Fans out there (and there are many!) know that I am talking about HBO’s new gem series, Entourage. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it the easiest way to explain Entourage is to say that it is the male version of the hugely successful and concluded HBO series Sex and the City, but while Sex… opened up the female psyche to the whole world, Entourage does the same for the male psyche. It gives people a glimpse at how men think, act and speak and, while it’s admittedly hilarious, it can be quite frightening as well.
I say that, though, from a woman’s point of view. There are moments when I think that it’s actually a good thing that men and women don’t always know what the other is thinking. Sometimes ignorance is really bliss and it’s amazing how when you watch the show you really can see the difference in the thought processes of these characters versus the thought processes of, say, Carrie Bradshaw or Charlotte York. But hey, I suppose that’s just Mars and Venus and I am just as huge a fan of Entourage as its many male viewers and I can’t wait to catch the new episode each week.
Entourage is about New York-raised actor Vincent Chase who is a major Hollywood star now residing in California. Living with him (and mooching off him) are his childhood friends  Eric Murphy, Turtle, and his older brother, the oftentimes-out-of-work passé actor Johnny Chase, or as he is more commonly known, Johnny Drama. The series began with Vince just completing a film that has made him a major player in the industry and shows how the four East Coast boys love, hate, or just tear up the town and how they live their lives in the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.
Naturally the characters are slightly exaggerated (just as Sex and the City’s characters were), but most men can automatically see themselves in certain behavioral quirks as most women can easily identify their men in the show. Surrounding the four boys are the characters that make their Hollywood dream possible including various directors (real ones, mind you, this show is based in actual Hollywood today  James Cameron is among the famous ones here), actors (such as Jessica Alba, Ralph Macchio and Ed Burns to name a few), Vince’s publicist, and the best character of them all (in my opinion), Vince’s agent, the irrepressible Ari Gold.
Indeed for the past two seasons of the show (the third season began just this April 8), a slew of big names has performed cameos and made the characters’ fake Hollywood seem completely real. And the characters themselves have developed quite nicely since the beginning. Eric (or "E") fits perfectly into his role as Vince’s Manager and you find yourself cheering for Drama now that his TV pilot has finally picked up. But, as I mentioned above, the character creating the most buzz isn’t even part of Vince’s "entourage" so to speak. He is their crazy, hilarious, candid, and almost devious agent Ari Gold who really showcases what it takes to succeed in the crazy showbiz industry.
Ever since his first appearance on the series, Ari has entertained Entourage viewers. Whether it’s his completely foul language (which is hilarious) or his many personality quirks, you always know that the moment he enters the scene he is going to steal the spotlight. Vince is almost just ambience when Ari is in the room. But more than anything, I think people love Ari because he is real. He’s hardworking, he’s a problem solver, and more than anything he knows his business and he gets things done. Sometimes his methods may be questionable but that’s really what it takes to get ahead in the cutthroat world of Hollywood and Ari recognizes that and does what he has to do. Not to mention his fits of anxiety or just plain moments of "freaking out," which are hilarious to watch.
And, as every Batman needs a Robin, Ari has found one in gay Chinese assistant Lloyd. I have loved this merry little guy since he joined the cast and now I think Lloyd is the heart of the show. His genuine caring nature and his love and honesty are just too sweet and his loyalty to his oftentimes rude but kindhearted boss is just, well, it’s just damn endearing. They make the perfect, albeit strange, realistic dynamic duo…
Who can forget this hilarious conversation? "Are you with me, Lloyd?" "I’m with you, Ari, if you promise not to make any jokes about my race or sexual preference." "I can’t promise you that Lloyd, but I can promise to apologize afterwards every time." Their camaraderie is priceless and lights up the screen.
And the critics seem to agree on Ari’s prowess as well as Jeremy Piven has taken home a slew of awards for his performance in Entourage. He has also solidified himself as "the" Hollywood agent, even voicing the cartoon agent of Owen Wilson in Cars. Who can mistake that voice on speakerphone when Lightning McQueen is talking to his agent?
In either case, Entourage is a new, exciting and realistic look into the world of both men and Hollywood and is a show worth catching whether you’re a boy or a girl. It has quickly become one of my favorites and I’m thrilled the third season has finally begun. To those of you out there who like a good laugh and some fun entertainment, look no further because it has arrived!