<P> Cheech & Chong are a Grammy Award--winning comedy duo consisting of Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong who found a wide audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their films and stand - up routines, which were based on the hippie and free love era, and especially drug and counterculture movements, most notably their love for cannabis . </P> <P> The duo met in Vancouver, British Columbia in the late 1960s . Chong was a Canadian citizen, and Cheech had moved there from Southern California to avoid the draft at the height of the Vietnam War . The pair performed stand - up shows, released many successful comedy record albums, and starred in a series of low - budget films . Some of their best - known comedy routines and songs include "Earache My Eye", "Basketball Jones", "Santa Claus and His Old Lady", and "Sister Mary Elephant". Perhaps their most famous line is "Dave's not here", from their self - titled debut album . </P> <P> Their early success culminated with the release of their first feature - length movie, Up in Smoke, in 1978 . It became something of a cult classic, and was also successful enough at the box office (grossing over $44 million despite a low budget) to warrant two sequels: Cheech and Chong's Next Movie in 1980, and Nice Dreams in 1981 . These were followed by the less successful Things Are Tough All Over (1982) and Still Smokin (1983). The pair attempted a departure from their stoner comedy with 1984's Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers . </P> <P> Tommy Chong directed four of their films while co-writing and starring in all seven with Cheech Marin . </P>

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