Shelby Chong, who played a body builder, is the spouse of Tommy Chong and has appeared in most of the Cheech & Chong movies.
The film, like any Cheech & Chong movie, is loosely scripted and tightly storyboarded, with the physical characteristics of each sequence carefully pre-planned, a technique which evolved from their origins in improvisational theatre. Tommy Chong says: "We rely on the storyboards to keep the plot flowing." Whilst Cheech Marin said: "And to tell the cast and crew where to report in the morning." Chong points out: "Improv has its own disciplines. When it works, it's as if you had tapped in to some crazy force. There's a spontaneity that's funnier than anything an all-night story conference could produce." And when it doesn't work? Chong says: "You look at the rushes, say -------------, we blew that one, and reshoot. We probably use . . . and waste . . . more raw film than anyone in the business. But on the basis that comedy is the art of the unexpected, it's worth it."
Director Tommy Chong was particularly pleased by the fact that several comic newcomers enjoyed their initial screen exposure in featured roles or cameos in Gelés ben dur (1981). Chong has been a moving force for new talent ever since Chong ran the first improvisational topless night club in Vancouver, Canada.
Paul Reubens' character says to Chong at one point: "How bout the future of rock and roll, huh? Bruce Springsteen? F**cking it all up." Springsteen mentions in his memoir "Born to Run" that on his first tour in the early 1970s for the album "Greetings from Asbury Park", he and the E Street Band opened for Cheech & Chong for their shows. Cheech Marin also would go on to parody "Born in the USA" as "Born in East L.A."
In Sergeant Stedanko's office, to the right of the door, there is a paper cutout of Cheech & Chong carrying a garbage can from Cheech et Chong - La suite (1980).
Carl Weathers: Uncredited, as a man at the gym wearing a yellow tank top. He appears during the gym scene standing directly behind Cheech who is struggling on the bench press.