Musings from an overworked translator

TGIF: Santa Claus and His Old Lady December 27, 2008

I know Christmas is over, but the local radio station is still playing Christmas songs and this was on tonight as I was driving home from the Akron Christkindlmarkt. It is without a doubt my favorite Christmas story. It wasn’t Christmas in our house without listening to this classic Cheech and Chong bit about “Santa Claus and his Old Lady.” This comedy routine was featured on the album “Where There’s Smoke.” Now my parents are and were not by any means ‘tokers’ (smokers of marijuana), but they found this comedy routine hilarious and shared their humor with my sister and me. When we were little we simply didn’t get the drug references. It never gets old for me.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Cheech and Chong, the comedy duo of Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong was popular in the 1970s and 80s. Their standup routines revolved around hippie speak and the drug culture. Tommy Chong later starred in “That 70s Show” playing a drugged out ex-hippie, but in real life he is quite well-educated. Chong’s California-based company, Chong’s Bongs, was raided by federal officials in 2003 as part of a federal crackdown on “drug-related paraphernalia” and Chong was sentenced to nine months in federal prison as a result. Cheech Marin distanced himself from drug-inspired comedy in the mid to late 80s and went on to star in “Nash Bridges.” He recently appeared in a reality show called “Celebrity Duets,” which is the only reality show I watched religiously. The two are rumored to be planning a comeback together.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little clip. The video is just pictures of them since it originates from an album.