As a result of the Writer’s Strike, many shows have been pushed back or delayed until the 2008-09 season. One of the impeded shows of this strike is HBO’s Entourage (2004-Present). The show, which normally airs between the months of May and August, has now been officially pushed back until the fall of this year. The commercially viable and critically acclaimed show was set to begin its fifth season in June of this year but the lack of time for the screenwriters to prepare has all but forced the network to delay production.
Consequences of the Strike
There are many shows that have felt the brunt of this strike. Most notably, 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland, has been pushed back till January of 2009 by Fox. Some shows have been placed on hiatus and some have even been cancelled outright. So, why make such a big deal about the delay of Entourage?
In four seasons, Entourage has only compiled a total of 54 episodes. In fact, the first season only consisted of eight shows. Compare this to the major networks like NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox which (in a typical year) air programs with over 20 episodes (which run from September thru May). Thus, it is not an easy task to become emotionally involved with the story lines of Entourage (presented on a weekly basis) and then be forced to sit and wait for over a year to witness how the story will unfold.
Entourage is About Something More
Entourage, on the outset, is about the life of a Hollywood A-list actor, Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), his manager and best friend, Eric (Kevin Connolly), Vince’s older D-list actor brother, Johnny ‘Drama’ Chase (Kevin Dillon) and Vince’s driver, Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) and their relationship with the celebrity lifestyle. However, on a deeper level, the show is about the set circle of these four individuals and their loyalty to one another. Hollywood is renowned for its reputation as a self-absorbed, self-righteous land. It wallows in the excess it creates. The show unflinchingly depicts these pratfalls but is careful to never allow it to overwhelm the true nature of what this show is about; friendship and camaraderie are far more valuable then the superficialities of money and power.
Yes, the show does not hide the fact that these four individuals do love the celebrity lifestyle. However, in regards to Vince, money means nothing to him. As a result, they proceed to purchase whatever they want, whenever they want. Whether it is a mansion, a $300,000 vehicle or a vacation to Las Vegas, these boys embrace this utopian way of life. However, at its heart, the shows thematic attraction is that the close-knit bonding between the group will never be spliced apart by any materialistic object, no matter how great it may be.
The show is loosely based on the exploits of Mark Wahlberg and his rise to the stardom during the early 1990s (with his entourage). With that being said, the show does not shy away from vulgarity nor does it attempt to be politically correct (most notably in regards to Vince’s agent, Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) and his consistent and (to be honest) hilarious rants about homosexuals, race and women). The show is what it is. It attempts to infiltrate the unstable, cruel world of Hollywood and to establish some sort of innocence and decency within it, even if it appears, on the surface, to be concerned about the total opposite.
Conclusion
In a world full of celebrity worship, Entourage offers a glimpse into the heart of the machine that is stardom. Perhaps this is why the show is attractive to so many viewers. For others, it may be because the show is attempting to undermine the many ideals encompassed within Hollywood (Vince is a major star but he never succumbs to the temptations of excessive living-yes, Vince lives the way he wants to, which may not be perfect, but he is morally true to himself and friends) . For whatever the reason people tune in, the show is an intoxicating escape from the realities of the middle class lifestyle. Unfortunately, that escape will have to wait for at least another six months.
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