Posted on 10/23/2003 9:24:09 AM PDT by Stone Mountain
And Won't Rush Be Pleased to Get a Card
By JOYCE WADLER
A flack for the new movie "Potluck" told us excitedly that "half the cast was either in prison or rehab." Press agents exaggerate, of course, and as far as we could determine, only two actors in the film are or were so indisposed: TOMMY CHONG, sentenced this month to nine months in prison for conspiring to sell bongs over the Internet, and JASON MEWES, reportedly in rehab.
A prison sentence, of course, is no reason to shirk one's promotional duties, so we called Mr. Chong in the Taft Correctional Institution, near Bakersfield, Calif.
Since his most famous role, with CHEECH MARIN, was a pothead in the comedy act "Cheech and Chong," back in the 70's, we asked first about his age.
"Sixty-five," Mr. Chong replied, sounding, we must say, remarkably good-humored. "And I'm not balding like Rolling Stone said I was. I am a little bit, but they shouldn't have written that. I'm a little thin on top, but I got tons in the back."
We bet you do! How would you describe yourself, Mr. Chong?
"Physically, I'm incredibly handsome. Kind of dark, swarthy and incredibly fit. I run twice a day and I do sit-ups and watch my diet."
Mr. Chong's career has been spent playing potheads, most recently an aging hippie on "That 70's Show." He and his family Ñ who live in Pacific Palisades, not far from STEVEN SPIELBERG and GOLDIE HAWN Ñ also ran a water pipe business. Perfectly legal, Mr. Chong said, as long as there was a disclaimer "tobacco use only."
The problem, as he sees it, is that the federal government confused character with persona.
"I was appearing at head shops all over America as my character, signing them," Mr. Chong said. "Unfortunately, at one of the head shops, in Arlington, Tex., a D.E.A. undercover captured me on tape talking about the pipes. He asked, `Why water pipes?' I said it was a healthier way to smoke, with filters. The agent said `pot?' I said, `Yeah, pot.' To play the game I was supposed to say tobacco, but I thought I was talking to a fan."
Time to talk about "Potluck," touted as High Times magazine's feature debut.
At Boldface, we believe firmly in leaving commentary to the critics, so we will refrain from reporting that the film Ñ the cast includes THEO KOGAN, DAN LAURIA, FRANK GORSHIN, FRANK ADONIS and SYLVIA MILES Ñ had something to do with gangsters and dope dealers and was such an incoherent mess that we could force ourselves to view it for no more than 20 minutes.
But when a gent is in the slammer, one must be diplomatic.
Your new movie, Mr. Chong?
"That stupid bong movie," he replied.
We regret that we were unable to watch it long enough to see you.
"I didn't play my character," Mr. Chong said.
Whom did he play?
"I can't remember. It was just a one-day shoot. They" Ñ this would be High Times magazine Ñ "do me favors, I did them a favor."
Back to real life. Any thoughts on RUSH LIMBAUGH?
"I feel sorry for Rush," Mr. Chong said. "I'm glad I'm not Rush. My vice was pot; you can put it down, it's not addictive at all, though some say it's psychologically addictive. I feel sorry for anybody on heroin. He was on a painkiller called OxyContin that's been called Hillbilly Heroin."
Mr. Limbaugh, who is reportedly being investigated by legal authorities in Florida on suspicion of obtaining drugs without a prescription, is in rehab. Mr. Chong is in prison. This doesn't bother Mr. Chong?
"Not at all. It's a totally different case. Mine is political, his is medical. Is it unfair? Yes, it is. But I would hate to have Rush Limbaugh change the way they handle addicts. You don't put addicts in jail, you put them in rehab. You put political figures like myself in jail."
Has Mr. Marin been to visit you?
"No, I think he's afraid he might be arrested for conspiracy," Mr. Chong said jokingly.
"We're like brothers," Mr. Chong said. "We were estranged for a while when he was doing `Nash Bridges.' I just didn't like the way he looked. I didn't like him playing a cop and I didn't like the way DON JOHNSON treated him."
How did he feel Mr. Johnson treated Mr. Marin?
"You know, like a Mexican. Cheech is always walking behind Don and off to the side.
"I used to do a bit on `Nash Bridges.' I said it was `Don, Don, Don, Don, Cheech, Don, Don.' "
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