Lawrence.com

Most people in America know who Ron Jeremy is, but not everyone cares to admit it.

Since the late '70s, the adult video star has made more than 600 film and video appearances (nearly 100 of which he directed). And like fellow industry player Traci Lords, Jeremy has managed to gradually parlay his sizable clout into a mainstream career.

Jeremy, who somewhat reluctantly goes by the nickname "the Hedgehog," has appeared in dozens of feature films, such as "Ronin," "54," "Detroit Rock City," "American Virgin" and his personal favorite "Orgazmo." (During the phone conversation, "Detroit Rock City" director Adam Rifkin actually breaks in on the other line to discuss their fourth collaboration together.) He's landed numerous TV gigs, including recent stints on "Nash Bridges" and "Just Shoot Me." He even appeared on the Saturday morning kids series "Goosebumps," though he was hidden under layers of makeup as a not-so-subtle disguise.

Currently, the Hedgehog (a name originally bestowed upon him by a director because of his abnormally hairy back) is on the road with Ron Jeremy's S&M Sideshow, which will make a stop Saturday at The Granada in Lawrence. While the details of this Bacchanalian barnstormer are a little sketchy, Jeremy promises a comedy routine, a cherry pie and banana pie eating contest, oil wrestling, dancing girls and music from The Pindowns.

"We make it as erotic and exciting as we can within the law," Jeremy says. "You've got a young college audience who comes out and sees me. It's a cult thing, a comedy thing. And it's sexy."

With his rigorous schedule, it takes a few weeks to hook up with the 48-year-old icon at his L.A. residence. Luckily, Jeremy is always up for an interview.

Q: Why go on tour?

A: "It's just a fun thing to do. I've done a lot of things outside of the realm of adult movies. I had a rap song that was a hit on Billboard charts called 'Freak of the Week.' You can see my (Porn Star brand) T-shirts in stores around the world ... I've done 55 mainstream films, 15 music videos ? 14 out of which were on MTV, and two I produced. Touring is good because it gives me a chance to actually do live shows and meet the folks. Before I got into porn, I was a comedian. After porn I was featured in a lot of these clubs like the girls were. They were sending me out to be an emcee ? like they had me be in the movie 'Detroit Rock City.' I was like a professional emcee on the road. Then a couple of promoters started booking me at rock and roll clubs or lounges ? which aren't even nude or topless clubs ? where my act is actually better suited. Because if guys want to see flesh, often I can be a distraction. 'Get off the stage, you fat bastard!'"

Q: Have you been to Kansas before?

A: "Years ago The Dove Theater was there (in Kansas City, Mo.) ? we're talking like 15 years ago when there was such a thing as films. I did appearances at some of these theaters around the country until the market went video and those appearances stopped ... I kind of liked film. I came into the business as an actor. In fact, if you look at the film 'Boogie Nights' ? which I was the consultant on ? Burt Reynolds plays the part of guy not wanting the video era. You're talking about a guy who thinks he's a filmmaker, shooting on film, now changed to video. The business could have stayed making movies and transferring them to video, and given it a quality like a TV movie instead of a soap opera. But the business got cheap."

Q: What were some bits of advice you imparted to Burt Reynolds?

A: "It's funny, because he's the only one who didn't come to the sets. Everyone in the cast, Mark Wahlberg, Heather Graham, etc. would come to the sets that I had arranged. I took Paul Thomas Anderson, the director, to a bunch of my sets while he was in the writing process, including the highly publicized Divine Brown movie."

Q: You were a schoolteacher before going full time in the industry. Have you ever run into any of your former teachers or students?

A: "Yes. And they think it's very funny. There's a Web site where a lot of the old teachers write in. My social studies teacher, my English teacher, they all think it's great. I lecture now at Cal State Fullerton on sex and the law, and I run into those criminology students after they've become full-fledged policemen. I've been stopped more than once for speeding or breaking some highway law, and the cop goes, 'Oh, you lectured my class. Get outta here.'"

Q: Do you have any rituals that you follow to prepare for a movie?

A: "I try not to have sex before the shoot. I just try to be really hygienic before the scene, because you will sweat. I trim the body hair, get manicured, pedicured, you know, just be all spiffy. I'm out of shape, I don't deny that. I often try to keep my shirt on during the scene. But if I have to get naked, I can at least be a hygienic fat guy."

Q: Is there anything that's happened in your career that you're embarrassed about?

A: "Well, the old joke is, I'll be on a talk show and I'll be doing really good ? I've been on 'Geraldo,' 'Jerry Springer,' 'Tom Snyder,' Jay Leno has mentioned me a couple times ? but then there's always that one comment, 'Didn't you "kiss yourself where the sun don't shine?"' Yeah, I did. Eddie Murphy did a routine about it ? mentioned my name and everything on HBO. It's not that it's embarrassing. It's just embarrassing when they always bring it up. Like Howard Stern calls me on the phone to talk about the 87-year-old lady I did in a film once. That's funny. But of all the films I've done, that's what they got to talk about."

Q: Aside from Bill Clinton, do you have the world's most famous penis?

A: "That would probably be John Holmes, then me maybe. That would be a nice thought."