Pornographer Wants His Moment With Stern

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI The Tampa Tribune
Published: Sep 12, 2007


TAMPA - A federal judge is being asked to grant permission for a porn producer to be on the "The Howard Stern Show."

Paul F. Little, also known as Max Hardcore, is being prosecuted in U.S. District Court in Tampa on federal obscenity charges. While the case is pending, travel for the California resident is restricted to his home district and the Middle District of Florida.

Howard Stern's satellite radio show is broadcast from New York. In addition to covering risque topics, Stern promotes free speech.

"I look at Howard Stern as the voice of America," Little said in a telephone interview. "He gets out there and he says what he wants, and they even kicked him off regular radio, fined him heavily for saying words. He moved on, and he's still standing. I consider the opportunity to get on his show … and tell my story really just a wonderful opportunity."

Little said he plans to bring his partner, adult film star Layla, along with him to appear on the show. "We're going to have a great time," he said.

He said he got into the adult entertainment business because he is "tired of the hypocrisy of these politicians who say one thing and do another. They say gay people are bad, and then they're caught in a bathroom. … I'm going to make movies, and whatever they tell me I can't do I'm going to do it. I'm going to get people thinking and, No. 1, entertain people. That's my job."

Little's attorney, James Benjamin, filed a motion Tuesday asking a federal judge to allow the defendant to fly to New York on Sept. 22 so he can appear on the show Sept. 24. He would return to California on Sept. 25, the motion states.

Last month, Judge Susan Bucklew gave Little permission to travel to an adult video trade fair in Fort Lauderdale.

Little is scheduled to go on trial March 3. The 10-count federal indictment was returned May 17 in Tampa and unsealed May 30.

Little is described by federal prosecutors here as a nationally known director, producer and star of full-length films that feature "severe violence towards the female performers participating in the acts."

The indictment alleges that Little, through the entertainment company, distributed pornographic films to post office boxes in Florida.

The indictment also alleges that to help promote these films, the defendants used a Web site to sell and distribute the films by transmitting over the Internet five obscene video clips as promotional trailers.

Little said he's not sure what he will do on the Stern show, but "me and Layla are going to do our best to make the best 'Howard Stern Show' that there ever was."