Getting the logistics together to make a new America Pie movie was no easy task for Universal, and I’m sure will one day be the subject of an Entertainment Weekly cover story about how those heroes managed to milk blood from a rightfully dead franchise when all the h8erzz said it would never work. Long story short, to get it under budget, they had to cut a few corners. And apparently, one of those corners was named “Tara Reid’s salary.”

From The Hollywood Reporter:

How the studio met those challenges is a study in prolonging a franchise on a sensible budget. Production on the $50 million film, which wrapped this summer in advance of an April 6 release, was moved to Georgia to take advantage of a generous tax credit.
Then the studio played hardball with the actors, who have experienced mixed levels of success outside of the franchise.
According to sources, Universal is paying Jason Biggs and Seann William Scott a robust $5 million each, plus a small slice of first-dollar gross, to reprise their roles.
Alyson Hannigan, star of CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, is getting about $3 million. And veteran Eugene Levy, who starred in four profitable direct-to-DVD Pie films that helped make the property a billion-dollar franchise, is said to have received a payday also in the $3 million range.
The rest of the cast — which includes Chris Klein, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Natasha Lyonne, Jennifer Coolidge [Stifler's mom], Mena Suvari and Shannon Elizabeth — is being paid far less, say sources, most in the $500,000 to $750,000 range (though bonuses for some could kick in if the film is a hit, as expected).
Rounding out the list is Tara Reid, who is said to have joined Reunion for close to the $250,000 that Universal initially offered. A studio rep calls the figures “inaccurate” but declines further comment.

Now, there are two ways to look at it this. On the one hand, getting paid a third of Shannon Elizabeth, who was barely in the first one and doesn’t even show her boobs anymore, is pretty insulting. On the other, Tara Reid getting paid a quarter mil to stand around eating free food and occasionally mumble out lines she probably thinks are for Big Lebowski 2 is not only a miraculous stroke of sheer luck for Tara Reid, but an insult to anyone with a real job (obviously I don’t include myself in that statement). That’s probably what her agent* was thinking when he took the first offer. And that’s why there are so few moral agents.

*A talking duck

Universal has released the first pictures and teaser (which consists of a series of still pictures – watch it below) for American Reunion. Which, for the record, is a semi-reboot/sequel which picks up the storyline of the third movie and ignores the last four direct-to-DVD sequels (here’s a handy chart). As you can see, the gang’s all back together: Sh*tbrick, Pie F*cker, Flute Pussy, Jizz Drinker, Beardy, Whatsherface… pretty much everyone except Natasha Lyonne. But TooFab does report that both she and Shannon Elizabeth are confirmed for the sequel. So I have to assume she’s either passed out behind a dumpster like a raccoon, or threatening to have sex with someone’s dog again.

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Alyson Hannigan: Communist

We’ve known for a while now that as part of Obama’s public works package to keep Tara Reid and Natasha Lyonne out of gutters, that Universal was “rebooting” the American Pie franchise (sort of — they’re ignoring the direct-to-DVD sequels).  The new film, American Reunion, now has some (potentially spoilery I guess) plot details:

The whole gang are returning to East Great Falls for their ten-year Highschool reunion (made possible thanks to Facebook). They’ll come near and far to remember the good times – only to be faced with the frightening realization that they’re no longer young teenagers.

Because God knows high school reunions never existed before Facebook.  Our parents had it so good.

Oz [Chris Klein] has hit the big time as a contestant on a Dancing with the Stars-type show. He also lives in a pricey Malibu mansion. He returns home a big-shot.

A big shot, eh?  Would you go so far as to say that this guy. Walks. Through. The rain drops.?

Stifler isn’t doing well – he’s working as a temp for a rude boss that refers to him as ‘his bitch’. He’s also not having a lot of luck with the ladies. Still, he’s excited to get back home and do some partying.

Jim’s next-door neighbor Kara, now all grown-up (!), develops a crush on the married man. Can Jim resist her? Can he keep his marriage to Michelle in one piece?

Jim is of course pie f*cker Jason Biggs, while Michelle is flute-pussy Allison Hannigan.  I have no idea who Kara is.

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I’m gonna play devil’s advocate here and pretend all of you didn’t already see Street Fighter The Legend of Chun Li in theaters and present to you this video that compiles all the best parts, i.e. the parts where Chris Klein acts.  I posted a similar video a while back but it got taken down, and if anything deserves a repost, it’s this.  You know how in every movie that involves telekinesis or magic, the mentor will tell the young protege to squeeze all of his thoughts and emotions into a little ball and focus it into the pit of his stomach?  Chris Klein acts like someone told him to focus all of his acting ability into his testicles, and then force it through his penis with intense prostate contractions.  And when it comes out, it’s pure gravitas. This guy walks. Through. The jizz drops. I guess what I’m trying to say is, do not watch this if you’re trying not to get pregnant.

[JeffRubin via Videogum]

About a month ago, Chris Klein’s coke-fueled clown dildo of a Mamma Mia audition ended up online. It was pretty embarrassing, but he wisely went with the joke and we forgot about it (hope you’re taking notes, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad). Well that’s all about to change because last night he got popped for a DUI, and his BAC might qualify him for a spot on the drunk celebrity hall of fame.  (That’s right, fame, not shame. Drinking is cool. And if you’re not cool, drinking makes you cool.)

We’re told Klein blew well over a .20 when he was arrested on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles this morning — his second DUI bust in the last 6 years.  The legal limit in California is .08. 
As we previously reported, Klein wasn’t the only passenger in his car — cops found a dog inside the vehicle.  The dog was later retrieved by a friend of Klein’s. [TMZ]

Holy sh*t, .20+?  That’s pretty wasted.  I mean, not Hassellhoff wasted, but still.  If I’m that wasted and I’m in a car, you can bet I’m probably not driving, I’m probably tied up in the trunk yelling, “TAKE ME TO GET SOME FLAPJACKS, YOU F*GGOTS!”  Anyway, DUIs are all fun and games, but stealing a dog?  That’s f*cked up.  (Though Nic Cage abides).  I can only imagine how embarrassed the dog was when the police had to call his owner from a police station.  He probably sighed real loud and put his paws over his eyes.

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