Bryan Alexander

USA TODAY

The geek-classic Revenge of the Nerds turns 30 this year, featuring a re-release for the first time on Blu-Ray (out May 6). This should have nostalgic nerds celebrating for their hi-def viewing pleasure.

It is a true social statement that Neighbors hits the big screen May 9 featuring fraternities picking on the new oppressed class — young parents. But in 1984, that oppressed class were nerds and they took the brunt of the Alpha Beta hazing.

One of the infamous/classic scenes was Dudley "Booger" Dawson's (Curtis Armstrong) belching contest against Fred "The Ogre" Palowakski (Donald Gibb). Booger carried the day.

What was the secret to Booger's tremendous belch?

"Post-production," Armstong admits. "I did not belch in the movie. Neither did Ogre. We both pretended. And it was dubbed in afterwards, mostly mine which was longer and fruitier."

It's not surprising as you watch this video.

Armstrong is not a great belcher in real life. And director Jeff Kanew needed this to be the monster of all belches.

"I can't even belch on command," says Armstrong. "If you said to me, 'Can you belch now?' I couldn't do it."

Armstrong says he found out years later that there was even more to the dubbed sound than he knew. The directors had to go to the animal kingdom for help to find the right tenor.

"They wound up finding a recording of a camel having an orgasm," Armstrong insists. "They took this sound and blended it in with a human belch. That's what you are hearing, a mix of a human belch and a camel orgasming."

Armstrong admits that much has changed in the world in 30 years since the film came out. Nerds now rule the world.

"It is the Golden Age of Nerds," says Armstrong. "We're at the tipping point where the nerd culture becomes the general pop culture."

And Revenge of the Nerds remains a favorite. It is so popular that people routinely call Armstrong "Booger" when they see him on the street. Armstrong, who recently hosted the TBS reality show King of Nerds, says he's fine with that.

"I don't care. I don't have a choice," says Armstrong. "I get called 'Booger' daily and it's fine. I owe this movie and character more than I can possibly pay. I'm now working for people who grew up watching it and loving it. Sometimes the only reason I am in projects is because the director loved Booger."

"How can I complain?"