The more-than-three-hour show seemed near-Oscar-length, but Chi Chi LaRue and Chicago's grand diva Honey West kept the show moving with some funny clips (their Brokeback Mountain spoof and a scene where Hot House director Steven Scarborough was humping LaRue were priceless).
The co-hostesses made costume changes for every appearance and were a bit tongue-tied by co-host Dean Flynn. (Yes, the Titan stud who starred in Gunnery Sgt. McCool is dreamy.) Jake Deckard, who wore a rubber facemask for part of the show, and comical cut-up Trevor Knight also hosted while Aaron James, C.J. Knight, Ricky Parks and Blake Riley acted as trophy studs.
Chicago-based director Toby Ross made a rare public appearance to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award and thanked his life partner, Carl, as well as paid tribute to Jean-Daniel Cadinot, who died in April. He ended his speech with, "Thank you for letting me play in my corner of the kitty litter."
Diesel Washington took the Fleshjack Hottest Cock Award (the cut version), and Devin Moss won Best Uncut. Diesel practically pulled his pants down on stage, but satisfied the audience by stripping off his shirt.
Raging Stallion's Chris Ward and Ben Leon picked up the Best Director Award, and Grunts pick up Best Picture just like it did at the GAYVNs. Their studio's Ink Storm won Best Fetish Film, and the sexy German full-body-tattooed star Logan McCree made the audience swoon as he took the stage in a sexy cowboy hat. Deckard and Remy Delane from Raging Stallion's exclusive stable won Best Sex Scene for Playback and Steve Cruz tied for Best Newcomer along with Rascal exclusive Blake Riley. Grunts' great barking military man Ricky Sinz won Best Supporting Actor and Best Solo, which was also shared by Tory Mason for Buckshot's Paradise Found.
Ward was particularly thrilled, saying, "It was our year. Our guys have never been better and the lineup for next year looks even more spectacular! Grunts is going to be a hard act to follow, but we will do our best.... It took us almost 10 years to get to the top, but it was worth it. To have us included in the ranks of studios such as Channel 1, Hot House and Falcon is a real honor."
Titan's Breathless won the Maleflixxx VOD People's Choice Award while the studio's Fear won Best Fetish Extreme and H20 won Best Videography.
"We are truly honored to have once again been recognized by the Grabbys and the fans," said Bruce Cam of Titan. "My team at TitanMen has been working very hard for the past several years to expand and solidify our presence as the premiere gay adult studio."
The Wall of Fame added the names of director Doug Jeffries, Parker Williams, Brent Smith, the late Kent North (who died this year of a drug overdose), directors Brian Mills and Tony DeMarco and porn promoter and columnist Billy Masters. Williams said, "I could fuck anything, I love to fuck." And DeMarco thanked Michael Lucas, who gave him his start before he recently went to Raging Stallion.
LaRue's Link: The Evolution won Best All-Sex Video as well as Best DVD Extras, Best Three-Way and Best Group Scene. Hot House's Verboten won Best Fetish Video Extreme, Best Leather Video, Hottest Cum Scene and Best Art Direction. Andrew Rosen, known as both a very successful award-winning editor and performer, won Best Screenplay for Jet Set Men's The F Word, loosely based on a homophobic slur by a real television actor.
The Best International Award went to Olympus for Casting Couch and Best Twink Video went to Citiboyz's Real and Raw Miami 1 and 2. Best Comedy went to Oliver Twink at PZP and Hottest Rimming Scene went to Rascal's Restless Youths.
Erik Rhodes summed up the joy of winning when he picked up the Best Versatile Performer Award (he also later won Best Actor), saying, "In your face to all the other nominees, I'm better than you!"
GayVN
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