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PORN PREENS IN VEGAS AWARDS SHOW ECHOES HOLLYWOOD RED CARPETS.


Byline: BRENT HOPKINS Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS -- With the red carpet, swank ball gowns and hang-around rock musicians, the Adult Video News Awards could almost fit seamlessly into the cavalcade cav·al·cade  
n.
1. A procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages.

2. A ceremonial procession or display.

3. A succession or series: starred in a cavalcade of Broadway hits.
 of nonstop honor fests that come around this time of year.

Likened to the Oscars and flashy like the Grammys, tonight's extravaganza at the Mandalay Bay has one key difference: the Academy Awards, at least as of yet, do not have a category for Most Outrageous Sex Scene. The adult industry's blowout fete features all the trappings of its mainstream cousins but still retains a bit of the outlaw flair that makes it enticing to legions of consumers.

Though Paul Fishbein, president of Chatsworth-based AVN AVN Aviation
AVN Avenue
AVN Adult Video News
AVN Avascular Necrosis
AVN Atrioventricular Node
AVN Aviation Model (weather forecast model, now Global Forecast System)
AVN Air Vanuatu (ICAO code) 
 and creator of the 24-year-old awards, invited celebrities like Gene Simmons and sold tickets to the general public for the first time this year, he doesn't want to fully strip off the veneer of mystery of the porn business.

``We don't want it to be too mainstream because you take the sexuality out,'' Fishbein said. ``We want it to be a little forbidden, like, `Oooh, it's the porn awards, but there's going to be some famous people there.''

Former Red Hot Chili Pepper Dave Navarro will present, while rock group Buckcherry, who Fishbein repeatedly notes has been nominated for a Grammy, will perform.

And the talent itself, with names like Jenna Jameson, Tera Patrick and Ron Jeremy, is getting pretty familiar in many households.

That thin line between provocative and verboten ver·bo·ten  
adj.
Forbidden; prohibited.



[German, past participle of verbieten, to forbid, from Middle High German, from Old High German farbiotan; see bheudh-
 has been carefully straddled for several days at AVN's Adult Entertainment Expo, not far down the Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip (also known as The Strip) is a 4 mi (6.7 km) section of Las Vegas Boulevard South, most of which has been designated an All-American Road.  at the Sands Expo Convention Center. A hybrid trade show/consumer showcase, the convention drew tens of thousands from around the world, saying shocking things in a fairly innocuous setting.

At Patrick's Thursday night shindig shin·dig  
n.
1. A festive party, often with dancing. Also called shindy.

2. See shindy.



[Probably alteration of shindy.
 at the Tao nightclub in the Venetian casino, co-hosted with her husband and co-performer Evan Seinfeld, photographers jockeyed for arrival shots just as they would at the Golden Globes or a Hollywood premiere.

The stars showed up in revealing evening wear, but when one suffered a bit of a wardrobe malfunction and found herself spilling from her tight pink dress, two harrumphing handlers quickly stepped in to instruct her to button up before she got in trouble. She apologized profusely pro·fuse  
adj.
1. Plentiful; copious.

2. Giving or given freely and abundantly; extravagant: were profuse in their compliments.
 and strapped herself back in as the cameras continued to click.

The party inside was loud and mysterious, filled with sexily dressed young women, but it was no stranger than the scene in a Friday night Hollywood dance club. Dustin ``Screech'' Diamond, the child actor turned sex tape star, was sighted chatting amiably at the bar.

The four days of prep work, inking distribution deals, smiling for the press, chatting with fans, culminates tonight with the show.

Fishbein expects the 2,000 tickets made available to the public for $100 apiece will sell out, further broadening the industry's appeal.

He said while larger companies like Vivid Video and Wicked Pictures probably don't need an award to boost their sales, a smaller studio or nascent performer can receive some measure of credibility once they take home a trophy.

``I don't take too much stock in the awards, but if I did win, more people would know about me,'' said Sasha Grey, an 18-year-old performer nominated for the coveted cov·et  
v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets

v.tr.
1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy.

2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire.
 Best New Starlet star·let  
n.
1. A small star.

2. A young film actress publicized as a future star.


starlet
Noun

a young actress who has the potential to become a star

Noun 1.
 award.

In the porn world, as well as the mainstream, this is a very big deal. Jameson and Patrick both won the title in years past and went onto become titans of the business. Their looks and onscreen on·screen or on-screen  
adj. & adv.
1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen.

2. Within public view; in public.
 enthusiasm pushed them to become wealthy, marketable stars who can just as easily appear in regular television and films as they can with their clothes off.

``I get embarrassed. It's like, `You like that? Really?''' said Jesse Jane, a contract star for Van Nuys-based Digital Playground and past winner for an all-girl sex scene and presenter at this year's show. ``It's funny, though. Everyone pretends like they don't want to win, but I think they really do.''

Indeed, agreed Oren Cohen cohen
 or kohen

(Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male.
, president of Van Nuys' Tight Fit Productions. Though the heavily-tattooed former chef, a third-generation pornographer, has plenty of uncomplimentary things to say about his industry, he still grins about the awards.

``Every kid likes getting a (freaking freak·ing  
adv. & adj. Slang
Used as an intensive: Traffic was a freaking nightmare.



[Alteration of frigging, present participle of frig.]
) trophy, so I like that pat on the head,'' he said. ``You gloat, advertise you won and enjoy it for a year. We're making a product for people to enjoy, so it's nice to get a little feedback that they do.''

brent.hopkins(at)dailynews.com

(818) 713-3738

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Above, actress Charlotte Stokley, nominated for Best New Starlet, laughs while meeting fans at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE) is a trade show held each January in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is sponsored by the Adult Video News Magazine (AVN). The AVN Awards show is held during the Expo at the nearby The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.  at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas. Below, Adam & Eve Productions actress Carmen Carmen

throws over lover for another. [Fr. Lit.: Carmen; Fr. Opera: Bizet, Carmen, Westerman, 189–190]

See : Faithlessness


Carmen

the cards repeatedly spell her death. [Fr.
 Luvana, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress Video and Contract Star of the Year.

(3 -- color) Below, actress Jesse Jane is nominated for Contract Star of the Year and Crossover Star of the Year.

(4 -- color) Wicked Pictures actress Jessica Drake, nominated for Best Actress Film and Best Actress Video, signs autographs at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer
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No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2007, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:Business
Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Jan 13, 2007
Words:866
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