Cheech Marin

CHEECH IS NOT MY REAL NAME by Cheech Marin is a wonderfully entertaining memoir of a man who played a Mexican stoner and became famous doing it, but really is a intelligent and fascinating individual that is proud of his life and recognizes he is blessed to have what he has.
As a fan, it was hard to see past Cheech Marin's days with Tommy Chong as Cheech & Chong to identify Cheech as more than that character. But having read his book and being reminded of his expansive acting career, he is show more so much more than just 1/2 half of deadbeat stoners Cheech and Chong. He tells of his unusual childhood and growing up, including a stint surviving in the cold north of Canada. He has some great stories about starting out in the comedy world in the 1970's, from people he met, to places he went, to things he saw. The way he tells stories is great, describing the situation and building up to the climax of the story, then dropping a deadpan side comment that is so on point, it takes a minute before you start laughing. He walks a tightrope in describing his relationship with Tommy Chong, which mirrored how their relationship was. He talks that on stage in particular, they were amazing together and clicked perfectly, while offstage they were like brothers, cool one minute, passionately disagreeing the next. It's clear, though, Cheech has a fondness and respect for Chong. He recognizes that neither of them would have been successful without the other.
Cheech & Chong fan or not, Cheech's memoir, CHEECH IS NOT MY REAL NAME, will leave you smiling and wanting to someday meet Cheech so you can hear more stories.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, Cheech Marin, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! show less

I really enjoyed this candid autobiography audiobook read by Cheech himself. I especially liked hearing of his draft resistance and meeting Chong in Canada while working in a naked hippy improv troupe. This led to such performance career vignettes as:

We would play anything that we could get, from the lunch yard at USC to the just opened Scientology center, which was one of our stranger gigs. I knew it would be different when I went into the men's room and the graffiti on the walls read, “I show more was thrown into the maelstrom of the universe blind and unaware.”

Obviously, Cheech doesn't remember much about the high point of the duo's success and popularity, but does dive deep into the creative demise around the time of The Corsican Brothers before his solo successes including Born in East L.A., celebrity Jeopardy appearances, MTV and more including a string of Robert Rodriguez movies. show less

This is a cute book that teaches readers to always be true to themselves and not to copy of other people. This is taught by a school bus driver who gets the students lost on their way to a musical event. He teaches all the students how to play mariachi. In the end they aren't sure if they want to try to be like the other bands in the concert or themselves, but the bus driver helps them to see being the band they planned to be is the best plan. This was a very cute book and sends a great show more message to readers. The colors in the book are all bright and very engaging. show less

Cheech Is Not My Real Name...But Don't Call Me Chong 🍒🍒🍒
By Cheech Marin
2017

Cheech Marin. Comedian. Musician.Film and TV actor. Husband. Father. This memoir shares the basic events of his life. Cheech Is Not My Name Is The perfect title for this book. You will not find any intimate or personal details or events here. You will not get to know the real Cheech Marin.....

This memoir starts in his childhood, his father a cop,attending Catholic school, Valley College, and his friendship show more and work with Tommy Ching.These are some of the best stories in the book.

Cheech And Chong and their hippie stoner humor catapulted them into counterculture icons, and overwhelming popularity.
p.99
"Our comedy was based on observing this hippie revolution that was going on all around us. And as I said before, very few people were presenting it as a form of entertainment. "

Much of the novel centers on his friendships and falling out with Tommy Chong and Lou Adler.It seems to be the focus of the book.
p. 158
"As we moved along in show business in these early years,people always assumed that we (Tommy Chong) were best friends and had grown up together. That was how close our chemistry was."

The cohesiveness of the book starts to fail here, the end are stories of what a great friend he is, and that he lives to golf and collect Chicano art. This is the most he's willing to tell us. His humor and upbeat attitude carry this book. Good easy read. show less