Kevin Connolly
Adrian Grenier
Kevin Dillon
Jerry Ferrara
Jeremy Piven
Debi Mazar

Created by:
Doug Ellin

2004-2011
Comedy, Drama
HBO
TV-MA

“Entourage” is a wisp of a TV show. That isn’t necessarily a problem. Since it focuses on a young actor in Hollywood as he becomes a major star, a light touch could work. (It was inspired by executive producer Mark Wahlberg’s group of friends, after all.) We don’t need to take it seriously. Nope, not at all.

Vince, the young star, played by Adrian Grenier, is surrounded by his brother and two friends. So they’re the entourage referenced by this show’s title. Of course, Vince also has a cutthroat agent. This is Hollywood, folks!

Those surrounding characters are just that … characters. Each member of Vince’s entourage fits a specific role:

Eric, played by Kevin Connolly, is Vince’s best friend and the level-headed one in the group. He’s not only cautious but also thoughtful. It makes sense that he’s Vince’s manager.

Vince’s brother, Johnny Drama, played by Kevin Dillon, languishes in his brother’s shadow. He wants to be a star actor, too, but his work isn’t so good. Dillon wisely infuses his character with a touch of optimism underneath all of the failure and complaining. He can take a punch, just not too many.

Turtle, another of Vince’s friends, played by Jerry Ferrara, has a good time enjoying the perks of being around a movie star. His focus is on women, and that’s it. He’ll take what he can get.

To round it all out is Ari Gold, Vince’s agent, played by Jeremy Piven. This guy just wants to make money, and he’ll bulldoze his way to it, whether that’s necessary or not. He’s a lovable jerk … sort of.

So, creator Doug Ellin has the right supporting characters for a diverting summer TV show. But what about the central character? What about Vince? Therein lies the problem.

Vince is written as a guy who doesn’t take things seriously. He got into acting so that he wouldn’t have to work, after all. That kind of attitude could work for the central character of a TV show if the right actor is cast in the role. That actor needs to be able to bring something to the character that’s not written in the script. Leonardo DiCaprio can do that kind of thing. Even when his characters don’t do much, he’s always thinking. You can sense it. However, Adrian Grenier merely shows up to the set and says his lines. I can’t tell whether he, the actor, has an opinion about Vince. What’s his motivation? Regardless, he needs to do something … anything.

Since the central character of “Entourage” is a question mark, there’s a Vince-sized hole at its center. It’s certainly not bad (it’s actually mildly amusing at times), but it doesn’t seal the deal. Unless they fix that problem, “Entourage” will simply be an unanchored yet well-crafted boat drifting in water. …

The second season of “Entourage” improves upon the first. It looks like they worked out the kinks. There’s energy here. Grenier still isn’t a strong central figure, but he has fewer moments of blandness and poor timing. Regardless, I’m enjoying watching this. And that’s all that “Entourage” needs to accomplish.

Verdict: Somewhat Good to Good

About: (Source: entourage)

HBO presents ‘Entourage,’ the hit comedy series that takes a look at the day-to-day life of Vincent (Vince) Chase, a hot young actor in Hollywood, and his inner circle. He’s brought with him from their hometown in Queens, NY: manager Eric, half-brother Drama, and friend Turtle. The series draws on the experiences of industry insiders to illustrate both the heady excesses of today’s celebrity lifestyle, as well as the highs and lows of love and success in show biz. Eric, along with superagent Ari, keep Vince’s star rising while making sound decisions for a long-lasting career in a world of fleeting fame.