“Entourage” – Born: 2004.
Died: 2006. May it rest in peace.
HBO’s “Entourage” – the quirky comedy about four nobodies who hit it big in Hollywood – died a tragic death earlier this year.
The cause of death was acute boredom.
This is a sad state of affairs for a comedy that, on paper at least, never should have worked in the first place.
And yet, “Entourage” was the guiltiest pleasure to grace the airwaves of late – crammed as it is with ugly boys, slutty girls, enough product placements to fill a small city, and cameo appearances by needy Z-listers with tragic man-boobs (Dominick Lombardozzi). It should have been unbearable.
It was too funny.
“Entourage” centers around pretty boy Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his boys from Queens, who move to Hollywood and hit the jackpot. Vinny can’t really act, nor is he terribly bright. Yet he becomes an “It” boy.
And with that status comes all the things we lust for in society, in abundance. Gorgeous babes throw themselves at Vinny – or if he is taken, they compete to give it up to his half-brother Johnny Drama (the great Kevin Dillon), or his goofy friend, Turtle (Jerry Ferrara).
The boys live in a mansion. No one ever seems to work.
You should hate them. But herein lies the show’s brilliance.This is a perfect snapshot of a lunatic society that so richly rewards a young man who can’t even drive a car or boil an egg. “Entourage” captures a system of values in which looking good and acting cool can buy you fame, riches, influence and sex. It holds a mirror up to a shallow society in which a novelist, say, might starve. But a kid who can barely read those novels sits on top of the food chain.
And the clothes are awesome.
But Vinny’s rise to the top of the “A” list, apparently, has happened too quickly. Because now that he’s been established as a star, “Entourage” doesn’t seem to know what to do with itself.
For several weeks, we’ve suffered as his best friend, Eric (Kevin Connolly), engaged in a tragic threesome with hot girlfriend and her even hotter gal pal. Eric agonizes over this, violating the cardinal rule of a threesome: He makes it boring.
Can “Entourage” be saved? Or, like fame itself, is its star all too fleeting? There are five things the producers might try if they hope to resurrect the show from the graveyard :
1. More Johnny Drama. Kevin Dillon has been all but invisible so far this season. As the star’s older bro, whose anger issues prevent him from securing stardom, Dillon can be a standout. Use him!
2. Less Eric. Eric worked as the good-hearted member of the group, the only guy in Hollywood with a conscience. But now, he’s turned into a whiny priss. Tone him down!
3. Less Ari. Vinny’s hyperactive agent, Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven), was one of my favorite characters. But now every time he shows up, “Entourage” turns into The Ari Show. Piven chews the scenery as if he’s the only actor on-screen. Bring him back into the ensemble cast.
4. What happened to Vinny? Vincent Chase is supposed to be a mediocre actor – in the movies. But Adrian Grenier has been insufferably wooden. Buy this guy some acting lessons!
5. No more pointless plot lines. Like the one in which a buddy is released from prison and lands on Vinny’s doorstep. It wasn’t funny.