SoulHonky

Entourage came on the scene and became an instant cultural phenomenon. Not only were viewers addicted but celebs want to get on. Apparently, the celebs are still interested but the viewers are starting to get a little restless. The last season and a half haven't been up to snuff and the haters are coming out of the woodwork. So how does the show return to it's golden age? A few suggestions.

1. More Glitz, Less Biz
Entourage is always at it's strongest when it is about, well, the entourage. The show was three quarters male fantasy and one quarter show business. Any time a script or movie was mentioned, it was usually just a plot device to lead to the next argument or character-building moment. The career was secondary to the fun. Now, it's almost all business. The show focuses too much on deals being made, contracts being signed, etc.

This is also a problem that The West Wing had. The first seasons were filled with great characters and personal stories. By the end, too many stories focused about actual discussions over fake politics.

The show about guys from Queens in Hollywood needs to stay about guys from Queens in Hollywood. Yes, they've been in Hollywood for a few years now but if you know anyone from New York, they hold onto their roots forever. Let's see them live a little... and work a lot less.

2. Less Ari 
I know Jeremy Piven's Ari Gold is a great character but he needs his own spin-off. The Ari storylines can be good but more often than not they seem like filler and, more importantly, you can't focus on as many characters as Entourage has going right now. You end up with three half baked A-stories rather than one solid episode. Also, a little Piven goes a long way. He's better as the spectre looming over everyone than one of the guys.

3. Find the Core
The first couple seasons were based around E trying to steer his friend's career while also juggling his crazy friends. Now the episodes are aimless. Each episode needs to have one central figure who drives the story. Keep things connected. Too often you have three almost competely disconnected stories; it's almost like you are watching three different show cut together.

4. The Fantasies are Too Fantastic 
As I mentioned before, Entourage is basically the male fantasy of living the dream, picking up women, doing as you please. And, of course, hijinks ensue. In the last season, the hijinks were just a little too goofy. Someone falling for a tranny is one thing but having it be the Mayor who Drama is trying to get to annex his apartment in 90210 is just too much. Again, if you focus on the entourage and make it about Drama, it would have been a better storyline. Drama falls for a girl, someone says she is a tranny, the guy have to go about trying to figure out if it's true or not.

Entourage is about Hollywood. The writers really can't figure out some fun, interesting stories without becoming completely cartoonish? Go into the paparazzi, blogs, get some gold diggers after Drama, something, anything. It's hard to believe that Hollywood only has enough material for 40 or so episodes. 

5. Fresh Meat
The show could use some new supporting characters. Of course, adding new people is one of the riskiest propositions in show business. While some shows have pulled it off (again, The West Wing was great at cycling in fresh faces), others have failed miserably. Need we mention Dom?

The one new face from last season was Ana Faris and she was basically wasted since, again, her impact was almost solely on the business. E picking up another client is an interesting premise but it didn't really go anywhere and they squeezes basically two or three scenes out of him wondering if he should tell Ana that he hates the script.

This could be risky but a few new faces, particularly a couple new adversaries might help keep things moving and, most importantly, give the guys a reason to band together.