife, Heidi. He later worked at UTA before becoming a Founding Member of The Collective in 2004.

In 2006, Feigin moved to Anonymous Content, where he founded both their comedy and enterprise divisions while representing A-list talent, filmmakers, writers, comedians, authors, and brands, in addition to his work as a producer. He later launched Equation Unlimited LLC, an entertainment company, in 2016.

Early in his career, Feigin made history as a pioneer behind the first ever live-streamed event featuring an line-up of comedians and musicians. The partnership with AOL was a breakthrough in how live content could be consumed on new platforms. Feigin also reunited Cheech & Chong after 25 years by cutting a lucrative deal with LiveNation for international touring and executive producing their theatrically released, first-ever concert film, Cheech & Chong: Hey Watch This.

Note: He didn't reunite C&C. He negotiated the deal.

Feigin led classes at UCLA, NYU, and UC Santa Barbara and also worked closely with non-profits including StandUp2Cancer, Gilda’s Club World-Wide, The Tony Hawk Foundation, The Creative Coalition, and the Laurene Powell Jobbs’ Emerson Collective. Additionally, he served as a Judge for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Internship Program, as well as an Official Juror for the International Emmy Awards. He was a member of The Producers Guild of America, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, and The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Feigin is survived his wife, UTA talent agent Heidi Feigin, and their 11-year-old daughter Ellie. Services will take place this Thursday at 12:30pm at Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills. Donations can be made to Stand Up For Cancer, the Ben Feigin Pancreatic Research Fund.

Friday, October 21, 2022

Decadent Ales Cheech and Chong's Holidaze Hazy IPA

 Cheech & Chong may be most notorious for their unique brand of stoner comedy, but today they cross


over into another "budding" industry: Hazy IPA! We are extremely excited to bring you Holidaze Hazy IPA, a beer produced in tandem with the comedy duo themselves. Often have hops and cannabis been compared for the dankness of their aromas but for this special holiday release, Cheech & Chong enlisted the wizards at Decadent Ales to turn the dankess up to 11!

Available for pre-order.

Hot Dog Stand Back Open After City Shuts Them Down Over Cheech and Chong Mural

 CHICAGO (CBS) -- A dispute over a colorful mural on the side of a Pilsen hot dog stand prevented the business from renewing its licenses with the city.

We told you about that story earlier this month. But just a day after our story aired, the owners say the city reversed course and let the stand reopen.

As CBS 2's Charlie De Mar reported Thursday night, this is the first week back in business for Memo's Hot Dogs, 1447 W. 18th St. – and the owners are glad to have the grills sizzling again.

"We've got our business license and we are back up and running," said Memo's owner Janette Garza.

But the owners still want to know how a mural on the side of the building forced owners Janette and Gerrado Garza to shut down for weeks.

They were unable to renew their license due to unpaid fines over a colorful Cheech and Chong mural on the side of the building.

The mural on the side of Memo's is the work of artist Angel Silva, also known as Debso. It went up in 2019.

The Garzas said the city considers the alley-side mural a public advertisement, which requires a separate permit.  

"For us, it's our sole income - so we did struggle a bit," said Janette Garza. "We did get into some financial debt."

We first told you about this conflict between the small business and the city at the start of the month. A day after our story aired, the Garzas say Kenneth Meyer, Commissioner of the city Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, called them personally to clear a path for their license renewal.

"We're grateful," said Janette Garza. "We're grateful to the media."

"After the issue became public, the license was restored," said Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th). "Now, we have to do this more and more often. We have to make these issues public to get a response from the Fifth Floor; from the Mayor's office."

Ald. Sigcho-Lopez calls the city's enforcement of the mural inconsistent and heavy-handed, particularly given that it ultimately forced Memo's to close for weeks.    

"In this case, a mural shutting down a business - we thought it was a disproportionate policy," said Ald. Sigcho-Lopez.

"It was just kind of harsh the way they came down," added Gerardo Garza. "There was no way of going around it."

For more than 60 years, Memo's has been in the neighborhood - and with the city's change of heart, it will be around for a few more.

"We do feel hopeful that we will be able to pass it down another generation - at least one more generation," said Janette Garza.

The city office that regulates business licenses says once the proper paper was submitted and a renewal fee was paid, the license was reinstated.

The alderman has launched an investigation with the Office of the Inspector General. 

Monday, October 10, 2022

Cheech & Chong Have Cameo Role In Disney+ The Muppets Mayhem

Thanks to Disney+, the Muppets are returning with an all-new show called "The Muppets Mayhem." This time, we're following the Muppets' resident rock stars Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem as they embark on an adventure to record their very first album. But just like any other Muppets production, this series from Adam F. Goldberg, Jeff Yorkes, and veteran Muppets performer Bill Barretta will feature a number of cameos from various celebrities and musicians.

Though the producers were extremely tight-lipped about the cameos in the series, Goldberg did let a big one slide during their panel at New York Comic Con. While he and Yorkes explained that the show is more grounded in the real world (meaning there's no talking vegetables or a fork in the road), they mentioned a "surreal side to Zoot," the saxophone player in the band. It would be a fourth-wall-breaking moment that still "plays in the reality within the world."

Then Goldberg said, "We're not allowed to talk about our cameos, I'm going to get into trouble for saying this, but Zoot even freaks out Cheech & Chong."

Sunday, October 09, 2022

Chong to Sue US Government for Destroying his Bongs

 Chong provided TMZ additional details on what happened when FBI agents raided the Chong's Glass warehouse. Agents actually smashed the bongs.  They didn't need to, they just did it to make an example.

They caused millions of dollars in damage and Tommy Chong is going to sue the US government.

Chong Supports Biden Even Though he Wrote the Law that Landed him in Prison

Tommy Chong tells TMZ he supports Joe Biden even though Joe wrote the paraphernalia law that sent Chong to prison.  Chong goes on to say he supports Biden because he is anti-Trump.



Friday, October 07, 2022

Cheech Marin to do Meet and Greet in Massachusetts

 The High Lifestyle Show October 7-9, 2022 We are super stoked to announce, a true renaissance man, our guest Cheech Marin. Cheech will be meeting fans and signing items, art and autographs all weekend long. Limited tickets are available now!

One half of the stoner-hippie comedic duo Cheech and Chong, Richard “Cheech” Marin has become perhaps one of the most well-known and respected Chicano achievers in the world of entertainment. As an actor, director, writer, musician, art collector and humanitarian, Cheech is a man who has proven that he has the intellect and wit to make a simple smile appear in any situation.

Saturday, September 17, 2022

Tommy Chong, Son Settle Suit Over Marijuana Marketing Deal

 Before you read this article, keep in mind that Tommy, Shelby and Paris Chong have done this before with other companies and people.  They agree to deals and then demand more money, or steal the project/idea.

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Tommy Chong and the comic's son have reached a settlement with a licensing company that sued the pair alleging they cut them out of the profits generated from a marketing plan the plaintiffs established to sell marijuana products and accessories.

Evergreen Licensing LLC and its founder, Brian Vecchio, named Tommy and Paris Chong as defendants in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, along with Jon-Paul Cowen, described in the complaint as a business associate of the Chongs.

On Friday, Judge Robert S. Draper vacated the scheduled Oct. 11 trial date for the case. The terms of the accord were not revealed in court papers announcing the settlement that were filed by the plaintiffs on Aug. 25.

Chong, now 84, was chosen to help market the Evergreen project because he is a "well-known and longtime proponent of the legalization and responsible use of cannibis," the suit filed in April 2018 stated.

But after three years of development and spending $1 million on the project, Chong and Cowen conspired to "take it all away, even hacking into Evergreen's Gmail account in order to misappropriate social media sites that plaintiffs created for the project," according to the suit, which alleged the defendants "cut plaintiffs entirely out of the picture, the project and the revenue and profits the project was going to generate and is generating."

Although Chong "cultivated the public image of a trustworthy, pot- smoking, laid back, good guy," the plaintiffs found out "to their chagrin and injury ... that he was anything but that type individual in his business dealings with them," the suit stated.

Chong co-starred with Cheech Marin in the 1978 film "Up in Smoke," which is credited with establishing the stoner comedy genre.

In their court papers, defense attorneys alleged in a countersuit that Evergreen failed to provide quarterly statements, pay $130,000 in royalty fees and get written approval for Tommy Chong's intellectual property rights.

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Cheech and Chong Will No Longer Perform Live

On Tuesday, Tommy Chong told WRAT-FM's Carl and Dave that Cheech and Chong are no longer performing live.  They will only do Q&A sessions.  In addition, he said he prefers doing the Q&As with his wife, Shelby.

Tommy also claims Shelby has a "following" (what following?) and he'll be doing appearances with her to promote her stuff (what stuff?).

During the interview, he rehashed the story about meeting Shelby when she was 16 years old, doing acid with her and conceiving Precious Chong.

Tommy has no filter and no concept of right and wrong.

We also learned that Shelby designed Tommy's costume for the film, Up in Smoke.

Friday, September 02, 2022

Green Globe International Inc (OTCMKTS: GGII) Reversal Brewing as Hempaco Heats Up on Nasdaq

Green Globe International Inc (OTCMKTS: GGII) is beginning to trend northbound off its $0.004 base and looks to be back under accumulation after topping out at $0.0199 on Monday morning. This comes as majority owned Hempaco went public on the Nasdaq raising $6 million by selling 1 million shares at $6. Following a wild day of trading on Wednesday HPCO bulls stepped in on Thursday pushing the stock to a $8.35 close on 50 million shares traded. At the current price based on 23,010,124 shares outstanding HPCO trades at a $192 million market valuation; 79.9% of HPCO common stock is owned by GGII making the Company’s stake in HPCO worth $153 million. GGII has a history of big moves skyrocketing to over $0.16 per share during summer 2021. 

Green Globe entered into a lock-up agreement with Hempacco whereby the Company will not sell any of its shares for a period of 1 year. Hempacco is a vertically integrated Hemp manufacturing company in San Diego, California operating out of a 53,000 square foot state of the art Manufacuring facility. Hempaco is focused on Disrupting Tobacco™ by manufacturing and selling nicotine-free and tobacco-free alternatives to traditional cigarettes. Hempacco utilizes a proprietary, patented spraying technology for terpene infusion and patent-pending flavored filter infusion technology to manufacture hemp and herb-based smokable alternatives. 

Green Globe International Inc (OTCMKTS: GGII) is a fast-moving consumer goods incubator and holding company of intellectual property, products, and companies that better people’s lives by helping them feel and look better inside and out. Green Globe (GGII) owns or has interests in several brands and companies including; Green Star Labs, Inc., changing how people feel about themselves inside and out with nutritional supplements, CBD, and beauty products, and hemp CBD cigarette and rolling paper manufacturer Hempacco Co. Inc., Disrupting Tobacco’s™ $1 Trillion tobacco industry, with its subsidiaries and joint ventures including HempBox Vending, Inc. vending and advertising company, Cali Vibes, Inc. Cannabinoid cigarettes, HempHop Smokables, Inc., partnering with music producer and rapper Rick Ross, Cheech and Chong Smokables, Inc. delivers cannabinoid Hemp CBD cigarettes to consumers with Cheech and Chong as partners. The Real Stuff Smokables, Inc. Green Globe is publicly traded under the ticker symbol GGII, and continues to look for best-in-class companies, products, and patents to create Fast Moving Consumer Goods and channels for selling them, including retail automation and advertising platforms. 

GGII owns or has interests in several brands and companies including: Green Star Labs, Inc., changing how people feel about themselves inside and out with nutritional supplements, CBD, and beauty products, and hemp CBD cigarette and rolling paper manufacturer Hempacco Co. Inc., Disrupting Tobacco’s™ $1 Trillion tobacco industry, with its subsidiaries and joint ventures including HempBox Vending, Inc. vending and advertising company, Cali Vibes, Inc. Cannabinoid cigarettes, HempHop Smokables, Inc., partnering with music producer and rapper Rick Ross, Cheech and Chong Smokables, Inc. delivers cannabinoid Hemp CBD cigarettes to consumers with Cheech and Chong as partners. The Real Stuff Smokables, Inc. 

Hempacco is a vertically integrated Hemp manufacturing company in San Diego, California operating out of a 53,000 square foot state of the art Manufacuring facility. Hempaco has conducted research and development in the smokables space and are engaged in the manufacturing and sale of smokable hemp and herb products, including The Real Stuff™ Hemp Smokables. The Company’s operational segments include private label manufacturing and sales, intellectual property licensing, and the development and sales of inhouse brands using patented counter displays. Hempaco inhouse brands are currently sold in over 200 retail locations located in the San Diego, California, area. The Company’s private label customers include well-known and established companies in the cannabis and tobacco-alternatives industries, and we currently own approximately 600 kiosk vending machines which the Company plan to refurbish and use to distribute its products in a wider fashion under its HempBox Vending brand.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Food and Fun Become One on Guy's Ultimate Game Night


It's all fun and games as Guy Fieri welcomes his celebrity friends to the Flavortown Lounge for outrageously fun and entertaining food-inspired games on Guy’s Ultimate Game Night, premiering on Wednesday, August 31 at 9|8c. The new game show puts a culinary twist on classic party games as the celebrity contestants compete in front of a live studio audience for the chance to win prizes for their favorite charity. Chef Antonia Lofaso assists with all the action of the competition, as the celebrities play with food in the hands-on challenge and test their culinary knowledge with trivia and word puzzles. They must stay on their toes as they never know what Guy will throw their way. Let the games begin!

“If you put a game show, late night talk show, and a food competition show in a blender, you get Guy's Ultimate Game Night,” said Fieri. “It’s the best dinner party you’ve ever been to...filled with food, booze, off-the-hook games and the funkiest live soundtrack around."

In each episode, three celebrity teams compete in five rounds of games that are all about food, from Cooktionary, where they must guess the food item Guy and Antonia draw, to Dish Pics, where they must solve a picture puzzle of images that when correctly combined represents a popular dish. There is also Some Assembly Required, where the celebrities must use their creativity in challenges from designing pizza that looks like Guy, to blindly decorating cakes, and to constructing houses made from breakfast ingredients. Plus, there are wild games of Hot Potato, Charade the Pantry, Cloche Encounters, and Shop ‘Til You Drop.

Guy’s Ultimate Game Night contestants include chef Nyesha Arrington, actress Lauren Ash, chef Maneet Chauhan, actor Ben Feldman, actress Vivica A. Fox, television host Kevin Frazier, comedian Ron Funches, actor Billy Gardell, sports reporter Jay Glazer, television host Matt Iseman, magicians Penn Jillette and Teller, chef Troy Johnson, television personality Carson Kressley, actress Natasha Leggero, Olympian Tara Lipinski, comedian Cheech Marin, television personality Ross Matthews, chef Aaron May, television host Maria Menounos, musician Brett Michaels, actress Alyssa Milano, comedian Bobby Moynihan, actress Francia Raisa, filmmaker Kevin Smith, television host Charissa Thompson, chef Jet Tila, television host Nischelle Turner, DJ tWitch, chef Michael Voltaggio, Olympian Johnny Weir, comedian Kym Whitley, and musician Carnie Wilson.



Monday, August 29, 2022

Cheech and Chong Present Red Hot Chili Peppers with MTV VMA Global Icon Award

This evening, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong presented the Red Hot Chili Peppers with the MTV VMA Global Icon Award.

Cheech and Chong VMA Award Red Hot Chili Peppers


Shelby Chong walked the red carpet with Cheech and Tommy.  For some reason, she thinks she's a member of the group.  Cheech and Chong...and Shelby.  This is why she always opens for them on tour, even though she's not a comedian.

They both looked good.  Tommy looked healthy, although age has caught up to him.  He had difficulty reading the teleprompter.  Tommy also had difficulty hearing people, but that's what happens when you spend your early life performing in Rock bands.

Anthony Kiedis called Cheech and Chong "Bad Mother F...flip flops."

Cheech, Chong and RHCP stood out like a sore thumb among the freaks at this typical MTV production.  MTV and record labels force their ideals and music on the youth of America by airing the Video Music Awards on every Paramount-owned network.


 

Friday, August 26, 2022

Red Hot Chili Peppers Chose Cheech and Chong over Johnny Depp

Cheech & Chong will be on hand at this Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards. The iconic stoner comedy duo will present the Red Hot Chili Peppers with the Global Icon Award, per an MTV rep. The band is also scheduled to perform live at the 2022 MTV VMAs, which air Sunday, August 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

RHCP could choose Johnny Depp or Cheech and Chong.  They chose Cheech and Chong.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Cheech and Chong to Present Global Icon Award to Red Hot Chili Peppers at MTV VMAs

Cheech and Chong 2022 MTV VMAs

Cheech & Chong will be on hand at this Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards. The iconic stoner comedy duo will present the Red Hot Chili Peppers with the Global Icon Award, per an MTV rep. The band is also scheduled to perform live at the 2022 MTV VMAs, which air Sunday, August 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The long-running band, who have won eight VMAs, will return to the show’s stage for the first time in more than two decades, last performing in 2000 when they received the coveted Video Vanguard Award. They scored their 29th nomination — and first since 2006 — in the best rock category for “Black Summer,” the lead single from their twelfth studio album, “Unlimited Love.” The group — which in 2019 returned to its longest-running lineup of singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith and guitarist John Frusciante — has sold more than 60 million albums, won six Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

Friday, August 19, 2022

Up in Smoke Assistant Producer Mike Moder Dies At 86

Mike Moder, the Emmy-nominated producer whose credits included Beverly Hills Cop and Crimson Tide, died August 15. He was 86.

The son of director Dick Moder, he was born on April 25, 1936, in North Hollywood. He attended Notre Dame High and graduated from Loyola University before starting his career in the film industry in 1960. Moder’s credits include working as a first AD on Jeremiah Johnson, Little Big Man, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Rio Lobo, Diner and Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke, before he produced those big studio films among many other features and TV.

He shared an Emmy nom as a producer of the 1997 telepic Cinderella, starring Brandy Norwood.

Moder also was a production manager on dozens of TV shows and telepics, ranging from The Wild Wild West and miniseries Blind Ambition to Easy Street, Snoops, Father Dowling Mysteries, Jake and the Fatman and several Perry Mason and Diagnosis Murder TV movies. Per IMDb, he was executive in charge of production for the first seven seasons of ABC’s Matlock, starring Andy Griffith.

He also served as first AD on The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, the 1976 telefilm starring John Travolta, and was an AD on episodes of such 1960s series as The Big Valley, The Rifleman, Stagecoach West, Ensign O’Toole, The Law and Mrs. Jones and Wanted: Dead or Alive.

Moder and his wife Patti married in 1958 and went on to raise Debbi, Jane, John, Jyl and Danny. Moder was the proud grandfather of nine, and had two great grandchildren.

After Patti passed away in 2001, Moder married Marisa Megurian in 2003. They were living in Nipomo, CA, at the time of his death. Moder will be remembered not only for his towering presence and understated humor but also for his wealth of stories from a full life well lived.

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Cheech Marin will be on Guy Fieri’s New Hollywood Cooking Game Show

Food Network continues to cook up its relationship with popular host Guy Fieri, who is gearing up to launch his sixth show with the network.

Fieri’s next outing is “Guy’s Ultimate Game Night,” a culinary game show with celebrity guests competing in food-related games and trivia that brings some Hollywood flavor into the TV chef’s ever-growing repertoire.

The series — which launches on Aug. 31 at 9 p.m. — will air on both Food Network and Discovery Plus, further establishing Fieri’s presence in the new Warner Bros. Discovery era, both on linear and streaming.

“If you put a game show, late night talk show and a food competition show in a blender, you get ‘Guy’s Ultimate Game Night,’” Fieri said in a statement. “It’s the best dinner party you’ve ever been to — filled with food, booze, off-the-hook games and the funkiest live soundtrack around.”

The culinary game show, which was first announced at the company’s Upfront, will see Fieri welcome his famous friends to the Flavortown Lounge to play classic party games, word puzzles and trivia with a culinary twist. Some games include garnishing a pizza to resemble Fieri, blindly decorating a cake and “Cooktionary,” a take on Pictionary but with food.

The celebrity contestants will compete in front of a live studio audience for the chance to win prizes for their favorite charity.

Contestants include Vivica A. Fox, Ron Funches, Billy Gardell, Jay Glazer, Carson Kressley, Natasha Leggero, Tara Lipinski, Cheech Marin, Ross Matthews, Maria Menounos, Brett Michaels, Alyssa Milano, Bobby Moynihan, Francia Raisa, Kevin Smith, Johnny Weir, Kym Whitley, Carnie Wilson, Penn and Teller, plus a handful of celebrity chefs and more.

Joining Fieri is chef Antonia Lofaso — a fan-favorite from Bravo’s “Top Chef,” and shows like “Chopped” and “Cutthroat Kitchen” — who will assist Fieri in the fun-and-games, almost like the Vanna White of Food Network.

“‘Guy’s Ultimate Game Night’ is a culinary game show unlike any other,” said Jane Latman, president of home and food content and streaming at Warner Bros. Discovery. “Audiences will love playing along at home, trying to guess the answers and will pick up new food facts too. We get to join the party and enjoy the hilarious games led by the game master himself, Guy Fieri.”

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Richard "Cheech Marin" Turns 76

  Comedian/actor/art aficionado, Richard 'Cheech' Marin, turns 76 today.  He was born July 13th, 1946 in Los Angeles California.

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Tommy Chong Returning as Leo in That '70s Show Reboot

That '90s Show continues shaping up to be a true successor to That '70s Show – and today brings those connections a bit closer, as a fan-favorite actor from That '70s Show has joined the upcoming Netflix reboot. Tommy Chong revealed during a recent podcast appearance that he is part of the cast of That '90s Show; Chong regularly appeared on That '70s Show as "Leo" the aging burnout hippie who ran the Foto Hut photoshop. 

Chong's presence (as one half of iconic comedic stoner duo, Cheech and Chong) was part of the running gag about the kids of That '70s Show being potheads – without ever being able to directly reference it onscreen. Chong earned a lot of laughs playing up his actual '70s stoner screen persona for a whole new generation – and now he gets to do it again! 

Funny enough, Chong was pretty much in step with his own persona by breaking this news to The Dave Mark Show: "They never gave me any instructions, so I don't know if I'm supposed to be talking about it or not," Chong said. "I really don't give a shit to tell you the truth. That's what I'm known for...I'm back as Leo."


Happy Birthday! Tommy Chong is 84 Years Old

 The dopemaster, Tommy Chong, turned 84 today. Tommy was born May 24th, 1938 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Tuesday, May 03, 2022

‘Cheech’ Marin to receive lifetime achievement award in San Jose

 Cheech Marin will be in San Jose later this month to receive a community award for his lifetime achievements as an actor, activist, and Chicano art supporter.

Marin, who is most known for his role in the comedy “Cheech & Chong” during the 70s and 80s, will be presented the Latino Leadership Alliance’s lifetime achievement “Ollin Award.” The award derives from MesoAmerican Indigenous cultures (Ollin meaning ” movement” in the Aztec’s Nahuatl language) and is associated with being a great leader who possesses wisdom, long life, good advice, and mental balance.

The actor is set to open “The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Arts & Culture,” which is being called the world’s largest Chicano art collection later this summer in Riverside, California where more than 700 pieces of Chicano Art will be housed.

“After collectively surviving the last two years of a pandemic,  we are celebrating our arts leaders who create, curate, and celebrate the beauty of our communities daily – many of whom are still struggling to recover,” said Mayra Flores, LLA Co-Chair. “Cheech’s efforts to not only support but center and uplift Chicano art through his museum serves as a leadership example we want to honor.”

The Ollin Award has been presented to five of California’s most influential Latino leaders, including the State’s first Latino Senator Alex Padilla (2021, former Santa Clara County Supervisor and the first Latina San Jose City Council member and Vice Mayor Blanca Alvarado (2020), Latino Leadership Alliance co-founder and former East Side Union High School District Trustee Eddie Garcia (2019), Stanford University Professor Emeritus and one of the founding scholars of the field of Mexican American history and Chicano Studies Dr. Albert Camarillo (2018), and Actor/Producer, Founder of Centro Legal de La Raza, and Founder of the National Association of State Latino Chambers of Commerce Tony Quintero (2013).

Marin will receive the Ollin Award during LLA’s 5th Annual Gala on May 25 at The School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose and will also deliver the evening’s keynote address.

“Art is an essential part of our society and it can help and inspire leadership,” said Erika Bustamante, LLA Co-Chair. “We are excited to celebrate both, art and leadership, at our Gala and we are thrilled to be able to honor Cheech and his efforts with our Ollin award.”

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Cheech & Chong Visiting Santa Cruz Dispensary For Meet & Greet

 SANTA CRUZ, CA — The famous pair Cheech and Chong will stop by Santa Cruz Friday for a meet and greet at KindPeoples Dispensary.

"Meet the legends together at Ocean Street and receive a signed poster from Cheech & Chong," the dispensary said.

The public is invited to the event anytime from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

KindPeoples will also offer a handful of deals at the meet and greet. The dispensary's address is 533 Ocean Street.

Monday, April 04, 2022

Prime Video Takes U.S. Rights To Jennifer Lopez Lionsgate Romantic Comedy ‘Shotgun Wedding’

The Jennifer Lopez-Josh Duhamel Lionsgate romantic comedy Shotgun Wedding is heading straight to streaming as Prime Video has snatched up all U.S. rights for the pic from Lionsgate. No release date has been set on the streamer, but similar to other Prime Video features, it’s expected that Shotgun Wedding will also receive a day-and-date limited theatrical release.

Prime Video previously acquired international streaming rights for the Jason Moore-directed action-comedy in several key territories, where the movie will still receive a theatrical release.

In Shotgun Wedding, Darcy (Lopez) and Tom (Duhamel) gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding just as the couple begin to get cold feet. And if that wasn’t enough of a threat to the celebration, everyone’s lives become suddenly in danger when the entire party is taken hostage. The pic also stars Jennifer Coolidge, Sonia Braga, Cheech Marin, Selena Tan and Lenny Kravitz. Shotgun Wedding was written by Mark Hammer and produced by Todd Lieberman, David Hoberman, Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina and Alex Young.

“Packed with action, comedy, and a dash of romance, Shotgun Wedding is one of those rare films with something for everyone,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “With a cast led by Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel, the film is bursting with star power and fantastic performances. We are thrilled to work with the entire filmmaking team to bring this hilarious, multifaceted film to Prime Video audiences around the world.”

Shotgun Wedding previously had a theatrical release date of July 1, which is where Universal/Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru is also dated, in addition to Bleecker Street’s Mr. Malcolm’s List. I hear that Amazon made an offer that was too good for Lionsgate to refuse. The distributor has profited off of selling off previous theatrical titles to streamers, i.e. the Sarah Paulson thriller Run to Hulu.

Saturday, April 02, 2022

Cheech and Chong Want to Come to Your House on 4/20

April is a busy month for Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong. The comedy duo — best known as Cheech & Chong — is promoting Cheech & Chong’s Cannabis Company, a consortium of weed-related businesses that includes marijuana distribution, dispensaries and a take-out service with a contest that allows three people in the Los Angeles area to have the legendary stoners appear at their homes on April 20, aka 4/20.

Entering the contest is easy: Anyone who makes a purchase between today and April 15 from Cheech & Chong’s Takeout is automatically entered to win. For those who don’t smoke weed, the prize is like God knocking on your door on a Sunday morning and asking to go to church with you.

Cheech and Chong have individual weed businesses (Tommy Chong’s Cannabis and Cheech’s Stash), but Cheech & Chong’s Cannabis Company marks the first time the twosome has gone into the marijuana business together. We decided to speak to them about their latest venture and asked that the interview be conducted from inside of the Love Machine, to which they obliged.

Los Angeles contributor Ryan Ritchie: Does anybody interview you and not tell you how excited they are to interview both of you?

Cheech Marin: No. Pretty much they are excited whenever they see us. I think they can’t believe we’re still alive.

Tommy Chong: They refer to me kind of like as a deity, like I’m a Holy person or something, because every time they look at me, they go, “Oh, my God.”

RR: To some of us, both of you are deities. What does it mean to have a stranger say they’re excited to interview you?

TC: It means you get a good seat in a restaurant. It can be crowded, and people lined up, but as soon as they see us, “Right this way, Mr. Marin, Mr. Chong, whichever one you are.”

CM: One of the advantages is you know good Mexican food from bad Mexican food. Some people don’t know that. Good Mexican food tastes like it just got made. Bad Mexican food got made sometime last century.

RR: Do you get confused for each other?

TC: Yeah. All the time. When I got out of jail, I was sleeping with my wife. She woke me up and she says, “Cheech, Cheech, get up. Chong will be home.” I was halfway down the block before I realized that, hey, I’m Chong.

RR: When you see stoner comedies — The Big Lebowski, Harold and Kumar, basically every Seth Rogen film — are you excited or do you think you should be getting a piece of that?

CM: It’s a brotherhood. We’re all in this together, like Pineapple Express, The Big Lebowski and Friday.

RR: Are you happy with where cannabis is right now?

CM: I’d be happier if it was federally legal.

TC: That’s coming. As soon as they decide if we’re going to stay a democracy or be a dictatorship. That’s still up in there whether we’re going to have Ted Cruz as our next president, you know? Anybody can be president. We proved that the dumbest idiot on Earth can be president and here we are.

RR: When you saw the medical marijuana push, did you know this was the start of decriminalization?

CM: Yeah, absolutely, because what are they going to do? “Oh, I’m only smoking this weed medically. It has nothing to do with getting high. You get high, but that’s just a side effect.”

TC: Marijuana has always been a racist law. It’s the excuse the cops had to stop and search Black people and Brown people and take their money. The way the laws are constructed to say, “Yeah, you can sell all the weed you want, but when we catch you, we’re going to take all your money, take everything you own, because we got it written in the law.” Now they found out medically, it really is a medicine, and because of the little baby that had epilepsy and that doctor Sanjay Gupta show on CNN, there’s no argument against the medical use of it. Now it’s a matter of how to deal with the so-called recreation end of it. Personally, I think all marijuana should be considered medical because it is a medicine. The ideal thing would be to leave it medical, do it so it’s schedule two, not a schedule one, take it off schedule one, which gives the cops every reason in the world to do no-knock warrants and stuff like that and eliminate the racist part of the law.

RR: Two the things I noticed about your work is that the cops were the bad guys. The second is that Tommy, the characters you’re playing, the hippie, if you will, is often the smarter of the two. He’s the one playing the pranks and I wonder before that if the hippie was typecast as the bad guy or the stupid guy.

CM: It was more like they thought they were misled and stupid.

TC: They’ve been used down the centuries. They’re the scapegoats. They’re the peace lovers. The meek that the Bible talk about shall inherit the Earth. Yeah, that’s the hippies. They’re the meek. I’ve always maintained that pot is going to going to save the world and I still maintain it because it inspires the artistic nature of man, and art is one thing that has survived.

RR: Let’s talk about your company and start with what I think is the most important thing, which is that your take-out has $25 eighths, which is a good deal.

CM: Very.

TC: Takeout, by the way, is probably one of the oldest professions in the world where the guy with the drum or telephone, depending on how they communicate, “I need a baggie over here quick,” and it’s delivered.

RR: What took so long for Cheech & Chong to have a weed company together?

CM: We had ran into somebody that wanted to do it and was willing to fund it and started because we’re buying Cheech & Chong dispensaries that will have Cheech brand, Chong brand and Cheech & Chong brand.

TC: I put out a line where I’m sativa and Cheech is indica. Indica is a smaller plant, but more powerful, and sativa is like sort of loosey goosey. Tall but more fun.

CM: More hippie.

RR: Did you know the difference between indica and sativa in the ‘60s and ‘70s? Was that a thing or did you get whatever your dealer had?

CM: It’s called “weed.” Smoke weed. What kind of weed? Green.

TC: There’s a saying back then — beggars can’t be choosers. If you found something that was more than just the stems and the leaves, you scored. If you got a little bit of bud in there, it was like, “We did it!”

RR: Does having your own brand mean you can’t smoke other weed?

CM: No. Hey, we’re open, equal opportunity weed vendors. We’ll smoke anything.

TC: We did drugs when it was called “try this.” Then what we would do, we would try it and then we would say, “What’s supposed to happen?” after we tried it.

CM: We don’t know. We’re watching you.

RR: What’s your best strain? What do you go to that you’re selling right now?

CM: The strains change so much every week. There’s hundreds of new strains coming into the market every day, so I smoke whatever my son tells me is good. He’s a taster for my brand.

TC: When they asked me, I always tell people that I’m still looking for my favorite strain.

RR: What’s the longest either of you gone without smoking?

CM: Years.

TC: When I got busted, I had to quit smoking immediately because of what they call “pretrial probation.” When I got out, I was on probation for a year and I did nine months, but it took a year to get to court, so about three years is the longest I’ve been without it.

CM: Same for me. I go through periods where I don’t smoke at all — just meditate.

RR: Tell me about the contest you’re hosting.

TC: We keep track of who orders Cheech & Chong’s Takeout and if you hit the right thing, you’re going to get Cheech and Chong at your door.

RR: I’m sure somebody’s going to be excited to win that.

CM: We hope so. Maybe they think we’re the cops.

RR: Both of you, I imagine, are on everybody’s stoner wish list. Who do each of you want to get high with?

TC: The only Beatle that I never got high in front of, not just with, but in front of, was Paul McCartney. Paul knows he’s on my bucket list and apparently he’s willing whenever we hook up. We’re going to get high together.

CM: We should do that together because he’s the only Beatle that I haven’t smoked with, too.

RR: Cheech, you have a museum opening in Riverside next month. Can you tell me a bit about that?

CM: I have this big collection of Chicano art that I’ve been working on for about 40 years and touring it. One thing led to another and the city of Riverside offered me a museum to house the collection. They came to me and offered me this beautiful mid-century building in Riverside.

RR: I have to imagine in the ‘70s, no museum was coming to Cheech & Chong and saying, “We want your stuff in here.” I know this art isn’t yours, but you own it. Have we done a 180 on that culturally?

CM: No. We always said that we were middle of the road dopers. They just didn’t know what middle of the road was. We’re normal guys.

RR: I think that’s one thing that makes your films and records so good. Your comedy is accessible to everybody. It is total stoner humor, but it’s not.

CM: Anybody can laugh at “Earache My Eye,” “Basketball Jones,” “Black Lassie” or any of our musical hits. Actually, only about five percent of what we did had to do with weed.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Has the Official Cheech and Chong Site Been Hacked?

We knew this would happen.  After we got Richard and Tommy to reunite, they sued and won the Cheech and Chong domain name from us.  


They got whomever (probably Live Nation) to design a site for them. The design was awful.  Now, the site is completely neglected.  Either the site was hacked or they let their certs expire. It's been causing security alerts for a few days.

Saturday, March 19, 2022

World’s Shortest St. Pat’s Parade Returns with Cheech Marin and Danny Trejo

After two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, "Machete" actor Danny Trejo and Cheech Marin of the comedy duo "Cheech and Chong," as well as his wife, Natasha Rubin, finally made their way to Hot Springs California on Tuesday. Trejo served as the official starter of the parade and Marin served as the celebrity grand marshal.



Both Trejo and Marin threw plenty of beads to the crowd. Marin followed another entry from The Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival of a "Big Cheech Puppet."


Wednesday, February 16, 2022

TV Version of Cheech and Chong's Next Movie has Finally Been Found

From wikipedia: There are two versions of this film. One is the theatrical version while the other is a heavily edited version aired for television only. The edited version adds in cut scenes such as an animated intro, their neighbor being revealed to be a transvestite, footage on the spaceship and all drug-related scenes cut or altered. Most notably is the contents of Red's duffel bag, which in the TV version contains not hundreds of Thai sticks, but diamonds. A novelization, also written by Cheech and Chong, features many photos of these omitted elements.

The original theatrical release & early home video editions have Cheech singing the song "Ya-Ya" in the scene where he is ironing his clothes for his date. Current releases changed this audio to him humming a different song. Also in the theatrical release, Paul Reubens' character, in an attempt to convince the 9-1-1 operator to send help immediately, finally implores: "Look, I think they're Iranians!" The newer video releases have the line re-dubbed as: "Look, I think they're hippies!"

We here at this website own a bunch of the animated cels, but have never seen the film.

The missing version has finally been uploaded.

From the uploader:

I've been meaning to post this for a while now.  This is the elusive TV version of Cheech and Chong's Next Movie.  I recorded it off of WXON channel 20 back in the early 80s. This is slightly different from the version that aired on Comedy Central in the 90s.  The music is great and the narrative is completely different. All the drug references are removed.  There are plenty of extended scenes that weren't in the original theatrical release.  The music store scene being my absolute favorite.  I hope one day to see a proper release of this gem.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Cheech and Chong on Sammy Hagar's Rock & Roll Road Trip

AXS TV posted video of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong on Sammy Hagar's Rock & Roll Road Trip.  It was filmed at Tommy's house.  They perform Save the Whales.

Tuesday, February 01, 2022

‘Champions’: Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Cheech Marin & Matt Cook To Topline Bobby Farrelly’s Special Olympics Pic For Focus Features And Gold Circle Entertainment

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Woody Harrelson (True Detective, Zombieland), Emmy nominee Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Hacks), Grammy nominee Cheech Marin (Born in East L.A, From Dusk Till Dawn) and Matt Cook (Man With a Plan, The Comeback) will lead Champions, a recently-wrapped film that Bobby Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary) directed for Focus Features and Gold Circle Entertainment.

Champions is based on the Goya Award winning Spanish film Campeones, which Universal Pictures International released in 2018. It centers on a stubborn and hotheaded minor league basketball coach who is forced to coach a Special Olympics team when he is sentenced to community service. Actors with intellectual disabilities rounding out the cast to ensure authenticity in the storytelling include Madison Tevlin, Joshua Felder, Kevin Iannucci, Ashton Gunning, Matthew Von Der Ahe, Tom Sinclair, James Day Keith, Alex Hintz, Casey Metcalfe, Bradley Edens and Champ Pederson.