Casual followers of adult entertainment (and the World Health Organization says that 95 percent of the world’s population is) are probably aware of the AVN Awards, the gold-plated standard of porn excellence. But it is the beloved X-Rated Critics’ Organization (XRCO) Awards, founded in 1986, that remains the purest expression of the Porn Valley tradition and a mighty cable connecting this century’s Porno-American community to its hairier, better-able-to-earn-a-living-in-this-business forebears.
Unlike the AVN Awards and its competitors, the XRCOs gather nominations from critics around the country, untethered from any publication. And the ceremony itself is open only to members of the porn community. It is a ridiculous trainwreck of an evening and a lot of fun as multiple generations of smut peddlers—those sadder-but-wiser ancients who remember how good it used to be alongside 19-year-old OnlyFans thousandaires who are way more savvy than their 80s predecessors, clacking through a roomful of cautionary tales.
It’s hard not to compare these two events: one is smaller, free, and held in LA and the other is a Vegas moneymaker. One remains an old-school BBS-era relic where a vote is a vote and the other is a bloated and desperate service to court advertisers and please everyone (and this is an agonizing process among people who deeply care about the business but who are also deeply compromised by the facts of the new economy. In other words, you can’t blame AVN for having a thousand awards). The XRCOs are the Bailey Bros. Building & Loan compared to the AVNs’ Pottersville.
Hosted by Alexis Fawx and Bridgette B, the 2022 XRCO Awards will be held May 5 at Boardner’s in Hollywood. Below is a list of nominees, followed by links to coverage of previous shows.
2022 XRCO AWARDS NOMINATIONS
BEST RELEASE
Blue Moon Rising, MissaX/Pulse
Casey: A True Story, Adult Time/Pulse
Muse Season 2, Deeper/Pulse
One Night in Barcelona, Dorcel/Pulse
Primary Season 2, Lust Cinema
Psychosexual, Vixen/Pulse
BEST COMEDY
Black Widow XXX: An Axel Braun Parody, Wicked Pictures/Pulse
I Love You, You’re Fired, Lust Cinema
Influence Emily Willlis, VMG/Pulse
Ink Motel 3, AltErotic/Stunner
Joanna Angel’s Dungeon Furniture Emporium, Burning Angel Entertainment
Love, Sex, & Lawyers, Adam & Eve Pictures
That Mom Is Stacked, NSFW/Pulse
BEST GONZO MOVIE
Anal Icons 1, Tushy/Pulse
Angela Loves Threesomes, AGW Ent./Girlfriends Films
Auditions, Deeper/Pulse
Flesh Hunter 15, Jules Jordan
Glamcore, Wicked Pictures/Pulse
Hot Girl Summer, Jules Jordan
Uncut 3. Mick Blue/Evil Angel
BEST GONZO SERIES
Natural Beauties, Vixen/Pulse
Nympho.com, Nympho/Lit Up/Evil Angel
Raw, Manuel Ferrara/Jules Jordan
Super Cute, Hard X/O.L. Entertainment
V, Blacked Raw/Pulse
BEST PARODY
Black Widow XXX: An Axel Braun Parody, Wicked Pictures/Pulse
Fairest Of Them All, Adult Time/Pulse
Fucking Fandoms 2,Team Skeet/Pulse
Nubiles ET 5, Nubiles/Pulse
Sex Game, Jacquie & Michel Elite
BEST GIRL/GIRL SERIES
Cheer Squad Sleepovers, Girlfriends Films
Girls Lovin’ Girls, New Sensations
Girls Only Porn, Nubile Films
Femme, Cherry Pimps
Web Young, Girlsway/Pulse
Women Seeking Women, Girlfriends Films
BEST ETHNIC SERIES
Asian Anal, Porn Pros
Big Ass Black Beauties, Bang Bros./Girlfriends Films
Black Beauties, All Black X/O.L. Entertainment
Poppin’ Latin Pussy, Reality Kings/Pulse
My Black Hotwife, New Sensations
BEST ANAL SERIES
Anal Savages, Jules Jordan
Anal Stars, Evil Angel
Angela Loves Anal, AGW Ent./Girlfriends Films
DP Me, HardX/O.L. Entertainment
True Anal, True Anal/Evil Angel
V Tushy Raw, Tushy Raw/Pulse
BEST ONGOING BLENDED SERIES
Blonde Babes, All BlackX/O.L. Entertainment
Dredd, Jules Jordan
Ignite, Blacked/Pulse
My Girlfriend Likes It Big and Black, New Sensations
V, Blacked Raw/Pulse
BEST ADULT WEB SITE
AdultEmpire
Adultime
EvilAngel
JulesJordan
POVR
TeamSkeet
Vixen
BEST DIRECTOR (Features)
Axel Braun
Joanna Angel
Casey Calvert
Ricky Greenwood
Kayden Kross
Will Ryder
Jacky St. James
BEST DIRECTOR (Non-Features)
Jonni Darkko
Manuel Ferrara
Jules Jordan
Maestro Claudio
Mason
Pat Myne
Mike Quasar
Laurent Sky
Chris Streams
BEST DIRECTOR – (Parody)
Axel Braun
Bree Mills
Luka
BEST DIRECTOR (Web)
Mike Adriano
Derek Dozer
Julia Grandi
Ivan
Miles Long
Mason
Bree Mills
Laurent Sky
BEST ACTRESS
Aiden Ashley, Blue Moon Rising, MissaX/Pulse
Gianna Dior, Psychosexual, Vixen/Pulse
Kenna James, Under The Veil, MissaX/Pulse
Lacy Lennon, Black Widow XXX: An Axel Braun Parody, Wicked Pictures/Pulse
Maitland Ward, Muse Season 2, Deeper/Pulse
Emily Willis, Influence Emily Willis, Vixen/Pulse
BEST ACTOR
Mick Blue, Tell Her, Deeper/Pulse
Dante Colle, Casey: A True Story, Adult Time/Pulse
Xander Corvus, Survive The Night, Digital Playground
Seth Gamble, Gods & Sinners, Wicked Pictures/Pulse
Quinton James, Toxic, Mile High Media
Tommy Pistol, Casey: A True Story, Adult Time/Pulse
GIRL/GIRL PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Aiden Ashley
Jade Baker
Aidra Fox
Vicki Chase
Karlee Grey
Kendra James
Lauren Phillips
Serene Siren
Charlotte Stokely
Eve Sweet
FEMALE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Vanna Bardot
Lulu Chu
Gia Derza
Gianna Dior
Emma Hix
Kenzie Reeves
Alexis Tae
Angela White
Jane Wilde
Emily Willis
MALE PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Mick Blue
Dante Colle
Manuel Ferrara
Seth Gamble
Isiah Maxwell
Ramon Nomar
Tommy Pistol
Jax Slayher
Michael Stefano
PERSONAL FAVORITE
Vanna Bardot
Blake Blossom
Gabbie Carter
Avery Christy
April Olsen
Charlotte Stokely
Alexis Tae
Angela White
Emily Willis
TRANS PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Ariel Demure
Aubrey Kate
Casey Kisses
Daisy Taylor
Lena Moon
Natalie Mars
Jade Venus
NEW STARLET
Blake Blossom
Anna Claire Clouds
Destiny Cruz
Lily Larimar
Kay Lovely
April Olsen
Sera Ryder
Maya Woulfe
Angel Youngs
NEW STUD
Tyler Cruise
Damion Dayski
Troy Francisco
Anton Harden
David Lee
Jimmy Michaels
STAR SHOWCASE
Alexis Tae: Anal Fantasy, Evil Angel
Anna de Ville, Sex Addict, Harmony Films
Influence Emily Willis, Vixen/Pulse
InkedXXXploitation of Misha Montana, AltErotic/Stunner
Jia, Vixen/Pulse
Savanna Bond Beach Bikini Slut, Evil Angel
Ultimate Fuck Toy: Gabbie Carter, Jules Jordan
UNSUNG SIREN
Alex Coal
Chloe Cherry
Eliza Ibarra
Chloe Temple
Hime Marie
Ember Snow
Natasha Nice
Violet Starr
UNSUNG SWORDSMAN
Nathan Bronson
Robby Echo
Ricky Johnson
Keiran Lee
Tyler Nixon
Rob Piper
Codey Steele
SUPERSLUT
Adriana Chechik
Gia Derza
Coco Lovecock
Haley Reed
Rebel Rhyder
Alexis Tae
Angela White
Jane Wilde
Emily Willis
The Vicki Chase ORGASMIC ORALIST award
Alina Ali
Gia Derza
Gianna Dior
Brooklyn Gray
Emma Hix
Kenna James
Kenzie Reeves
Scarlit Scandal
Angela White
AWESOME ANALIST
Adriana Chechik
Gia Derza
Elsa Jean
Maddy May
Kenzie Reeves
Vina Sky
Alexis Tae
Angela White
Jane Wilde
Emily Willis
MILF OF THE YEAR
Britney Amber
Bridgette B
Penny Barber
Rachael Cavalli
Brooklyn Chase
Cherie DeVille
Alexis Fawx
Reagan Foxx
Brandi Love
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Daddy’s Pretty Little Stepdaughter, Penthouse/Girlfriends
Dirty Talkin’ Stepdaughters 9, Lethal Hardcore/Pulse
Family Cheaters, Family Sinners/Mile High
Filthy Moms 9, Brazzers
Rocco’s Sex Step-Family, Evil Angel
A Stepfather’s Desires 5, Digital Sin
Tricking My Sister, Devils Films
TEEN DREAM
Bailey Base
Delilah Day
Liz Jordan
Mia Kay
XXXLayna Marie
Hazel Moore
Ryan Reid
Sera Ryder
Valerica Steele
Previously on Porn Valley Observed: Deep Inside the XRCO, with links for further reading; Intrigue at the XRCO measures who still cares about adult awards; XRCO Awards 2010: But it’s our clusterfuck
See also: XRCO
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