Entourage: Let's Blog It Out

By Mark La Monica

HBO West is partially responsible for the lack of personal productivity for many cable subscribers.

When “Casino,” any of the "Godfather" movies – yes, even part III – or any other movie that runs close to or longer than three hours comes on regular HBO, the temptation to watch it again immediately on HBO West is entirely too strong to resist all the time. It's more devastating than the two-hours-later appeal of good chinese food.

There’s something strangely compelling about watching the start of a three-hours-plus movie knowing it’s still playing on another channel. Or maybe we really are just a bunch of lazy Americans.

But as with all great inventions, there is a practical use. After watching the season finale of “The Sopranos” last night, I realized something: I failed to watch and/or program the DVR for the last two episodes of Season 2 of “Entourage.” Oh sure, I saw them last year when they first aired and again as part of the New Year’s Eve marathon, but with the start of the new season just a week away, brushing up on the fellas seemed appropriate.

It was 10:02 p.m. when I felt the void. It was 10:03 p.m. when I said to myself, “Hellooooooooo, HBO West!” (Usually, I’m an Ari Gold quick-thinker, but it was a long weekend, hence the one minute delay in proper mental etiquette.)

Boom. I set up the DVR and did some indoor errands in the remaining 57 minutes. As if I weren’t already charged up for next week’s season premiere, I decided to watch the trailer on HBO.com again.

It was then that I discovered the latest bit of Internetism that will ultimately contribute to my insanity.

The headline was short but informative: “Ari Interview.”

The subhead was even more enticing: “Think you have what it takes to work for Ari Gold? Here's your chance to prove it to the master himself.”

The good people of HBO.com have provided fans the opportunity to apply for a job as a talent agent at Ari Gold’s new agency.

Oh yeah. Procrastination Island, here I come! There was simply no way I wasn’t going to click on this Sunday night – and several times this week while at work. (I will cite life’s Moral Imperative Clause as my affirmative defense when the boss comes calling.)

The game begins with a general information job application. Name, date of birth, email address. That sort of stuff. Just type it in and click submit.

Lloyd, Ari’s assistant from Season 2, then greets you at the door for a quick pep talk. The door then opens and Ari Gold is sitting at a virtual desk.

He asks you questions, you answer them.

It’s beyond hilarious.

I can’t publish my answers because they were all Ari Gold quotes from past episodes and, well, much of what he says isn’t reprintable here.

But there are some fun aspects to this game. If you take too long to think of your answers, type them and click submit, Ari yells at you. It’s almost worth waiting, just to hear how he insults you. (Trust me, it’s a good laugh.)

The game also has repeat playability because Ari’s answers can change depending on your responses.

Thankfully, I set my DVR for the 11 p.m. airing on HBO West because I couldn’t stop applying for a job with Ari Gold until 11:15.