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Tommy Chong

Nine months in the joint gave this counterculture comedian a new stash of material

A A A Comments By Nick Keppler Thursday, Jan 10 2008

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Getting sent to prison may have been the best thing to happen to Tommy Chong in years, careerwise at least. Before his “water pipe” company Chong Glass/Nice Dreams was charged in a federal sting against drug paraphernalia sellers, Chong was one half of a broken-up comedy duo whose stoned-humor shtick had become cliché. As likable as your cool uncle, Chong found work playing hippie stereotypes on That ‘70s Show and Dharma & Greg before his arrest in 2003. After nine months in prison (underreported fact: he went to jail in a plea bargain so his wife and son, also part of the company, wouldn’t be prosecuted), Chong became not only a newly minted cause célèbre in the crazed war against drugs, he also had a wealth of new material about joining a (literal) circle of Native American prisoners, the guards’ reaction to a famous inmate and, of course, cavity searches. Forget the reefer jokes — Tommy has a whole new stash. 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. today and tomorrow, 7:30 p.m. Sunday. 7620 Katy Freeway. For tickets and information, call 713-333-8800 or visit www.improv2.com/houston. $25
Fri., Jan. 11, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 12, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m., 2008

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