TVSquad

I've talked at length in the past about how much I've loved all the creative taglines Entourage has featured over it's previous five seasons. They're short and witty, yet the brevity always gets across the point of the season too. The latest promotional campaign for Entourage's upcoming sixth season is no exception:

"Life changes. Friends don't."

When we last left Vinny and the boys, they were gearing up for Marty Scorsese's Great Gatsby re-imagining and it began with moving home to Queens. Speculation seems to be leaning towards Vince finally getting his due and being recognized for what's sure to be a stand-out performance in a Scorsese classic.

E!'s Watch With Kristen is reporting that Zac Efron will be joining the Entourage gang for season six. Well, maybe not exactly joining the gang, but at least making a cameo on the HBO show.

Ok, so the question is, will he be playing himself? One of Ari Gold's newest It-Guys? An excitable young actor who tussles with Johnny Drama? My guess is that Efron will be playing himself, because he's becoming the Next Big Thing in Hollywood -- if he isn't already there.

And it just makes sense, because so many other stars have appeared as themselves on the show; notably, James Woods, though I've always wondered if he's as hot-headed as they make him out to be on the show. If so, he has quite the sense of humor about himself.

Ten years after ABC prematurely cancelled Rob Thomas' dramedy Cupid, the alphabet net has decided to give it another go. The new version of the show, which premieres Tuesday at 10 PM ET, now stars Sarah Paulson and Bobby Cannavale in the roles originated by Paula Marshall and Jeremy Piven, respectively.

The premise is the same: Trevor Pierce claims to be Cupid, exiled from Mt. Olympus, and he needs to find true love for 100 couples before he is allowed back home. After Trevor is arrested for one of his stunts and sent to a psychological hospital, singles self-help guru Dr. Claire McCrae is assigned to keep track of him as he makes his way in the outside world. This time around, the show is set in the fast paced and cynical world of New York, complete with all the modern touches of dating in the late '00s (Maybe Cupid will have a Twitter account).

I spoke to the stars of the new Cupid last week. While I was on the phone, I asked Paulson about what happened on her previous series, Studio 60. I got a pretty interesting response...

As one of the few hits that's currently keeping HBO afloat, Entourage is still only a modest success - it's recent fifth season premiere hit a three-year low. Despite the lackluster ratings, HBO still gave the greenlight to a sixth season much earlier than expected... because, well, they don't have much else going on right now.

That being said, I'm a huge fan of the show and have been since it began. Yes, I'm one of the few that actually tuned in for the mostly ignored eight episode freshman season. I honestly don't see HBO pulling the plug without a true series finale at this stage in the series, but weirder things have happened and I want season six to roar back. So if you watch the show, great - glad to know you weren't part of that "three-year low" I mentioned. But if you used to watch Entourage, or never have, then this will be good for ya - the only six episodes you need to watch to know just what the heck is going on in the world of Vincent Chase.

(S05E12) "She's treating me like she usually treats Johnny." - Vince

Things certainly weren't looking good for Vince. But in true Entourage style, something always works out. Despite the fact that this was one of the strongest episodes of the season, I really wish it had ended differently.

Fans might remember the original TV show Cupid, which starred Jeremy Piven long before Entourage made him a household name and he won a bunch of Emmy awards. It was about a seemingly ordinary guy who might just have been the magical guy who gets lovers together (or maybe he was just crazy). There's a new version coming to ABC from Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas, and the trailer for the show is after the jump.

This one stars Bobby Cannavale, and it seems to be...quirkier than the original? Not that the original wasn't quirky, but there was something very down to earth about it. This one seems like it might be forcing that quirkiness. I'm not sure if it's going to be a comedy, a drama, or the dreaded dramedy, so I'll throw it in both categories. It has a good cast though.

Studio 60 fans will recognize Sarah Paulson. I'm sure her character will be just as beloved in this show as she was in that one.

Here's an appointment to the President-elect Barack Obama's new administration that should really make Hardball's Chris Matthews happy. He's hired Ari Gold's brother -- sort of. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, has accepted the job as White House Chief of Staff, and the Congressman's brother Ari Emanuel is the inspiration for Jeremy Piven's character Ari Gold on Entourage.

Just like Ari on HBO, Ari Emanuel is Hollywood's toughest agent and Endeavor Talent Agency is the tops in the business. Ari's brother Rahm has a reputation for being just as ambitious, aggressive and forceful. He likes to play hardball and has been known to twist arms and bust heads, metaphorically, to get things done.

Just five episodes into Entourage's long-awaited fifth season, and HBO has already pulled the trigger on a sixth. This morning the pay cable network announced that a sixth season of the popular comedy is in the works with a summer 2009 premiere planned.

So far, season five has seen Vince and the gang head into a downward spiral as he tries to rejuvenate his career in the wake of his last poorly received film, Medellin.

Even though I've seen plenty of positive reviews of the new season (I even gave it one), I still have a bit of an issue with HBO renewing the show. It's not that I disagree with a renewal, but I'm not so sure the timing is right.

The name Jordan Belfi might not mean much to you, but if you watch Entourage, you absolutely know Adam Davies. And, if Belfi's done his job right, you probably really hate the guy.

As the best-dressed nemesis on TV, Davies is the super-agent foil to most of Ari Gold's (Jeremy Piven) plans and schemes. And in a particularly conniving episode (airing Sun., Sept. 21 at 10PM), the Davies/Gold smack down reaches new heights. Or lows, depending on how you see it.

Belfi talked to us about his character's underhanded ways, his most devoted fans and why watching Gordon Ramsay vomit means must-see-TV in his house.

11:00: OK, that's it for me tonight. Things have turned bold for some reason and I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since...well, I had a handful of almonds around 5:30, along with a Diet Coke, but that's it. Check out more Emmys on AOL, with a full list of winners, behind the scenes info, interviews, and a ton of pictures.

10:57: Outstanding Drama, Mad Men. Yes!!!!!

10:56: Tom Selleck delivering the Drama award? Random, but welcome.

10:55: Two years in a row for 30 Rock. Does this mean great ratings? (Probably not.)

10:54: Outstanding Comedy Series: 30 Rock.

10:53: Mary Tyler Moore: attractive woman, really bad dress.

10:50: ...and the Emmy goes to Jeff Probst (Survivor).

10:45: Outstanding Host, Reality Show is...after this commercial. Kimmel is becoming the MVP of award shows and specials.

10:41: Outstanding Lead Actress, Comedy: Tina Fey (30 Rock).

10:38: Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)!

10:36: The Fey/Scorcese American Express ad is great...but not when you see it 30 times in one night.

10:34: In case you're wondering, I still haven't eaten anything yet.

10:32: Impressed they're including some producers and other behind the scenes folks.

10:30: Ah, the annual "In Memoriam." The time of the show we try to figure out who they'll leave out.

10:28: Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama: Glenn Close (Damages).

(S05E02) "No indies E! Think of it like the Holocaust - never again!" - Ari

Ever since the beginning of Entourage, I've been waiting for this episode. As much as I love Vince, it's been a long time coming for his "I'll do whatever the hell I want" mentality to finally come full circle and bite him in the ass. His career is in the toilet, Ari even admitted that his worth as an actor "remains to be seen," and E is officially taking his own career more seriously. If Vince wants a comeback, then it's going to be up to him and I love that it's been set up that way. Up until now, his failures have been a direct result partly because of his reliance on Eric and partly because of his own laissez-faire, "what will be will be" attitude. If he screws it all up now, it's his own fault.

Over at the L.A. Times, Tom O'Neil has put together two teams to predict the Emmys. One consists of writers who cover TV, including our pal from AOL, Maggie Furlong. The other is filled with award nuts, like O'Neil. The teams found a lot of common ground, with overwhelming agreement on Mad Men for Best Drama and 30 Rock for Best Comedy. They also seem pretty set on Glenn Close (Damages) for Best Actress, Drama and Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) for Best Actor, Comedy.

Those all sound like reasonably safe bets. Things get a little more interesting when you look at some of the other categories. Best Actor, Drama looks to be a three way race between Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Hugh Laurie (House), and James Spader (Boston Legal). All solid choices, to be sure, but the most surprising part of the category is that Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), who should win, only garnered one vote. Read on past the jump for more of the categories.

(S05E01) "Our next film is Medellin - the ultra-violent story of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar starring Vincent Chase in a fat-suit in bad make-up that makes him look like the love child of Jiminy Glick and a case of Twinkies." - Richard Roeper

Ouch. It's been six months since Cannes, Medellin is getting a straight-to-DVD release, and people are still talking about it. One of the worst films of the year. I can't say that I'm surprised. Considering how last season ended and what we've come to expect from Entourage, this felt less like a season premiere and more like just another episode. Vincent Chase can only stay down and out hidden in Mexico for so long before the allure of his almost dead career came calling.

This news makes me cringe more than a little.

At this year's Emmy Awards (September 21 on ABC), celebrities will utter famous catch phrases and lines from 60 years of television.

Doesn't this immediately sound just awful? The scripts for these award shows are often cringe-worthy anyway, the forced humor and banter between two people presenting at the same time, and now they're going to make them say famous lines from TV shows? I can just see Helen Mirren up on stage saying, "And the award for Lead Actress In A Television Series goes to...Glenn Close!...Oh, and by the way, Whatchoo talkin' bout, Willis?"

Hopefully the lines will be put into some sort of context and not just randomly uttered. I mean, wouldn't it just be terrible in the stars came out on stage throughout the show for special segments on catch phrases, said them ("Kiss My Grits"), and got some weird round of applause from the audience?

Don't get him wrong; Jon Cryer is thrilled to be nominated for an Emmy again. This is his third nomination as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series as Alan Harper, the sad sack, divorced brother of Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men. In 2006 and 2007, he lost to Jeremy Piven, Ari Gold on Entourage, and Jon Cryer is ticked off: "Laugh all you want, [he] is my nemesis. He's a force of nature."

If it's not Piven -- again! -- Jon has another nemesis lined up: "I think this time Neil Patrick Harris (Barney on How I Met Your Mother) will win."

Cryer is good natured about his chances and not seriously miffed. He's planning to bring his new wife, entertainment reporter Lisa Joyner. "When we heard the news, she was thrilled for a moment, then filled with dread as she started to worry about what she'll wear. But she'll be there with me -- or I'll be very lonely."