(S04E08) "So... you've come to acquire my newly acquired desk." - Gary Busey
I'm starting to get the impression that the goal of this season of Entourage wasn't to create some huge season long story. Most of the season four episodes have been one-shots, with little connection to an over arching plot. Instead we've gotten boatloads of character development and this was no exception. Eric is going legit (finally) and it proves to be harder than he thought since it seems the only person in Hollywood who knows him is Vince. That story, while great, pales in comparison to the return of Gary Busey though. I guess Turtle's previous prediction of Gary "flying off the planet" didn't quite pan out.
OK, enough with that but lets stick with Ari for a second. I mentioned that everything sort of tied in throughout this episode and Ari got in on the action despite having his own issues to deal with. You have love how he kept giving E a hard time. I was glad Shauna made a quick appearance, though it's debatable as to whether or not her contact at Daily Variety actually helped E. It got Peter Jackson to call him, but it still leaves that lingering tag of nepotism hovering over Eric. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if it sticks. Though it seems like he's gained instant credit as a result of the article.
So... that leaves? Oh. Right. Gary Busey. Arguably the best celebrity guest star this show has had. I'm not even sure he had lines this time around. He just mumbles and makes noises like some sort of caveman. Not only did he have a bit of a "Nick Nolte mug shot" look going on (his hair was ridiculous), but he's still into his new age art. His next piece? Using Drama's naked body as a canvas. If Drama agrees, Vince can buy the antique Robert DeNiro desk from Gary. Then Eric can have a normal office. Ridiculous... I know, but watching Busey fling sky-blue paint all over Johnny's face was probably the funniest part of the episode.
Here's a question though. Is Drama ever going to get back on set? I want to see some more scenes from Five Towns! Something tells me that isn't going to happen as the action seems to be shifting from Drama's condo to the new four room office that Vince bought for them to use. Nothing wrong with changing sets, this just isn't the one I wanted to see.
Giveaways reminder: Office, Eli Stone, Supernatural, South Park
Giveaway Thursday: Tickets to the New York Television Festival ... all of it!
I miss the media-friendly John McCain - VIDEOS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-06-2007 @ 11:27AM
Matt said...
I thought tonight was one of the best of the season. Ari was wonderful, as always. None of the stories involving the main four dragged, or seemed too out of place. Shauna popped up for the first time in what felt like years. And, as you mentioned, Busey made a cameo again. Awesome stuff.
Although, I'll be nitpicky for a moment and say it was Ari, not Turtle, who made the comment to Busey back in Season One.
It'll be a sad day when this and Flight Of The Conchords go off the air for the year.
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8-06-2007 @ 11:28AM
judgy said...
I couldn't get past your first sentence.
The entire reason for this season, coming so fast on the heels of the last season, is that HBO has NOTHING else. there is no Sex and the City, no Sopranos, nothing of that ecehlon. And, thanks to Netflix, the Home Box Office model is broken. The heyday of HBO is over. Like Must See Tv. All must eventually end. Alas.
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8-06-2007 @ 11:28AM
Web Design Guide said...
It's just not fun any more. I can tune in for the last 5 minutes, watch the preview for the next week and not miss a thing. Hardly the mark of a good series.
http://www.deitschel.com
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8-06-2007 @ 11:28AM
Adam said...
judgy, the reason this season came so close to the heels of the last is not because HBO has nothing else, but because the last season was actually delayed. It was supposed to start in January instead of April, but it was delayed when The Sopranos was delayed and HBO wanted to keep them on the same schedule.
This was the exact same time that season 3.1 first aired as well.
The standard HBO model of the '80s might be dead, but remember HBO is also a provider of OnDemand content, which is the real future, not NetFlix. HBO's well may have temporarily run dry when many of their shows ended around the same time, but I am sure that they will find a few more hits, if not the next big thing pretty soon.
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On to the episode: Busey is amazing, and is probably the best guest actor playing themselves on the show, slightly edging Seth Green and the Vegas fight.
However, I find it hard to believe that no one still knows who Eric is. Didn't they just make a big splash with Vince, Walsh and E being packaged together as a dream team or whatever. Most of the celebrities on the show seem to know the gang well enough, even Turtle. Even Josh Weinstein knew to approach E with the script to Queens Boulevard, not Vince.
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8-06-2007 @ 11:28AM
JF said...
This episode was far and away better than last week's. I was impressed with the rapid character development. Everyone's finally finding their own niche on the show (minus turtle.. where'd saigon go?). The fact that E has become legit in the eyes of the media will allow for more individual story lines.
I have to agree with Adam's comment about him not being known, though. He may have not been Vince's official manager as far as the SAG is concerned, but the press from medellin had to be enough to at least get his name out there.
Also, Busey was amazing as always. I think the only character (while not a cameo) on par with him was Val Kilmer playing the crazy pot grower. Great episode.
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8-06-2007 @ 12:09PM
Digitalking said...
Does anyone watch movies on HBO anymore. Seems cheap DVD rentals, have killed HBO's business model. HBO must now resort to so so TV show's, that people get excited about because there is swearing, nudity, and more blood.
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8-06-2007 @ 5:20PM
judgy said...
Adam, perhaps you are right but I can't help but feel that this season is really rushed. That they have run out of interesting things to say and that they are following some weird, uninteresting storyline that feels like hackneyed sitcome writing at best. A story that sort of propels the storyline, poorly written jokey joke b-story. Ugh.
The show bristled when it depicted the life of a superstar and every time it veers from that it loses interest.
And what about Drama? Why aren't we seeing what his life is becoming on his new show? Why must we suffer through bad stories like his and turtles ill fated Koufax memorabilia bit? Wouldn't this show be just that much more fun if Drama's show was a hit (and we saw the effects), Turtle signed a major rap artist and became a producer and E signed another talent, leaving the superstar to sit around and become one of the "entourage"?
You are right about the on demand model that HBO is chasing, although I don't see it becoming the standard. Regardless of how much people love to time-shift their entertainment, television, like movies, is a collective experience. People do enjoy watching it together and middle america would rather choose among the programming. They don't have the time to devote to creating a playlist of what to watch. We won't see the scheduled programming model be broken anytime in the immediate future. In the meantime, there is nothing worth the $15-20 bucks a month for HBO. Their programming kind of sucks and, for movies, Netflix has them beat. That's why we are shucking our subscription. After many many years.
Expect to see more people do so in the future.
Allbrecht's departure was a shiv in the network's back. And Showtime has been programming better movies, documentaries and original series. "Dexter" alone is worth the price of the network.
And the balance of power shifts......
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8-07-2007 @ 10:06AM
Ron said...
I agree with the before mentioned character development, however, I didn't like the break in momentum from Medellin. It's as if the writers ran out of juice on that topic. Therefore it leaves me with the feeling of "now what?" The last two episodes, "The day f*ckers" and "Gary's Desk" were dedicated to character development. The next episode seems to not break the streak. Ari's wife seems to have a big part. This I find to be rather boring because there was a tremendous amount of speed and excitement with anything to do with Medellin (remember Harvey Weinstein). I think the writers are fishing for the next big plot to ride the season out on.
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8-07-2007 @ 10:06AM
Brian said...
Ari is the man. Even more than Busey. I can't wait to see Mrs. Gold in that bikini next week. But I miss Billy Walsh. Where's he at.
Just bought a I heart Ari Gold shirt for my girlfriend at the following store.
www.apparelparade.com
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8-07-2007 @ 6:50PM
BartmanDK said...
This was one of the best episodes i have seen of this show.. Ari Gold was golden (sry for the lame joke! :D)
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8-08-2007 @ 10:54AM
Eric said...
I still love this show. But Johnny Drama's character just isn't funny any more. I really wish they'd send him off to film something in nowhere and we only hear from him, once or twice a season. I mean you can only do whiny and narcissistic so long before it gets annoying. Drama's character has long since peaked in my opinion. Even with Busey painting him smurf.
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8-10-2007 @ 10:07AM
Curtis said...
Got to say that this is the only show i must watch at the moment. And have watched every episode atleast twice or if not three times with friends etc and never gets old.
The one liners are always there and all the Extras keeps me guessing who is going to be in it next week.
But watching Sophi Monk F*ck Vince was great too bad we didnt see that much hey.
On Gary's Desk episode i loved it. i love seeing Eric doing what he does. And is easily my favourite Character. he is such an angry irishman and always seems to be at the centre of attention.
I Hope this show never ends!!!
P.s. i want to know what happens to Medillin. does it flop or doesn't it?? Because remember if Medillin Flops then Lost in the Clouds doesnt have a good hope from the beginning..
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