GRABBYS WEEKEND--DAY 3
Saturday morning I awoke, showered and dressed, then got a phone call from WOLF HUDSON asking me to join him for breakfast. He was at a place around the corner called OldTimers and was there with HOWARD from Fabscout. I'd never heard of the place but headed out to find it.
An unimpressive-looking little place, I entered and saw Wolf and Howard at a long table with SAN DIEGO TOM, TOMMY DEFENDI and many other guys. Wolf waved me over and Howard introduced me to everyone. There was no room, so I sat at a small table nearby. Wolf joined me. He was nervous, he said, about co-hosting the show that night. I told him he'd be fine as long as he didn't tell the joke about the black guy and the genie. The poor waitress was running herself ragged trying to serve everyone, and got order after order wrong. I was hungry for lunch, so I got a gyro, which was decent. Wolf couldn't even eat his food so he asked that it be wrapped up to go. He then proceeded to tell me about an orgy that had occurred in his room the previous night. Lucky.
Back in my room, I double-checked the dvds, pictures and things for the Recovery Brunch the next day, then got 2 phone calls from TREVOR KNIGHT telling me that he was introducing the ENDGAME clip and could I write a brief synopsis for him, along with a list of the cast. My next 90 minutes was spent writing up a paragraph and dealing with 2 techs in the hotel's business center who couldn't figure out why neither printer was working.
I returned to 2601, wrote the info out in legible printing on a piece of paper, then settled in for an afternoon of texting.
NASH LAWLER: Nash told me that he made the plane and would be in about 3:00pm. I told him his room was on my card and I'd filled out a form so that he wouldn't need me at the front desk to check in. I asked him to call me when his plane landed.
KYLE PIERCE: Kyle told me that he was in St. Louis, and that Expedia hadn't made his plane and hotel reservations. They asked him if he'd gotten a confirmation email, and he said no. "Then your reservations weren't made," they told him. He had his car and was going to drive to Chicago, but he probably wouldn't make it in time for the show. He would be there for the brunch, though. He said he would call the hotel when he was on the road and see if they had any rooms. I texted JASON SPARKS the info and he graciously offered Kyle to bunk with him if he couldn't find lodgings, and I passed that on, asking Kyle to text me when he arrived, no matter how late.
TYLER SAINT: I asked him how he was feeling and if he would be at the brunch tomorrow. No answer. I repeated this a few times that day. No answer.
TRISTAN MATTHEWS: I texted him, asking if he was in town. No answer. I asked him if he was going to be at the show. No answer. I asked him if he would be at the brunch. No answer. I texted him that if he did not come to Chicago, would he please just tell me. I wouldn't be mad, but I needed to know if he was going to be there or not. No answer.
I got a phone call from Nash. He was in the lobby, but they wouldn't check him in without me at the front desk. Rrrrgh! A short elevator ride later, I saw Nash standing at the front desk. It the the same woman who checked me in and who had me fill out the form. "What's the problem?"
She told me that the form I filled out covered the room and tax, but not any incidentals. For Nash to check in, he had to put his credit card on file so that if he took anything from the mini-bar, it would go on his card. Nash didn't want to do that, and they wouldn't let him check in unless he did. So I told them to put any incidentals on my card, as well, then looking at Nash, said, "I'm sure he won't be making any phone calls, taking anything from the bar or doing any damage, right?" He nodded, grinning.
Back in the room, I took a brief nap, then showered again and strutted around my room with the shades up, letting whoever might be looking (I never saw anybody) take in the sight of my naked person. I got dressed, forgoing my usual wear for something more festive this time around. Blue jeans instead of black, a turquoise-striped hippie shirt with love beads, a lapis lazuli pinky ring and blue tennis shoes. I liked it.
Nash showed up and hung out while we waited on the others that had agreed to go as a group. SCOTT CAMPBELL and his boyfriend TYLER showed up, as did Jason Sparks. We met STEVE JEROME in the lobby, who told us that three of us could go in his friend ROBERT's SUV. So, Scott, Tyler and Jason packed themselves into the vehicle and were off, while Steve, Nash and I grabbed a cab.
At the Park West Theater, the front was mobbed with a huge mass of porn stars, directors and fans. The red carpet was underway with SISTER ROMA holding sway.
CHI CHI LARUE and Sister Roma
ROMAN HEART and Sister Roma
We were all herded that way, and I chatted with DREW WARNER and ROBBIE IRELAND as we waited in line.
Nash Lawler, Tyler, Scott Campbell, moi
Nash Lawler, Drew Warner, Scott Campbell, me and Robbie Ireland
Soon, it was my turn, and MIKE STABILE waved for me to take my place, so I ran and jumped into the spot. Over the years, Sister Roma has gone from not knowing who I was to now possibly dreading it, as she has no idea what I will say (see GayVNs posts).
But I was a good boy, and talked about the things I was nominated for and that was about it. MR. PAM was in Israel shooting so I had no one to play up to. lol. Then I went inside to be interviewed again for some radio station I'd never heard of. The two guys talking to me hadn't heard of ME, either, obviously, so I spent the first 30 seconds explaining who I was, what I'd done and what I was nominated for. Then, I opened the door, presented my ticket and entered the dark, whorey throng.
Guys in leather, guys in drag, guys in suits, guys shirtless, it was all there, just like last year. I had a bit of trouble finding my table and was surprised at how far back it was. The lesson learned here is to order early.
The guys joined me at the table, including Trevor Knight, who was hyper-excited and bouncing in his seat. I gave him the synopsis I wrote and asked him if he could read it. He said yes, but he was going to try to memorize it and do it without looking at the paper. Sitting in front of us was Steve Jerome and his friend. Steve was getting the Wall of Fame that night, and it was going to be a surprise. The stage was decorated very nicely with several really long crystal curtain chandeliers, and an announcement asked everyone to find their seats.
The Grabbys logo was on all the video monitors.
Three dancers came out on stage. They were very good. At one point, they all took off their shirts. The first white guys was hot. The black guy was hot. The 2nd white guy was...kind of flabby, and there were some giggles from the audience. See for yourself:
Here are my highlights from the show:
Chi Chi's banter with BRENT CORRIGAN:
ERIC RHODES accepting the lube basket. "I don't know what this is for," he said, "I wasn't paying attention."
DIESEL WASHINGTON winning Best Porn Star Blog and thanking his mother.
Steve Jerome was gracious and humble when he went up for the Wall of Fame. "I'm not much of a public speaker," he said. He did fine.
Trevor intro'd the ENDGAME clip, getting out the first sentence of my synopsis, then abandoning it altogether and improvising: "Do you guys know CHAD HUNT bottomed in this?" Then, with a dramatic sweep of his arm toward the screens, he shouted, "Endgame!" lol. They played the trailer, and I was horrified when the picture stuck 3 times during it's run. I had asked STACY BRIDGES to please run it on the actual equipment being used to make sure it played okay, and he said he had and it was fine. I just slunk down in my seat on the first freeze-frame, but was quite happy as it ended that it got the biggest applause of all the clips shown for Best Video that night.
Wolf Hudson and BOBBY CLARK accepting the award for Best Internet Porn Site. It went to Cockyboys.
During the 2nd half of the show, Brent Corrigan was running around the audience and he said hello as he passed me. "Are you having a good time?" I asked. He said he was under just a minute ago, when he had an unpleasant encounter with Trevor Knight backstage. I asked him what happened but he was already off and running somewhere else.
Wolf and Brent came out onstage without their shirts on, and this perked up the kind of quiet crowd:
Chi Chi's teasing of Diesel Washington's mother.
Wolf kissing HONEY WEST's ass onstage.
ERIC WEST did a bit with a black puppet, which Chi Chi said was weird but I actually thought was very funny.
Finally, ROBBIE IRELAND and two others presented the award for BEST GROUP SCENE. As they read off the nominees, I noticed that CHAD HUNT was the first name in 2 of them. As Robbie read the winner, he began, "Chad Hunt..." and I immediately thought that the other scene had won, but he continued, "...CORT DONOVAN, Nash Lawler..." and it hit me with a hammer that ENDGAME had won! I shouted "Oh my god! It's us!" and grabbed Nash and told him to go up and get the award. He looked up at me and said, "Huh? What?" I told him we'd won the award and he bolted toward the stage, arms in the air in triumph. He joined Cort and both graciously accepted the award. People from all over ran over to me to say congratulations and good job, patting me on the back and shoulders. It was a great moment and a total surprise.
Steve leaned over to me and showed me his blackberry. He had been texting DINK FLAMINGO as the events went on, and Dink had asked him, "Who gets the award?" I told Steve that the models did, and he relayed that to Dink.
Nash returned to the table, all happy. "Where's your award?" I asked him. He looked shocked and said, "I was so out of it that I completely forgot to take it from the trophy boy!" I told him not to worry, that we would get it from Mark or Stacy. (More on this in the next entry.)
The TO THE LAST MAN clip got very good applause, too, but I heard 2 people over my left shoulder boo it during the murder montage.
I didn't win Best Videography, nor did I expect to. I wad my fingers crossed, as I always do, for Best Screenplay, but when I didn't get that, either, I knew I was out. There was no way I would get Best Director, nor ENDGAME Best Video. I kept holding out hope that Trevor would win Best Actor, though. But when that category came up, Trevor lost, and almost immediately, he jumped up out of his seat and ran backstage. I took the opportunity to check my cell phone and read about 20 texts from people congratulating me on Best Group and offering condolences on Best Screenplay. Suddenly, Trevor reappeared, grabbed his shirt from the seat and was gone.
The final surprise was THE DRIFTER (Raging Stallion's title not mine) won Best Video. The show ended, and the audience began a mad rush for the doors, but some hung around long enough for pictures.
DEAN FLYNN & Chi Chi LaRue (Dean had mispronounced my name at last year's GayVNs by calling me JEFF Blakk. Wolf told me he caught him backstage about to do the same thing but corrected him.)
ADEN STONE, Wolf Hudson, ROB ROMONI
Me & ADAM KILLIAN
Let me sum up the evening by saying this: first, I thought Chi Chi & Honey were the funniest they've ever been at this show. They were raunchy, quick-witted and hilarious. Also, getting rid of the intermission is a good idea and I hope they keep it. Finally, I was disappointed in the attending crowd. Hardly anyone laughed at most of the jokes. There was very little clapping at the nominees or the winners. The joint was filled with the living dead at times, and many people mentioned this to me. Why?
At one point, I looked around the room and noticed that a very large percentage of people were not looking at the stage, but rather, in their hands or laps. They were Twittering! No wonder there was so little audience reaction, so little clapping...the majority was typing away on their little keyboards! Even people at my own table missed one or two opportunities to clap for our film because they were updating like madmen. When the Brent Corrigan/Trevor Knight exchange happened backstage, people at my table showed me what was going on via Twitter before Trevor even got back! Amazing. And disgraceful.
After the show, Steve Jerome, his friend, Nash & I decided to get something to eat, and we ended up at a fondue restaurant called Geya. The place was dark and sexy, and at one point Nash said, "I feel like I'm on a date!"
"You are," I said, "with all 3 of us!" The food was awesome and inspired me to do a fondue anniversary dinner for me and CVK when I got home.
After dinner, we all went back to the hotel, where Steve, Nash and I were dropped off. Steve and I went back to our rooms while Nash hit the bar.
Back upstairs and in my room, I noticed that all the lights were on, every curtain in every part of the suite was drawn, and a bathrobe was laid out on my bed. I laughed and said, "Okay, okay, I get it! No more walking around naked in front of open windows!"
To be continued...
JBK
P.S. Thanks to T-BALL & Drew Warner for use of the pictures!
Great post Mr.Blakk love your laconic style. I agree my friend Albert was there and said it was so queit he wondered what was wrong, then noticed everyone texting. Cant we ENJOY an event anymore?
This has become a problem at concerts,award shows,movies EVERYWHERE!
I love Twitter but come on.
The ending the Bathrobe too funny!
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