Jules Jordan and Evil Angel joined Elegant Angel and Wicked Pictures as the big winners Thursday night at the 20th annual X-Rated Critics Organization Awards at the Century Club.
Wicked Pictures sponsored the industry only ceremony that recognized the best performers, director, scenes and videos of 2003 with heart-shaped trophies in 24 categories.
Performer Evan Stone, who was dressed like a clown, hosted the standing-room-only event that was being taped by director Mark Stone for Wicked.
"It was just as rowdy as ever," XRCO Chairman Jared Rutter, also an AVN Senior Editor, said when the show concluded. "I thought what Evan Stone did on stage with the girls was great. He made them part of this show. We hadn't planned that. That was something he did on his own."
Stone walked on stage wearing white face paint and a costume, reprising his award-winning Fucko the Clown role. He brought the character to life in the 2002 AVN Award-winning Best Comedy, Cap'n Mongo's Porno Playhouse, a VCA Pictures release directed by Antonio Passolini. Stone also won an XRCO Award for the role.
| Click here for gallery. (courtesy: Kevin Moore) |
The show attracted mainstream media attention as Showtime sent a production crew to follow XRCO Hall of Fame inductee Seymore Butts, aka Adam Glasser, for the third season of Family Business.
"It's always nice when the work that you do gets recognized. It's been 13 long years in this industry," Butts, accompanied by Mari Possa and Cousin Stevie, told AVN.com. "… But this is not the only legacy I'll have."
The XRCO also welcomed Selena Steele, the popular actress and feature dancer, and award-winning director James Avalon into the Hall of Fame.
Jules Jordan, the west Philadelphia native who captured six AVN Awards in January, won XRCO Awards for the second straight year for both Best Director and Best Gonzo Series for Flesh Hunter, which he produces and directs and Evil Angel distributes. Jordan got the directing nod over Paul Thomas, Michael Raven, Jonathan Morgan and Axel Braun.
| Click here for gallery. (courtesy of Dan Miller) |
"To me, both are the most important awards because there is a lot of competition in both categories. So to win two years in a row is extra special. The stuff has withstood the test of time," Jordan told AVN.com with three plaques under his arm.
Meanwhile, the Best Group Sex Scene Award came from Jordan's Flesh Hunter 5. Taylor Rain performed with Arnold Schwarzenpecker, John Strong, Trent Tesoro and Mark Wood in the winning scene.
Elegant Angel's dark and edgy feature Compulsion earned Best Film, beating three Vivid movies: Heart of Darkness, Looking In and Sordid. Axel Braun directed the film that was also honored for the Best Single Performance, Actress Award that went to Ashley Long.
In addition, Elegant Angel earned the XRCO Award for Best 3-Way for the performance of Julie Night, Manuel Ferrara and Steve Holmes in Mason's Dirty Trixxx.
Wicked's Beautiful, which starred Julia Ann, earned the award for Best Video after tying with Adam & Eve's Rawhide for the same honor at the 2004 AVN Awards. The Michael Raven film emerged from a group that included Acid Dreams (Private), No Limits (Digital Playground), Opera (Elegant Angel) and Rawhide.
"I was totally surprised. Five minutes earlier I had just told Jonathan Morgan, 'You're probably going to hear Opera called' because the XRCO tends to favor the harder edged stuff," Raven said. "… I didn't expect it. I was very honored."
Raven's next picture is Killer Sex and Suicide Blondes, which Wicked will release on Sept. 1. He described the sex as intense and said that it may be the finest work of his wife Julia Ann's AVN Hall of Fame career.
Wicked also received more accolades for Morgan's Space Nuts, which was recognized as Best Comedy or Parody of 2003, matching its 2004 AVN Award.
Red Light District's Breakin 'Em In line earned the Best Pro-Am Series award in another tight category that included Amateur Angels (Fallen Angel/Adam & Eve), Dirty Debutantes (Ed Powers Productions), Real Sex Magazine (William Witrock Photography) and Up 'N Cummers (Randy West Productions/Evil Angel).
Red Light District President David Joseph said that Breakin 'Em In director and Red Light production manager, Vince Vouyer, was unable to attend. He also said that events like the XRCO Awards are "good for morale."
| Click here for the winners' gallery. |
Ashley Blue won Female Performer of the Year, duplicating her feat from January's AVN show, edging Aurora Snow, Belladonna, Devinn Lane and Taylor Rain. Manuel Ferrara, who is now exclusive to Red Light District, was recognized as the Male Performer of the Year in a category that included Michael Stefano, Lexington Steele, Erik Everhard and Randy Spears.
"As long as I can fuck woman, it's cool," Ferrara humbly told AVN.com.
The New Starlet Award went to Lauren Phoenix in one of the toughest categories to call considering Stormy, Kaylani Lei, Jesse Jane and Ashley Blue all were nominated. Phoenix also won Orgasmic Analist in a battle of some of the strongest anal performers in the business.
"Thank you for letting me take it in the ass for cash," Phoenix told the crowd.
Ben English, who earned Best Male Newcomer at the AVN Awards, grabbed the New Stud honor. Barrett Blade, Kurt Lockwood, Trent Tesoro and Trevor Zen were also in the running. Asian anal sensation Sabrine Maui earned Unsung Siren and reliable stud Steve Holmes was awarded Unsung Swordsman of 2003.
The squirting phenom Cytherea earned the coveted crown of Teen Cream Dream of 2003. The stacked category also featured Dani Woodward, Nautica Thorn, Serena South and Simone.
"Teen Cream Dream? What it means is that I'm getting recognized for all the hard work I've done. It means a lot of different stuff," Cytherea, who wore a flower in her hair and a dress that revealed the distinctive butterfly tattoo on her back, said as she clutched her first XRCO trophy. "I was surprised. I was really surprised."
Cytherea continued, "Honestly, I really didn't give a fuck. I just get on film and do it. I'm not fucking for awards. I'm not fucking for the money. Those are just like Christmas bonuses. My success is having family and good friends."
Meanwhile, Julie Night followed her 3-Way honor with the Superslut Award. She contended with Ariana Jollee, Jayna Oso, Alicia Rhodes and Ava Devine.
Fan favorite Felicia Fox took home the Orgasmic Oralist title for all her fine work in the Oral field.
Jenna Jameson and Carmen Luvana collected the XRCO Award for Best Girl/Girl scene for their sizzling session in Digital Sin's My Plaything – Jenna Jameson 2. And Randy Spears, who was nominated twice for Single Performance, Actor, won for his lead role in Space Nuts.
Jewel De'Nyle hooked up with Ferrara for the Best Sex Scene, Couple Award in Babes in Pornland 14: Bubble Butt Babes from Puritan Video Productions.
The Fashionistas, Evil Angel's runaway hit of 2002, earned Best DVD.
Meanwhile, former California gubernatorial candidate Mary Carey won the award for Mainstream's Adult Media Favorite. The new category also included Belladonna (Diane Sawyer TV show), Jenna Jameson (Times Square Billboard) and Ron Jeremy (Playboy cover story, Surreal Life 2).
Newcomer Pandora Dreams made a lasting impression as the Heart-On girl who handed the winners their plaques.
2004 XRCO Award Winners
Best Film – Compulsion (Elegant Angel)
Best Video – Beautiful (Wicked Pictures)
Best Director – Jules Jordan
Best Comedy or Parody – Space Nuts (Wicked Pictures)
Best Gonzo Series – Flesh Hunter (Jules Jordan/Evil Angel)
Best Pro-Am Series – Breakin Em In (Red Light District)
New Starlet – Lauren Phoenix
New Stud – Ben English
Unsung Siren – Sabrine Maui
Unsung Swordsman – Steve Holmes
Female Performer of the Year – Ashley Blue
Male Performer of the Year – Manuel Ferrara
Single Performance, Actress – Ashley Long, Compulsion (Elegant Angel)
Single Performance, Actor –Randy Spears, Space Nuts (Wicked Pictures)
Teen Cream Dream – Cytherea
Superslut – Julie Night
Sex Scene – Couple – Jewel De'Nyle & Manuel Ferrara, Babes in Pornland 14: Bubble Butt Babes (Puritan Video Productions)
Girl/Girl – Jenna Jameson & Carmen Luvana, My Plaything – Jenna Jameson 2 (Digital Sin)
3-Way – Julie Night, Manuel Ferrara & Steve Holmes, Mason's Dirty Tricks (Elegant Angel)
Group Scene – Taylor Rain, Arnold Schwarzenpecker, John Strong, Trent Tesoro and Mark Wood, Flesh Hunter 5 (Jules Jordan/Evil Angel)
Orgasmic Oralist – Felicia Fox
Orgasmic Analist – Lauren Phoenix
Best DVD – The Fashionistas (Evil Angel)
Mainstream's Adult Media Favorite 2003 – Mary Carey
XRCO Hall of Fame – Seymore Butts, Selena Steele, James Avalon
The X-rated Critics Organization was founded in 1984 to give writers and editors from the adult entertainment industry a voice in selecting the yearly best in X-rated movies. Its original membership included writers from Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. With the rise of the Internet, membership has expanded to include writers from major adult Websites. The XRCO remains an organization of, by and for working critics.
