LOS ANGELES—The arguably biggest pair of porn industry figures to come out of Italy, Axel Braun and Rocco Siffredi, were special guests on today’s 500th episode of Doppio Senso Night, a live weekly show hosted by famed journalist Massimo Bonera on the Italian TV channel Prima Free.
A highly successful Italian show that’s currently celebrating its 10th year on the air, Doppio Senso Night has welcomed hundreds of international adult stars and directors among its guests, but Braun and Siffredi proved an extra sensational draw, with the episode (which aired at 11 p.m. Italian time, which is nine hours ahead of Pacific time) garnering the highest rating of the program’s entire 10 year run at 1,054,000 viewers, more than triple its average of 300,000 per episode.
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” said Bonera, who has been Italy’s preeminent adult industry authority for over 30 years. “Axel and Rocco are stars of a completely different caliber, one is the most awarded director in history, the other an absolute legend among performers and an idol to men and women around the world. They are two icons, and I knew that having them together would bring in a massive audience. I had been trying to get them separately for a while, which is already very difficult due to their busy schedules, and when last month they both told me they had an opening for today I couldn’t even believe it! What are the odds that I would be able to celebrate the 500th episode milestone with both of them?”
The episode offered plenty of laughs but also some important words of advice from both industry giants to the female guest, newcomer Alyson Thor, and all the girls who plan on entering the industry.
“Do it only if you are really into it,” Siffredi noted, “and only if you are ready and willing to go all the way. You might think your body and your beauty are the main weapons to be successful, but it is actually your head.”
Braun, who only hires performers aged 21 and over, echoed Siffredi’s sentiment: “This industry can give you a lot, but you need to be aware of the potential repercussions that a career as a sex worker can have on your life. Making an informed decision is the key to both your success and your happiness."
Siffredi, who just last month published a sex-ed book called Rocco Siffredi Sex Lessons, also cautioned viewers against relying solely on pornography for sexual education. “What we do is a performance, we are trained professionals, and we need to make it look good for the camera,” he said. “Porn can inspire you, expand and improve your sexual performance, but it shouldn’t replace sex-ed. It’s very important that sexual wellness is taught in the right circles and without taboos.”
Reigning AVN Female Performer of the Year Emily Willis was also part of the conversation, with both Braun and Siffredi using her as an example. “To succeed, you need to have that extra something, we call it the It factor, and that cannot be taught or learned,” said Braun. “But you must also have a plan, a career trajectory, and the determination to pursue your goals. Emily Willis is a perfect example, she is smart, sexy, gorgeous, driven, her performances are incredible and she is going to leave a long-lasting mark in the industry. She is the kind of star that comes around only once every decade, and honestly there’s no limit to what she could achieve.”
"Emily Willis wanted to be a big star,” Siffredi added. “She is this stunning girl with an amazing smile, very sweet, very nice, and she turns up some powerhouse performances in every scene. She is meticulously prepared, and she is all in 100 percent, no hangups, no bullshit. Just wow.”
Before ending the livestream, Braun and Siffredi, who have known each other for over two decades but have never worked together, vowed to try and finally join forces.
“I am waiting for you, I am not retiring until I can star in one of your movies,” Siffredi said, with Braun replying: “It is my ultimate goal in this industry, and you know it. We need to make it happen.”
