American Pie Quotes

Context

This line is spoken by Michelle Flaherty, played by Alyson Hannigan, in the film American Pie, directed by Chris and Paul Weitz (1999). 

We've all told stories that leave us laughing and our friends glassy-eyed with boredom, stories where you "had to be there" for them to be funny to anyone else. For all the band geeks, "there" is band camp, and all your band camp stories are going to put any non-band geeks to sleep or send them running for the nearest exit.

In American Pie, Michelle doesn't yet understand this concept, so she bores Jim with her band camp stories of pillow fights and playing the wrong music. Hahahahahahaha, right? 

Only if you were there.

Of course, later, this running gag goes in an entirely new direction when Michelle says "this one time, at band camp" she put her flute, well, in a place where you definitely won't be playing any Bach.

Ah, so that's why these people talk about band camp all the time…

Where you've heard it

You've heard this line from anyone who was in a band or went to any sort of camp whatsoever—and you probably find it as annoying as Jim does in the movie.

Also, Alyson Hannigan will always be known as the "this one time, at band camp" girl.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Low on pretension, high on annoy-sion.