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The Emmy -winning hit comedy series created by Doug Ellin, and based (at least in part) on the experiences of his good friend, Oscar nominated actor Mark Wahlberg (who’s among the series’ executive producers). The series takes a none-too-serious look at the day-to-day life of Vincent Chase(Adrian Grenier), an incandescent young Hollywood actor, and the three buddies he’s brought from their hometown in Queens, NY: manager Eric (Kevin Connolly), half brother/actor Drama (Kevin Dillon), and pal Turtle (Jerry Ferrara). Also starring Golden Globe and three-time Emmy -winner Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold – now heading an entertainment –agency behemoth–Entourage draws on the experiences of industry insiders to illustrate the excesses of today’s celebrity lifestyle, as well as the difficulty of maintaining relationships and artistic fulfillment in the show biz fast track.
Entourage: The Complete First Season-Entourage is everything viewers have come to expect from an HBO series: smart, hilarious, and highly addictive, especially when taken in full-season, DVD form. As implied in the title, the show follows Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), a rising Hollywood star with bedroom eyes and an over-active libido, along with his three childhood companions-turned-hangers-on. Kevin Dillon plays Johnny Drama, Vincent's less-attractive, B-list actor of a brother (he is Matt Dillon's less-attractive, B-list actor of a brother in real life). Jerry Ferrara plays Turtle, the weasel, and Kevin Connolly appears as Eric, the Everyman hero who hopes to parlay his friendship with Vincent (plus two years of community college) into a career in talent management. Along the way Eric contends with the predictable self-doubt, romantic indecision, etc. The cast is rounded out by Jeremy Piven (Doug Hughley from Singles) as a foul-mouthed agent reminiscent of Jay Mohr's short-lived Peter Dragon character. Finally, it's produced by Marky Mark himself--and you've got to believe that guy knows something about the star-entourage relationship. If possible, watch with a friend so you'll have someone to quote lines back to later. --Leah Weathersby
Entourage: The Complete Second Season-The most clever thing producers did with the second season of Entourage, HBO's hip and hilariously accurate depiction of Hollywood, was to take the boys out of Hollywood. Sending star-on-the-rise Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his boys from Queens (hence the title of the show) into places like Sundance and ComiCon created a whole new treasure trove of inside jokes, and for that we thank them. The usual clutter of celeb cameos abound (Hugh Hefner, Pauly Shore, Ralph Macchio,), but one main story arc takes up the entire season: Vincent's casting in Aquaman, the big-budget movie he didn't want to star in, and then had to vie against Leonardo DiCaprio to get. Mandy Moore turns up as the only girl who ever broke Vince's heart (on the set of A Walk to Remember, allegedly) and now re-enters his life as his Aquagirl, while James Cameron makes a few appearances as director of the superhero project. In the meantime, Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) goes from moocher to music manager, Eric (Kevin Connolly) gets courted to be a big-time agent, and Johnny "Drama" (Kevin Dillon, ever the punchline) ponders calf implants and gets fired from a Movie of the Week with Brooke Shields. The biggest turn of events, however, happens to Vince's slick agent Ari Gold (an Emmy-worthy Jeremy Piven), who pulls a Jerry Maguire by the end of the season. Ari's ability to switch sides on a dime -- that is, to choke up at his daughter's bat mitzvah, then manipulate the family moment into a publicity stunt to lure his client away from a rival, continues to make Piven the firecracker of the bunch. Grenier is slightly less vacuous than last season, but still has the least interesting personality (which could be the point of the show--that it takes a village to make any Joe Actor into a movie star). --Ellen A. Kim
Entourage: The Complete Third Season Pt. 1-The third season of HBO's inside-showbiz comedy kicks off with a familiar anxiety for Tinseltown's best: your film's opening-weekend box office. In the case of Vince (Adrian Grenier) and company, it's Aquaman, Vince's big break that took up most of last season and elevated the group to even bigger perks and tchotchkes. Luckily, the numbers are good (creator Doug Ellin reveals in the commentary that the episode was inspired by his friend who was with Tobey Maguire when he first heard Spider-Man's opening numbers) and Vince uses the leverage to chase his dream project, a biopic of Pablo Escobar called Medellin. But first he has to schmooze the film's eccentric producer who's strangely attached to his Shrek doll (Bruno Kirby, in his last role before his death in 2006) and juggle scheduling conflicts with the Aquaman sequel, which leads to an ego war with Warner studio chief Allen Grey (Paul Ben-Victor). Meanwhile, Turtle's (Jerry Ferrara) management of upstart rapper Saigon takes some sharp turns; Eric (Kevin Connolly) finds his relationship with Sloan (Emmanuelle Chiriqui) on shaky ground; and Johnny "Drama" Chase (Kevin Dillon) gets to audition for a television pilot directed by Ed Burns (playing himself). But the overarching storyline for season 3 involves Vince's agent Ari Gold (Emmy winner Jeremy Piven), who was canned last season by his agency. Taking his flamboyant, hilarious assistant Lloyd (Rex Lee) with him, Ari goes about setting up his own firm, but not before drawing fire from the mafia of other agents and threatening his relationship with star client Vince. The only weak storyline involves an old childhood pal (Domenick Lombardozzi), fresh out of prison, trying to nudge his way into Vince's gang. But otherwise the show's inside look at the baptism of the newly famous continues to tickle the funny bone. As usual, Entourage sprinkles in cameos, including Crash director Paul Haggis hilariously playing himself as a wound-up neurotic ("If I let contracts run my life, I'd still be doing The Facts of Life rather than hanging with my boys," he says as he points to his Oscars). James Woods filches Aquaman premiere tickets for his friends, and Seth Green gets in a rumble with Eric in the episode "Vegas Baby Vegas." Extras are still scant: just three commentaries and a featurette on their Vegas-location episode. --Ellen A. Kim
Entourage: The Complete Third Season Pt. 2-HBO's decision to release Entourage's third season in two parts makes watching the already brief season on DVD feel even more abrupt; compared to part one's 12 episodes, part two is just eight--and just as the plot feels like it's finally moving, it's over. Also over, at least as part two opens, is the working relationship between movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven). Playing much like a real breakup, the two circle each other in various spots in Hollywood--avoiding, making small talk, attempting the just-friends hangout. But deep down, the two know they're meant for each other, and when Ari dangles the rights to Vincent's dream project--the Pablo Escobar biopic Medellín--Vincent is only too happy to meet, against the wishes of his new agent (Carla Gugino). The pursuit of the Medellín project is the focus of part two, from trying to close the deal on Yom Kippur (not the easiest when the studio execs are observing the holy day), to mulling an indecent proposal from a prince and his wife in exchange for financing the flick. Meanwhile, Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon, who finally scored an Emmy nomination for this season) enjoys success on an Edward Burns-produced network drama called Five Towns. Turtle and Eric don't get as much storyline in this installment, and while there's plenty of Piven scenery to chew there's not enough of his scene-stealing assistant, Lloyd (Rex Lee). Bonus features remain minimal: commentary, a behind-the-scenes featurette. Perhaps that's the running theme of part two: There's just not enough. --Ellen A. Kim
Entourage: The Complete Fourth Season-The fourth season of Entourage follows Vincent Chase's quest for legitimacy (and Oscar) through his dream project, the Pablo Escobar biopic Medellin, whose development deal was the focus of season three. As expected, the production is riddled with troubles: Vincent (Adrian Grenier) and Eric (Kevin Connolly) clash over the ability of the film's director, Billy Walsh (Rhys Coiro), to handle the grand scale of a film. Eric even flies in Oscar-winning screenwriter Stephen Gaghan (playing himself) to the shoot in Colombia at Billy's request in order to rescue the script, only to send him home when Billy comes up with the ending himself. ("I've never had anyone pay me not to work before," says Gaghan in a hilarious cameo. "It was nice.") But as the pet project puts strains on their friendship, Eric finally takes a step off of Vince's coattails to become a manager in his own right; his first step is snagging actress Anna Faris (as herself) as a client (in true Hollywood form, after she hits him with her car). As buzz on Medellin ebbs and flows, Eric and Vince's agent, Ari Gold (Emmy winner Jeremy Piven) wheel and deal to lock in distribution and spin the behind-the-scenes drama to their advantage. Key to the negotiations is a swaggering, hotheaded studio magnate named Harvey Weinhald--the caricature is obvious--who threatens the life of any agent who double-crosses him. And that's right where our boys land, but is it a gamble that will pay off? The fourth season, as always, is rife with celebrity cameos (Dennis Hopper, the late Sydney Pollack, Kanye West), but the Medellin plot pushes out any chance for other Entourage cast members to get a storyline (Johnny Drama gets a condo! Buys a hat!), which ultimately becomes a detriment considering that Medellin, as the big finale at Cannes attests, may not have been worth all the hype. Bonus features include commentary by the cast and creators, a panel discussion, and the Medellin trailer, which with its slo-mo, self-important music and bad makeup, is a gem. --Ellen A. Kim
Entourage: The Complete Fifth Season-Entourage's fifth season leaves our movie star in a pickle: his big Oscar shot, Medellin, is a dismal failure, and Vincent (Adrian Grenier) has burrowed away to Mexico to drown his sorrows in booze and women. How does a once-promising actor get his confidence, legitimacy, and bankability back? That's the key premise this time around, and like some of its previous seasons, is always more interesting when Vince is struggling than when he's on top. Once his crew--manager Eric (Kevin Connolly), big brother Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon), agent Ari (Jeremy Piven), and driver Turtle (Jerry Ferrara)--convince Vince to get back in the game, he finds many once-welcoming doors closed. He eagerly takes a meeting with Shawshank Redemption director Frank Darabont (playing himself), only to feel insulted when he finds it's for a TV pilot. (His subsequent options? Appearing at a Sweet Sixteen party and doing a Benji movie.) Once a promising script about firefighters (called Smokejumpers) piques Vince's interest, ensuing episodes become a complex chess game of job-hopping, backdoor-dealing, and back-scratching, which is always Entourage's strength. As Vince watches his star fade, Grenier gets a chance to let his sunny optimism crack, even sitting in Ari's office and begging to be told he's a good actor. The celebrity guest stars are plentiful and more integral this season. Jason Patric--playing himself--lampoons his difficult on-set reputation brilliantly as Vince's co-star in Smokejumpers. (The onetime Speed 2 star brags about being offered the lead in Aquaman 2, but turned it down: "Sequels, water: they're not for me.") Stellan Skarsgard (Good Will Hunting) plays a famous German director who clashes with Vince; Jamie-Lynn Sigler (The Sopranos) cameos as a new love interest for Turtle; Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) reprises her Season One role as an aspiring singer, and Eric Roberts plays himself (who happens to deal 'shrooms on the side) in a wacky episode involving the guys' drug-fueled night of reflection at Joshua Tree. Even Mark Wahlberg, the show's producer and inspiration, plays himself in a golf scene with former agent Ari (priceless line: "What about when you told me you liked The Truth About Charlie?"). The only unwelcome cameo is in "Seth Green Day," in which the actor turns up for no other reason than to re-surface his war with Eric and annoy everyone to death. Extras include cast commentaries and a behind-the-scenes featurette. --Ellen A. Kim
Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season-The sixth season of Entourage focuses on the title members rather than Vince (Adrian Grenier), the movie star they follow, which would have been a smart move had they been given more interesting story lines. Instead, Eric (Kevin Connolly) struggles with his startup agency and moons over his just-friends status with Sloan (Emmanuelle Chiriqui) while consoling himself with his needling neighbor Ashley (Alexis Dziena); Ari (Jeremy Piven) is gleefully hazing his assistant Lloyd (Rex Lee) for 100 days with the promise to make him a full agent should he survive; Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) enjoys a serious relationship with Jamie-Lynn Sigler (as herself) but tires of being seen as a hanger-on and decides to enroll in business school; Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon), is, as usual, sabotaging a good thing (a starring role in Ed Burns's NBC drama). For Vince, however, the biggest thing to happen to him the entire season is… his house gets robbed. Without a film for Vince to work on (after doing The Great Gatsby for Martin Scorsese, Vince's next film is delayed) and no deals to negotiate, the show gets away from its most interesting setting, rendering it weaker as a result. The celebrity guest stars, however, punctuate the season with great self-effacing cameos, notably David Schwimmer, who curses his way through a pitch meeting in which every project has a bumbling role for him; Tom Brady, who paints a picture-perfect domestic life with supermodel wife Gisele ("Just come over to the house. She cooks."); and Matt Damon, who angrily haggles Vince to donate to a charity fundraiser in the season finale. A sleazebag Bob Saget makes another appearance as himself, as do Bono, Steve Nash, LeBron James, and Jay Leno. Two so-so behind-the-scenes features and audio commentaries by the cast and crew round out the special features. --Ellen A. Kim
Entourage: The Complete Seventh Season-Season seven of Entourage is the darkest chapter in the show's history to date, and while even long-running series may have one or two Very Special Episodes, an entire season filled with drugs, rejection, and breakups is too heavy for a comedy. After hemming and hawing over doing a stunt himself, Vince (Adrian Grenier) gets into a slight accident that leaves him shaken but craving adrenaline, kicking off a self-destructive spiral that lasts all season. He begins a drug-and-alcohol-fueled relationship with porn star Sasha Grey (as herself), which further diminishes his reputation (especially when he brings her to a business meeting with Stan Lee and he tries to recall where he's seen her before). It doesn't help that Vince is the new face of an imported tequila that Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) is attempting to market. Meanwhile, Ari (Jeremy Piven) reveals a particularly nasty side when he overreacts to the departure of a junior agent he mistreated and believes has aligned with his rival (Carla Gugino). This puts him on even shakier ground with the long-suffering Mrs. Ari (Perrey Reeves), who gives him an ultimatum on their marriage. And while Eric (Kevin Connolly) is newly engaged to Sloane (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and a rising agent in his own right, he faces stiff competition from his brasher, more charismatic associate (Scott Caan). Finally, Johnny (Kevin Dillon) develops a buddy sitcom with John Stamos--but must play Ping-Pong against him to woo him into the taking the part. When Bob Saget steals it from him, Johnny is offered what could be the greatest career move of his life, but he's too offended to consider it: a starring voice-over role (as a gorilla) in his own animated series called "Johnny's Bananas." This story line was the only spark in Entourage's downer of a season, which is commendable for going a different direction but never found the right balance of the elements that made it such a hit series. Even when Grenier and Piven are going through their struggles, they come off more annoying than sympathetic. As the series wraps up next season, here's hoping it finds its spark before the party ends. --Ellen A. Kim
Entourage: The Complete EighthSeason-HBO presents the final Season of Entourage, the Emmy® Award-winning hit comedy series. Vince, Eric, Drama, and Turtle have been through a lot over the years, chasing dreams, women, and good times. Through the highs and lows their friendship has kept them together. This season, find out if the guys can compete on their own in the fast lane of high-stakes Hollywood. It's time to fasten your seat belts!