Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Dispatch: AVN Adult Movie Awards, 1/10/09 (1/3)
()
As mentioned previously, AVN's annual Adult Entertainment Expo and Adult Movie Awards took place earlier this month in Las Vegas, with the convention running for four days at the Sands Expo and Convention Center and the awards show taking place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Held the night before the Golden Globe Awards and considered the adult equivalent of the Oscars, the Adult Movie Awards, now in its 26th year -- hosted by pornstars Belladonna and Jenna Haze, with comedy by stand-up Thea Vidale and musical performances by Flo Rida, T-Pain, and Flavor Flav -- clocked in at two and a half hours, which was brisk considering that past editions have lasted up to double that length of time.
Support for LAist comes from
Arguably the frontrunner, Digital Playground won 22 awards, with its blockbuster epic Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge winning not only Best Video Feature, but a record-setting 14 others, including Best Director Feature (Joone), Best Actor (Evan Stone), Best Supporting Actress (Belladonna), Best Supporting Actor (Ben English), Best Girl/Girl Sex Scene (Jesse Jane and Belladonna), Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Videography, Best Editing (Joey Pulgadas), Best Special Effects, Best Makeup, Best DVD Extras, Best High Definition Production, and Best Overall Marketing Campaign.
In addition, Evil Angel won 16 awards, Wicked Pictures' Fallen won four awards, including Best Actress (Jessica Drake), Best Double Penetration Sex Scene (Jessica Drake, Eric Masterson, and Brad Armstrong), Best DVD Menus, and Best Packaging, Vivid Entertainment's Cry Wolf won two awards, including Best Film (perhaps the last year this category will exist due to the overwhelming usage of video) and Best Couples Sex Scene (Monique Alexander and Mr. Marcus), and Vivid-Alt won Best Music Soundtrack (Bad Luck Betties). And Hustler won Clever Title of the Year (Strollin' in the Colon).
On the awards show, Violet Blue wrote for The San Francisco Chronicle that "I was invited this year, as in the past, but have never willingly undergone a root canal or a 6-hour porn star awards ceremony... Watching porny red carpet is enough to make fashion people self-administer a Thorazine dart, the kind they use on elephants who turn on their trainers. Not always; most of porn's Neu Wave don't look like they got in a knockdown drag out fight over the sale rack at the Stripper Barn; some do indeed dress up in pretty hot haute couture." Nevertheless, history was reportedly made on the red carpet, as Madison Young and Syd Blakovich walked together as the first queer porn couple.
To be continued.
A glimpse of the red carpet with Robin Leach. Video by the Las Vegas Weekly.
Special thanks to all of the participating nominees and AVN.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist