2004 AVN Awards

With the last couple of year's shows hitting DVD via VCA, Hustler Video finally gets a crack at the AVN Awards Show (and why shouldn't they - since they now own VCA), and they've done a much better job than their predecessor - giving us a (thankfully) edited 116 minute version of the actual show and several hours of bonus features and footage on a second DVD.

While not the best DVD in the world to "get your rocks off" with, the 2004 AVN Awards DVD is a nice memento to have if you missed this year's show (as this reviewer did), or perhaps went to the show but were stuck with a seat so far from the stage that Ron Jeremy actually looked thin from your viewpoint.

Disc One opens with a few minutes of pre-awards interviews conducted by Chi Chi LaRue. The show itself opens with a monologue by comedian Jim Norton, who isn't the funniest standup in the world, but is worlds better than 2003's co-host, Doug Stanhope. Jim's co-host is porn queen Jenna Jameson, who does a nice job hosting the festivities, although she's not nearly as witty and memorable as Chloe was hosting in 2003. So I guess it's a split decision on this year's hosts compared to last.

We don't get to see all the awards presented - but we do get to see the majority of them...24 categories, including the "biggies" like Best DVD, Best Film, Best Video, Best Actor, Best Actress and Starlet of the Year. With each award, we get to see a short clip from the movie being awarded - and while these aren't full-length scenes, they are long enough to enjoy the action and always include the pop-shot. Sadly, we don't get to see the award given for Best Retail Site - although the company in question (he says with all modesty intact) is included in the bonus features' list of winners.

I've always found these awards shows a great way of fans getting a small glimpse into what our favorite adult stars are like in real life. Without mentioning any names, you'll get a good idea of which of your favorite talent is warm and friendly, and which are overbearing egomaniacs. And it may not be the ones you'd guess.

There is also some entertainment during the show - first with a group named The Tubes, and later with Lil Jon and The Ying Yang Twins, who manage to get just about everyone in the front of the auditorium up on stage dancing (which probably drove the fire marshal crazy!). Adult fans also won't want to miss a special appearance by Larry Flynt, who arrives to accept the award for Top Selling title of the year (which went to Hustlaz: Diary of a Pimp).

On Disc Two of this set, we get to see all of Chi Chi's interviews before the show, some behind the scenes footage, some pick-up shots (which is random raw footage of talent coming into the show), a photo gallery and two winners' galleries, the second of which includes the Hall of Fame inductees.

More for the porn historian and collector, as opposed to the raincoater, the 2004 AVN Awards is a nice memento to have that features clips from all the major releases and talent that was involved in the adult industry during the 2003 year.