'The Cooze' was Erik's best friend, the guy making all the wisecracks, giving the ill-conceived romantic advice. After his Naked Mile experience, he wanted to pledge the Beta House too.
Where did we leave you in Naked Mile?
"I was having my rear end served to me on a platter by a dominatrix."
What's in store for Beta House?
"Well, I think that experience, I think going into college and expecting to be a ladies man and kind of getting taught a lesson quieted The Cooze down for this year. So I'm a little bit more mature, a little bit wiser, a little bit more George Clooney and a little bit less like Carrot Top."
We've all been there, thinking it's a new beginning.
"That's the thing is you go to college and you really can. You see a lot of people try to reinvent themselves. I think what this movie is about is trying that out and seeing that it doesn't necessarily work for the better. Sometimes the sexiest thing you can do is be yourself."
How does pledging the fraternity help Cooze find his game?
"It's always nice to feel part of something. It's always nice to feel part of something and feel like you have a core crew of friends to have your back. So I think pledging the house as Cooze gives me a little bit more confidence. A little bit more confidence, and there's so many crazy guys in the fraternity that I don't have to necessarily be 'that crazy guy'. I think that's what my journey is in this film, is finding that happy medium between a party animal but still a sensitive, cool, laid back [guy]."
Is there a special lady for him?
"Oh yeah. Denise. Well, she may or may not be a lady as you'll see in the DVD. It's kind of an ongoing struggle."
How does Beta House maintain the quality of Naked Mile?
"Well, Beta House just takes it to the next level because us as friends, John, Steve, Nic Nac, John and Steve especially, we've had this year to become really close friends. I think we brought a lot of that to the movie. You're really getting like you're standing outside a window watching us just be ourselves. So Beta House definitely takes it to the next level. There's more partying, there's more barnyard animals, probably an equal amount of alcohol consumption but it's going to be good, I think."
Can you talk about the crazy pledge activities?
"We have to kidnap some animals, the ostrich, which was pretty frightening. It's like a velociraptor. I don't know if you've ever seen an ostrich, but these things are like...they're vicious. It's the closest thing to a dinosaur I've ever seen. But to be totally honest, the bird was a better actor than most of us. After every take it was back on its mark, no problem. We actually gave props to the ostrich."
Will you be back for a third American Pie?
"I can't say yet. I'm not sure if they're doing another one. All I know is that I loved working with these guys and I think some of the best parts of my personality come out working with these actors. Yes, I would like to work with everybody again."
What doors did Naked Mile open for you?
"It kind of took me from being an acting major out of college to actually having a job, and actually seeing if what I've been cultivating for the last 22 or 23 years was actually something that could sustain me."
Could you relate to any of these college experiences?
"Definitely. I pledged a fraternity when I was at USC. It's crazy, some of the stuff. I know the writer, we went to the same school together, so I think a lot is very loosely based on his own college experiences."
Did he know you from there?
"No, we didn’t know each other at all. We met later down the line. They've got connections all over the place, man."
More on American Pie Presents: Beta House: Interview with Nic Nac ('Bobby')
