This is the one they're going to remember as Jenna's Night.
The 22nd Annual AVN Awards belonged to Jenna Jameson, the adult industry's superstar. Last year's blonde host returned as a brunette nominee and went home as this year's biggest winner.
In addition to three individual awards, there were seven more for her two starring vehicles, Vivid Entertainment Group's The Masseuse and Club Jenna/Vivid's Bella Loves Jenna, including the big ones, Best Film and Best Video. Icing on the cake was Club Jenna winning the award for Best Marketing Campaign, Company Image.
Jenna's prizes enabled Vivid Entertainment Group to be the only studio to score in double digits — 16 awards. Evil Angel and Pure Play Media placed distant seconds with seven. Wicked Pictures, Red Light District, Digital Playground, JM Productions — the usual suspects — also had multiple wins.
But it wasn't only about the big guys. 2005 proved to be a breakthrough year for some new kids on the block: L�Wood Productions, Clockwork Pictures, IFG/Smash, and Mercenary Pictures each took more than one prize for the first time.
In a huge Venetian Hotel ballroom, producer Gary Miller unleashed the razzle-dazzle. The show started fast, hot and on time. Go-go girls and pole dancers framed the purple-toned stage. They gyrated whenever Mark Stone and the AVN Orchestra struck up the band and stayed on stage as eye candy throughout the evening.
When the lights dimmed and Smashmouth ignited with their reggae-flavored hit, "All Star," the audience — a sold-out crowd of 3,500 — seemed taken by surprise. When the music stopped, and with no further announcement, it was movie time.
If any more proof were needed of adult's legitimacy, it could be found in the opening video montage of the nominated video and film features. Each superlatively edited 15-second clip was like a mini-trailer, giving each feature the look of a Hollywood-worthy production (which many of course were).
The montage was accompanied by an aggressive performance of music from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, a rabble-rousing choral work about sex, booze and the way blind fortune rules our lives.
It turned out to be an apt choice. Fortune may not have been blind that evening, but it did blink a few times. The 2005 AVN Awards had more than its usual share of mistakes, miscues, dead patches and bloopers (see sidebar).
Yet spirits never sagged, glamour was abundant, and everyone from presenters to winners to fans seemed to be having fun.
And fun doesn't begin to describe "your host for tonight's show, Ms. Thea Vidale."
Black and bawdy, the super-sized comedienne came out swinging. "How you cocksuckers doing? Finally I got a bunch of people who goin' to hell and don't mind going."
Probably no award show host — for AVN or anyone else — has ever let loose such a torrent of F words and N words and other expletives, and with such overwhelming gusto.
"Lexington Steele? I'm sorry ... If that nigga fucked me in the ass, I'd call the police!"
And few could have radiated such sublime self-assurance in the pursuit of laughs.
"Don't you girls think that a big bitch don't fuck," she warned. "I will take your man. Cuz anybody can suck your dick, but can you fry chicken? —that's what I'm talkin' about."
She had the audience of her dreams. "I have never been able to talk about fuckin' in comedy clubs like I'm talkin' about fuckin' to you. And I appreciate yo' fuckin' asses!"
Vidale introduced her co-host as "the most sweetest little thing. She's a Vivid Girl. ..."
Savannah Samson looked delectable in a black negligee outfit similar to Vidale's (both made by trendy designer Coquette), only many sizes smaller. "We look like the Bobsey Triplets," Vidale sighed.
When Savannah attempted to tell a joke, Thea rolled her eyes. "I don't come to your job suckin' dicks, do I?" she asked good-naturedly. "I'm the fat lady that tells jokes, you the skinny bitch that sucks the dick."
"And I thought I was a dirty girl!" Savannah exclaimed in mock shock.
Crossover icons Jenna Jameson and Ron Jeremy, joined by Club Jenna contract girl Krystal Steal, kicked off the presentations.
Ashley Blue, named Best Supporting Actress – Video, for Adore, paused on her way to the podium to take a hug from AVN's Heidi Pike-Johnson, seated on the aisle. Flashing her million-dollar grin, she announced, "Ashley Blue would like to thank you, because now she's an attention whore and speaks in third person."
Best Threeway Sex Scene was won by Dani Woodward, Barrett Blue and Kurt Lockwood in Digital Sin's Erotic Stories: Lovers and Cheaters. The three thanked their director, James Avalon, and Dani said, cryptically, "If you guys only knew the drama behind this! All is well that ends well."
Best All Sex Release went to Stuntgirl, made independently by Clockwork Pictures and picked up for distribution by Hustler Video. The award was accepted not by director Jack the Zipper (said to be camera-shy) but by its stars, Jessica Jaymes, Kimberly Kane and Venus.
"Oh my God!" Jaymes exclaimed. "We put our blood sweat and tears into this picture."
"It wasn't that much work, c'mon," Venus purred huskily.
As for The Zipper, Jack was later named Best Director – Non-Feature, forhis first XXX effort.
After a filmed comic interlude — "Dick Tips," with Sean Michaels, his face pasted into the head of a prosthetic penis — Stuntgirl scored again.
Best Couples Sex Scene – Video, went to Venus and Manuel Ferrara in Stuntgirl. Venus cooed, "It was easy workin' with Manuel; he's awesome." The award was presented by three killer blondes, Brittney Skye and Digital Playground contract girls Jesse Jane and Devon.
Digital Playground won the next one, for Best Gonzo Series: Jack's Playground. Director Robbie D., Jack's loquacious alter ego, was tongue-tied. He dragged his grinning pal Vince Vouyer onto the stage with him for moral support. "Vince promised that if I had to go up here he'd come with me. ... I'm like shaking, I'm so nervous. I wasn't expecting this at all."
Vouyer would get his own award later on when his Red Light District line Breakin' ?Em In was named Best Pro-Am Series, a repeat winner from last year.
At this point came another comic video vignette: "A True Icon." Ron Jeremy saws away at "America the Beautiful" on a violin as factoids about his life are flashed on screen. Biggest laugh-getter: "Has had sex with over 4,000 women. ... Only 9 will admit it."
Shown later was a third interlude, "Miracle of Nature," a take-off on Cytherea's phenomenal squirting ability, with Randy Spears donning a rain slicker to withstand her deluge.
Back to live, the gangbang from JM Productions' The Violation of Audrey Hollander was named Best All-Girl Sex Scene – Video, but presenters Julia Ann, Tommy Gunn and Metro contract girl Kelly Erickson were left holding the trophies. Audrey was nowhere to be found. Finally, two of her "violators," Gia Paloma (looking just fine after a well-publicized drug overdose the day before) and Tyla Wynn made it to the stage.
Best Ethnic-Themed Release – Black was won by Onyxxx Films' Pimpfomation. Its star, Mr. Johnson, all pimped out in white suit and cane, took the stage with his posse and Onyxxx owner Gabor Szabo.
The evening's tone was elevated by AVN President Paul Fishbein, with Best Starlet nominee Dani Woodward at his side. He dedicated the show to "two people, both of whom passed away this year, who had an enormous impact both on AVN and the entire adult industry."
The first was Russ Meyer, "the maverick filmmaker who invented the nudie film and whose legal defenses paved the way for all of today's adult filmmakers." The second was "a friend of mine who passed away last month, Jim Holliday, film historian and director, one of the true creative minds of our business."
Fishbein presented the previously announced Top Selling and Renting Release of 2004 to 1 Night in Paris, the Paris Hilton vehicle distributed by Red Light District. Company owner David Joseph thanked Rick Solomon, the video's producer — "He had his pick of studios, and he trusted us" — and his team at Red Light and Platinum X. To no one's surprise, the movie also took the award for Best Overall Marketing Campaign, Individual Project.
AVN Publisher Tim Connelly and last year's Female Performer of the Year Ashley Blue came on stage to introduce the presenter of the prestigious Reuben Sturman award: Jimmy Flynt.
Flynt recalled meeting honoree Harry Mohney, of the D�j� Vu Showgirls, a personal friend for 35 years, in Cincinnati in 1970. "Ironically," he said, "the same prosecutor that ran Harry out of town ran my brother and I, Larry Flynt, out of town. Harry has fought his battles to preserve the integrity of this industry and to expand the perimeters of free speech and the idea of the unrestricted right of free choice."
Mohney, a pioneer exhibitor and founder of the hugely successful strip club chain, as well as numerous adult retail and wholesale businesses, called the citation "very special to me. ... [It] humbles me with more honor than I deserve." Glass of wine in hand, he proposed "a toast to all of you. May you stay free in 2005 and earn your fair share of this $10 billion industry."
The bulk of the awards, as usual, were presented in two "Winners Only" segments, one near the beginning, the other at the end of the show. The audience was requested to "follow along in your programs," and the winners advised to "go immediately to the back of the room to claim your award."
Some highlights of the first go-round:
Michael Ninn's In the Garden of Shadows from Ninn Worx/Pure Play Media won three technical awards, for its ravishing Videography (by Chris Hall), opulent Art Direction and haunting DVD Menus. Ninn Worx also took the overall Best DVD award for its two-disc Fetish Circus, a boxed set of Laurent Sky's "Fetish" movies.
For the fourth year in a row Andrew Blake went away with the Best Cinematography award (for Flirts from his Studio A Entertainment), his eighth in that category.
Hip-hop recording artist Lloyd Banks — part of 50 Cent's hit-making G-Unit — and his Bankshot Productions won Best Music for Groupie Love, an auspicious merging of two no longer underground subcultures, rap and porn.
Spain's IFG (International Film Group) took Best Foreign Feature for Hot Rats, their first U. S. release, distributed by Smash Pictures, breaking the stranglehold on the category by Private — nine awards in 11 years. (Private settled for Best DVD Extras and Best DVD Packaging for their heavily hyped Millionaire.)
Hot Rats director, Narc�s Bosch, was named Best Director – Foreign Release. After the show, the young Spaniard said he wished to dedicate his prize to the late Lea DeMae, one of the picture's stars.
Best Sex Scene in a Foreign Shot Production went to Rocco Siffredi for one of his trademark reverse gangbangs, with 10 girls, in Rocco Ravishes Russia, distributed by Evil Angel.
The French-Vietnamese Katsumi was named Female Foreign Performer of the Year. She later won two sex scene awards, and her Ninn Worx vehicle, Lost Angels: Katsumi, was named Best Foreign All-Sex Release — making her, along with Jameson, the evening's top individual winner.
The announcement of Steve Holmes as Male Foreign Performer drew cheers from his colleagues at the Red Light/Platinum X tables. The following week, Holmes, a real German gentleman, emailed from Europe personal thank-yous to AVN editors.
Vicki Richter won Transsexual Performer of the Year, and She-Male Strokers from Mancini/Exquisite, Best Transsexual Release.
Digital Playground's Island Fever 3 took the prize for Best VHS Packaging. Later in the evening the gorgeously wrapped movie was named Best High-Definition Production — a category sure to be even more competitive next year.
As for Box Cover Concept, it went to The Chunky Whisperer, from Skintight/Legend, a spot-on spoof of the Horse Whisperer look.
Nina Hartley's Private Sessions 13 from Bizarre, won Best Specialty BDSM Release, and Nina Hartley's Guide to Spanking, from Adam & Eve, was named Best Specialty Spanking Release. They were the first awards in the fetish area for industry great Hartley and her director husband, Ernest Greene.
The award of Best Specialty Release – Big Bust, to Francesca's Juggies, was the first of three picked up by Francesca Lé's two-year old LéWood Productions. They later won Best Oral Sex Scene – Video — a six-man blow bang with Lé and Ava Devine in Cum Swallowing Whores 2 —and Best Oral Themed Feature, for Vol. 3 of the same series.
(At the time of their release, LéWood's movies were distributed by JM Productions; as of last December, they are handled exclusively by Juicy Entertainment.)
Best Specialty Release – Other Genre covers a variety of niches, including cream pies, MILFs, hairy girls and masturbation. This year the specialty of choice was female ejaculation and the winner Cytherea Iz Squirtwoman, from Elegant Angel.
Mainstream's Showtime Entertainment took Best Alternative Release for their Seymore Butts Family Business boxed set.
Best Classic Release on DVD was won by a cleaned-up print of the dirty movie that started it all, Deep Throat: Remastered, from Arrow Productions.
Mike Horner snagged his eighth AVN acting award, but only his first for Best Non-Sex Performance, for playing the title role in Wicked's The Collector.
Tommy Gunn won for Best Male Newcomer. He had campaigned for the award like a Hollywood actor at Oscar time, providing voters with DVDs of his best scenes.
The awards for screenplays — yes, they do still matter in this gonzo age — went to Brad Armstrong for The Collector (film) from Wicked and David Stanley for Pretty Girl (video) from Vivid.
The year's only tie occurred in the Marketing Awards, with AdultDVDEmpire.com and WantedList.com sharing the prize for Best Retail Website. EvilAngel.com repeated its Best Marketing Website win from last year.
The winners' crawl segued directly into a musical number by rockers performing "My Own Worst Enemy," but a technical problem cut them short. There was some confusion and a pause on stage. At the end of the show, a racier version of the song was redone for television.
Thea Vidale leapt into the void and started ad-libbing. She gestured toward the dancers. "You ought to see these girls backstage. They eat like runaway slaves. If you stick your dick in their mouth between a bite of chicken, you a fucked soul. ..."
Then she launched into a paean to smoking marijuana that continued until the Hall of Fame inductions were ready to roll. This year, for the first time, the inductees' names on the big screen were accompanied by video clips of them, chosen with care and expertly stitched together.
There were long-ago glimpses of C.J. Laing and Mai Lin and more recent ones of Serenity and Kylie Ireland, doing what made them stars. There was Francesca L� cleaning cum off a lens, Shane clowning on a Malibu beach, and directors James Avalon and Jim Powers at work on sets. It was a fine way to introduce newcomers to their illustrious predecessors and remind everyone of their achievements.
Before continuing, Savannah took a moment to introduce the trophy girls: newcomer Keri Sable, JKP contract girl Tyra Banxxx, and "last but not least, the best kept secret in porn, Rayveness."
Gina Lynn, Venus and Justin Slayer presented Best Couples Sex Scene – Film. It went to the evening's royal couple, Jenna Jameson and Justin Sterling, for Vivid's The Masseuse. "This award is so much better when you're having sex with somebody that you truly love," Mrs. Sterling said. "I'd like to thank my husband for being so incredible in the sack."
Manuel Ferrara won Male Performer of the Year. The French-born stud first added three names to the list of nominees — pals Erik Everhard, John Strong, Lexington Steele — then thanked his "family" at Red Light District and Platinum X. He saluted AIM Healthcare — "because of what happened this year" — and "last but not least, the woman I love. Krista, I love you, baby."
Michael Stefano, last year's Male Performer winner, came out with Angel Cassidy and Cherokee to present Best Anal Sex Scene. That brought on stage for the first time the exquisite Katsumi, along with Lexington Steele, for their work in Lex Steele XXX 3, from Mercenary Pictures.
Katsumi, whose anal scenes are celebrated, put her hand to her heart and smiled. "It is the third time I had an award for Best Anal Scene — I wonder why?" she asked in a lilting French accent.
Mercenary, just over a year old, took home a second award for Best Ethnic-Themed Series: Black Reign.
Squeaky-sounding Cherokee giggled, "Don't laugh at my voice," as she read the nominees for one of the evening's most coveted awards.
It was leggy Lauren Phoenix who scored as 2004 Female Performer of the Year. All elegance, she thanked AVN and paid tribute to "all the wonderful producers and directors who keep me employed, to the fans, I love you so much for watching, and to my man Trey, I would not be here without you."
Evan Stone, flanked by divas Tera Patrick and The Tall Goddess, presented the Best Director, Video and Film awards.
The Video prize went to David Stanley, for Vivid's Pretty Girl. Ashley Blue, the movie's star and a close friend, accepted. "He's a great director, and I wish he could be here. I want to cry." (She didn't.)
Vivid's Paul Thomas, winning Best Director – Film for the fifth time, for The Masseuse, seemed to feel compelled to be amusing.
"This is my thirtieth awards show, and I'm only 40 years old, isn't that amazing? The main difference between 30 years ago and now is I used to get paid in cash by Italians. and now I get paid in a check by a Jew. And I want pubic hair back. I want pubic hair!"
Then, seriously, folks: "It's great to be a part of Vivid Video. I couldn't possibly, possibly do all these wonderful projects without such a wonderful support group."
Savannah, announcing "the award we're all waiting for ... Best New Starlet," introduced last year's winner, Stormy, to "pass the baton, or should I say dildo in this industry."
Stormy, "too hopped up on cold medicine" to say anything witty, got right down to naming the winner: Cytherea.
"Wow, I'm shakin' so bad," Cytherea said in a voice just on the edge of tears. Her small breasts clearly visible beneath a see-through silver mini-dress, she thanked "my mom" (who was with her in the audience) and "the great directors and companies I've worked for, all the girls and the guys I've worked for. ... You guys rock!"
Kurt Lockwood, Jada Fire and "Playboy TV's" Nautica Thorn presented Best Actor and Actress in a Video Feature. It went to Barrett Blade for his role as a rogue cop in Digital Playground's Loaded. "He's way in the back, just give him a minute," Lockwood said.
"Shit, I was in the nosebleed section," Blade panted when he made it to the stage. He reeled off a list of thank-yous — wife, director, co-star — then stopped. "Fuck it, we'll make this shit quick. ... Thanks guys." Would that mainstream award-winners could cut to the chase like that.
Jessica Drake, winning Best Actress for Wicked's Fluff and Fold, said the movie came about "because I went to Brad Armstrong and said that I always wanted to have sex in a laundromat." She thanked Armstrong "for letting me love what I do for a living." Later, she won Best Oral Sex Scene – Film for doing two men in Wicked's The Collector.
Aurora Snow, Alexis Amore and "everybody's favorite transsexual, Joanna Jet" presented the award for Best Interactive DVD. It went to Groupie Love, produced by Digital Sin and Bank Shot Productions, and it brought to the stage rap star Lloyd Banks.
"If you wonder why I didn't hug anybody, it's because I don't know which one is the dude," he said, a bit ungallantly. He gave props to "50 Cent for letting me branch off and do things other than hip-hop" and promised, "We'll have another movie coming out soon."
Justin Sterling won Best Actor – Film for his work as the kinky introvert who falls for Vivid's The Masseuse. "Incredible script. Incredible co-star, Jenna, my wife, she was also my acting coach ... PT, phenomenal dialogue director. Every time I broke into Rainman he'd be like, ?No Rainman.'"
Sean Michaels, Jessica Jaymes and Katie Morgan had the evening's most embarrassing moment when Michaels announced Savannah Samson as winner for Best Actress – Film. Immediately realizing his goof, he tried to correct it but was drowned out by the band.
Savannah, changing costume, ran onstage in a towel. "We have made a mistake, please forgive us, Savannah," Jaymes said coolly, and named the real winner, Jameson in the title role of The Masseuse from Vivid. Savannah whipped off the towel and ran naked off the stage.
"Wow, I almost thought I could get drunk and not worry about anything anymore," Jenna laughed, going on to praise Samson as "one of the best actresses I've seen in my whole career." The two women later shared the award for Best All-Girl Sex Scene – Film, also for Vivid's The Masseuse.
That Vivid production was next named Best Film, as presented by Katie Morgan.
Steven Hirsch, Justin Sterling and PT strode to the stage. "This was a project that we worked hard on, something that we talked and talked about for a couple of years before we actually made it," said Vivid CEO and founder Hirsch. "And it couldn't have come out better."
Thea, in a new dress (both hosts made several costume changes), came back on stage and sighted a celebrity at ringside. "Is that Gene Simmons [of Kiss] over there? Lemme see your tongue, Daddy. I will ride you to sunset. ... I fuck you so good you be cleanin' chitlins next year."
Then she introduced the prime-time entertainment: "This boy is so cute, I didn't know whether to feed him or fuck him. ... The one, the only, Chingy!"
A lightweight rapper, in full bling-bling, Chingy and his posse lit into "Balla Baby," designed to bring the girls on stage for the annual porn star bacchanal.
"I need all the ladies who make movies to come up on the stage." A polite request, compared to the raucous Lil Jon last year, but it did the trick. When Chingy segued into "Right Thurr," the sizable stage was jammed with boogying babes.
While the stage was cleared, the second batch of winners snaked through the video crawl.
Director Jules Jordan, last year's six-award over-achiever, finally entered the winner's circle with Once You Go Black 3, Best Interracial Release. He repeated his 2004 wins for Best Anal Themed Series (Ass Worship) and Best Gonzo Release, this year for Gina Lynn's Dark Side. All are from Jules Jordan/Evil Angel.
The award for Best Anal Themed Feature went to Big Wet Asses 3, from Tom Zupko and Elegant Angel. That studio's long-running Sodomania won its first award for Best Vignette Series, though it was named Best Vignette Release four times in the past. This year that prize went to the Buttman Comics movie Tales from the Crack, from Evil Angel.
JM Productions' The Violation of... reclaimed possession of Best All-Girl Series, which it has won five out of six times, losing only last year. And they had their second consecutive win for Girlvert as Best Continuing Video Series. Belladonna's The Conasseur, from Evil Angel, won Best All-Girl Feature.
VCA's big-budget Misty Beethoven: The Musical was named Best Sex Comedy, also taking the prize for Most Outrageous Sex Scene — "Randy's Singing Penis," with Chloe, Ava Vincent and Randy Spears.
Best Tease Performance went to Vicky Vette in Metropolis, the first award for new company Nectar Entertainment.
First-time winner Oriental Dream Pictures' Dress-Up Doll Asuka won Best Ethnic Themed Release – Asian, while New York-based Black Mirror Productions' The Luv Generation took Best Pro-Am Release.
Adventure Sex, Dave Road's independent outing that was picked up for release by Hustler Video, was named Best Amateur Release. Best Amateur Series, as it did last year, went to Homegrown Video from Xplor Media Group.
New Hall of Famer Rod Fontana won Best Supporting Actor – Film for his role in The 8th Sin, with Lezley Zen taking Best Supporting Actress – Film in Bare Stage, both from Vivid. Randy Spears got the nod for Best Supporting Actor – Video, in Wicked's Fluff and Fold.
TT Boy's Evasive Angles copped two prizes: Best Group Sex Scene – Video — an orgy featuring Venus and Ariana Jollee among others in Orgy World 7 —and Best Ethnic-Themed Release – Latin for Spanish Fly Pussy Search 14.
Then back to live for the last time and the last award. Best Video feature was presented by glamorous Taylor Wane, suave Steven St. Croix and bouncy Kimberly Kane. They were joined, somewhat tentatively, by Vivid Girl Janine. In jeans and t-shirt, she looked like she'd just stopped by on her way to the swap meet.
Wane took time to thank AVN on behalf of all the Hall of Fame inductees, including herself and St. Croix. Then they announced the big winner: Bella Loves Jenna from Club Jenna/Vivid— bringing the Sterlings, with Steve Hirsch, on stage for the last time.
She: "Wow." He: "Holy shit." She: "You did it, baby, you did it." He: "This one means a lot."
Jenna thanked her husband "for not telling me I was insane when I wanted to mix a horror movie and porno. It worked."
Hirsch spoke for Vivid, the movie's distributor: "Thanks for taking us along with you."
Thea Vidale, in yet another dress, announced the encore performance by Lit. But by now the hall was emptying fast.
"The problem with this show is, it's too short," Savannah said to those who were still hanging around. "It's like a Vivid Girl's relationship." It actually clocked in at just over two hours.
Then the bodacious badmouth and the sexy blonde blew some kisses and waved goodbye, sending the guests off to post-parties in the Venetian and elsewhere in the neon playground of the town that never shuts down.
* To view the 2005 AVN Awards Winners list, please visit AVNAwards.com.
