Tommy Chong as Leo Chingkwake was one of the funniest characters on That ‘70s Show who consistently delivered some of the series’ most memorable quotes. Across eight seasons, Chong turned Leo from a one-note stoner character into an engaging and insightful father figure for Steven Hyde and, at times, an oddly poetic speaker of philosophical wisdom. Chong was perfectly cast as the aging hippie Leo because, as one-half of the cult stoner comedy duo Cheech and Chong, he was already an integral part of 1970s pop culture.
Many of the best episodes of That ‘70s Show featured Leo, and throughout the series run, Chong was upgraded from an occasional guest star into an important recurring character. As an essential contributor to many of That ‘70s Show’s best recurring gags, Leo was often present as the gang indulged in recreational activities down in Eric Forman’s basement. While Leo may not have been part of the core cast of the show, Leo’s recurring presence was a major factor in That ‘70 Show’s enduring appeal to this day.
10 “You Managed To Bring A Man Of God To Tears”
Season 4, Episode 12: “An Eric Forman Christmas”
The aging hippie Leo Chingkwake was always quick to jump in with witty one-liners after he caught the tail end of the gang’s misadventures. This was certainly the case in “An Eric Forman Christmas,” when Leo showed up after the gang had tied up Pastor Dave after Eric’s plans to direct the church’s Christmas pageant had gone awry. Leo scolded the gang, complaining that they “managed to bring a man of God to tears.”
However, when Pastor Dave explained, “I’m not crying,” Leo confounded viewers’ expectations by saying, “I’m talking about me, man.” Leo told the gang that Eric was the only one in their group with a “fundamental moral core” and taught them a lesson about ruining his plans for an enjoyable Christmas pageant. As one of the few times where Leo stood as the clearheaded voice of reason, this was a hilarious and profound moment for his character.
9 “Hey, Where’s That Dude And That Other Dude? And That Girl? And That Dude? And The Other Girl?”
Season 4, Episode 24: “That ’70s Musical”
As a sitcom that embraced the incredible power of music, it’s no surprise That ‘70s Show had a musical episode in Season 4. With classic tracks from artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, The Turtles, and a memorable rendition of “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band, this was one of the most memorable and creative episodes in the entire show. It also featured one of Leo’s funniest lines as he asked Fez where the rest of the gang was when he arrived at the annual choral concert organized by the overbearing music teacher Mr. Wilkinson, played by The Who’s Roger Daltrey.
When Leo asked Fez, “Where’s that dude and the other dude?” he revealed that despite hanging out with the That ‘70s Show gang on countless occasions, he did not know anybody’s name. The idea that Leo just thinks of Eric, Hyde, Donna, Kelso, and Jackie as just a random assortment of dudes and girls was truly hilarious. Although Leo’s recreational habits meant he was often prone to forgetfulness, this took things to a new level.
8 “Hey, Do You Wanna Be My Father?”
Season 2, Episode 18: “Kitty and Eric’s Night Out”
Leo Chingkwake and Steven Hyde always had a father-son-type relationship, so it made sense for Hyde to come to him to discuss his relationship issues. While Hyde complained about his old girlfriend Patty leaving him for Fez, Leo excitedly announced he just had twins while playing the board game The Game of Life. This led to Leo stating the game was so much better than real life because his children “split on him,” leading Hyde to reveal his parents walked out on him too, and Leo sentimentally adding, “and now we found each other.”
This poignant moment soon became hilarious when the much older Leo asked, “Hey, do you wanna be my father?” Like many of the best Leo moments, this showcased how close he was to getting to the real heart of the issue before highlighting his hopelessness and misunderstanding of the normal dynamics of a father-son relationship. Hyde, looking at first dumbfounded, just smiled and said, “Sure,” before they continued playing their game.
7 “I Think I Might Have Been In The Navy”
Season 2, Episode 18: “Kitty and Eric’s Night Out”
After Leo and Hyde bonded over playing the Game of Life in Season 2 of That ‘70s Show, the closing credits showcased the pair engaging in a game of Battleship. While Leo was usually far from a wordsmith, he demonstrated himself as very coherent and intelligent after Hyde attacked his ship. Here, Leo surprisingly stated: “You know, a well-maintained fleet is the backbone of any military structure, and with your floating arsenal depleted, your troops are likely to suffer some serious collateral damage.”
This unusual piece of highly detailed military terminology led Leo to realize that he may have forgotten a major part of his early life. In shock, Leo said, “Wow, you know what, man?” before revealing, “I think I might have been in the Navy.” While it’s no secret that Leo surely had a fascinating backstory before he was seen in That ‘70s Show, the idea of Leo having an esteemed naval career that taught him all about nautical warfare added yet another intriguing layer to this man of mystery.
6 “What Are You Doing in Canada?”
Season 3, Episode 23: “Canadian Road Trip”
The gang in That ‘70s Show was always coming up with new and interesting ways to land themselves in hot water, as seen in the Season 3 episode “Canadian Road Trip.” This was when the gang, including Leo, took a road trip to Canada in order to buy cheap beer, only for Fez to forget his green card, leading to questions about whether he was trying to illegally smuggle himself into the country. As the gang was questioned by Canadian border control, Leo was hilariously tuned out of the seriousness of the situation.
When questioned by Canadian rangers about what he was doing in Canada, all he thought to reply was a mocking repetition of “What are you doing in Canada?” This lack of understanding, paried with a natural aversion to authority figures, meant that Leo was of no help to the lawmen’s investigation. Luckily, Fez managed to make it back to Wisconsin without being thrown into jail, but the aging hippy Leo certainly didn’t help his case.
5 “If You Get Back To Work, You’re Fired, Man.”
Season 2, Episode 18: “Kitty and Eric’s Night Out”
The Season 2 episode “Kitty and Eric’s Night” featured some of Leo’s greatest moments as he and Hyde started to bond after they started working together at the Foto Hut. Although Hyde seemed to want to prove his enthusiasm for his new job by cutting their board session off early to get back to work, Leo showcased he wasn’t a typical boss when he said, “If you get back to work, you’re fired, man.” Leo’s determination to ensure Hyde continued slacking on the job proved he was the perfect boss for someone as lackadaisical as Hyde.
While this episode featured plenty of great Leo and Hyde moments that helped carve out their father-son style relationship, it also included some hilarious mother-son moments between Kitty and Eric. This was the episode in which Eric uncomfortably watched an R-rated version of Annie Hall with his mom, and they had to deal with all the uncomfortable sex scenes. Although this was one of Woody Allen’s best movies, it had plenty of content and humor that’s likely to make any teenage boy squirm if he accidentally had to sit through it with his own mother.
4 “No Aquarius”
Season 8, Episode 11: “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy”
After several seasons of infrequent appearances, Leo was once again upgraded to a recurring character for That ‘70s Show Season 8. This was because Leo and Hyde started working together again at the local record store, Grooves. The hilarious interactions between Leo and Hyde were some of the best parts of this season, although Hyde could always tell when something was not quite right with Leo. This led Hyde to tell him he’s “been acting weird” before asking, “Are you sober?”
To the question of his sobriety, Leo answered in a way that perfectly encapsulated the nature of his character when he said, “No, Aquarius.” Leo confusing sobriety with his star sign was the clearest answer to this question anyone could have asked for. With an inability to truly even comprehend what he was being asked about, it’s likely Leo had been engaging in some recreational fun before audiences saw him in this scene.
3 “I Think The Word You’re Looking For Is Fried, Man”
Season 8, Episode 2: “Somebody to Love”
After Leo invited his friends to hang out, smoke, and play music in Steven Hyde’s record store Grooves, his young boss felt he had no choice but to fire him. Despite being close friends for years, Hyde bit the bullet and told Leo that he was fired in the show’s signature circle segment. However, Leo didn’t seem to understand that Hyde was letting him go for failing to look after the store responsibly and laughed when he told him, “I think the word you’re looking for is fried, man,” in reference to the illegal drug use the show implied.
While it only took a moment for Hyde to decide that Leo could have his job back, this incident led to the introduction of Eric Forman’s replacement character, Randy. Instead of letting Leo go and hiring somebody new, Randy was added to Groove’s staff, and all three worked there together. While Randy’s introduction may have been unpopular with viewers, Leo’s actions were essential in adding him to That ‘70s show.
2 “You Know Why They Call It Beer?”
Season 3, Episode 23: “Canadian Road Trip”
When the gang in That ‘70s Show came up with the idea of traveling to Canada to buy beer, Leo was dead set against it, believing that stuff would “mess with your mind.” Despite Leo’s love of other mind-altering substances, it was interesting to hear he was so stern about his anti-alcohol beliefs. However, Leo was still interested in joining Eric, Hyde, and Fez on their Canadian road trip as he “spent some time up there during Nam.”
After the rest of the group had bought their beer, Leo continued to explain that even if beer “looks like fun” and “all the cool kids do it,” it “leads you down a sad, lonely, and confused path.” With all this wisdom, Leo ended his point with one final thought: “Do you know why they call it beer?” In response, Eric said, “No, why?” expecting some more words of wisdom from Leo, only for him to respond, “I’m just curious, man,” revealing that Leo didn’t know either.
1 “I Sat Next To God One Time On The Bus. He Told Me The Meaning Of Life, And Then He Gave Me A Pretzel.”
Season 2, Episode 23: “Holy Crap!”
Some of the best quotes from That ‘70s Show occurred when the gang was smoking pot and talking in a circle in Eric Forman’s basement. While it was often just the core guys during these scenes, Leo made a surprise appearance in Season 2. Feeling philosophical, the gang started talking about religion and God, to which Hyde said, “God is dead, man; it said so in Time Magazine.”
However, Leo claimed this could not be true because he “sat next to God on the bus,” where he was told the meaning of life and was given a pretzel. When the gang understandably asked what the meaning of life was, Leo said, “I guess I should have written it down, but it was a good pretzel, man.” This mix of profound philosophical insight and mindless stoner forgetfulness was part of what made Leo such a fan-favorite character on That ‘70s Show as it leaned into the hilarious comedic talents of Tommy Chong.
That ‘70s Show was one of Fox’s most popular sitcoms upon its release in 1998. Starring Topher Grace (Eric Forman), Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti), Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart), Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), and Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), That ‘70s Show revolves around the teens’ mishaps as they grow up in Point Place Wisconsin in the 1970s.
- Release Date
- August 23, 1998
- Seasons
- 8
- Network
- FOX
- Writers
- Mark Brazill , Bonnie Turner , Terry Turner
- Directors
- David Trainer , Terry Hughes
- Showrunner
- Gregg Mettler
