The season 6 premiere of HBO's "Entourage" premieres on Sunday, July 12, 2009 @ 10:30 PM ET.

Reviews upcoming.

Variety's review:
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Entourage
(Series -- HBO, Sun. July 12, 10:30 p.m.)
by BRIAN LOWRY

Filmed in Los Angeles by Leverage and Closest to the Hole Prods. Executive producers, Mark Wahlberg, Doug Ellin, Stephen Levinson, Denis Biggs, Rob Weiss, Ally Musika; co-executive producer, Mark Mylod; producers, Wayne Carmona, Lori Jo Nemhauser; director, Mylod; writer, Ellin.

Vince - Adrian Grenier
Eric - Kevin Connolly
Drama - Kevin Dillon
Turtle - Jerry Ferrara
Ari - Jeremy Piven
Mrs. Ari - Perrey Reeves
Lloyd - Rex Lee
Andrew Klein - Gary Cole
Sloan - Emmanuelle Chriqui

Despite being renowned for fast-lane glitz, "Entourage's" new season gets off to a rather plodding start. Based on two episodes, HBO's Hollywood-insider buffet initially lacks the sort of compelling big-picture storyline driving the narrative that the show developed to its advantage in more recent years. What's left, then, are minor subplots involving the characters that are pleasant enough but clearly "B"-list material following the series' concerted bid for the street cred associated with breaking into the ranks of TV comedy's velvet-rope elite.

Last season was particularly interesting because it saw the program's fictional movie star, Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), struggle through bad career decisions, threatening to fray or at least redefine the relationships among his close-knit group of pals.

Now, with Vince back on top of the world, the focus has shifted mostly to the love life of his manager Eric (Kevin Connolly), who's still understandably pining for old g.f. Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui). Meanwhile, super-agent Ari (Jeremy Piven) has to deal with management issues involving his assistant Lloyd (Rex Lee), who wants a promotion; and TV agent Andrew (Gary Cole), who presents his own unexpected headache.

The larger thread thus hinges on what happens to the old gang now that Vince isn't the center of everyone's universe -- since Eric has an established management career, Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) has a steady girlfriend (real-life flame Jamie-Lynn Sigler), and Drama (Kevin Dillon) has a part in a hit TV series. So far, however, what the producers are calling the series' evolution adds up to more snooze than snap.

Although not the show's fault, the layoff between seasons has also made some of the usually dead-on pop-culture references feel awkwardly dated. Vince, for example, does "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, and Andrew exults in an inside-baseball reference about having signed "My Name Is Earl" creator Greg Garcia -- after the NBC comedy has in reality been canceled.

In the interim, "Entourage" gets by almost entirely on atmosphere, Piven's live-wire charm, and its small touches -- from hiking in Runyon Canyon to the gaudiness of a lavish movie premiere -- which remain impeccable. For awhile, though, the show dug beneath its well-polished surface by forcing Vince to become an active participant in his own career, instead of just sauntering through life.

In this case, the attempt to move forward actually feels like backsliding. Hopefully, I'll be proven wrong as the episodes unfold, but until then, the producers should feel free to keep handy the episode where Drama tells Variety's TV critic to screw himself.

Hollywood Reporter's review:
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ENTOURAGE -- TV Review
by Andrew Wallenstein, July 05, 2009

"Bottom Line: The boys are back in town, but the sixth season starts slow.

Many a Hollywood actor has managed to sustain a long-term career with little discernible talent, drive, or effort. So too "Entourage," the HBO series heading into its sixth season that, like its movie star protagonist Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), coasts along on charm and little else.

Maybe what keeps "Entourage" so mystifyingly satisfying is the contact high delivered by its sumptuous depiction of luxe Los Angeles. Or maybe it's the easy chemistry of the featured quartet. No other show with so little to specifically recommend about it paradoxically commands such faithful viewing.

But if the first two episodes of the new season are any indication, the show's staying power isn't attributable to its satirical edge. A reflection of the real-life recession-rocked entertainment industry "Entourage" isn't.

Sure, Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) is throwing stones all over the glass castle that is his Miller Gold Agency, but no more or less than usual. The worst he has to deal with is renewed begging from his long-suffering assistant, Lloyd (Rex Lee), for a promotion. And his new hire, Andrew Klein (Gary Cole), is bringing in plenty of clients but creating other problems, too.

Whatever elevated mercury levels thwarted Piven's theater career last year on "Speed the Plow" show no lingering after-effects for the actor, who is as sharp as ever in the role he was born to play.

Chase certainly isn't feeling any stress either as he enjoys a comeback in the fictional Martin Scorsese film "Gatsby." His biggest problem in the season premiere? Whether he should take his Aston Martin to the road test he has to take to get his driver's license.

Which isn't to say Chase has suddenly broken free from the state of co-dependent arrested development with his boys. Eric (Kevin Connolly) is so enmeshed in this bro-mance he finds it difficult to rekindle his romance with Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui), though you would think he would just marry her to get away from the constant needling of Drama (Kevin Dillon) and Turtle (Jerry Ferrara).

It's more than a little bizarre to watch thirtysomething men being driven to panic at the prospect of their foursome being broken apart. But as much as this curious dynamic is begging for a homoerotic parody, it's truly the heart of the show.

Hope against hope that "Entourage" broadens its cast as the season continues. The show wastes way too much time letting its core players interact with a boring collection of supporting players like Chriqui and Lee. Cole, who can be brilliant in the right comedic role, is wasted here portraying a bland character.

Where are the scenery-chewers of seasons past like Dana Gordon (Constance Zimmer)? "Entourage" was always at its best when skewering industry mores, and her clashes with Gold brought that quality out better than anything else. For a show set in the shark-infested waters of Hollywood, "Entourage" needs to poke its dorsal fin through the surface more often, even if the ripples spoil all that shimmer.

Airdate: 10:30-11 p.m. Sunday, July 12 (HBO)
Production: Leverage, Closest to the Hole Prods.
Cast: Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Jeremy Piven
Executive producers: Doug Ellin (creator), Mark Wahlberg, Rob Weiss, Stephen Levinson, Denis Biggs, Ally Musika,
Co-executive producer: Mark Mylod
Producers: Wayne Carmona, Lori Jo Nemhauser
Director of photography: Rob Sweeney

Not exactly glowing reviews, but I'll still be watching. Last season was my least favorite of the series, so I'm hoping they can rebound.

The Hollywood Reporter is right about Constance Zimmer. Some of the best scenes over the course of this show have involved her and Jeremy Piven. They should have made her a series regular by now. I'd rather see more Zimmer and less Cole on this show any time.

LA Times's review:
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Vince Chase remains top dog on "Entourage"

Eric builds his business, Turtle has a starlet on his arm and Drama is up for a new role. But the alpha male in the group remains unchanged.

by Jon Caramanica

July 12, 2009

As with many fights between intimates, the ones between Vince (Adrian Grenier) and Eric (Kevin Connolly) on "Entourage" are little more than tests of will, games of chicken in which projecting one's own inadequacies is as potent a weapon as pointing out those of the other person.

Early in tonight's episode, the first of the show's sixth season, the two discuss Eric's plan to move into his own house. Vince, for his part, plays it cool. Eric fishes for attention: "C'mon, Vince, you know you don't like to be alone."

"Ha," comes the retort. "I don't like to be alone?"

"No."

"How would you know?" Vince parries. "You've never seen me alone. You're always with me 'cause you can't be alone."

"Have you ever lived by yourself?" Eric asks, pleased with himself.

Vince is having none of it. "Have you? And the guest house doesn't count."

Eric is silent.

"Exactly."

It is the conflict, the rupture from which this season's narrative tension must be wrung. It is also the only moment in this episode with heat beyond a low simmer. By now, the characters of "Entourage" (HBO, 10:30 p.m. Sundays) have become complacent, impervious even to their own growth. Eric, Vince's manager, may take on other clients and move out of the house; Turtle (Jerry Ferrara), Vince's driver, may date Jamie-Lynn Sigler; and Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon), Vince's washout older brother, may land himself a spot on a prime-time drama. But this show about four childhood friends from Queens navigating Hollywood will always be a show about an employer and his subordinates.

Without Vince on top, there's no order to preserve, and though "Entourage" plays at tweaking the star system, it's enthralled by it, just another groupie.

The end of last season saw Vince saved from certain obscurity by Martin Scorsese, who taps the fading star to star in his new film. That the new movie is about Jay Gatsby does not appear to have left any marks on the young star, a man-child still game to use his fame to bed whatever young thing crosses his path. After all, there aren't even books on Vince's shelves to be inspected for cracked spines.

Scorsese doesn't seem to be making a return appearance: Next week's episode features the film's premiere, with Vince strutting the red carpet like a made man. Was there ever any doubt? An "Entourage" without a successful and blithe Vincent Chase is no show whatsoever. Maybe it's the stuff of basic cable, or God forbid, network, but schlubs don't play well on HBO.

Which is why, no matter how high those around him climb, none will threaten Vince's primacy. (The show's other alpha male is Vince's agent Ari, played by Jeremy Piven, who still musters servility meshed with his bluster, an admirable act.)

In this regard, not enough attention has been paid to Eric's T-shirts, near-tight at the top but then dangling limply -- shabbily -- a couple of inches past his waist. Here is the Eric conundrum captured in less than a square foot of cotton: Even his most basic attempts at slickness give way to an underlying wobble. And then there's his accent, nasal and kicking, which on this show about the difficulties of assimilation, still grates. (Vince, naturally, has no accent.)

Belonging, though, is getting tougher and tougher for "Entourage" to pull off. This season will feature the usual raft of star cameos (Zac Efron, LeBron James, Lil Wayne, Aaron Sorkin), but the slipstream has left the show in the dust. Ari boasts of signing Greg Garcia, the creator of "My Name Is Earl" -- "now a member of the Miller-Gold family!" That show was canceled in May. (In fairness, Garcia is now writing a pilot for Fox.)

This is an inadvertent nod to the futilities of navigating Hollywood airspace. Bundle that with a financial climate that's changing industries daily -- Ari sprinkles a couple of recessionista references into his harangues ("Have you seen my stock portfolio, Lloyd?") -- and what emerges is a real life more vibrant and dynamic than the show created to celebrate and gently mock it.

In tonight's premiere, there are jokes about Leno and Conan (Jay's last late-night hurrah, it turns out, is needling Vince about being a poor driver). And on next week's episode, the boys debate Seth Rogen's funniness months after "Family Guy" got there and after Rogen effectively roasted himself on " Saturday Night Live."

Once was a time when "Entourage" had no peer in Hollywood meta-commentary. But the city is moving fast -- the show needs to keep up.

Episode Title: "Drive"

Synopsis: Vince is back in the fast lane, preparing for his driving test and an appearance with Jay Leno to promote the premiere of "Gatsby," his new movie directed by Martin Scorsese; with a nudge from Sloan, Eric considers moving into his own house, but worries about the impact on Vince and the gang; looking for career advancement, Lloyd confronts Ari with an ultimatum, and Ari counters with a proposition of his own.

Discuss.

LOL at the Mad Men reference. At least that was current, unlike the My Name is Earl reference or the Jay Leno appearance.

This wasn't that great of a premiere. They hyped the premiere of Vince's new movie to the heavens in all the promos, so to see that they didn't start the season with that was an odd move. Turtle (still as vile as ever) and Drama ribbing on E (it's so obvious he'll be with Sloan again at the end of the season) was old before it even started, as was Ari's constant degrading of Lloyd. Vince bribing the DMV worker so that he could get his license was embarrassing to watch.

The cast and producers may say this show is "evolving," but no matter what they do, it's hard to imagine these characters ever maturing.

C

I thought that this was a good getting acquainted again type of episode. The idea of change is a good one for the season, and for someone as needy as Vince to have his support system all moving on with their lives in one way or another is an interesting one to explore. I'll forgive the dated references here and there, b/c if there's no time for reshooting, there isn't much to be done but go with it and overlook it. I'll give the season some time to breathe, b/c there's potential with the story arcs they're setting up.

Grade for "Drive": B

Not the clunker most people complained about. It's been awhile so I'm happy to ease back into the lives of Vinny and Co.

quote:

Originally posted by FishBiscuit:
Not the clunker most people complained about. It's been awhile so I'm happy to ease back into the lives of Vinny and Co.

I agree. People need to remember that the show's been off the air for quite some time. It's nice that they took the time to set up the rest of the season with the first episode. This whole deal with all 4 guys having their own separate lives is actually pretty interesting.

Then, of course, there's Lloyd & Ari. I love Lloyd. I love that he called Mrs. Ari to complain about his non-promotion!

Obviously, next week is when they turn it up. The "Gatsby" premiere is next week, and I'm anxious to know how the film's gonna do.

The sixth-season premiere of "HBO"'s "Entourage" scored 3.4 million viewers -- its largest audience in more than two years.

Episode Title: "Amongst Friends"

Synopsis: Eric invites Sloan to Vince's premiere, but just "as friends"; Ari arranges a friend date between Mrs. Ari and Andrew's wife, but his new partner's actions threaten to foil Ari's plans; Lloyd goes on a crash diet per Ari's demand; Turtle makes his red-carpet debut with Jamie-Lynn on his arm.

Discuss.

This episode was not interesting at all. Even the premiere was boring.

The girl who played Ashley was awful. Truly cringe worthy.

C

I thought that they would make a bit more to do about the "Gatsby" premiere. I wanted to see some footage, and a Marty cameo would have been nice. I liked the scenes in the beginning when the boys were ribbing Eric about moving in on his own and being Sloan's friend. Emmanuelle Chriqui is truly otherworldly gorgeous. I'm not as interested about Andrew being a womanizer, or Ari having to play marriage counselor so he'll keep it in his pants. The episode was engaging enough, but it needs to get its spark back fast.

Grade for "Amongst Friends": B

Hated the Ari/Andrew storyline. Totally uninteresting. Don't even know where the writers plan to go with that.

But I gotta say, I am absolutely LOVING the fact that E is slowly becoming the central character of this season. It's about damn time. E & Sloan are so destined to be together, that scene where Sloan turned E down was sad.

P.S. - I think the consensus here is that Emmanuelle Chriqui is f*cking gorgeous. And I agree.

P.P.S. - Drama is getting more & more annoying every week. When did he become such a useless character?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RichterScale,

quote:

Originally posted by RichterScale:
Hated the Ari/Andrew storyline. Totally uninteresting. Don't even know where the writers plan to go with that.

But I gotta say, I am absolutely LOVING the fact that E is slowly becoming the central character of this season. It's about damn time. E & Sloan are so destined to be together, that scene where Sloan turned E down was sad.

P.S. - I think the consensus here is that Emmanuelle Chriqui is f*cking gorgeous. And I agree.

P.P.S. - Drama is getting more & more annoying every week. When did he become such a useless character?

Completely agree all around. Especially the part about Emmanuelle Chriqui being *u***** gorgeous.

Still, a very boring episode. The thing that saved any of this for me was how happy I was to see Jami Gertz back on TV.

Episode Title: "One Car, Two Car, Red Car, Blue Car"

Synopsis: After receiving extravagant birthday gifts from Vince and Jamie-Lynn, Turtle contemplates his future career path, and seeks out Ari for advice; Eric gets nervous about Charlie's pilot after getting some unsolicited feedback from his new fling.

Discuss.

OMG, did I just enter the Twilight Zone or something? Was Turtle acting like a mature person who actually wanted to do something with his life instead of just sitting around being a disgusting human being? Wow!

I liked this episode a lot more than the previous two. I feel bad for Charlie, but he did suck. And I like Ashley a little bit more too, but she's got some creepy vibes going on.

B

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bazookka Joe,

Look at Kevin Connolly stepping up to the plate like that! It's about time at this point in the series. I liked seeing Eric fight for Charlie and his pilot like that, though it's not too surprising that Bow Wow would end up being a bad actor. It was nice seeing Ari serve as a mentor of sorts to Eric and Turtle. I wonder will Turtle's school idea last, but I like seeing him try to work his way from under Vince's shadow a bit. The new girl that Eric's with is pretty awful though, and hopefully it'll just be a quickie detour to the telegraphed Eric/Sloan reunion. This was much better than the first two episodes.

Grade for "One Car, Two Car, Red Car, Blue Car": B+

Whoever wrote this episode should write all the episodes.

Having these characters coast through life without earning anything while mindless women flock to their beds has become very, very obnoxious. But this writer must have forgotten what show this is, because the female characters were intelligent, the male characters were reasonable -- they actually want things and strive to earn them. What a concept! Ari was a blowhard as usual, but an actual person in the process, giving both Turtle and Eric tough love while staying true to character. Where has this show been the last two or three seasons? This show that has made little attempt at character or story arcs actually gave us a reason to root for these people! I can only hope that Vince joins the party; whenever he immolates his own career, a new deus ex machina springs up to fix it for him; in five seasons the show has never made him believable as a functioning adult. The next time he falls apart, how about letting him actually have to earn his comeback.