Derek Russo                                                                                        Billy Brandt

  Well, it looks like the prolonged writers' strike has clipped another wing of the entertainment industry----the self-congratulatory awards shows. This week the strike claimed its first victim---The Golden Globe Awards given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. They've scrapped the traditional TV show format in favor of a press conference where the winners will be announced instead. No need for pesky presenters and witless repartee. No slurred speeches by soused celebrities where they endlessly dole out thank you's to everyone from God to their agents to their first grade teachers. Ok, we figure you won't be shedding any tears over this loss of entertainment hoopla. As for the Academy Awards due to air in February no announcement has been made. 

 No mention seems to have been made about one branch of the entertainment industry that either seems to be unaffected by the strike or has benefited by it. No, we're not talking about so-called scriptless reality programming. We're talking about the adult industry which has chugged merrily along its tracks. No slowdown in productions and probably an increase in purchases and rentals from consumers. You know things are moving along swimmingly when there's increased internet traffic, revamped websites, new performers, press releases and announcements of awards nominations (below).

  Cocky Boys has announced that they will be airing an EXCLUSIVE video on January 18--and it's a big one. Superstar Billy Brandt has filmed his final "bottom" scene (with Brad Star as the "topper") for Cocky Boys. Host Kyle Majors sent out a press release trumpeting this exclusive video and hinting very strongly that there will be even more major announcement made within the next 30 days.

  They may not have made any announcements but Sean Cody has made some BIG changes. The site has gone through a complete visual revamping  and now the videos are Mac compatible--which means they are DRM-free!!
We love the new fresh look of the site which features lots more information and larger thumbnail review pics. In addition, Sean Cody has simplified the navigation of the site. The video descriptions are in full view plus there are now cross-referenced links to a model's other videos. We're very, very pleased!

 We're also very happy that in a few days Derek Russo will be making his video debut at Manifest Men . He is definitely one of the most naturally sexy men around and we're very interested in seeing him doing a video. His debut at Manifest Men will be in another in a series of Urban Body scenes---filmed at the Urban Body gym in San Diego.
 
  Now, as to those gay awards:

 It's ironic to note that there will be two adult industry awards shows that will go on as scheduled. The Xbiz Awards on Feb 7 in Hollywood and The GayVN Awards on February 16 in San Francisco. The Xbiz Awards (which include gay and straight nominees) will be handed out at the Highlands which is in the Hollywood/Highland complex where the Kodak Theatre is located. Yep, it's the same theatre that hosts the Oscars and where JackManly will be this week seeing one of our faves Kathy Griffin (who hosted last year's GayVN AWards). This busy complex also houses the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency. Talk about a center of gravity for drama!

  The GayVN Nominations are yet to be announced, but we do have the Xbiz Nominations and we're listing those that are gay-related.

 GLBT Web Company of the Year:
     BangBang Boys.com, BigMuscle.com, COLTcash, Cybersocket, DaddyHunt.com, Lavender Lounge.com, Men Machine.com, Pistol Media, PornTeam.com, PrideBucks.com, ZbuckZ.com

 GLBT Studio of the Year:
  Channel 1 Releasing, Collin O'Neal's World of Men, Colt Studio Group, FPG Entertain,ment, Hyde Park Productions, Jet Set Entertainment, Lucas Entertainment, Pitbull Productions, Private Man, PZP Productions, Raging Stallion, Studio 2000, Titan Media.

 GLBT Feature Movie of the Year:
 Amazonia: Capture and Release (AMG Brasil), A Rising Star (Ridgeline Films), Bottom of the 9th: Little Big League 3 (All Worlds/Channel 1 Releasing), Buckback Mountain (Buck Angel Entertainment), El Rancho (Sarava Productions), Fear (TitanMen), Grunts (Raging Stallion), Hawai'I (Colt Studio Group), Link V: The Evolution (All Worlds/Channel 1 Releasing), Marine Crucible 2: Cocked & Loaded (Centaur Films), Michael Lucas' Gigolo (Lucas Entertainment), Oliver Twink (PZP Productions), Rich Kid (Private Man), Santo Domingo (Collin's O'Neal's World of Men), Tyger Tyson's Eiffel Tower (Pitbull Productions), Top Dawgs (FPG Entertainment)

GLBT Director of the Year:
  Brian Mills, Chi Chi Larue, Chris Steele, Chris Ward, Collin O'Neal, Dennis Bell, Jalin Fuentes, John Rutherford, Kristen Bjorn, Michael Lucas & Tony Dimarco

GLBT Director of the Year
Brian Mills, Chi Chi LaRue, Chris Steele, Chris Ward, Collin O’Neal, Dennis Bell, Jalin Fuentes, John Rutherford, Kristen Bjorn, Michael Lucas & Tony Dimarco

GLBT Performer of the Year:
 Buck Angel, Carlo Masi, Collin O'Neal, Dean Flynn, Jake Deckard, Michael Lucas, Ricky Sinz, Tiger Tyson, Trevor Knight, Zack Randall

  Obviously, there's more to come...