Eugene Levy believes American Pie’s humping scene ‘could get him out of anything’

When Eugene Levy filmed that scene in American Pie where he walks in on his son making love to a freshly baked pie, he couldn’t possibly have imagined that it might one day save his life.

But following the adventures of Sir Michael Palin in Venezuela, who was held at gunpoint by armed police during his Channel 5 travelogue series, the Schitt’s Creek star now sees the scene in a different light.

While the Monty Python legend showed a skit of him slapping John Cleese with a fish to get out of his tricky situation, speaking to Metro ahead of the release of his own Apple TV Plus travel series, Eugene admitted he’d rely on that iconic moment.

‘I would probably share the clip in American Pie where I walk into the kitchen and discover my son humping a pie,’ he said. ‘I think that reaction would get me off anything.’

The Reluctant Traveler season three sees the 78-year-old award-winning actor yet again step out of his comfort zone for a whirlwind tour of the world’s most beautiful and intriguing destinations.

From getting drunk with Prince Harry in Windsor Castle to exploring the K-wave in South Korea and celebrating the Day of the Dead in Mexico, Eugene has admitted that the series has perhaps made him a less reluctant traveller.

Eugene Levy got drunk with royalty during the latest series of his Apple TV travel programme (Picture: Apple+) This season saw him hit the open road in Louisiana in an RV (Picture: Apple+)

However, that’s not how things began. Certainly not when the idea of a travel series was first pitched to him.

‘I failed my way into getting this show, definitely,’ he tells me.

‘I realised it when they first pitched the show to me, which was not this show. They pitched a travel show about hotels, I believe it was called Room with a View, and I was approached to host that show, and I said it sounds exotic, but I’m not the guy, because I know I don’t like travelling.

‘I was on a phone conversation and tried to let them know that I’m not the guy and tried to do it in as humorous a way as I could, and I was getting a lot of laughs on the other end.

‘Then, apparently, when that call ended, they changed their mind and said: “No, no, this show shouldn’t be about hotels. It should be about someone who doesn’t like to travel.” And then they re-pitched it to me that way. Now, I could see it because I don’t have to fake anything.’ I can actually be myself. I failed the task successfully.’

Asked what the most surprising place was he visited in season three, he says: ‘It’s a toss-up between South Korea and Vienna because I didn’t know much about the K-wave, I only knew about K-Pop.

‘And Vienna was a city that I’d always wanted to get to because I love Europe and the classic quality that some of the European cities have, as well as its history. It was the formality and tradition there, especially with these 200 balls that are put on a year in the span of two months.

‘They take it very seriously and uphold their traditions that have been going on for 100-plus years.’

The Canadian legend has admitted he is becoming less of a reluctant traveller (Picture: Apple+) The Emmy-award-winning actor has travelled the globe in his new series (Picture: Apple TV+/Christina Belle)

Speaking about his ‘fantastic’ day getting drunk with Prince William, he adds: ‘Well, that statement alone gives you a good indication of just what a great sense of humour he has.

‘It was an amazing day that I had. It was a bit of a surprise for me that I knew I’d be drinking with him because that episode was supposed to be about how close you can get to the royal lifestyle in England.

‘So we’d be going to the same place as they would frequent and take a tour of Windsor Castle. But the idea that I would be taking that tour with the Prince of Wales was a surprise when we were shooting, and it was a pretty amazing moment.

‘So I didn’t know what to expect. I had a few heart palpitations, but I would say in the first three seconds of meeting the man, he put me at ease and is just an incredible, incredible gentleman.’ 

According to Eugene, ‘nobody eats’ oysters, sushi or sashimi, which he says were ‘disgusting’ and he ‘could not eat’ while travelling Asia.

But the only thing he has ever turned down during his travel series is a hot air balloon ride due to his fear of heights.

‘I knew that just was not going to work and I would probably actually die.’

The Emmy-award-winning star also tells me ‘there’s not one location that I’ve been to where I have not been recognised.’

The Schitt’s Creek star has said he would love to work with his family again (Picture: TNS)

‘I guess American Pie is still on everybody’s lips. In North America, England, Australia and Asia. Even South Korea,’ he says.

‘During this lunch we had in a farmer’s backyard in Costa Rica…. somebody at the table made an American pie reference, and it was one of the grandmothers. And my heart stopped. I just. Of all places. I can’t believe what I’m hearing here, you know?’

While he hasn’t thought ahead yet for where else is on his bucket list, Eugene does have plans to work with his children, Dan and Sarah, who both starred in the breakout success Schitt’s Creek.

‘I would love to do it again. There’s no plans right now. They’re all busy. My son has just started shooting his new television series. My daughter’s on her third season of Surreal Estate.

‘If we can find something to do together, it would be great. Maybe there’s something else. Maybe I’ve got to start thinking of something, but it was the greatest joy in my life to be able to work with my kids.’

The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy premieres exclusively on Apple TV Plus on Friday, September 19.

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