Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy

D: Scott J. Gill. (Video, 75 min.)

Scott J. Gill’s porn doc wonders: How does a hammy kid from Flatbush, Queens — the former Ronnie Hyatt, son of a physicist — become the hirsute “Hedgehog,” the most prolific and recognizable figure in adult film? More perplexingly, how does a guy who goes to temple “for the Danish,” calls cunnilingus “just another meal,” and has his entire back shaved stay on top? Is it his buffoonish persona? His estimable endowment, fondly described by co-star Tabitha Stevens as “spongy”? Screw publisher Al Goldstein nails it when he (lovingly) calls Jeremy “a walking garbage truck with a Web site.” Beneath the Falstaffian facade of this erstwhile off-Broadway aspirant lurks a compulsive ambition to be a star and realize his crossover dreams, even if it means bit roles on Nash Bridges and getting “killed a lot.” Though it’s crowd-pleasing and frequently funny, this is no mere fan film; Gill walks the fine line between appreciation and sympathy. And composer Carvin Knowles gets the music just right. (Bad Dog, 3/16, 9:30pm)

This article appears in March 16 • 2001.

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A graduate of the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Kimberley has written about film, books, and pop culture for The Austin Chronicle since 2000. She was named Editor of the Chronicle in 2016; she previously served as the paper’s Managing Editor, Screens Editor, Books Editor, and proofreader. Her work has been awarded by the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for excellence in arts criticism, team reporting, and special section (Best of Austin). The Austin Alliance for Women...