Pictured from left: Axel Braun, Will Ryder, Jacky St. James, Remy LaCroix, Brad Armstrong
HOLLYWOOD—The 30th annual XRCO Awards Show took place Wednesday night in the location it called home for a number of years before being temporarily relocated in 2013 just a few blocks down Hollywood Boulevard. Returning to the club now named OHM at the famed Hollywood & Highland complex, the ceremony was co-hosted by adult legend Julia Ann and legend-in-the-making Bonnie Rotten.
Slated co-host Ron Jeremy, as announced at the close of last year's show by de facto organization historian Bill Margold, was a mysterious no-show ... but that was perfectly in keeping with the grand tradition of the event being lovingly skewered the whole night through both from the stage and among the audience. That is, not to put too fine a point on it, an overall air of carefree disorder.
That said, the proceedings went off remarkably smoothly once they got underway at around 9:30 p.m., and attendees paid closer attention than usual even despite the customary crowd commotion never dipping below a dull roar. History ruled the night, beginning with Margold paying tribute to industry members who passed over the prior year, including Carlos Batts, Toby Dammit, Tony Lovett, Al Goldstein and Gloria Leonard.
Then it was on to inducting the newest members of the XRCO Hall of Fame, for which Margold called upon the assistance of "the only woman I would take into an alley fight with me," adult legend Amber Lynn. Of the eight people inducted, only Tera Patrick, Stormy Daniels and Brigitte Lahaie were not on hand to accept. Brad Armstrong took the podium for the first of several trips up to accept on fellow Wicked Pictures director Daniels' behalf, joking, "As you can tell by my breasts, I am not Stormy Daniels." He went on to reveal that the two dated when she was new to the business, and he mentored her as she broke into writing and directing her own features. "I don't want to say that she learned a lot from me, but she learned a lot from me," he quipped.
A bit later in this portion of the program, performer/director Francesca Lé was brought up to bestow the honor upon husband Mark Wood, as he did for her back in 2007. "What can I say about Mark Wood?" Lé remarked. "He's probably fucked every single one of you in this room." Accepting his trophy, Wood offered simply, "It's been an interesting ride. I appreciate it."
Before moving on, Margold shared an interesting point of XRCO trivia with the audience, namely the significance behind the organization's heart-shaped "Heart-On" trophies: The original ceremony in 1985 was held on Valentine's Day, a custom maintained until 1991.
And as a throwback to that first show, Margold shortly thereafter sprung the biggest surprise of the evening by presenting a special accolade for only the second time ever to the same woman who received it then—that accolade dubbed the "Class Act Award" and its recipient being Golden Age queen Kay Parker.
Taking the stage, an unexpecting Parker exclaimed, "We need a lot of sex and fucking and love ... and that's the first time I've ever said 'fucking' in public; I was always known as the 'porno prude.' And now I have another Heart-On to add to my collection."
With that, the main part of the show commenced, though not without the participation of a couple more tenured stars—Herschel Savage and Alison Kilgore were joined by relative neophyte Jayden Lee to present the awards for Best Girl/Girl Series, Orgasmic Oralist, New Stud and Best Director (Parody).
Announced the Orgasmic Oralist winner, her first of two victories for the evening, Vicki Chase uttered one of the ceremony's best soundbites, gushing, "Oh my god! I've been sucking cock all these years, and now I can finally say, 'Would you like an award-winning blowjob?'"
Prior to the next award, Savage sneeringly pronounced to the clamoring crowd, "I just want to thank all of you for the overwhelming respect you're showing these people. I'd like you all to take a moment and listen to yourselves beathe." When Kilgore called for a show of enthusiasm before presenting the Director (Parody) trophy, a plenty enthusiastic Jennifer White ran up to the edge of the stage and flashed her boobs to the audience ... only to be scolded and shooed back to her seat by a disapproving bouncer.
The winner of the aforementioned trophy, Will Ryder, delivered a sort of bittersweet acceptance speech, saying, "I know the industry is going through a kind of Titanic situation right now, but I just want you to know that I love you and I love being with you."
The next presenters up were veterans Melissa Hill and Nick Manning, the latter of whom began by reminiscing, "The first time I came to the XRCO, I remember someone told me, 'Manning, you gotta come, it's the best party of the year.' And it's still the best party of the year."
The first award he and Hill announced was Orgasmic Analist, whose winner, Jada Stevens, provided a quotable to match Chase's: "Holy shit, I actually got one. I want to thank everybody for recognizing my asshole."
A few categories later, the award for Best POV Series was bestowed for the fifth year in a row to Mike John/Jules Jordan's POV Pervert, whose director, Tim Von Swine, enthused, "Alright, five in a row! If you win five in a row, am I the Axel Braun of POV porn?"
As far as memorable speeches go, however, none can quite measure up to the one delivered by the woman whose uncanny knack for them has always been renowned: Sunny Lane. Upon winning Best Cumback, she fervently cooed, "Hello everyone! Wow! I am so excited to be back in the industry and spreading my legs and spreading my sunshine like I do!" She offered special thanks to her parents, X-Play's Jeff Mullen and Scott David, James Bartholet and her "best friend" Ron Jeremy, while also declaring, "Thank you for recognizing my talents, because I love to have sex. My vagina loves you. And I love spreading my love at the Bunny Ranch too!"
Though again, it didn't quite hit that high water mark of quote gold, A.J. Applegate's closing comment in her New Starlet victory speech did warrant honorable mention. "I'm sorry, but I just got gangbanged this morning," Applegate squealed, "and I'm all like, 'Ahhhhhh!'"
Spirits were high throughout the ceremony and the after party in the adjoining wing of OHM. Performers attending for the very first time, including such fresh faces as Jodi Taylor, Mia Austin, Harley Dean, Miya Stone and Alina Li, mingled with industry greats who've been coming since the XRCO's inception 30 years ago; aside from those already mentioned, joining the celebration were Ginger Lynn, Roy Karch, David "Pussyman" Christopher, Karen Summer, Ralph Parfait, Tony Montana and original XRCO chairman Jared Rutter.
Still other longtime industry notables on the scene included Rebecca Bardoux, Taylor Wane, Axel Braun, Eli Cross, Jules Jordan, Chris Streams, Mark Spiegler, Jessica Drake, Kaylani Lei, Evan Stone, Syren, Steven St. Croix, Cassidey, Barrett Blade, Eric Masterson, Lisa Ann, Nikki Benz, Mike Moz, Mr. Pete, Erik Everhard, Manuel Ferrara, Kayden Kross, Robert Moran, Fran Amidor, Tee Reel, Tanya Tate, Monstar, Jack Napier, Mary Carey, Drew Rosenfeld, Stuart Canterbury, Dan O'Connell, Moose, Porno Dan, Valentino, Max Hardcore and Mr. Marcus.
Sponsors for the event were IAFD.com, Wicked Pictures, Vivid Entertainment, Evil Angel, Axel Braun Productions, Adam & Eve Pictures, ATMLA, Girlfriends Films and Jules Jordan Video.
The complete list of winners follows below:
Best Release: The Submission of Emma Marx, New Sensations Erotic Stories
Best Epic: Underworld, Wicked Pictures
Best Parody (Comedy): Grease XXX: A Parody, Adam & Eve Pictures
Best Parody (Drama): OMG ... It's the Leaving Las Vegas XXX Parody, Septo/Paradox/Exquisite
Best Parody (Comic): Man of Steel XXX: An Axel Braun Parody, VividXXXSuperheroes
Best Gonzo Movie: Remy LaCroix's Anal Cabo Weekend, LeWood/Buttman/Evil Angel
Best Gonzo Series: Wet Asses, Jules Jordan Video
Best Girl/Girl Series: Women Seeking Women, Girlfriends Films
Best POV Series: POV Pervert, Mike John/Jules Jordan
Best Ethnic Series: Asian Fuck Faces, Jonni Darkko/Evil Angel
Best Director (Features): Jacky St. James
Best Director (Non-Features): Mason
Best Director (Parody): Will Ryder
Best Web Director: Greg Lansky, Reality Kings
Best Actress: Remy LaCroix, The Temptation of Eve, New Sensations Erotic Stories
Best Actor: Richie Calhoun, The Submission of Emma Marx, New Sensations Erotic Stories
Female Performer of the Year: Remy LaCroix
Male Performer of the Year: Manuel Ferrara
New Starlet: A.J. Applegate
New Stud: Tyler Nixon
Unsung Siren: Vicki Chase
Unsung Swordsman: Johnny Castle
Cream Dream: Mia Malkova
Superslut: Bonnie Rotten
Orgasmic Oralist: Vicki Chase
Orasmic Analist: Jada Stevens
MILF of the Year: Francesca Lé
Best Cumback: Sunny Lane
Mainstream Adult Media Favorite: James Deen
XRCO Hall of Fame:
Brigitte Lahaie - Film Pioneer
Axel Braun - Director
Rebecca Bardoux - Actress
Tera Patrick - Actress
Stormy Daniels - Actress
Taylor Wane - Actress
Mark Wood - Actor
Tony Montana - Actor
Slave to Love, Rosebud; d. Alex DeRenzy - Best Movie (1993)
