15th AVN Awards
Adult industry award ceremony in 1998
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The 15th AVN Awards ceremony, organized by Adult Video News (AVN), took place January 10, 1998 at Caesars Palace, in Paradise, Nevada, U.S.[2] During the show, AVN presented AVN Awards (the industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards)[3][4][5] in 54 categories honoring the best pornographic films released between Oct. 1, 1996 and Sept. 30, 1997. The ceremony was produced by Gary Miller and directed by Mark Stone.[2] Comedian Robert Schimmel hosted, with adult film actresses Racquel Darrian and Misty Rain as co-hosts.[2][5] At a pre-awards cocktail reception held the previous evening, 50 more AVN Awards, mostly for behind-the-scenes achievements, were given out by hosts Nici Sterling and Dave Tyree,[1] however, this event was neither televised nor distributed on VHS tapes as was the main evening's ceremony. Both events included awards categories for gay movies; the final year the show included both gay and heterosexual awards. The gay awards were subsequently spun off into a separate show, the GayVN Awards.
- Gary Gray
- Williamson Howe
| 15th AVN Awards | |
|---|---|
![]() History: The 1998 AVN Awards Show program cover | |
| Date | January 10, 1998 |
| Site | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada |
| Hosted by | |
| Preshow hosts |
|
| Produced by | Gary Miller |
| Directed by | Mark Stone |
| Highlights | |
| Best Picture | Bad Wives (Best Film) |
| Most awards | Zazel (7)[1] |
| Television coverage | |
| Network | Playboy TV |
Zazel won the most awards with seven, however, Bad Wives, which received six statuettes, won for best film. Buda won for best shot-on-video feature. Nic Cramer won Best DirectorâFilm for Operation Sex Siege.[1]
Winners and nominees
The winners were announced during the awards ceremony on January 10, 1998. Besides winning best film, Bad Wives also won Best Actress for Dyanna Lauren, Best Actor for Steven St. Croix and Best Screenplay for Dean Nash. Zazel was named best all-sex film and Naked Highway was the best gay video. Johnni Black won Best New Starlet, while Performers of the Year were: Stephanie Swift, female; Tom Byron, male; and Jim Buck, gay.[1]
Major awards






Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (â¡).[3][4][5][6][7][8]
| Best Film | |
|---|---|
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| Best Shot-on-Video Feature | Best Gay Video |
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| Male Performer of the Year | Gay Performer of the Year |
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| Female Performer of the Year | Best New Starlet |
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| Best ActorâFilm | Best ActressâFilm |
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| Best ActorâVideo | Best ActressâVideo |
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| Best Supporting ActorâFilm | Best Supporting ActressâFilm |
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| Best Supporting ActorâVideo | Best Supporting ActressâVideo |
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| Best DirectorâFilm | Best DirectorâVideo |
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| Best DirectorâGay Video | Best All-Girl Feature |
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| Best Foreign Release | Best European Release (The Hot Video Award) |
| Best All-Sex Film | Best All-Sex Video |
| Best Gonzo Video | Best Sex Comedy |
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| Best Selling Tape of the Year | Best Renting Tape of the Year |
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| Best Couples Sex SceneâFilm | Best Couples Sex SceneâVideo |
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| Best Group Sex SceneâFilm | Best Group Sex SceneâVideo |
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| Best All-Girl Sex SceneâFilm | Best All-Girl Sex SceneâVideo |
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Additional award winners
These awards were announced, but not presented, in a winners-only segments read by Robert Schimmel and Misty Rain during the event. Recipients' awards were distributed off-stage:
- Best All-Girl Series: Diva
- Best Anal Sex SceneâFilm: Steven St. Croix, Dyanna Lauren; Bad Wives
- Best Anal Sex SceneâVideo: Careena Collins, Mark Davis, Sean Michaels; Butt Banged Naughty Nurses
- Best Anal-Themed Feature: Gluteus to the Maximus
- Best Boxcover Concept: Ancient Secrets of the Kama Sutra, Vivid Video
- Best Continuing Video Series: Fresh Meat
- Best DirectorâForeign: Pierre Woodman, The Fugitive 1 & 2
- Best Ethnic-Themed Video: Midori's Flava
- Best Featurette Tape: Heart & Soul
- Best Foreign Featurette Tape: Private Stories 22
- Best Gangbang Tape: Gangbang Girl 19[1]
- Best Gonzo Series: Tom Byron's Cumback Pussy
- Most Outrageous Sex Scene: Mila, Kiss, "Anal Food Express", My Girlfriend's Girlfriends
- Best Overall Marketing CampaignâCompany Image: VCA Pictures
- Best Overall Marketing CampaignâGay Video: Family Values, Men of Odyssey
- Best Overall Marketing CampaignâIndividual Title or Series: Zazel, Cal Vista Films/Metro
- Best PackagingâFilm: Paris Chic, Studio A Entertainment
- Best PackagingâVideo: Makin' Whoopee, Cal Vista Video/Metro
- Best Sex SceneâForeign: Double Ship Orgy, Private Stories 16
- Best Solo Sex Scene: Vicca, Diva
- Best Tease Performance: Silvia Saint, Fresh Meat 4[1]
The previous night, January 9, 1998, during AVN's pre-awards cocktail reception, hosts adult film actress Nici Sterling and comedian Dave Tyree[1][2] handed out these awards, mostly for behind-the-scenes excellence:[5]
- Best ActorâGay Video: Jim Buck, Naked Highway
- Best Advertisement: The World's Luckiest Man, Hustler/Vivid
- Best Alternative Adult Feature Film: Crash
- Best Alternative Adult Film Featurette or Specialty Tape: Jenny McCarthy: The Playboy Years
- Best Alternative Adult Video: 10th Anniversary Colorado River Wet T&A, Vols. 1 & 2
- Best Amateur Series: Catalina L'Amour
- Best Amateur Tape: Southern Belles 8
- Best Art DirectionâFilm: Zazel
- Best Art DirectionâGay Video: Doin' Time 2069, Part 2
- Best Art DirectionâVideo: New Wave Hookers 5
- Best Bisexual Video: Night of the Living Bi Dolls
- Best Boxcover ConceptâGay Video: Matador, All Worlds Video
- Best CD-ROM Graphics/Art Direction: UltraVixen
- Best CD-ROM Photo Disc: Super Models 1
- Best Cinematography: Philip Mond, Zazel
- Best Compilation Tape: The Voyeur's Favorite Blow Jobs & Anals
- Best DirectorâBisexual Video: Josh Eliot, Night of the living Bi Dolls
- Best EditingâFilm: James Avalon, Zazel
- Best EditingâGay Video: Wash West, Dr. Jerkoff & Mr. Hard
- Best EditingâVideo: John Leslie, Drop Sex: Wipe the Floor
- Best Explicit Series: Filthy Fuckers
- Best Gay Alternative Release: Summer, The First Time
- Best Gay Solo Video: Titan MenâAlone in the Backwoods
- Best Gay Specialty Release: Fallen Angel
- Best Interactive CD-ROM (Game): Dadahouse[1]
- Best Interactive CD-ROM (Non-Game): Virtual Sex with Asia
- Best Music: Toshi Gold, Skin 11: Unbound
- Best MusicâGay Video: Tom Alex and Sharon Kane, A Love Story
- Best NewcomerâGay Video: Jim Buck
- Best Non-Sex PerformanceâFilm or Video: Jamie Gillis, New Wave Hookers 5
- Best Non-Sex PerformanceâGay, Bi or Trans Video: Sharon Kane, Family Values
- Best Original CD-ROM Concept: Fischer's Erotic Encyclopedia
- Best PackagingâGay Video: Tailspin, Studio 2000
- Best PackagingâSpecialty: Spiked Heel Diaries 8, Bizarre Video
- Best Pro-Am Series: Filthy First Timers
- Best Pro-Am Tape: More Dirty Debutantes 71
- Best ScreenplayâFilm: Dean Nash, Bad Wives
- Best ScreenplayâGay Video: Wash West, Naked Highway
- Best ScreenplayâVideo: Jonathan Morgan, Crazed
- Best Sex SceneâGay Video: Jeff Stryker, Derek Cameron; Jeff Stryker's Underground
- Best Special Effects: New Wave Hookers 5
- Best Specialty TapeâBig Bust: Mandy Mountjoy Does Hardcore
- Best Specialty TapeâBondage: Kym Wilde's On the Edge 40
- Best Specialty TapeâOther Genre: Hardcore Male/Female Oil Wrestling
- Best Specialty TapeâSpanking: Disciplined by the Cane
- Best Supporting PerformerâGay Video: Bo Summers, Family Values
- Best Trailer: New Wave Hookers 5
- Best Trans Video: I Dream of Queenie
- Best Videography: Justin Sterling, Barry Harley; Diva, The Series
- Best VideographyâGay Video: Wash West, Naked Highway[1]
Honorary AVN Awards
Special Achievement Awards
- Al Goldstein,[2] "for his lifelong defense of the First Amendment"[3]
- Christy Canyon,[2] "for her lifetime achievement in the adult video industry"[3]
- Dave Friedman,[2] "one of the founding fathers of the adult film and video industries"[3]
AVN Breakthrough Award
Presented to Steve Orenstein[2] of Wicked Pictures; the other nominees were Robert Black and Tom Byron[2]
Hall of Fame
AVN Hall of Fame inductees for 1998, announced during AVN's pre-awards cocktail reception, were: Lois Ayres, Rene Bond, Jerry Butler, Careena Collins, Jon Dough, Jerry Douglas, Roy Karch, Keisha, Dorothy LeMay, Chelsea Manchester, Constance Money, Paul Norman, Jace Rocker, Derek Stanton, Jane Waters, Bambi Woods[1][3]
Adult Internet Awards
The 1998 Adult Internet Awards winners[9] were announced at another time later in the year and were not part of the show:
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PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS:
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Multiple nominations and awards
Zazel won the most awards with seven; Bad Wives was next with six statuettes.New Wave Hookers 5 scored five.[1]
Presenters and performers
The following individuals presented awards or performed musical numbers or comedy.[1] Presenters of the gay awards were not recorded. The show's trophy girls were Candy Roxxx and Katie Gold.[2]
Presenters (in order of appearance)
| Name(s) | Role |
|---|---|
| Nina Hartley Chi Chi LaRue Nici Sterling Jenteal | Presenters of the awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress in a feature film |
| Victoria Paris Stacy Valentine Ron Jeremy Sid Deuce | Presenters of the awards for Best Couples Sex SceneâFilm and Best Couples Sex SceneâVideo |
| Stephanie Swift Jonathan Morgan Lexus Locklear Nico Treasures | Presenters of the awards for Best All-Girl Sex SceneâVideo and Best All-Girl Sex SceneâFilm |
| Jasmin St. Claire Tricia Devereaux Zoë Harmony Grant | Presenters of the awards for Best Group Sex SceneâVideo and Best Group Sex SceneâFilm |
| Mr. Marcus Rocki Roads | Presenters of the awards for Best Selling Tape of the Year and Best Renting Tape of the Year |
| Monique Covét Claudio Christi Lake Max Hardcore | Presenters of the awards for Best Foreign Release and Best All-Girl Feature |
| Kobe Tai Mark Davis John Decker Roxanne Hall | Presenters of the awards for Best Supporting ActorâVideo and Best Supporting ActressâVideo |
| Anita Rinaldi Jade David Chryso | Presenters of the Hot Video Award (Best European Release) |
| Steve Drake Johnni Black Toni James Monique | Presenters of the awards for Male Performer of the Year and Female Performer of the Year |
| Paul Fishbein[2] | Presenter of the AVN Special Achievement Awards |
| Gene Ross[2] | Presenter of the AVN Breakthrough Award |
| Missy | Presenter of the Best New Starlet Award |
| Melissa Hill Kylie Ireland Tiffany Mynx Mandi Frost | Presenters of the awards for Best DirectorâVideo and Best DirectorâFilm |
| Jenna Jameson Nikki Tyler Sydnee Steele Tonisha Mills | Presenters of the awards for Best ActorâVideo and Best ActressâVideo |
| Juli Ashton Julian Tia Bella Jill Kelly | Presenters for the awards for Best Actor in a Film and Best Actress in a Film |
| Steven St. Croix Dyanna Lauren | Presenters of the awards for Best Gonzo Video and Best Sex Comedy |
| Alisha Klass Samantha Stylle Halli Aston | Presenters of the awards for Best All-Sex Video and Best All-Sex Film |
| Janine Lindemulder Felecia Shane Ed Powers Brittany Andrews | Presenters of the awards for Best Shot-on-Video Feature and Best Film |
Performers
| Name(s) | Role | Performed |
|---|---|---|
| The Stingers[2] | Performer | Musical performance: "Sing, Sing, Sing"[1] |
| Robert Schimmel | Performer | Standup comedy segment[2] |
| Serenity [5] and the Dirty Dancers | Performers | Musical number: "History Comes Quickly"[2] |
| Dyanna Lauren | Performer | Musical number: "Psycho Magnet"[2][5] |
| Doctor Dirty (John Valby) | Performer | Musical performance[2] |
| The Spicy Girls[5] (Lauren Montgomery and Midori) | Performers | Musical number: "Calling All Girls"[2] |
Ceremony information
While accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award, Christy Canyon announced her official retirement.[1]
Among the people participating in production of the ceremony, Mark Stone also served as musical director; an opening video entitled "History" was produced by Steve Austin and Serenity was responsible for choreography.[2]
The ceremonies were published on VHS tapes by both VCA Pictures[6] and Playboy Entertainment Group.[7] The Playboy tape includes softcore scenes from the winning movies,[10] while the VCA tape features hardcore scenes of the winners. The awards show was also rebroadcast over the Internet by High Society magazine via cun-tv.com on May 16, 1998.[5]
The 1998 AVN Awards later achieved an unexpected shot of mainstream coverage when David Foster Wallace attended the ceremony as part of his overall exploration of pornography's place (or non-place) in American society as the 20th century was nearing its end. Wallace wrote about the event and some matters connected to in an article entitled "Neither Adult Nor Entertainment" published under a pseudonym in the September 1998 issue of Premiere magazine. The article was later collected in Wallace's 2005 nonfiction collection Consider the Lobster under the title "Big Red Son."
Critical reviews
Some attendees were critical of the show's length. In a posting to the Rec.Arts.Movies.Erotica Usenet newsgroup, Tim Evanson noted, "The length of the show was again a concern (the number of heterosexual categories is quiet large), and the number of gay industry insiders attending the awards dipped slightly this year."[11]
In Memoriam
AVN publisher Paul Fishbein paid tribute to the passing of adult industry businessman Reuben Sturman during the show.[1]
