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UPDATE: Hey, few have hated Entourage more than I have in recent seasons. Judging from your comments, you still think the show stinks up HBO.
Maybe I'm just more easily amused these days after what feels like a summer devoid of entertainment (especially at the box office), but HBO's Entourage seems less predictable and more realistic about Hollywood this season. Tonight's episode with Jeremy Piven, Aaron Sorkin, and Gary Cole was unexpected and (dare I say it) hilarious. In a recent episode, George Segal did a superb Bernie Brillstein imitation (complete with ugly yellow sweater). And last week's show had a sotto voce line about buying guns at John Milius' garage sale that made me laugh out loud.
Your thoughts?
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You know why it’s in its stride? They separated Drama & Turtle. No more wasted 15 minute storylines about buying shoes or using dogs to pick up girls. It’s focusing on the business and turning up the intensity.
I agree that this season is off to a great start. The writing has been excellent. Also, Bob Saget was hilarious as well. The only thing that becomes incredibly distracting (and not in a bad way) is the INCREDIBLE HOTNESS of EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI. It actually hurts to look at her.
Totally agree. I actually thought season 4 was it’s worst, retreading the same emotional territory as season 2 and 3. Season 5 was a big improvement and now Season 6 gets better every episode.
I thought Entourage was dead, but it’s back.
Been dipping in and out of the show lately and especially the “romantic” subplots — E’s lady-juggling and Turtle’s relationship with Jamie Lynn — have been dreadfully boring and unfunny. Time killer filler with zero entertainment value.
“Spoofing” Bernie Brillstein seems a bit pointless. Why even bother to lampoon a guy everybody genuinely loved? And in their fake Brillstein-Grey offices, who exactly are all those people walking around all the time in the background? It’s like halftime at Staples in there.
That said, there are some nice dark ideas afoot in other parts of the show — Stormare’s fake Gavin De Becker, the Milius gag, everything Jaimie Gertz is doing this season — and without a doubt the jailhouse “signing meeting” with Sorkin was a CLASSIC TV scene. Well done!
Sorkin’s acting experience from college paid off beautifully and played off Piven and Cole impeccably. Piven warned on his twitter that this was one of the best episodes of the show yet. Who even knows/cares if that’s true? But tonight’s certainly had Entourage’s best scene ever.
Sadly, great moments like that really stick out when the overall series is so middling.
Are you kidding, Nikki? You’re supposed to be the one in the know in the goings on of Hollywood. Entourage may once have almost-kinda-sorta been representative of the industry, but the last couple seasons, and this season especially, get just about EVERYTHING wrong as far as true-to-industry plots, twists, and events go!
From Drama’s tiff with an apparently hypersexed studio executive (not even a network suit!) to the PAINFUL experience it is to watch Eric’s now girl “Ashley” attempt to act, not to mention the fact that the show is so incredibly outdated (the Jay Leno and Greg Garcia references early on)… the list goes on and on and on of the atrocities Entourage has committed this season.
I’m disappointed.
This is honestly the worst season so far in my opinion. Tonight episode, yes, was great, but only because of the powerhouses that are Gary Cole and Jeremy Piven. It’s turned into a Eric Murphy’s soap opera and Sloan has become completely and utterly useless. It’s just lame and I think Vince has said five words all season. They’ve conveniently made his character useless. His career is going well and we don’t see any of the behind the scenes of it. Why was it necessary to have his movie delayed? What about the deal for him to do the voice in DOGS?
lame lame lame.
I was watching Entourage tonight and thought this is so friggin good and someone needs to write about it. Gary Cole knocked it out of the park and that last scene with him and Ari. Wow, nice to give props in a town that rips everything apart. It is the best season!! I can’t wait until next week. Im trying to figure out if I can call my agent and get a cut. That’s how badly Im dying to see it. AWESOME JOB ENTOURAGE WRITERS. BRAVO!!!
And Sorkin, nice job too!!
Entourage had one good season, the first. Since then, it has been silly. The reason you like it now is because it’s all about the ladies. The power of the V has taken hold and the men are in their proper buffoonish place.
This show used to be a chick flick for dudes. And that was cool. Now, it’s just a shtick flick… for dudes with chicks… or for chicks with dicks.
This show is marginally amusing, at best. Name-dropping humor claims a close second to singing humor (flight of the conchords, anyone? Yawn..) as cheap comedy. Sure, Kevin Dillon and Turtle are amusing, but Adrian Grenier is the least charismatic lead actor in a comedy series ever. And that hair-plugged douche Jeremy Piven plays himself! Kudos, asshole. Candice Bergen rattled off Ted Koppel hair jokes left and right on MURPHY BROWN, and when was the last time anyone saw that show in reruns? Pop culture references are ultimately cheap. ENTOURAGE blows. If anyone would like to see a true and hilarious dissection of Hollywood, get LARRY SANDERS on Netflix.
Only problem: I really don’t get Ashley over Sloane.
The agency storylines are good, and E’s new job provides a lot of meat, but the main foursome’s storylines are pretty low-stakes and uninteresting in comparison to previous seasons.
I thought it was hilarious when Aaron Sorkin visited him in jail and kept the phone away from his ear. And the surprised look on his face when he signed him was priceless.
Totally agree, the show’s a comedy again. The Drama storyline’s leaving me cold, but they clearly hired some punch-up writers this season. Don’t forget Scott Caan’s pitch-perfect turn as E’s rival.
Well, HBO is on a creative resurgence right now with True Blood S2 being the best show and highest rated show HBO has aired in years. So, it wouldn’t surprise me if Entourage has seen a creative resurgence. Personally, I think the changing of personell has helped propel HBO to the top again creatively and on the ratings. But, it’s no doubt due to True Blood’s phenomenon!!!! True Blood’s phenomenon has helped Hung and Entourage in the ratings department.
everyone knows it has jumped the proverbial shark, but christ so far this season is way better than last and there are almost guaranteed two belly laughs. the crazy jami gertz is a welcomed change to perry reeves’ predictable Mrs. Ari.
I have really disliked this season so far. Haven’t seen tonight’s episode though.
“Industry” shows leave me cold. And the proliferation of them shows how truly bankrupt, narcissistic and masturbatory we are as an industry. Entourage is more of the same-old same-old as far as I’m concerned.
I totally agree. Last night’s episode was hilarious and totally unexpected. I love that this season everyone is trying to be their own person, rather than latch onto Vince. Next week’s preview looks awesome as well.
I agree with you, Nikki. I think the show is hilarious! I know what it’s like when your boys stick with you through hard times, and Vince is going through some hard times.
Did you see how mad Andrew Klein got at his wife last night? Now that’s funny!
While last night’s episode was funny and unpredictable (best ep. so far this season in my opinion), it was hardly realistic. I don’t think any talent agent has ever signed a client the way Andrew Klien did in last night’s episode.
This season also seems to be a lot less Vince-centric. Vince is really kind of a background character this season.
It must be the least entertaining summer of all time if you’re enjoying this steaming pile of fuck, Nikki. Entourage is, quite simply, the WORST television program of all time. I stopped watching after last week’s episode(between the pro-gun shilling”call your government”, the absurd BGE staff meeting parody”We need a BIG star, like Bob Saget!” and Jeremy Piven shooting one scene in between set-ups for The Goods I was done) so I missed this weeks, but let me guess what happened:
Vince and Drama have an AWFUL A story that will never be referenced again, E does nothing, and Piven has two funny lines.
Fuck Entourage. Worst. Show. Ever.
This is currently my favorite show on television. Unabashedly love it. But hey, the Entourage house just got burned down by the fires!
Best moment last night: The Gary Cole hand at the end on the glass in the prisoner’s area at the jail. Totally perfect and totally hilarious!
Wow, I think most people consider this to be the worst season, by far. Many of the storylines feature bad sit-com writing (the Turtle/Tom Brady story being the worst), there’s no driving force behind it, and the Ashley storyline is drawn out and tired and something we’ve seen from E before (a lot of it seems like a rehash of his season 1 issues with his first girlfriend Kristin).
I guess if you like inside jokes and deus ex machine and the fact that supposed key storylines simply disappear for a couple of episodes, you’ll love this season but I believe that most people see it as a down year.
You have to love a show that makes the wife want to f**k after watching it. For me, best show on tv by far. Big ups to the creator and writers.
Excellent episode. I just hope they target the Oscar nomination process down the line and expose it for the political nonsense that it really is.
Sorry Nikki, this is by far the worst season yet. The jail sequence was funny. First time Ive laughed out loud this season. The Andrew Kline story is WEAK.
I still can’t believe people watch this program. It ranks with Arliss, Sex and the City and Queer as Folk as the dumbest premium cable shows of all time. So embarrassingly awful.
I bought Seasons 1-3 of “Entourage” on DVD. I didn’t buy 4 & 5 because I didn’t think they were funny. With Season 6, they seem to be back on their old footing and I’m laughing and enjoying the series again.
I just can’t figure out which is more repulsive, the characters in Mark Wahlberg’s mediocre life, or the one’s portraying them on screen. Piven is reduced to a one note shrill, a male harridan, Turtle is ignorant and annoying, Vincent Chase has all the charisma of Mark Wahlberg, and the only male character of any dimension, or humanity, is “E”.
The show is so grating and annoying I only watch for the all to rare glimpses of Emmanuelle Chiriqui– but hey, maybe that’s just me.
It is better now that they are telling stories about Hollywood and not about half-naked chicks that don’t seem to be gainfully employed.
Who’d have thought Lloyd would get a chance to be an agent? But then with the 10,000 gay jokes, it’s about time.
Even Turtle’s getting his act together – the freeloader.
u r high if you think this is the best season. there’s no sense of what’s happening in hollywood right now, like the episode where they bought each other $250,000 cars, and the show used to be funny and realistic, not farcical like it is now. the whole show is jeremy piven, the rest is like a semi-decent soap opera, and the best episodes were the ones with billy the crazy director, the pablo escobar medellin days… the guys are also getting a tad old for living together like frat boys (where one of them does the cooking??) come on, the whole thing is starting to look a little… gay. still, it’s the only reason to have HBO, i guess.
… a summer devoid of entertainment (especially at the box office)
I sure can agree with that. I don’t know how they’ll find 10 Oscar nominees this year. Maybe PONYO.
To this non-Hollywood insider, series seems like it’s running in place. Vince hasn’t done a movie since SMOKE JUMPERS, E’s wishy washy attitude toward Sloane is starting to drag on and Drama hasn’t been given anything truly laugh worthy in several episodes. Turtle’s supposed to be back going to school but he still seems to be right by Vince’s side, bong in hand, since that announcement. Lloyd isn’t even that funny anymore. I’ll take your word for it ahout the realism aspect of it, but I certainly wouldn’t call this the best season of this series by any stretch. Just My $.02…
I’m a long time fan, but feel like the last three seasons (including this one) have been pretty piss-poor.
It’s amusing to watch as someone who works with these types of characters — but I don’t know anyone outside of LA who watches.
And what’s with creator Ellin putting his name on every script? No class — not to mention some of the worst eps.
Honestly Nikke, you’re watching with your eyes closed. This season is dreadful.
You’ve lost your mind. This season of Entourage is so boring, so lacking in story and originality, that part of me thinks you must be joking. The Wizards of Waverly Place Movie was more entertaining.
These last few episodes have been the best. That jail visit scene was awesome… Also, the Gary Cole/Jami Gertz fight was a surprise too. IMHO the show needed some conflict to up the ante & the level of acting. Nice some very great actors are being allowed to do their thing. Yeah, Segal too!
Just in time too, b/c as a long time viewer I was getting tired of cars, boobs, clubs, faux premiers & stars.
The producers & writers deserve some props for delivering some ‘kick butt’ performances. :cheers: & hope they can push it even more…
I have loved this show since the beginning. Personally, watching the show often makes me feel like I’m sharing a private joke- I used to think it was mostly for those of us who work and live in La-La Land, but the fact that it does so well in the ratings says that the rest of the audience feels like they are getting to ‘hear’ the private joke, and who doesn’t want to eavesdrop on the famous and powerful?
And this season? Well, I have been surprised- and that surprises me. But this is the best season so far- I love it.
Couldn’t disagree more. That show has become unwatchable. The constant whining about Sloan, Johnny Drama is a bad cartoon, Turtle is unfunny and earnest, and those guys act like 4 old bffs from Queens as much as lamposts. I am waaaay done with that show.
It’s certainly been better than the last few years. I still think Season 2 was the best season the show had.
Worst show on tv right now. So bad and not funny. Makes me want to kill myself, good thing true blood is on same night.
You’re high.
I totally agree with you…
It is way more realistic, especially last nights episode so true to reality with Aaron Sorkin.
You’re crazy. This season is easily the worst (well maybe a tie w/ season 5, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt with the writer’s strike). It’s been downhill since season 4. Nothing happened this year! Neither funny nor dramatic.
You’re kidding, right?!
This season of Entourage is the same as all that preceded it: When it focuses on Ari Gold and the operation of his agency it is some of the best television on television. The second it starts to focus on the side-stories it is almost unwatchable. Turtle going to school, Drama battling network execs, Eric getting a new job? Yawn. And is it just me or is everyone mailing it in this year?
You’re kidding, right?! This season is an embarrassment. Ever since Vincent Chase made a comeback mid-season via Scorsese the show has been completely neutered.
Actually Nikki I feel that this has been the worst season of yet. Besides the Ari and Gary Cole storyline is there anything significant going on this season? Nothing with Vince, nothing with Turtle, Drama’s really didn’t have much drama…. The is whole Eric/Sloan/Ashley love triangle is painful to watch and has gone NOWHERE. Question: Out of all the 20 something young actress in Hollywood, why did they cast a girl who looks like she is 13 years old to play Eric’s new girlfriend? I thought they were trying to be edgy, E falls for a high school freshman. She is 24????? She looks 13 Max
i’ve only seen the one with bob saget’s tired routine which lost its shock value 5 seasons ago and that was enough to keep me away…
Thats surprising to read here – both cause it seems so out of place on DHD and cause gen consensus around here is Entourage is treading water.
The shows all about the relationships this season, too soapy, the wheeling and dealing insanity is lacking, but I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
Huh… and i just realized yesterday that for the first time since Entourage got on the air, I had forgotten to watch the show for two weeks straight.
I agree that a lot has worked this year and the whole storyline with Gary Cole really has clicked well. There are still a few things that drive me crazy about this show. Turtle remains the most annoying character on TV since Sopranos went off the air and mercifully deprived us of Janice.
And that’s the writer’s fault. Case in point, a few weeks back they did the episode where they were at the charity golf tournament and Turtle was paired up with Tom Brady and we found out about his irrational hatred of him. Why? Because Turtle is a Giants fan?
Ummm why on Earth would a Giants fan hate a Patriot QB? If anything he should have been relishing the chance to rub the Super Bowl in his face and make as many 18-1 references as possible.
Would a Jets fan hate Tom Brady? Yes.
Chargers fan? Yes
Colts fan? Yes
Giants fan? Nope. Not even remotely.
Lazy ass writing. Maybe it’s me (and in fact it probably is just me) but that is just bad character work and makes no sense. And of course the whole episode sucked, but that was the only bad one of the year.
So yeah good season (not as good as 2 but still good) but damn that was an aggravating piece of sloppy writing.
People don’t subscribe to HBO for reality television. They want fantasy across the board.
I agree it’s better than last year. But the plot didnt get good until midseason. And much of the plot is between E, Sloane, and that anorexic woman. More Ari and the show is gold.
Two words for ya- Jami Gertz…so the answer to your question would be: HELL TO THE NO!!!
I second Sid. I haven’t watched the last 6 weeks. I just don’t care. But maybe now is the time to catch up…
THOUGH…
How can u say summer movie fare has been lame? This is one of the best years in a long time on the blockbuster front AND the counterprogramming front… Star Trek, UP were top notch…. then the Hurt Locker, District 9, Taking Woodstock. I know I’m missing something but that’s like 2 great movies a month, shit! What more can u ask for from THIS town???
Sorry Nikki, but I guess the subpar comedies on air made you lower your standards.
Entourage is AWFUL from start to finish. Makes Arliss look like The Sopranos.
The guys are shown eating Sonic at Vince’s house. Since when is there a Sonic in LA? The closest one is an hour away. Yep, they’re doing a bangup job at showing a more ‘realistic’ Hollywood.
Party Down laps Entourage multiple times in quality. Entourage is an act of the past, badly dated and running on fumes.
Up in the air on this season along with alot of these folks. The show generally tries to keep some semblance of verisimilitude but last night showed that the creators have lost it and simply stuck in a product plug for product plug’s sake that makes no sense and insults our intelligence as Angelenos. What was the offending product? Sonic. While a minor detail, it was clearly shown on drinks and tater tot boxes while the boys were eating lunch at home. The fact that the closest location is Anaheim with only four other locations in Apple Valley, Mission Viejo, Victorville, and Palmdale, those must have been some rather soggy tots. Not sure why they didn’t go with In-n-Out, but given that insult to my intelligence, I am passing on the show and moving all my marbles into Hung.
Rob Elin is a hack who got crazy lucky. Who was this guy before? Like the cast, this will be “it” for him. You gotta think everyone involved with this show hopes it’ll last another 5 years b/c there is no career outside of Entourage for anyone involved in this show.
worst season ever. I wonder which Entourage you’re watching, Nikki!
Weak season. But I still enjoy it. Eric is the best storyline at this point. He will end up losing Vince to Brillstein-Grey. Ari will offer him a job at the Agency which he will take. Eric will then steal the Agency’s biggest clients including Vince and leave to start his own agency. Ari will lose his mind and blow Eric away. End of show.
Thank you.
The show is complete fucking garbage. The only drama during a show is them trying to find a venue for the big party, or trying to track down a pair of 20,000 sneakers for turtle, and half the episodes end with them clinking wine glasses around a huge meal with the sunset behind them. It’s not realistic, it’s not funny, it’s a 30 minute commercial for cars, booze and sneakers.
I have no idea how so many people continue to guzzle the entourage kool aid – particularly people that work in the biz. They all say the same thing “it’s a vacation for my mind, I don’t have to think.” Like something an idiot would say.
Arrested Development fails, Entourage succeeds. SIGH.
Wow–I’ve watched every episode…..and we’re starting to Jump the Shark here….
Entourage isn’t unwatchable, and it’s never been great, but compared to Hung it’s easily the best HBO show… Which is a lot like saying death by the slow nibble of a school of piranhas is better than death by being eaten by fire ants. What’s the difference? One takes place in the water, the other in the desert, but both are slow and boringly painful to watch.
Season Two was indeed the best season, IMO.
The whole firing Ari season was interesting, having been down that route before, but this season is uneven. Having said that, the past couple weeks have been pretty interesting.
Next season will probably be the last. But, I wonder if there will be a spin off focusing entirely on Ari and being an agent in the biz? For me, that’s where the show really sings. As for Vince and the boys… interesting stuff from time to time, fun here and there, but I think their arcs ceased to be compelling after season three.
I’d be willing to gamble on a show about Ari and the agency biz though.
reading these comments made my day. I thought i was the only one who hated entourage. now i just need to find a comments string of people who think mad men is the most boring show on tv and i will be smitten.
season two was the best. Everything else has been steadily downhill.
I find it unwatchable. Literally. It’s on my DVR, I watch five minutes, and turn it off. The show always had a fatal flaw — a lie at its core: the movie star is the most reasonable guy around. Only a show with a star as its EP could get it so wrong. But it’s gotten worse and worse — Piven is so manic and mannered and stuck in his tics in the manner of sit-com stars who get stratified. You’re an excellent reporter. But not much of a critic, I fear. A much funnier show — and truer — is “Party Down” on Starz, about Hollywood aspirants working for a catering company.
This show is the biggest piece of rubbish!
Nikki, I have liked Entourage in past seasons, but this season is by far the worst. By far. There is not much going on. The side stories are falling flat and Vince’s storyline is non-existent.
I have to admit that I also guffawed at the John Milius reference. Very funny line.
I tend to side with those who think the show is running out of steam, which, given that it’s “open-ended,” with no one knowing how long to carry out any one bit, shouldn’t surprise anyone. That said, I intend to stay with it until the bitter end. Alas, I’m hooked.
after every ep this season, s soon as the credits hi the screen i think BOOOOOOORING! jami gertz is the only good thing they got going this season.
This season is the worst.
I fear that Entourage has jumped the shark.
When did we stoop so low as to want to watch Eric Murphy get cuddly with a 12 year old girl? Seriously.
let’s be honest. The ‘entourage’ is unwatchable. The show is buoyed by the rest of the cast from Miller Gold and the studios. I only watch for the folks outside of the fab four. Boo.
For you Nikki the show’s better. This is where you live in the real sordid details of Hollywood. But for the rest of us the show has umped a shark and a whale.
giving Ari a friend then ruining that friend’s life is a hollow dodge for a show afraid to give their stars complexity. Ari should be cheating on his wife not being punished for having a friend that cheats. What bullshit!
All of these guys should be corrupted by success (the way it really is) and then let their friendship bring them back together.
The way it is now it’s just a shitty pseudo reality show.
Jamie Lynn Seigler fucks Turtle? Only on TV.
Nikki your lack of good taste is literally mind blowing. Like, wow. I am picking pieces of soggy brain fragments off the carpet. Such was the mind blowing.
This season of Entourage has been staggeringly awful. I don’t know where to begin. No drama, no stakes, meaningless plots, dull characters.
But here’s the worst part: all four of the ‘boys’ look officially too old for this. It’s time for them and anyone who still professes to like this show to grow up.
Best season yet? You’re insane.
Ya, this is defiantly the worst season of Entourage by far
Entourage is great and you’re right on about this season. Last season was rocky because people didn’t like seeing Vince struggle. Never quite understand the hate people have for the show. But these are probably the same people who saw the Hangover 8 times and need “stupid” humor in 2009.
This season has been ok…but the whole stalker thing and the drawn out Sloan storyline makes the show feel like it’s jumped the shark.
You’re right on. This season is great. Entourage is stronger than ever. Have no clue why people hate on it so much. Probably the same pretentious snobs going to the Upright Citizens Brigade and causing congestion in my neighborhood!
The only thing pretentious about Entourage are those who insist that it is realistic. How about an OD? Or a gay character who’s NOT a Stepin Fetchit? And how about a real career failure that isn’t saved in the last minutes by a blow job or a phone call from Martin Scorsese? Entourage is and always will be an amusement park for filmmaker wannabes, an “R” rated Universal Studios. All the star-f***ing without the film degree or the coverage. While I’ll admit I love Jeremy Piven’s portrayal of Ari Gold, the boys are no longer in my hood. The Sopranos are gone. HBO…cancelled!
the show is moronic.
the stakes of the episode were whether or not gary cole could get his notes.
what could possibly have been on those notes??
without his precious notes, he can’t talk to someone??
preposterous.
its slogan should be: life changes. stories don’t. — ENTOURAGE
Ari’s storylines are more realistic, I guess… but the rest of the show is absolute, melodramatic, low imagination, boring, egoist, coasting to the finish line-style crap.
I’m really enjoying the season and think the Gary Cole storyline is terrific. The only think i can’t stand is “E”. what a crappy actor and he’s too g-dammed short! in what world would a girl like “sloane” (who by the way is too over the top) go for such a schmuck like “E”? And “E’s new teenage girlfriend is annoying.
Sorkin can not act. Jesus.
Something tells me this ‘John’ person is most likely a writer for Entourage or Doug Ellin himself. Writing 2 comments in a row? Yikes. Traaaaagic.
The Aaron Sorkin episode was a nice throwback to the heyday of Entourage. Gary Cole is one of the best actors working these days.
Otherwise, this season has been very lame because it’s about everyone EXCEPT Vinnie Chase. He’s just hanging. I thought he was the star. I don’t care about E-Sloane-Ashley. Johnny Drama is a one-note stereotype and Turtle going back to school (yawn). None of these side stories matter, gang. Give us more Vinnie. More Ari.
I’ve been a big big fan on Entourage since Season 1 – loved the inside jokes and was surprised to discover that even friends who live overseas love the show. This season is THE WORST. I’m not sure how long I’m going to give it the benefit of the doubt.
oh okay “John” (AKA doug ellin), the show sucks ain’t no other way to look at it. And I used the word “aint” so you wouldn’t think I’m a pretentious snob.
I think it is, in many ways. Though I’m sorry I can’t stand the actor who portrays Ari’s sap of a hire. I’m hoping for an exit soon.
I for one liked it. I do think it’s kind of scattered. They seem to have lost their theme of everyone having to grow up, except with the Ari/Cole storyline.
No growth at all with Vinnie. Maybe he should get a girlfriend. What is he, 30?
The show is not terrible. I like some of what they are doing this season, but I hope it tightens up. And I love seeing George Seagal doing something for a change.
Nikki, the show is at it’s absolute worst. Outside of Jeremey Piven’s brilliant Ari Gold, there is nothing worth saving with this show.
Agree, this season has been uneven but the last two episodes were brilliant. Love that Ellin named the character “Berenson”, well-acted even if Segal doesn’t have Bernie’s laugh. Also enjoyed the Milius throwaway line (he is the “barbarian” of Hollywood) and think that both Jami Gertz and Gary Cole are great actors, loved their roles last night. Also nice to see Ally Musika doing more of the writing, she has a very different perspective than Ellin and his first three seasons’ worth of clubs, boobs and booze.
Too. Much. E.
I really do think this show has become terrible and overstayed its welcome…it’s amazing HBO got rid of a show like Carnivale but kept this going.
Entourage has always been a bad show. Always. However, this season is a case study in horrible. No one does anything remotely close to what would be done in real life. The stories don’t make sense and are given two seconds of thought. Piven’s acting tourette’s syndrome is beyond annoying, the constant “over and back” in every storyline is amatuer hour and they constantly tee up hacky jokes and then FAIL to hit the punch lines correctly. The producers are really asleep at the switch, it’s only the non-writing producers and crew that make it “look” good. I mean having a Isreali Mossad as a security guard would have been great–If she was a girl! Instead they have a bunch of clowns running around doing drills on a clock?! Wearing baby blue Mossad Polos? WTF? My five year old neice could come up with a better B-story. If these are the scripts they shoot, I wonder what the table scripts look like. This season=EPIC FAIL.
Funny… I never thought one season was better than the next. This is film… And this is reality.
The only people complaining about Entourage are those who don’t get it, or those who feel snubbed by not being on it. The management co is a great new direction, talking about stalkers is a legit side of celeb we haven’t seen, and the chars are evolving as they should. Everybody’s a fuckin critic. Keep doing what you do Entourage crew and HBO. You’re so spot on the whiners can’t handle it.
I agree with most of the posts here. Aside from the Gary Cole/Jeremy Piven conflict storyline, nothing this season has been worth watching thus far. I used to watch it for the gritty, cut throat deal making tactics, the stinging one liners and the seasoned characters they would throw in now and then…but NOW – it’s just boring, predictable, too much Turtle in a farcical storyline and way too much midget love for E and his yawner relationship with an awkward munchkin… H-wood is full of real life drama and back stabbing bullshit and that’s the best they could do?????
COULDN’T AGREE MORE WITH REALITYCHECK!
I have always enjoyed “Entourage” from the start, but it really should’ve ended last season as there was a perfect final episode to go out on. It feels like this season is tacked on (kind of like the first half of last season which went nowhere until Vince got “Smoke Jumpers”) and is like a reunion series.
“Oh, here’s what’s happening to those characters you thought you missed after the show tied itself up perfectly.”
I offer the following dramatic story arcs:
1. Drama gets hit by a piece of falling space debris on the set of his television show. Brain-damaged but undaunted, he becomes a spokesman for the Special Olympics.
2. Turtle wows his professors at UCLA Extension with his towering intellect and is invited to join the faculty with full tenure. He dumps his bong and baseball hat for a pipe and corduroy blazer.
3. Vincent finally comes to grips with the fact that, like most Hollywood leading men, he is merely a pretty face with no talent. He embarks on a search for inner truth and becomes a hari krishna.
4. E changes his name to F and becomes a porn star.
5. Ari decides that he can no longer live a lie and dumps his wife for Lloyd.
I loved the early seasons of Entourage but I think the last 2 seasons have been boring and the guys have turned into douchebags. They kind of always were but they’re more douchy now. Ari is the best thing on the show. I don’t care about E & Sloan, don’t care about Turtle going to school, Johnny Drama gets more unrealistic every season, and Vince might as well not be in the show since I can’t tell you what he’s doing this season. I think they’re running out of things to do with the characters. It’s almost become a parody of itself. Bummer.
To whoever mentioned above, Jamie-Lynn does in fact go out with “Turtle” in real life…
RE: Jamie Lynn Seigler fucks Turtle? Only on TV.
Comment by CinefileX — August 31, 2009 @ 11:06 am
FYI, they are seeing eachother in the real world. Funny clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctjre0lvcIs
It’s pretty simple, actually. Last week’s episode was character-based, well-written, and somewhat believable. Last night’s episode (and the episode two weeks ago) was premise-based, with wretched, high-school play-level dialogue.
All of the story lines were ridiculously far-fetched, and the “guy banter” was forced and unrealistic. Worse still, you don’t care about anyone anymore, because you don’t believe this shit is actually happening. Way too many contrived romantic subplots. Who cares.
Ally Musika is just not that strong of a writer.
I personally am relieved that they got some actual drama (not just johnny) this season. I was not an original watcher, but i loved seasons 1 and 2 alot! I think some of the fun was missing last season! I don’t live in hollywood, and don’t know if my mental state could survive it. My family is all californian, and i am frankly sorry cali people, but your just weird
Here is hoping they can continue!
Love from the land of coffee, airplanes and operating systems.
Last night’s was the first good episode all season. Otherwise this has been another disappointing batch of episodes. Not only is nothing going on, it’s rarely even funny anymore.
Are you kidding, it’s like sex in the city but much worse. E & sloan, turtle with jamie, vince alone, affairs at miller gold, lloyd on a diet, drama working. To say I I’m board is an understatement, thank goodness mad men is back…
Nikki, you give haters a forum. God bless you, but seriously, they’re just haters.
ENTOURAGE is this season no different to what it’s been from the start: An escapist fantasy set in the world of Hollywood superstardom. Nothing more, nothing less. Because it lampoons Hollywood, and everyone on the fringes of Hollywood like to pretend they’re inside, it feels like they’re talking about us. But it’s the fantasy version of real life. It’s four buddies in the ideal world.
You guys talk about arcs and the merits of one season over the others, and missed storyline opportunities and whether a scene or sequence or season is realistic. Are you kidding me? Get over it. It’s FUN. And if you’re not having fun, move on. Who gives a shit?
Go back to season 1. It’s the same show today as it was then, which is exactly what a show is supposed to do. They tapped into something an audience wants to see, and they’re moving forward with it.
I love ENTOURAGE, and I appreciate that the writers don’t listen to blowhard haters on message boards. Chill out and have some fun.
completely agree with the posts on here about how terrible this show has gotten. Ari is the only reason I continue to watch from time to time when there’s nothing else to do. at least we have Hung now.
I agree that this season is the worst and I thought last season was bad.
Also, the closest Sonic would be over in Fullerton. They could have gone to any other burger place and gotten a better response.
Also Jamie Lynn Seigler actually dates Turtle in real life. But the million dollar question is why on earth does this new girl think he is cute and what will happen?
They need to get something going or as you all have said already it will be done.
It’s the opposite, Nikki! Entourage went from shitty candy that I enjoyed eating to just shit. Officially took it off my Tivo 2 episodes ago, granted years after I should have. But it really is stinking up the world in a jokeless boring masturbatory mess this season, IMHO.
Can’t watch it anymore. The characters, or their creators, are stuck. Showtime, AMC, Fx all leaving HBO behind creatively.
The writers have dropped the ball with Vince. So far this season he’s had absolutely nothing to do. Adrian might as well phone in his part. I can’t believe that the character is such a dullard that he just sits around his house all day and waits for something to happen. Doesn’t he have any other friends besides the other 3?
Worst season yet. Thank G-d you report well enough not to expand your horizons to actually make anything or pick any winners!
but she’s going out with him in real life b/c he’s an actor in real life. in the show, he’s just a stooge – and she’s still a famous actress. key distinction.
There is no more pathetic sign of this once-enjoyable show’s descent into the nadir thn the fact that the likes of Zac Efron is being featured in an upcoming episode.
Did Bob Iger buy HBO along with Marvel?
Have been a huge fan from the beginning, regular see them shooting in my neighborhood and have always loved it. But have to agree with everyone who says the past two seasons are BORING!!!! I thought it was more realistic before, now now. Am not interested in a tv agent from the valley with marital problems because his ego got out of control. Because he moved over the hill? Oh, please! Like this lightweight would ever land Sorkin. Miss watching Ari and his wife. Miss any story line with Lloyd – except him dealing with his weight and Ari nagging him about it. The boys’ stories are all so low energy and bland – and agree with everyone that the E/Sloan/Ashley triangle is a non-starter. Ashley is just a whiner. Can’t even see any chemistry between E and her. Drama has become a cartoon. At least before he seemed to have a little bit of depth under his ridiculous behavior. Vince seems like such a wimp this season. And the Israeli security guy… What a bunch of crock! The house Vince is living in now is up on Camino di Palermo, top of the street, HUGE gate all around. Hard to believe in this day and age he wasn’t concerned about security before. You really think with all the girls he has beeen with all this years, none of them have Glenn Close tendencies? Not a one? When even David Letterman has a stalker? And what about him trying to get his next project off the ground, after his Scorcese comeback. Where are the stories about actually making movies? Nothing about how hard that has become these days – even with big stars. Bad bad writing all around these past two years.
I think this season is pretty good for the simple fact that story lines haven’t solely revolved around Vince.
Not sure what all the hate is about. But I do expect some type of jealousy from wanna-be’s so it’s not surprising.
Now you haters go do your real job – you know, bringing me another cup of coffee.
Funny to me, Entourage never seems really great, and often less than very good, but I keep watching. Just like, apparently, a lot of people bashing it here. I’m amused that people think E’s new gf looks too young, when to me she just looks frighteningly anorexic. And while I often enjoy Piven’s Ari Gold, I feel like the world is overlooking TV’s other significant agent/client relationship on Californication. Far less flashy, maybe, but much weirder and more interesting. In fact, when I see Entourage’s repeated gazillion Emmy nom’s to Californication’s zero every year, I wonder whether I live in an parallel universe, where tastes are reversed like a film negative.
I thought last week’s episode was solid but this season and last I have to admit has lost my interest. Gone are the episodes where art imitated life in Hollywood. Then again, maybe Hollywood has just become boring!???
This season sucks with a capital lame. Last night’s episode saved it from the shark jump but what’s the deal with the peripheral characters having the most conflict? Vincent Chase doesn’t even get the punani anymore, he just stands around and smiles.
I won’t watch it. I was once repped by the real thing and it wasn’t funny!
Let’s see season four of the broke movie stars or Season two of Barney Miller. The choice was obvious. I enjoyed season one of the Enty-rage. But season two was sort of repetitious especially the star cameos, lunches etc.
To quote Jackie we don’t wanna be anything but haters. After all real stars skip a few of the neighborhoods the Enty group hates. We want to live in Malibu, NY or even MI unlike Drama.
With all the snarks I know I won’t buy season three in two parts, season four or five. HBO should plan for the movie for Enty when the guys move back to NY. Further, if Enty took a hint from Barney Miller it would learn that in any great comedy it’s the ensemble challenging and making fun of themselves is what really makes a great series. These four friends are like I dream of Jeanie on crack. How many beach, pool, lunch, CD parties etc can one TV series have and make it believable.
The agent had a few great one liners but his character hasn’t grown since season one.
As for the cup of coffee Jackie, we don’t serve we buy at star bucks and don’t want anyone giving us anything but a check. We haters don’t deliver.
I can’t wait until this series gets pulled to make room for anything that wants to entertain its audience as opposed to going the reality TV route. OH LOOK AT ME I/M A STAR, I can act, sing and pose for the camera.
yeah..its no Californication. Lets talk about how awesome Showtime is!
I’m still really ambivalent about this season. Every episode delivers in some way, but I actually feel like the show is a little tired and only really deserves one more season. Big things need to happen, too. Ari no longer charms me or makes me LOL. Turtle’s awfully boring now, E’s Sloan drama is forever and ever and ever continuing to unfold. I’m ready for some major happenings and some exciting new celebrity guest stars.
The “E” character is the lamest thing I’ve ever seen on television. He is the 98 Lb weakling who gets sand kicked in his face at the beach yet they try to portray him as a tough guy. They had to find a girl small enough to play his love interest. That eliminated anyone over the age of 13. This show has gone from good to bad to unwatchable. Main reason? “E”.
I suspect that learning on-the-job Sue Nagle is single-handedly lowering the HBO standard (further) but she’s making ratings so who the f**k is gonna care? True Blood is a stinkpile, Hung is a drekfest, and Entourage continues to be the most uninspired show in cable fair. Where do adults turn for entertainment on the TV anymore. And please don’t say AMC: wait til Rubicon(job) hits the air. OY!
Part of why tv sucks is because men make the decisions and they live out their delusions through shows and movies. Neither woman would ever date the short guy. The teenage one is disturbingly young. Enough with the older man and too young woman cliche. It’s cringing and creepy.
This show is a self-indulgent poop fest. There’s not even a cute guy for women to look at.
Another thought: the acting does seem poorer this season (with the possible exception of the great Jeremy Piven.) All around, performances don’t feel authentic. The timing of the dialogue between characters in every scene always seems too rehearsed, too artificial. Again, I’m an advocate for the show, and am hanging on… rooting for these characters whom I have loved at one point.
Spot on, for the last 4 eps!! Ashley is totally the guys’ stalker!! Great casting on psycho 2.0!
It’s time to put the kabash on the whole ‘E’ love life story lines. Really, who gives a shit? I sure don’t. That ‘Sloan’ character is the worst. I hope she and ‘E’ die murder/suicide style…
Doug Ellen is an absolute talent. However, he and Wahlberg and Levinson and Rob Weiss are too busy cackling their ways to the bank to bother putting so much as an eyelash of effort into this show. These past two seasons are not even written so much as compiled; it’s like allowing a child to make the salad for dinner.
Everyone raves about Season 1 and 2. Larry Charles helped write some of those. Why can’t they bring him back? Or better yet, here’s an idea, HIRE ACTUAL WRITERS.
Ally Musica is credited as Doug Ellen’s email checker or whatever in the 1st season. Now she’s not only an EP but a writer, and, God bless her (i’m sure she’s a great gal), but her episodes are terrible.
I don’t want to attack Ellen personally, but it does seem he has control issues, or a fear that if he lets a fresh writer take over the show he might lose credit for 5 minutes.
PLEASE, HBO, bring this show back to life. Entourage is in a coma, and the surrounding family members are too rich to bother even visiting the barely breathing body.
I found myself yelling at the “Ashley” character on Sunday to dump E for good — because I was desperate to see her leave the show! She’s so incredibly cloying. I can not for the life of me see how that girl got cast in this role. No disrespect for her as an actress/human being, but she is so wrong for that role and this show, that it begs the question: Whose girlfriend is she?
Californication is unwatchable and turgid. Just an excuse for nudity under the guise of narrative so people can fool themselves that they’re not watching soft porn. Another ridic old guy with a bunch of young girls. Echhh. Body shudders.
DVR it and end up zipping through about 40% of it.
Piven has some good scenes but some of them really suck.
Cole has been good for the most part.
Chriqui is smoking hot, getting more so as she matures, but she needs some acting classes or something.
Dillon’s character grated on my the first couple seasons, now when I see him I simply fast forward.
Shorty guy that plays E is ok, but his “sincere voice” sounds more whiny everytime he uses it.
Turtle has earned an automatic FF just like Drama.
Casting Dziena for E’s moving on love interest was a bit weak. She looks too young and callow to be a replacement for Sloane, so we know that the Sloane/E thing will draw out even more.
The writers could have done some neat things this year. Stayed funny but shown real maturation of the characters, instead they did neither.
Jesus, girlfriend, what’s happened to your usually respectable standards? The show is terrible. They obviously decided to make the season about the supporting players, but what incredibly lame storylines. I knew, long before Sorkin ever entered the frame in the jail cell scene, that everything would turn out ok, because there are never any consequences to anything on the show. They had a chance when they all went back to Queens, they could have really gone somewhere interesting…the cowards. Oh, and for the poster who thinks those of us who find the show inauthentic and stupid are not actually in the business — we are, honey. We’re the ones who actually work. Yep, work, writing, producing directing, thriving careers in Hollywood who know the show is not only badly written but completely full of shit. You, on the other hand, sound like an assistant in payroll, or, maybe, a waitress at the Chateau. So you think that makes you an insider, and that you know how things go. But it don’t.
LOL! So true, especially what you said about the “poster”…
Nikki was just being sarcastic. This episode was almost unwatchable. What they should’ve done awhile ago was make the show about Jeremy Piven, and get rid of the rest. The “star” actor can’t act and has no charisma; Turtle and E are boring, and Johnny Drama gets storylines that are out of “Three’s Company.” They should have realized their mistake (they probably did realize it, when the characters continued to be one-note after season one), and they have given the show completely to the Ari Gold character.
Ally Musika is a joke. Nikki should look into her sudden rise to EP. Leave it at that.
Shocked by the amount of people disrespecting Drama… guy’s the best thing about the show!!!
I give any show I love a lot of slack. And I’ve loved Entourage for a long time. I’m still enjoying the show, but it’s more in the way you love old friends. Even with old friends, you want them to grow. The problem is that Entourage isn’t growing.
Why introduce the new agent? Gary Cole’s a good actor, but that’s a dud storyline. The show’s called “Entourage” and it’s about the boys and their experience in Tinseltown. The E/Sloan/Ashley triangle’s fine, but it’s not building, it’s just repeating.
The idea that “there’s only one season left” is absurd. Good writers can shape new storylines, and they’ve already developed a great world with this show. They just need to get get back to basics, and then build. Fresh ideas, new writers, and remembering the core.
its best? season 2 was its best and should have been its last. the characters are all unlikable, vince is a total turd and supposed to be an A list star? the show is not good.
The Ally Musika comment is true. Ask any female writer who ever met on the show for a job. She is territorial and follows Doug Ellin around like a lap dog.
This season is by far the worst. After every episode I’m left saying: “meh.” No More Drama was good, though…
This season is not the best season ever, it’s losing some of the magic that we were usted to deal with… It’s very empty, with very few glimpses of relations between Ari and the boys… Turtle’s scenes are good but not great, just like Vinnie’s… Eric’s are not funny and boring… But ep10 shows us one of the best scenes ever, when Drama meet Ari in the agency dying for honesty… And he gets it… FUNTASTIK
Hated the season. Completely piece of crap.
Vince character was horrible, so bad I can’t even start saying.
I’m a huge fan of Entourage (is my favourite TV Show in the world). But damm.. this season was so bad.
First of all.. looks like all the guys are becoming girls with big you-know-what.
Drama was the most funny as always, but everything they did was too try hard.
Who is writing this stuff?? Did they change authors. If it still the same, guys at least change to another author.
I’ve always loved watching Entourage. But this season it’s ridiculous. Really bad one.
I don’t even fell excited about the next season anymore.