Annual porn convention has a political streak

By Melissa Arseniuk

Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 | 3:21 p.m.

While the 2009 AVN Adult Movie Awards hosted a solar system of adult film stars – Ron Jeremy, Jenna Haze, Tera Patrick, Belladonna, Stormy Daniels, Jesse Jane, Sunny Leone and Bree Olson, to name a few – the annual celebration of porn was surprisingly political this year.

The night got off to a partisan start at Mandalay Bay when emcee Thea Vidale began her opening monologue by saluting the victory of President-elect Barack Obama.

“We’re going to have a hot couple having hot sex in the White House – with each other, no less!” she rejoiced.

The X-rated star proceeded to rattle off a litany of X-rated jokes and one-liners about Obama’s sex life and compared his physique to that of President Bush before the awards program got underway.

The AVN’s halftime show was a political, timely sequence produced by Evil Angel owner and porn director/producer/actor John Stagliano.

Images of George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Abu Ghraib, Haliburton, the Iraq war and censorship were displayed on a giant video screen above the dancers to create a poignant statement regarding First Amendment rights.

Stagliano was indicted on seven federal obscenity charges related to the production of adult video entertainment. If convicted, he could face 32 years in prison and as much as $7 million in fines.

The presentation began with the singing of the national anthem before a dozen dancers, most of whom were formerly involved in Stagliano’s “Fashionistas” project, took to the stage dressed in sexed-up, tear-away military fatigues.

“Legends in Concert” cast member and Whitney Houston impersonator Jazmine took care of the vocals, performing an original compilation inspired by “There is Hope” by the Crystal Method.

From Vidale’s opening monologue to Stagliano’s production, what many assumed would be a politics-free program was quite the opposite.

Even Larry Flynt stopped by to offer his two cents on the nation’s current economic crisis.

The legendary pornographer and First Amendment crusader surprised the audience toward the end of the show when he appeared onstage to deliver a politically charged address.

Flynt encouraged members of the adult entertainment industry to work harder and be smarter instead of expecting a bailout from the government.

The Hustler founder offered a blunt alternative to hand-outs, which he suggested were temporary surface solutions.

“We have a solution, and it’s called bankruptcy,” he said.

Still, the controversial 66-year-old remained optimistic.

“I think this industry has a strong future,” he said. The wheelchair-bound icon said quality producers, performers and directors will be key to the sector’s success.

Earlier in the program, Vidale had joked about the faltering economy and the resulting cutbacks felt across the porn industry.

She suggested porn stars were having to do more with less and perform the jobs of two or three people.

At one point, a parody video of Sarah Palin’s post-election Thanksgiving interview was used as a segue from one portion of the program to the other. A second video short spliced C-SPAN footage of federal bailout hearings (including Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and others) with scenes of porn stars asking for a bailout.

As the skit progresses, clothes come off and sexual acts are performed, then offered to the government officials who the adult entertainers are pretending to testify in front of.

With the exception of Stagliano’s show and Flynt’s direct appeal, however, most of the political innuendo was cast in a humorous light.

The 26th annual AVN Adult Movie Awards were held in conjunction with the Adult Entertainment Expo, which is being held at the Sands Expo Center. AEE opened to the public Friday and closes at 5 p.m. Sunday.