Eddie Kaye Thomas: American Pie's "Newly-Wed"

The teen guy who hooked up with Stifler's mom is finally hitched.. well, on TV anyway. Cute Eddie Kaye Thomas; Finch of American Pie movie fame, will play newly-wed high school vice-principal Jeff Woodcock on the new Fox comedy series "Til' Death" in which he co-stars with "Everybody Loves Raymond's" Brad Garrett and feisty Joely Fisher.

Let's set the scene. At the Fox lawn party in Pasadena, we're still complaining about humidity and heat but there are some refreshing white tents set up and in one of them, we spot a girl cooling David Boreanaz' face down with some Evian spray water. Later, the "Bones" actor makes silly faces as he gets a 3 D luggage tag made at a booth. We get one made too. Ours is dorky! Rachel Bilson from the O.C. came, ate and left. At least we're told. We missed her. We spot Courteney Cox, her hubby David Arquette, Victor Garber of "Alias" fame and tons of other familiar faces.

At a buffet table, we run into Eddie. He's with actress girlfriend Ari Graynor who is wearing a white sundress with a bustier-style top. We compliment her on it as the two circle the buffet table. Eddie says he bought it for her at posh L.A. shopping area The Grove. Ari and I agree he's got good taste. Eddie and I chat while Ari moves on for more munchies...

TeenTelevision: Did you take this role to show your teen fans that you've grown up, you are playing a guy with a responsible job (school vice-principal)?

Eddie: You read a lot of scripts and this is a funny script that you don't see so often. I get to work with some of the greatest television actors of our time and I love to do it. I get to wear a suit so that wasn't the only reason at all but it is kind of fun and weird to be an adult all of a sudden. I guess it happens to all of us.

TeenTelevision: So on hiatus from the show are you not going to go back to any teen comedies?

Eddie: I take it as it comes. I think I'm a bit too old for high school. I guess I could do college. But, hopefully, this will keep me busy for a while.

TeenTelevision: Why a series now though?

Eddie: I love the job. I did a series on The WB about two seasons and I love the format. I love to get new scripts every week and working with Brad [Garrett of "Everybody Loves Raymond"] was a huge impetus for me, just to get to learn from him and watch him work every week. I think it's an awesome show with a lot of heart too.

TeenTelevision: Doesn't he make you laugh so much that you can't get a take?

Eddie: It takes a few takes. That's the advantage of non-live television.

TeenTelevision: Do they let you throw out some storylines for the show?

Eddie: I've been quiet so far. I have a lot of faith in them and won't speak until spoken to.

TeenTelevision: You play a newly-wed. Do you go to any newlywed friends to research for the role?

Eddie: Well, I'm 25 and all my newly-wed friends are divorced already. It's scary. When I think of marriage, I guess I'm bitter.

TeenTelevision: Do you need a wife in the kitchen?

Eddie: Maybe. Someone's gotta cook. I don't. I think someone's gotta boil water. I go out a lot with my girlfriend who can actually cook we've learned recently.

TeenTelevision: [We look. Ari is out of earshot] Was she just not telling you she could cook?

Eddie: She took a few months to let it go, I know that. I don't understand why she wasn't bragging about it. She made chicken a la king which was amazing. There was a cake she baked. It's really impressive.

TeenTelevision: What music are you listening to right now?

Eddie: Everything from The Pixies to Mozart to Steven Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein; kind of whatever at the moment.

TeenTelevision: Do you ever sit down and chat with the old cast of the American Pie films?

Eddie: Oh yeah. Me and [Jason] Biggs are very good friends. We're like best friends and see each other a lot. We see the other guys occasionally but everybody's pretty busy.

TeenTelevision: Is anybody saying 'oh, I wish we had those days again'?

Eddie: I feel like we're still having good days. I'm sure there will be a time when those will be the 'good ole days' but I think we're still in the good old days which is amazing.

TeenTelevision: Any messages for budding teen actors?

Eddie: Keep going. The biggest thing is just doing it. A lot of people say 'Oh, my God how could you make it? It's so hard'. But not that many people try. Just giving it a real shot is part of the battle and it's a fun journey. At least for me it was. You can't give up.

TeenTelevision: Did you see any films this summer that you liked?

Eddie: I saw Superman Returns which was amazing. I saw it in 3-D and that was great. I wish there were more comedies.

TeenTelevision: What do you and your gal Ari do on an ideal date night?

Eddie: I guess this is old-fashioned but I like dinner and dancing where there's not loud music. I wish I could find that place. They don't exist anymore but that's what I want. I don't want to scream over people and I want good food and good music. I think the younger generation would appreciate it. I don't think that's too old-fashioned.

We don't either. We think it's romantic. You go guy!

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.