Jared Rutter, longtime Chairman of the XRCO (X-Rated Critics Organization) and now a Senior Editor with AVN, recently made an announcement clarifying the current status of the collective group.
“Good news,” Rutter stated in an organizational letter, “the XRCO is not extinct. The press of my new duties has made it impossible for me to continue to organize the voting... However, like many people on the both sides of the critical fence, I feel strongly that the voting and awards should continue. The mixture of critics from various publications and web sites offers a unique and valuable perspective.”
He continued. “Fortunately, two longtime XRCO members, both working critics, have stepped up to the plate. ‘Dirty Bob’ Krotts and Dick Freeman, both Ohioans, will conduct the voting.”
The first chore for Dirty Bob and Freeman was to come up with a valid list of current adult video reviewers. The previous list was a good basis, and a few no longer involved in the industry were taken off the roster and replaced. The categories were then discussed and nominations solicited. The result was 24 categories.
Dirty Bob said, “We compiled the nominations with absolutely no outside involvement or political agenda. The noms are 100 percent pristine and taken directly from the members. Everything was put in one long list for each category, and the majority of picks were tabulated for the final selections. We even cross-checked to make certain that there was no voting bloc or coalition of votes by any one group of reviewers. There was none. Overall, the noms were quite varied are we were very pleased with the honest nominations.”
Rutter went on to add that he hoped there would be an award show this year, probably this summer, but that he himself would no longer be able to co-ordinate it. “If someone closer to Los Angeles than Bob and Dick is interested in giving it a try,” he said, “please let me know and I'll be happy to work with them.”
Here are a few of the major nominations:
BEST FILM: Elegant Angel: Compulsion. Vivid Video: Heart of Darkness, Looking In, and Sordid.
BEST VIDEO: Private: Acid Dreams. Wicked Pictures: Beautiful. Digital Playground: No Limits. Elegant Angel: Opera. Adam & Eve: Rawhide.
BEST DIRECTOR: Alex Braun, Jules Jordan, Jonathan Morgan, Michael Raven, Paul Thomas.
BEST COMEDY or PARODY: Digital Playground: Beat the Devil. Skin Tight Pictures/Legend Video: Chunk on the 4th of July. Heatwave: It’s Cumming. JM Productions: Perverted Stories, the Movie. Wicked Pictures: Space Nuts.
BEST GONZO SERIES: Video Team: Asia Noir. Evil Angel: Flesh Hunter and Service Animals. Digital Playground: Jack’s Playground. New Sensations: Shane’s World.
FEMALE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Ashley Blue, Aurora Snow, Belladonna, Devinn Lane, Taylor Rain.
MALE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Erik Everhard, Lexington Steele, Manuel Ferrera, Michael Stefano, Randy Spears.
NEW STARLET: Ashley Blue, Jesse Jane, Kaylani Lei, Lauren Phoenix, Stormy.
NEW STUD: Barrett Blade, Ben English, Kurt Lockwood, Trent Tesoro, Trevor Zen.
New this year:
MAINSTEAM’S ADULT MEDIA FAVORITE (2003): Jenna Jameson (Times Square Billboard; media blitz). Mary Carey (Political run for Governor of California; media blitz). Ron Jeremy: (Hedgehog Turns 50, Surreal Life II, media blitz).
A complete listing of the nominations for the XRCO awards for Best of 2003 can be found at www.borntobewild.com/xrco
