HBO’s newest series Entourage premiered last night, and I’ve got to say I’m solidly on the fence. This thing could go either way. For a pilot episode, it was reasonably strong. The situations themselves were kind of bland, but the show let us get to know the characters, and so far, I reasonably like what I see. The casting will likely remain the best element of this show. I’m not a huge Adrian Grenier fan, but as young movie-star Vince Chase, he brings the right combination of a regular guy with exceptional looks who’s smart enough to not take too much of his new life seriously while also being adequately vacant so as to not really know what he’s doing. I give major props to executive producer Mark Wahlberg upon whose life the show is supposedly based. If that’s really the case, Wahlberg isn’t afraid to make himself look like a relatively simple fool who has to some degree lucked into his current stardom and would never be able to keep it up without his friends helping make all the decisions.
Jeremy Piven is the standout as Vince’s agent Ari who constantly goes head-to-head with Vince’s best friend, and de-facto manager, Eric played fabulously by Kevin Connolly. Eric is the straight man of the show and the most difficult character to play. He’s the guy who distances himself the most from the craziness, wanting to stay real and grounded, and Vince depends on him for those very things. Connolly brings a relaxed mood to Eric, but also isn’t afraid to mix-it-up with Ari, especially when the latter offends him by calling him “pizza-boy,” a nickname which seems ready to stick later among his friends.
Kevin Dillon — Matt’s younger brother who I’m sure you’d recognize – also is fantastic as Vince’s half-brother and wannabe actor who’s claim to fame seems to be a four-episode guest stint on Pacific Blue and maybe a Melrose Place or two. Dillon is totally making fun of his own career; while not as pathetic as his character’s — Johnny Drama — the show presents some obvious parallels.
The main problem with Entourage, so far, is that it’s just not that funny. I can see the potential, and again, this was just the first episode and they had to get a lot done in 30 minutes, but hopefully the writing will get a lot stronger. There were a couple lines that made me chuckle, but mostly, I was just noticing where the laugh-track would be had this been a three-camera network sitcom. The building blocks are there for a fun, entertaining and humorous show, even if it’s not necessarily groundbreaking. But as long as Whalberg and Co. are willing to bare all and lampoon their own world and existence, Entourage has a chance to shine.
At the very least, it’s earned a couple weeks worth of devotion.
Out of Focus 
I’m with you — on the fence, though I think I’m leaning more towards hating it.
First off the goofy guy of the group — annoying as both an actor and as a character. Maybe he’ll drown in the pool by episode 3.
Are we meant to like these guys? Care about them?
Each character is a stereotype and the writing is just the various combination of conflicts that rise up. Piven and Connolly are the only two that I had any interest in as characters.
Curious to see where they are going to take it.
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I agree. The only difference between this and a network sitcom is that the cast of Entourage can say “shit” and “fuck.” I really wanted to like this one, too. Great premise.
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The concept I’m into– I’m even into the fact that its “loosly” based on Marky Mark’s rise from CK pinup to “legit” actor.
But I’ve got to tell you, maybe it was the trauma caused to my brain from this weeks SFU (WTF was THAT– *spoiler* David, smokes crack now?), but I thought Entourage was average at best. I’ve seen all the Hollywood-types played out in much better films and movies (I kept thinking of The Player, and more recently Point and Shoot). I do like the “fish out of water” elements that the overly New Yorkish group of guys seem to bring to to the laid back L.A. scene. But overall, its just not doing it for me. I beginning to fear that HBO is losing their touch– they may never regain the cultural touchstone shows like the Sopranos, and Sex… If they keep trying to replace them with shows like Carnivale (unwatchable) and Entourage (I agree, just slightly above-network sitcom level)
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