The title "2006 AVN Awards" here summarizes three key things we got, namely the year when this came out, the fact that this is adult film ceremony and that awards were given out to those considered the best back then. And even with some of the negative things you could say about this industry, there is no denying that they stay really faithful here and that a shows called "awards" is also about the awards. The Grammys for example can lear a lot from them and don't even get me started on stuff like the BET Awards. By the way, this took place in Las Vegas as always and at 110 minutes, it was neither among the longest nor shortest compared to other editions of the show. The older ones sometimes hit 2.5 hours because they included so many scenes from the best movies, but recently, they kept it short, sometimes at only 80 minutes and 10 of those were still pre-show interviews. But back to this one here: The year 2006 was not even a week old when this was held and again it was not available to watch before mid-March. Disappointing, even if this is still rather short 2.5 monthes. Frequently, on other editions, it took for almost half a year. Anyway, better than never I suppose, but for the excitement about who wins, this show should be live on television like all the other awards shows, some of which matter less or should matter less at least like at least one show I mentioned earlier in this review. Gary Miller was the writer and director and producer of this show and even if this was not yet from his most prolific days, it is pretty self-explanatory. He is the one person in charge. Has been to this day pretty much for years now. But the other writer credited here is Gret Fitzsimmons and he is almost more interesting to me. He wrote his material. His stand-up routine. And I absolutely loved it. He was so funny from beginning to end, maybe for me the best host who I have ever seen on the AVN Awards. And I have seen many editions by now. Thanks to him, the show felt considerably shorter. He seems to be not the most prolific writer in 2020, but still busy with other stuff I see from his body of work. Good for him and for us. We need more comedians like him. I will not just repeat some of the jokes he made, but even if you are not one bit interested in adult films, I suggest watching his stand-up performance at the beginning of this show and I myself am a bit curious about actual stand-up program DVDs from him. There must be something. He has been active for a long time in the industry, also before 2006 already. By the way, he looks a bit like a more friendly Doug Stamper from House of Cards and also I would have thought him to be older thean 40, probably because of the hair. or lack thereof. But he is perfect evidence of how looks are really irrelevant when there is talent. As for the actual awards, parodies were still a thing back in 2006 it seems as we have a Pirates of the Caribbean film score big with the voters here. Haha the skeletons. I think the sequel at a future edition was even more successful. far more successful I think even. In addition, another movie is about a woman who is somewhat possesses (the devil is mentioned in the title even) and the result is apparently that she has sex with a lot of people. We see scenes from that one too. It was probably among the more challenging films acting-wise you can say from what I saw here and the lead actress isn't all bad.
Looking at the male side, you have many, many winners here who are very familiar names and faces: Evan Stone, Tommy Gunn, Rocco Siffredi, Randy Spears, Manuel Ferrara. Ron Jeremy was also there again of course and he did a little sketch in which there was a lookalike that was more successful with the females apparently. I want to mention Spears in particular. I can see why some perceive him as sleazy and I think he is kinda hit-or-miss, but I don't find him unlikable. He was featured a lot during this show back in 2006. Not only with the award(s) he won, but also his little sketch was among the better moments from the night. Had it continued like that, then maybe I woould have given two stars more even. But if somebody like Stormy Daniels takes home big awards, there is no way I can give a positive recommendation or anything. But I still thought about it again when realizing there was actually somebody going with the name of Arnold Schwartzenpecker. I don't know what to say about that haha. But they are going successfully with parody movies, so why not with parody names? And he sure made me laugh. On the woman's side, not as many familiar faces as with the guys, but still enough. Belladonna I always like. Jenna Jameson not so much. here she was still winning awards before her controversial appearance two years later. And she was also a presenter. Joanna Angel has been a big name in the industry for quite some time. I think here she was still cute, but later on not so much anymore. But that is just my opinion and her efforts annd success as a businesswoman are undeniable. Why do I mention here? Well, she was nominated for Best New Starlet that some consider the most crucial category of the night because of how short-ived women frequently are in this new category, but she is the opposite. She proved she does not need to win to make it big and maybe this inspires other losers in this category and also she still has a massive career in adult film a long time after she started delivering in front of the camera. And she is still "only" 40 or so. A bit unusual that there was only one female adult film actress co-hosting this time, but why not. They don't have to take two like in most other years. Not the worst decision. Besides, there was a host from a couple years earlier also delivering a kinda funny thingey when he was there to announce a category. Not as good as the actual host, but still decent and besides, it is always nice to have people away from the adult film industry to be brave enough to show up here. Alright, there are many other familiar names and faces who have been in thousands of adult films really. I will spare you the names, but feel free to check out the cast list for yourself. It's surprisingly complete for this show all the time. Also on other editions. Props to whoever included all these names. Truly professional and some movies (and the people who made those movies) can learn a lot from this kind of professionalism and dedication. Also some drag included on this show. Did not expect that, but it shows how open-minded these people here were. And for the in another context aforementioned Best New Starlet there are three females with the last name Lane included. No idea why I found this so interesting, but I kinda do. And Ron Jeremy well, I know people hate him right now, bit it should nonetheless be completely forgotten what he has done for the industry over the years. No, decades really. Also I remember having seen females seem uncomfortable next to him in more recent editions from the AVN Awards, but here it isthe exact opposite. I mean we have a woman grab his genital. okay, there are clothes in-between, but still. And not justonce, but twice. And the audience kinda liked it. He is not the devil, people, speaking of devils again. Still I wonder what Mary Carey now thinks about that. By the way, she was really young back then. I would have thought she's over 30 at least, but nope. And she does look a bit like Mariah, even with the fake blonde hair. We can also still talk about the musicians. This time, they got two again in Hedley and DJ Quik and it was alright. Both no superstars compared to other people they got, but also not too shabby. With Hedley, it was a bit unusual that they got a rock group for once. Normally, those music performers here originate rather from the Black music branch. DJ Quik is a perfect eample of that. Okay I think that is pretty much it. Not a terrible awards show, but could have been better, especially as it deteriorated in the second half when Fitzsimmons and Spears had less screen time. It stayed alright though. The problems are nothing new here. Too many nominees and for example the category with Arnie's impostor, they did not even mention all nominees, just a few selected and that is as disrespectful and inappropriate as it gets. I mean it's bad enough already that key categories are excluded from the broadcast, but kinda understandable because the list of awards here is truly gigantic. the show would run for five hours or so otherwise. But in terms of those categories that are included, there is jist no way they should only read out the names of some, probably the more famous, nominees. Fat thumbs-down for that. And a slight thumbs-down for the show overall. Fitzsimmons by the way with his Howard Stern background hosted the show again two years later and he was alright again, but greatness he only delivered in 2008. That's all. As I said, watch his stand-up routine early on and then you can switch off perhaps.
Looking at the male side, you have many, many winners here who are very familiar names and faces: Evan Stone, Tommy Gunn, Rocco Siffredi, Randy Spears, Manuel Ferrara. Ron Jeremy was also there again of course and he did a little sketch in which there was a lookalike that was more successful with the females apparently. I want to mention Spears in particular. I can see why some perceive him as sleazy and I think he is kinda hit-or-miss, but I don't find him unlikable. He was featured a lot during this show back in 2006. Not only with the award(s) he won, but also his little sketch was among the better moments from the night. Had it continued like that, then maybe I woould have given two stars more even. But if somebody like Stormy Daniels takes home big awards, there is no way I can give a positive recommendation or anything. But I still thought about it again when realizing there was actually somebody going with the name of Arnold Schwartzenpecker. I don't know what to say about that haha. But they are going successfully with parody movies, so why not with parody names? And he sure made me laugh. On the woman's side, not as many familiar faces as with the guys, but still enough. Belladonna I always like. Jenna Jameson not so much. here she was still winning awards before her controversial appearance two years later. And she was also a presenter. Joanna Angel has been a big name in the industry for quite some time. I think here she was still cute, but later on not so much anymore. But that is just my opinion and her efforts annd success as a businesswoman are undeniable. Why do I mention here? Well, she was nominated for Best New Starlet that some consider the most crucial category of the night because of how short-ived women frequently are in this new category, but she is the opposite. She proved she does not need to win to make it big and maybe this inspires other losers in this category and also she still has a massive career in adult film a long time after she started delivering in front of the camera. And she is still "only" 40 or so. A bit unusual that there was only one female adult film actress co-hosting this time, but why not. They don't have to take two like in most other years. Not the worst decision. Besides, there was a host from a couple years earlier also delivering a kinda funny thingey when he was there to announce a category. Not as good as the actual host, but still decent and besides, it is always nice to have people away from the adult film industry to be brave enough to show up here. Alright, there are many other familiar names and faces who have been in thousands of adult films really. I will spare you the names, but feel free to check out the cast list for yourself. It's surprisingly complete for this show all the time. Also on other editions. Props to whoever included all these names. Truly professional and some movies (and the people who made those movies) can learn a lot from this kind of professionalism and dedication. Also some drag included on this show. Did not expect that, but it shows how open-minded these people here were. And for the in another context aforementioned Best New Starlet there are three females with the last name Lane included. No idea why I found this so interesting, but I kinda do. And Ron Jeremy well, I know people hate him right now, bit it should nonetheless be completely forgotten what he has done for the industry over the years. No, decades really. Also I remember having seen females seem uncomfortable next to him in more recent editions from the AVN Awards, but here it isthe exact opposite. I mean we have a woman grab his genital. okay, there are clothes in-between, but still. And not justonce, but twice. And the audience kinda liked it. He is not the devil, people, speaking of devils again. Still I wonder what Mary Carey now thinks about that. By the way, she was really young back then. I would have thought she's over 30 at least, but nope. And she does look a bit like Mariah, even with the fake blonde hair. We can also still talk about the musicians. This time, they got two again in Hedley and DJ Quik and it was alright. Both no superstars compared to other people they got, but also not too shabby. With Hedley, it was a bit unusual that they got a rock group for once. Normally, those music performers here originate rather from the Black music branch. DJ Quik is a perfect eample of that. Okay I think that is pretty much it. Not a terrible awards show, but could have been better, especially as it deteriorated in the second half when Fitzsimmons and Spears had less screen time. It stayed alright though. The problems are nothing new here. Too many nominees and for example the category with Arnie's impostor, they did not even mention all nominees, just a few selected and that is as disrespectful and inappropriate as it gets. I mean it's bad enough already that key categories are excluded from the broadcast, but kinda understandable because the list of awards here is truly gigantic. the show would run for five hours or so otherwise. But in terms of those categories that are included, there is jist no way they should only read out the names of some, probably the more famous, nominees. Fat thumbs-down for that. And a slight thumbs-down for the show overall. Fitzsimmons by the way with his Howard Stern background hosted the show again two years later and he was alright again, but greatness he only delivered in 2008. That's all. As I said, watch his stand-up routine early on and then you can switch off perhaps.