When submitting his script to studios, screenwriter Adam Herz titled it "Untitled Teenage Sex Comedy That Can Be Made For Under $10 Million Which Studio Readers Will Likely Hate But I Think You Will Love." It was later changed to "East Grand Rapids High," then "East Great Falls High," then "Great Falls" and finally, "American Pie."
The line, "Say my name, bitch," from the scene between Jason and Michelle was ad-libbed on the spot by Alyson Hannigan. The director and producer found it so amusing that it was kept in the final cut.
Eugene Levy was told he could improvise much of the dialogue for his character, including the part when flipping through the pornographic magazines with Jim, forcing a noticeably muffled laugh from Jason Biggs with the "giant orgy" line.
The film was originally rated NC-17 by the MPAA. It took three resubmissions to obtain an R-rating. A few scenes had to be edited or trimmed to achieve the rating.
-The main reason for the MPAA's NC-17 decision was the infamous pie scene. In the original cut, Jim did four thrusts into the pastry - too many for an R. The filmmakers and the MPAA wound up settling on two thrusts.
-Dirtier dialogue during the opening scrambled porno. The line "ride me like a pony" was originally "blow your wad on my tits." Also, the line "spank my hairy ass" was originally "play with my hairy balls."
-After Stifler swigs ejaculate-laced beer, Kevin asks him, "Hey Stifler, how's the pale-ale?" The line was originally, "Hey Stifler, how's the man-chowder?," but the ratings board objected to 'man-chowder' and it had to be replaced.
-When Nadia is seen masturbating to Jim's porn magazine, the filmmakers had to cut the sight of her placing her hand down her panties by a couple of seconds.
-When Kevin is looking through the Sex Bible, the shots of the pages had to be edited to include less raunchy illustrations.
-The scene where Kevin goes down on Vicky was a little too long. Some of her moaning had to be cut.
-The main reason for the MPAA's NC-17 decision was the infamous pie scene. In the original cut, Jim did four thrusts into the pastry - too many for an R. The filmmakers and the MPAA wound up settling on two thrusts.
-Dirtier dialogue during the opening scrambled porno. The line "ride me like a pony" was originally "blow your wad on my tits." Also, the line "spank my hairy ass" was originally "play with my hairy balls."
-After Stifler swigs ejaculate-laced beer, Kevin asks him, "Hey Stifler, how's the pale-ale?" The line was originally, "Hey Stifler, how's the man-chowder?," but the ratings board objected to 'man-chowder' and it had to be replaced.
-When Nadia is seen masturbating to Jim's porn magazine, the filmmakers had to cut the sight of her placing her hand down her panties by a couple of seconds.
-When Kevin is looking through the Sex Bible, the shots of the pages had to be edited to include less raunchy illustrations.
-The scene where Kevin goes down on Vicky was a little too long. Some of her moaning had to be cut.
Alyson Hannigan went to her callback audition really having to pee. She ran to the bathroom and her name was called right after she got out. She went in without having calmed down so she read the part really quirky and with an over amount of energy. She credits that to her getting the part.