Interview by Kris Peters
Around the turn of the century, a movie came out that changed the face of comedy forever. A movie about teenagers trying to find sexual gratification was not a new concept - hell, such movies were around before movies even - but this one resonated with disenfranchised youth the world over.
And lovers of good old-fashioned Apple Pie the universe over.
That movie was American Pie, and the main actors that brought us that wonderful tale of self-discovery will forever be etched into cinema folklore as a benchmark for excess and desire - and more than the occasional mishap along the way.
While Stifler (Seann William Scott) and the luckless in love Jim (Jason Biggs) might be the perennial favourites of the franchise, not enough people know or understand that American Pie was more about a fresh college teenager who was simply trying to find a way to please his girlfriend. An impressionable young lad by the name of Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), who not only narrated the movie, but also provided many of the warmer moments - although not as warm as Jim's brief moment of intimacy with said Apple Pie.
And just to make sure we all know his name and importance to the franchise, Nicholas is returning to Australia next week for a limited round of American Pie Emo Night shows that bring you closer to the star than ever before.
Performing a combination of movie screenings, live band performances, meet and greets and Q & A sessions, Nicholas returns after only a brief absence for unfinished business. HEAVY jumped at the chance to pick his brain for 15 minutes, which turned into a lazy thirty, ahead of the run of shows which kicks off at La La La's in Wollongong on July 16.
"People watch the film, and they go, oh, shit, I didn't realize that this is Kevin's movie," Nicholas laughed. "So my favourite part about American Pie Emo Night is reminding everyone, yeah, motherfucker, that was my movie (laughs). That's why you liked it. I know Jason Biggs was funny, but he was funny because I was telling the story. Everyone remembers the cherry on top or the frosting. So Stifler's the cherry on top, Jim is the frosting, and I'm the cake."
We mention the fact that this will be Nicholas's second trip Down Under this year, to which - of course - he has a reasonable reply.
"The thing is that I worked for 10 years from 2015 to 2025 to get my first tour in Australia," he explained. "So many failed attempts, but I never give up. This is retribution. When you work hard at something, you may not get it when you want it, but eventually the landslide happens. So I'm making up for lost time."
In the full interview, Thomas talked more about his limited run of shows and what to expect, his love for his fans and providing the best show possible every time. He ran us through each section of the show and how it has evolved to this point, highlighting the live music aspect and his original music.
We engage more about American Pie and his feelings for the movie and his fellow co-stars, the timeless nature of the movie's comedy and sets the rumours straight (sort of) about the much-debated 'new' movie. We run through challenges posed by being an actor in the music industry and vice versa, some of his more memorable moments on stage, including a special request from Creed, how the upcoming shows will differ from last time he was here and more.
Photo:
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