"Entourage" Episode Recap/Review

AP, Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama, who was scarce in the premiere

Let's try this out.  As we all know, my earlier attempt to recap "Weeds" ended disastrously after a couple weeks.  You could tell my heart wasn't in it.  I'm not sure where my heart is here, but a better than expected "Entourage" premiere tonight has proved inspirational.  For me, anyway.  So I'll be recapping the show until it becomes unwatchable/ridiculous, which could literally be any episode.

As the episode opens, we all breathe a sigh of relief: Doug Ellin (creator) and co. have wisely decided to skip the filming of "Gatsby," Vinny Chase's(Adrian Grenier) Scorcese movie, which is improbable in both concept and casting.  E's (Kevin Connolly) getting laid, Vince's learning to drive, and even Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) gets to share a bath with Jamie Lynn-Sigler.  Does anyone know if Ferrara and Jamie Lynn-Sigler are still dating in real life? I still can't believe that happened.

Of course, there's always conflict lurking below "Entourage" 's pristine, well-manicured surface.  Lloyd, (Rex Lee) whose presence and importance to the show has grown exponentially the last two seasons, is jockeying for a promotion.  Ari Gold and new partner Andrew Klein (not the real Andrew Klein, my old editor, who no doubt doesn't read this site) know the double-edged sword: they think Lloyd is a better assistant than agent, but they fear losing him if they don't give in.  Lloyd,  writing his Honors thesis in "Ari Gold Manipulative Assholes 101," plays Ari's family off him.  The wife and kids just love the friendly Asian guy.  Of course, this move only ingratiates Lloyd to Ari further; the kid might have what it takes. According to Wikipedia,  Lloyd will leave his assistant position two episodes from now, and it will be filled by the cute girl from the abortion episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Get excited. 

 Meanwhile, Vince mucks up his driving test and has to bribe his enthusiastic driving instructor with premiere tickets.  Vince gives the man the tickets inside the crowded DMV as an anonymous man watches on.  They show the man in the background as the gang is leaving.  I kept thinking he was up to something, but apparently he wasn't.  Like everyone else, he just wanted a look at Vince.

Also drama (not Drama) wise, E and Sloan are (probably) getting back together.  Their rekindling was cemented in the closing scene, but assumed from Sloan's first appearance in the premiere. I always assumed E liked Sloan because she was the only hot girl to ever pay attention to him.  This season it's implied he has at least two very attractive girls after him--will he be able to leave all the "fine honies" (Turtle's words, certainly not mine) of LA behind for an old hat? Well, yeah.

Speaking of old, could've used more Drama in this episode.  That's my major complaint.  Also, couldn't they have gotten Conan instead of Leno? They knew Leno wouldn't be on "The Tonight Show" when "Entourage" premiered, and that his appearance would confuse everybody as to exactly when this season is taking place.  Maybe they actually went back in time to 1994.  

And, regarding Vince's drivers test, isn't it a fairly big deal to admit to bribing a state employee on national television? I mean, I wasn't expecting an LAPD squad car to burst through the set, but I figured, at the least, Shauna would've been pissed. Oh well.  I guess if a mediocre falling star can get the lead in the film version of one of our  most beloved books, directed by one of our most beloved directors, then anything can happen.  Welcome back, fantasy world of "Entourage." You've been missed.

Grade: A minus/B plusish