It’s a good thing Entourage has spent its history creating such a vivid sense of friendship that we just like spending a half-hour hanging out with these guys, because the show really isn’t that funny anymore, and its “plots” are so slim I have to put quotation marks around the word “plots.” This week’s sixth-season premiere found its best moments at Ari Gold’s office, where Lloyd is demanding a promotion. I like Lloyd, and I like Gary Cole playing Ari’s rather weaselly colleague. (Let’s face it, I like Gary Cole in just about everything. Don’t you? Lately I’ve had an urge to watch him again in his terrific 1984 TV-movie Fatal Vision.) But what does it say for Entourage that the non-members of the entourage are more interesting than the entourage these days?
Vince getting his drivers license? Z-z-z-z-z… Vince prepping for a Tonight Show appearance? A Tonight Show apperance with Jay Leno and not Conan O’Brien? Even allowing for the time-gaps in the series’ production schedule, couldn’t the producers have forseen this, and booked him on, say, Jimmy Kimmel? Seeing Vince on the Leno set already feels old, not even nostalgic. This was compounded by the moment when Vince said he’d save a racy anecdote about having a threesome “for Conan” — i.e., for a later hour. No, Vince, you’ll be saving that threesome for Jimmy Fallon.
Now, the good stuff: I’m still tickled by the notion of vacuous Vincent starring in Martin Scorsese’s version of The Great Gatsby. (Who do you guess is his Daisy? It’s probably Scarlett Johanssen, but I wish it was Megan Fox.) And while everyone I know says they’re kinda sick of Johnny Drama and his huffy insecurity, I’m always completely charmed by Kevin Dillon’s total commitment to Johnny’s brash vanity. Dillon never does the cheap actorly thing of showing how much he loves his character; he’s admirably brutal in making Johnny a desperate second-rater even now, when Drama has achieved TV stardom.
Yet I have to say I’m not too invested in Eric’s search for a new place to live, the metaphor for him getting too mature to continue lounging around with the guys. If E is too old for that sort of thing, isn’t Entourage implying that we all are?
What did you think? Did you enjoy last night’s premiere?
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The entire problem with this show started two seasons ago when it began centering around E instead of either Vince or Ari. It’s never recovered from that and likely never will. Let’s see Jeremy Piven’s brilliant, Vince is a movie star, there’s no plot for him and we have to waste half the episode talking (yet again) about Sloan and Eric Murphy’s hot streak. Yeah THAT’S what we want to see from basically a male fantasy show in Hollywood. Not the light, fun actor’s life of the first two seasons, or the manical, hilarious, massively successful agent with the hot wife and two kids. No just center it around the manager.
What a horrible, awful show. This show is one of the most overrated shows in recent history. HBO usually has a strong line up of original programming, but this is one of the worst they’ve ever churned out.
I have always and will always love entourage!
i love the characters the friendship, ARI, even aris wife
and especially SLOAN (E’s on again off again gf)
I enjoyed it, I thought it was a great first episode of the season. The Jay Leno thing, I admit didn’t really fit in, seeing as he doens’t do the show anymore but it was overall funny.
I think there is to much focus on E and Sloan. Sloan is becoming Yoko of the group . I would like to see more Hollywierd Parties with more fomouse guest celebs and their strange ways ( GARY BUSEY )
They had a chance to make this show great and interesting several times over the last couple seasons by changing the dynamic. Ari could have took the studio head job, Eric could have parted ways, but instead they opted for the very unrealistic ending of Vince getting a call from Marty S. and everything works out…AGAIN.
It was just so unrealistic and predictable. The show fails when pushed to be great. Plot line, Vince doesn’t care about his career, Eric gets frustrated, Ari rides in on his white horse. Turtle and Drama have a whacky adventure. For anyone over 30, Do you remember the episode of Three’s Company that was based on a misunderstanding? Wait, they all where. This show has gone there and lost its soul. Sad because I loved this show and would like to again.
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I think the whole Leno subplot was a huge misfire. Featuring a now outdated version of “The Tonight Show” on a show that routinely centers around what’s “in-style” and “what’s hot” and frequently shows the ebb and flow of the entertainment industry from one scene to another came off as kind of pathetic last night. Any other show could have gotten away with this, and it wouldn’t have come across as a major oversight. But when your show is about the entertainment industry and is always trying to be “hip” and “fresh,” you should always be as current as possible. Having said that, I actually liked last night’s episode. It was rather understated for the most part, which is usually my preference. I was disappointed with Lloyd though. His character should have quit on the spot instead of taking Ari up on his offer.
I HATE the Eric Sloane plotline! It is SO boring and Sloane is SUPERannoying! Hopefully Vince will move a hot girl into the house and then predictably cheat on her and treat her badly and all kinds of tabloid heated drama will pursue! lol
How do you know that “saving for Conan” didn’t mean “saving for when Conan takes over the Tonight Show?” It doesn’t seem like there is a trip to New York on the schedule.
FYI, Vince already did Kimmel. EW, stop hiring writers to recap shows that they haven’t been following.
Ken, you nailed it. I still like watching the show, but I don’t laugh. The E stuff is annoying already. It is like the show is his, the everyone else is the supporting cast. Sad, because he’s the weakest character on the show.
The reason they didnt have conan was because when the episode was aired the conan set was not built yet so Jay Leno was what they had to do in LA
I honestly like the “transition” it appears the show is taking. Vince sitting by himself at the end kind of sums up that the other guys are growing up. The Leno appearance was a mistake I will admit, unless it has something to do with something that will happen later in the season (i.e. Vince’s movie where he will play Enzo Ferrari (Leno is a car guy)). But I do believe that everyone will eventually appreciate more later on in the season what this first episode did.
Entourage has always had funny moments, but I’ve never really thought of it as a comedy. Usually it just elicits a smirk from me as apposed to actual laughter, so I’ve never thought the show owes me laughs. I enjoyed this premiere episode quite a bit, especially since it focused on the boys having to adjust to changes, which is something the show always seems to tease, but never really follows through on. I think the show has come to a point where it needs to make a decision about whether it will continue to indulge the adolescent fantasy lifestyle or show the crew maturing into men. I’m hoping for the latter, since I think the Hollywood daydream was getting stale, but I have a feeling I’m in the minority.
Gem,
If you’re going to comment, at least learn a bit of english first. Let me help…the drama will not “pursue”, but “ENSUE”. Keep watchin’ that T.V.
Gem,
If you’re going to comment, at least try learning a bit of English first. Let me help…the drama will not “pursue”, but “ENSUE”. Keep watchin’ that T.V.
Do you think that the entourage producers were not aware that Leno would not be the host of the tonight show? they knew, trust me you are not smarter than them. they are well aware. It wasnt an oversight, maybe the episode just takes place 6 months ago, is that such a stretch!?!?!? anyway, i personally live that the show’s central character is E. he is the manager, and the is about show business. you cant have business without the manager. keep doing what your doing, doug ellin!
I liked this season premeire very much. I think the writers started to realize the non-stop party lifestyle gets old after awhile and theyre trying to signify that the crew realizes this. Theyre moving on to the next stage in their life. Living in Hollywood with the party life style at 28, I gotta admit I connected with this episode ending pretty well. Times change and people end up finding things more important then just partying every day. very good call on the writer’s end to take the show in this direction. I think were finally seeing what will be the beginning of the end for the show.
I’m watching “Entourage” these days out of force of habit. I’m a gay man, and I don’t think the characters on the show are homophobic, per se, but the casual homophobia in their banter — mostly from Ari, who for me is completely past the point of amusement — is like spending a half hour surrounded by a group of friends making jokes at my expense. And that doesn’t even address the sexism in the female characters, who with the exception of Sloan are either sluts or shrews. Heck, even “Sex and the City” let some of its male characters be actual people.
it was a decent opening, but anything can be better than the last season. Not that it was bad, but it seemed like all of the episodes were kind of fillers (which led me to believe that this season would be different). Ride the wave, everything always ends up okay for Vince and the guys (and HBO)… stop hating, watch the next 3 episodes and THEN make a critique. I love how people see the season opener and say ‘DONE!’ or think the show is no longer worth watching.
To reply to a previous comment, agreed that EW needs to hire writers who actually know the show too. And get off the Leno crap, seriously, if that’s your biggest knock (that and the new E true hollywood story) then quick SEARCHING for bad things and look at the good. Vince is back, this season (whether you like it or not) is going to be different than all of the others as is the show for that matter. I’m 25 and I’ll be watching this show until it ends… to your question: YES, WE ARE STILL FRIENDS WITH THESE GUYS, ARE YOU?
First of all, let me just say that I am glad to see Entourage on the air. Definitely a great show. Now, I kind of expected to see more out of the premiere. Oh, I’ll just come out with it, I expected to see the Gatsby premiere. But, what can you do? Also, I liked last season. There were parts that were whiny, but for the most part it was more exciting than any of the other seasons. It was interesting to see Vince take a huge blow in his career and having to actually deal with something for once. It showed great character development. Of course, the reason I watch the show is only for Drama and Ari. They’re both terrific. And this show isn’t really that funny. But I watch the show for the satire on hollywood. Besides, hbo already has Curb and Eastbound so it doesn’t need Entourage to be histerical. I liked the opening nonetheless.
EVERY recap I read on EW is by some passive viewer who can offer no real insight. LOVE Ari and pray they give him his own show after Vince and boys wrap up. The Tonight show comment makes no sense, there was no Conan set when the show was filmed. I’m pretty sure the producers (like the rest of the world) knew Conan would be taking over the tonight show.
not only didnt the tonight show fit with the show. i didnt also get all the excitement for signing my name is earl which has already been cancelled. that said i will still watch the show if for no other reason than Ari. to me the show could easily transition into being about the agency the centered around vince.
The best Entourage episodes have always been the ones that deal with Vince’s career. While the episodes about him, Turtle, or Drama trying to get laid can be funny, they have grown tiresome through 5 seasons.
Personally, I don’t like Vince’s new Ferrari movie that he will be making barely mentioned, but that’s just me. it felt like the writers were trying to reintroduce the characters to new viewers, which is frustrating for long time fans of the show who feel like they know the characters.
The Turtle-Jamie Lynn subplot has the potential to be very boring. The conversation between the 2 was essentially the same as last season.
Drama was more annoying than funny and he added to the boring plot of the guys just sitting around and talking.
I’m not completely sold on Gary Cole taking screentime from Ari.
Overall it was a decent episode. Sloan looked great and I look forward to seeing more than her.
I think the show has seen its best days, but I’ll still watch.
Ken, you’re right on about the outdated reference to Vince being on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The other dated reference – Ari Gold’s opening sequence, when he’s so excited the agency has landed ‘My Name is Earl.’ Umm, cancelled! Nothing to be excited about whatsoever. What, did HBO delay the airing of this season for 6 months and I didn’t know about it?
Jermey Piven is a tool.
The show is a gulity pleasure for me,I enjoyed the first show of the new season,liked seeing Sloan back also..Wonder if the President watched?*L*
Jermey Piven is a tool
Watched one season of this show (the first) and did not care for it at all. Annoying annoying characters and no one to like or cheer for. Which is fine sometimes, but not when you’re actually supposed to like them.