Tommy Chong is best known for being one half of the pot-smoking comedy duo Cheech and Chong and has been labeled as an activist for the cannabis movement ever since. Chong is now starring in Richard Stanley's new horror film Color Out of Space.
Chong, 81, told Cheddar he relates to his character "Ezra," who is a shut-in recluse 'hermit' that provides comic relief in the film. He said as you age the more you become a 'hermit' yourself. "The older you get the less people listen to you and talk to you," Chong claimed.
The Cheech and Chong stoner comedy duo rose to fame in the 1970s, and, in an era of reboots, Chong says he is open to doing a reunion after Richard "Cheech" Marin recovers from a knee injury. Since then, Chong has been vocal on and off the screen about his love for cannabis and now has ventured into his own brand called 'Chong's Choice' which offers a range of products from pre-rolls to THC strips.
Now that cannabis is legal in California, where he spends most of his time, he explained that this was the best moment to start his own business. "Once it got legal, it's fun. You don't have to sneak across the border anymore," Chong said.
However, the actor and comedian is not surprised to see cannabis legalized in his lifetime, because he said he always knew it was good for you. "Anything that makes you horny works," he explained.
Color Out of Space, based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, is set to be in theaters Jan. 24, co-starring Nicholas Cage and Joely Richardson. The film takes place in a rural town after the Gardner family relocates there from the city. After a meteor lands into the family's garden, the water supply is infected by a mutant organism causing the entire town to exhibit unhinged behavior.
With Martin Luther King Jr. Day fast approaching, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C. 6th District), the House Majority Whip, talked about the importance of honoring the iconic civil rights activist. "As we consider the life and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., let's think about who and what we are as a country, and whether or not we're going to give up on the ideals of this country or continue to press forward," he said. Clyburn also discussed the push for new voting legislation, the For the People Act and the John Lewis Act, as well as the fate of the Senate filibuster.
It was 'game on' for sports bettors in the state of New York, as mobile betting kicked off on four major betting operating platforms Saturday. This comes at an exciting time for sports fans with some of the biggest NFL games of the season right around the corner. Cam Rogers - Host of Lock It In with Cam Rogers, Betting Analyst at the Bleav Podcast Network joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
The United States purchased over 600,000 doses of a monoclonal antibody treatment from Glaxosmithkline and Vir Biotechnology, bringing the total worldwide doses purchased to 1.7 million. This comes as the country attempts to ramp up treatment options as cases of the omicron variant continue to surge. Dr. Asha Shah, Director of Infectious Diseases at Stamford Health joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
Former wide receiver for the New York Giants, Victor Cruz has partnered with Krystal Restaurants, a popular burger chain in the South, to bring the franchise to his home state of New Jersey. Cruz and Alice Crowder, CMO of Krystal Restaurants, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the venture. The five new locations will be known as "Victor Cruz's Krystal," decked out with memorabilia from his football career, with the former player explaining how "hands-on" he plans on being. "You never know, OK? You might walk in and Victor Cruz will be flipping a burger back there, and you might be getting it directly from the source," he said.
Max Bichsel, vice president at Gambling.com Group joins Cheddar News to talk about the growing sports betting industry, New York legalizing mobile betting, and 2022 predictions for the sector.
Cody Roark, NFL analyst at Pro Football Network joins Cheddar News to talk about NFL playoff predictions and which teams have a shot at the Super Bowl.
Mario Stefanidis, Vice President of Research at Roundhill Investments, joined Wake Up With Cheddar to break down the implications of the Take-Two deal to purchase Zynga, as the gaming giant looks to become a major player in mobile gaming.
Covid cases have started to spike again across the nation, and this time they seem to be hitting some of our youngest and most vulnerable - school-aged children. School districts across the nation - including the country's largest public school system in New York City- are all grappling with what to do as teachers and students alike continue to miss school in droves.
Katie Honan, reporter for the New York City-based non profit news organization, The City explains how educational leaders across the country are handling covid demands from both teachers and parents alike.
For the first time since September, Bitcoin fell below $40,000 early Monday. The currency's average short-term price has now dipped below its average long-term price, which is known by a rather dramatic term, a death cross. According to analysts, the indicator appears to be a result of mounting concerns of faster liquidity withdrawal by the US Federal Reserve. The crypto slump also follows a week of rough trading for equities overall. CEO Snickerdoodle Labs and Co-Founder of the Stanford Future of Digital Currency Initiative, Jonathan Padilla, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
