The 2006 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE), sponsored by Adult Video News and produced by Home Entertainment Events, kicks off Thursday and will wrap up Sunday. Adhering to tradition, the Expo will be held at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

New to the Expo this year are two levels of trade participation and the option to purchase a Super Pass, which enables registrants to attend both the Expo and Internext. The Exhibit Only pass will allow the bearer to visit the exhibit floor only; the Conference Badge will allow the bearer access to the exhibit floor, seminars and the industry party.

“We’re very excited to be able to provide a variety of registration options to industry attendees,” said spokesperson Carrie Dieterich. “The option to register for both AEE and Internext as well as the new Super Pass will allow our attendees to efficiently maximize the time they spend in Las Vegas.”

The GayVN Expo, will be held concurrently in a designated portion of the show floor devoted to this thriving segment of the adult industry.

“With more than 350 exhibiting companies, the Expo will be a showcase of the very best movies and videos, adult cabarets, novelty manufacturers, publications and other producers of exciting adult products and services,” said group show director Liz Crawford.

Thursday opens the trade-members-only portion of the convention, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday, Jan. 6, and Saturday, Jan. 7, AEE will be trade-only until noon, and fan hours on both days will be from noon to 6 p.m. Both trade members and fans can enjoy a full day of AEE fun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The largest event of its kind, the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo showcases the most comprehensive collection of adult talent, exhibitors and product, attracting buyers and fans from around the world. Exhibitors this year include Adam & Eve Productions, Club Jenna, Digital Playground, Evil Angel Video Productions, Exquisite Multimedia, HotMovies.com, Hustler Video, JM Productions, Metro Interactive, New Sensations, Pleasure Productions, Private Media, Pure Play, Redlight District, Sin City, Smash Pictures, Spice Studios, Vivid Entertainment Group, West Coast Productions, Wicked Pictures, and Zero Tolerance, to name many. See www.HomeEntertainmentEvents.com for a complete list of Expo exhibitors and events.

Welcome to the jungle

Sam Xavier of Big Top Video told AVN.com that Big Top’s Expo highlight will be the showcasing of the company’s anniversary two-disc, six-hour release of clips of all the busty girls Big Top has shot over the years: “30 Years of Big Busts.” And he says that for the second year in a row, the Big Top booth (112) will be in the B2B section.

“Unlike the other companies, we’re fan-based, as opposed to other companies that pick up business from stores,” he explained. “We have mail order customers, a customer base that follows us.

“We’d always been on the floor before, but the floor is getting to be such a zoo,” he continued. “[The Expo] is getting bigger and bigger every year. Isn’t there a saturation point [for the number of adult companies]?”

Some newer players in the industry are up for the arguably more zoolike atmosphere of this year’s Expo, however.

“The VCA booth is the only place you can hear Love and Rockets and Rancid back to back,” promised VCA director Eon McKai. “After this sweet gig editing the reel of trailers for the VCA booth, I think I’m ready to start doing wedding videos.”

Doghouse Digital remodeled last year’s popular oversized, barbed-wire-adorned doghouse booth, adding a patio complete with deck chairs and a refrigerator stocked with complimentary refreshments that will serve as a lounge area for buyers, as well as an attractive lure for show goers sniffing out something different.

“The best part about attending the show for us is the opportunity to spend some face time with our clients, some of whom we only get to see once or twice a year,” Jon B, general manager for Doghouse Digital, told AVN.com.

Six models, including Doghouse Digital’s contract star Melissa Doll, will be at the booth signing autographs, posing for photos and passing out T-shirts and sample DVDs.

Entice.TV is also sponsoring four rest areas in the Expo, according to public relations representative Wayne Hentai, with models distributing passes to its service. Susan Keil, president of the company, will also take part in a seminar panel, “Every Which Way – The Latest Technological Advances in Entertainment”, on Friday at the Sands Expo Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Black Widow Productions will feature Lexi Lamour, featured in Team Tyler’s UnFAITHful Secrets; Puma Swede, star of Puma Swede’s School of Hardcore; Team Tyler co-owner Tyler Faith and Layla Jade at its booth (3103).

“Lexi, Tyler and Puma all star in titles distributed by Black Widow, and Layla’s always been a great friend to the company,” Lisa, Black Widow’s head of sales, said. “We’re looking forward to our customers meeting them. We’re all going to have a blast, and Black Widow is looking forward to another profitable show and making our titles available to more of our fans and distributors.”

Hentai also reported that Colossal Entertainment will feature Mika Tan, Sara Stone, Vivian West and Dakota Cameron signing at its booths (2057 and 3057). The company will showcase its catalog of existing titles and feature its new gay line and European-produced videos.

Video-X-Pix, nominated for Gerard Damiano’s People, Felicia and Misbehavin’, will feature adult industry legend Ron Jeremy at its booth (7034). The company will showcase its catalog of films from the Golden Age classics from the ’70s and ’80s, mastered for the first time on DVD.

As perhaps porn industry leaders know how to do better than anyone, exhibitors say they’ve struck the right balance between business and pleasure.

“We’ve opted to hire models to assist us at our booth because of our focus on the business aspect of the show,” said Scott Ross, public relations representative for Nectar Entertainment. “We’re still growing as a company at an enormous rate, and quite frankly, between meeting with our existing clientele to discuss their needs and introducing ourselves and our product to new clients, we’re going to need every minute of the show just for B2B purposes. We’ll still bringing eye candy to help out, but we’ll have a more professional atmosphere conducive to doing business.”

Meanwhile, Metro Interactive is looking forward to the release of the recently acquired Legal Pink series as the first volume Bubble Gum Virgins hits January 17. Metro is also excited about the full launch of Loaded Digital which is reflected in the theme of the booth this year.

New Sensations will continue to promote its sequel Dark Angels 2: Bloodline with star Sunny Lane at its booth. Digital Sin will be busy showcasing several of its new lines including those starring Shane “Freight Train” Diesel.

Hustler Video will unveil a few of its new contract girls as they showcase their line-up of gonzo and feature movie material. Among the highlights is the March 7 release of Britney Rears 2.

VCA Pictures will be showcasing the January 17 release of McKai’s Neu Wave Hookers. Joanna Angel and Riley Mason will be among the starlets at the booth.

And Sex Z Pictures will be unveiling its new delivery system of downloadable content and will have a number of specially loaded iPods packed with Sex Z Pictures content. Armed with an advanced network of content delivery online, Sex Z Pictures will be showcasing its gonzo titles plus a new alternate porn video by Kurt Lockwood titled The Decline of Western Civilization Party 69: The Porno Years.

Added Adella O’Neal, public relations representative for Digital Playground: “We’re looking forward to a fantastic show, touching base with our existing clients and forging new business relations. We’re confident that 2006 will be the best show to date across the board.”

Mary Carey has signed an exclusive performance contract with Legend Video.

Carey agreed to a two-year, 12-picture deal that calls for six movies a year. She will perform in two scenes in each production.

“I chose Legend because I’ve been spoiled by being the only girl with a company,” said Carey, who was the lone contract girl for Kick Ass Pictures for three-plus years. “I like being the only girl for Legend. They haven’t been promoting themselves as much lately and I think they can do great with promotions with me. I’m really good at PR, and I like their box covers and movies.”

Carey is planning to make a second run for governor of California in 2006. She collected over 10,000 votes in the 2003 election. In February, Legend will begin full support for the Mary Carey/ E.L. Woody (The King of Paparazzi) campaign for governor and lieutenant governor.

“Mary should be governor,” Legend owner Jack Richman said. “Even if she has to stop making movies. We’re prepared to make that sacrifice for the state of California.”

Carey bonded with Richman over their love for basketball.

“My dream is still to one day own or coach my own NBA team,” she said.

Legend public relations guru Nelson X reflected on Carey’s journey.

“I remember when Mary was just doing solo masturbation videos for the web,” he said. “Now, look at her. Running for office and taking hot loads of semen to the face with the best of them. Can’t wait to see what’s next!”

Carey said Legend’s plans include producing some big features with her.

“That’s something I really wanted to do for the last couple years,” she said. “I think they’re going to give me the stuff I want. Plus, they’ve already printed 25,000 bumper stickers and posters for Mary ’06. I like the fact Legend is putting out ads and promotions for me and doing box cover shoots. I didn’t want to try to go to another company. I’m spoiled and I like to be by myself. I want to be the only girl and be spoiled some more. Legend has good distribution, too, so my movies will be in more places. And they offered me good money.”

“It was so good to work with Brooke because I haven’t done a girl/girl scene in forever, and it was great to work with a girl who really knew what she was doing,” Carey said.

Legend and Pipedream Products will produce a line of toys called The Mary Carey Collection as part of the new agreement.

Carey will be on the cover of the March issue of Swank. She also writes a monthly column for the magazine. Meanwhile, she is featured in E!’s “Ten Ways to be a Hot Hollywood Starlet,” and will be doing Carmen Electra’s Naked Wrestling next year.

A federal judge in Denver has upheld new guidelines that require the porn industry to keep records on performers, saying the government has a legitimate interest in cracking down on child pornography.

But the ruling, issued late Wednesday, also limited the application of those rules.

U.S. District Judge Walker D. Miller said some of the guidelines were overly broad. As a result, he granted a preliminary injunction preventing the government from enforcing those rules on Internet chatrooms and Web sites that are out of the control of adult pornographers.

What will remain in place are rules that require producers of sexually explicit material to keep records of their performers, including verifying their names and ages. Performers must be 18 years or older.

The Free Speech Coalition, which represents more than 600 people in the pornography industry, filed the lawsuit in federal court this summer, arguing that the new rules violated their clients’ First Amendment rights.

On Thursday, the Woodlands, Calif.-based group’s spokesman said Miller’s ruling “deals a substantial blow to the government regulatory scheme.”

“We’re pleased with some of it. We’re confused with other parts of it,” Tom Hymes said.

The group’s lawyers were combing through the ruling Thursday afternoon, deciding whether they would ask the judge for clarification.

The group’s lawsuit was triggered by revisions in May to the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1998. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales approved the revised regulations.

The government said the new guidelines were designed to cut down on child pornography, one of Gonzales’ top priorities.

Failure to comply could send first-time offenders to prison for five years. The result of a second offense: two to 10 years.

“Child pornographers will be denied access to commercial markets, and everything else will go forward,” U.S. Justice Department trial attorney Samuel Kaplan said at a hearing in August.

Director Jonni Darkko has signed male performer Mark Ashley to a non-exclusive contract. Ashley will perform three scenes a month for Darkko, for what Darkko thinks will be “at least a year.”

This is the first talent contract that Darkko’s production company, Darkko Productions (which is distributed through Evil Angel), has done.

“I’m excited about it, and I’m actually considering doing the same kind of contract with a girl,” told Darkko.

“… Mark Ashley and I have done some really great scenes in the past.”

Ashley has worked on such Darkko titles as Trophy Whores and Angels of Debauchery.

“We both have the same twisted view of sex,” said Darkko. “Mark and I have a really good connection, a good flow.”

The first title that Ashley will work on under the Darkko Productions contract will be titled Bodacious Booties.

The explosion in popularity of the DJ in pop culture, over the last decade, has been phenomenal. Individual’s who were once only known by a few club kids have turned into household names. No longer is the DJ banished to a small booth in a corner of the club but is rather the main focal point of the club’s identity. Many clubs are now built around the DJ booth so all eyes are focused on the DJ and the energy he brings to the crowd.

This new found visual attention has brought certain female DJ’s into the spotlight for not only their talent but their beauty. Many men’s magazines such as Maxim and Playboy have started to fill their pages with these sexy ladies. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy a good set as much as the next house-head but if the talent is the same I would rather admire a hot chick hard at work than a guy that looks like an IT geek.

Here is a list of the Sexiest of these sweet ladies in the business…