Less than two months before the 12th annual awards show was expected to take place, leading industry executives have been unable to receive any confirmation about the GayVNs. But just now I got Roberts on the phone myself. Here’s what he told me:
We haven’t officially cancelled the event. Right now we’re looking for media outlets that are interested in broadcasting the event, which is the only way we’ll find the funding needed to continue the standard that’s been set for the event. We’ve met with a handful of these companies, and now it’s just a matter of raising the necessary funds to keep the show at the level it needs to be. And if we can’t, then we might have to look at producing something that’s different, but we don’t have any intent of discontuing reviewing the gay product or minimizing what’s going on the the gay sector. We’d still like to recognize the achievements within the gay sector.
Roberts continued to reiterate his commitment to the gay industry, pointing out that AVN is up-to-date in reviewing gay products, a commitment that takes much more man-power than throwing an awards show. But since the awards show has not been broadcast on Pay Per View in its entire 11-year history, it seems that AVN may be setting the bar unrealistically high by seeking broadcaster funding. But since the GayVN Awards are the funnest party of the year, as well as a good opportunity for porn stars to track me down and threaten me with physical violence, let’s hope that AVN can figure out a way to make the 12th show their biggest and sloppiest yet.
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Times may be changing, but the charade of the GayVN’s as an actual acknowledgment of achievement hasn’t. Many of us in the business know that awards are distributed largely on the basis of advertising dollars spent by the award winning studios. I agree with the previous post that the Grabby’s in Chicago are more fun than the GayVN’s. The expense of attending the GayVN’s has become outrageous. It’s hard to justify spending so much to attend an awards show that is little more than an insiders popularity contest and the presentation of kick-back awards to studios in exchange for spending to advertise with AVN.
Nope — not feeling or buying your GayVN conspiracy theory one bit.
Times they are changing!
Do you want GAYVNs? sure we all do. But consider this.
1. This is not necessarily an indicator that the future of Gay Porn in the jeopardy, it may be just a sign that this organization may not be the one to bring it into the next decade.
2. Are GAYVNs really the most fun? I have more fun at Grabby’s – more fan friendly.
People just seem to put more stock in GAVYNs- but that could be changing too.
I hope AVN finds their way and doesn’t grasp so far out of range for sake of some kind of ‘standard’ that they sink the ship altogether.
Its simple. Watch the movies you award and have a ceremony we can afford, we ALL know its a recession. Oh and cocktails.
Its all what you make it. It will be fun for the industry and the fans no matter what.
And it certainly isn’t the end of the world if things change or if Grabby’s becomes the only show in town… well unless you are Michael Lucas. Will they kiss and make up?