Entourage: Let's Blog It Out

By Mark La Monica

Sloan was unpacking E's things at her apartment. Just before she pulled out the oversized dice, she removed two boxing gloves. They were white with red and blue stars and stripes on it.

Those gloves bore a striking resemblance to the gloves worn by Apollo Creed when he fought Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV."

Kevin Connolly, the actor who plays E, made his movie debut as Chickie Grabowski, the schoolyard bully who eventually gets beat up by Rocky's son in "Rocky V."

Subtle, but impressive.

By Mark La Monica

Did anyone else happen to see that naked midget walking in the background on Billy Walsh's set when he, Vince and E were discussing "Medellin?"

Perhaps the most outrageous subtle bit this year. Hello, Writer Props!

By Mark La Monica

I was once asked Jerry Ferrara if he'd ever get a last name on the show. He wondered what his first name would be.

Then comes Kelly, daughter of Rufus the home video solutions/auto repair man. She inquires about his first name.

Turtle hesitates.

Earlier, she asked him to take his hat off. Turtle laughed.

Those two scenes combined to earn this week's Writer Props. Small and subtle scenes, but in the bigger picture of the series, brilliant.

By Mark La Monica

Since "Entourage" began in 2004, Johnny Drama has always found himself in strange places. And no matter how strange those places are, someone seems to know him.

It was no different in this episode as Drama and some dude exchange quick greetings at the massage parlor.

Perfectly done by the script makers, and winner of this week's Writer Props.

By Mark La Monica

Ari Gold is operating once again, this time at temple during Yom Kippur services. Mrs. Ari catches him using a cell phone outside the temple.

In her strict (yet sexy) delivery, she demands possession of Ari's phone. And his secret bat phone.

Now, that double-secret probation phone could have been hidden anywhere on Ari's person. His other jacket pocket. His belt. Up his sleeve.

But no! He digs it out from his sock, a subtle furtherance of sleezy/lovable Ari Gold. It was the perfect placement for Ari's phone, and thus earns Week 5 Writer Props.

By Mark La Monica

For the entire run of "Entourage," Johnny Drama has been clamoring to restart his once almost-successful career.

Every movie or commercial Vince got, Drama begged for a part. He even found his way onto Kimmel when Vince did a spot on the talk show. Whatever he Drama do to pull off some face time and make some scratch and get back in the game.

It's been the best running joke on the show.

With this is mind, did you happen to notice the small uptick of excitement in Drama's face when, after bashing Pauly Shore, Turtle tells Drama that Shore wants him to be in his new hidden-camera TV show?

That bit of subtlety earned Week 4 Writer Props.

By Mark La Monica

For the entire run of "Entourage," Johnny Drama has been clamoring to restart his once almost-successful career.

Every movie or commercial Vince got, Drama begged for a part. He even found his way onto Kimmel when Vince did a spot on the talk show. Whatever he Drama do to pull off some face time and make some scratch and get back in the game.

It's been the best running joke on the show.

With this is mind, did you happen to notice the small uptick of excitement in Drama's face when, after bashing Pauly Shore, Turtle tells Drama that Shore wants him to be in his new hidden-camera TV show?

That bit of subtlety earned Week 4 Writer Props.

By Mark La Monica

Ari Gold lost his mojo for most of this episode. Suddenly, his abrasive, brutal (yet endearing) charm returned quicker than Drama's celebrity spotlight.

Once he confessed his emotional problems over the Vince breakup to his therapist, he snapped back into place, stormed back into his agency and very publicly fired an agent.

Fueled up from that energy, Ari walks out of the conference room and sees an overweight girl in the office walking the hallways eating a candy bar and blurts out to her, "Skip it, GInny."

Harsh and punishing to the girl's soul.

It was a classic Ari Gold moment destined for his highlight reel on the Ari Gold Experience DVD, and the recipient of this week's Writer Props.

By Mark La Monica

We saw glimpses of the human side of Ari Gold last season. In this episode, we got a full-frontal view of a decent human being inside Ari Gold's expensive suits.

Driving with Mrs. Ari, Mr. Ari experienced a gut-check moment about pimping out Lloyd to help sign a TV writer named Jay Lester.

Obviously bothered by it, he tells his wife that he sold his soul today. He flips on the radio to help create a diversion to his thoughts.

Here comes the script touch and subtletly that embodies our new Writer Props acknowledgement. The song that just so happened to be playing on the radio? "She Works Hard for the Money" by Donna Summer.

You could almost hear the show's writers and producers clapping and screaming when they came up the song choice during a brainstorming session.

It was the perfect song choice to enhance the 180 in Ari's emotions.

tagged: entourage

By Mark La Monica

In keeping with the notion of character and plot evolution, a topic eluded to often in this space, "Entourage, the blog" is pleased to announce a new weekly feature for Season 3.5.

It's called Writer Props.

This is where we highlight subtle touches in the show that stand out for their hilarity in the face of subtlety.

For example, in the first episode, the light being out of Johnny Drama's billboard was the perfect touch to wrap up that story arc. It also happened to be absolutely fantastic and perfectly scripted for the character.

So look for this new feature each Monday morning in addition to the Best Printable Line and weekly column based off something from the show.

By Mark La Monica

We pause to praise the writers for their appreciation to detail. The light being out over Drama's billboard near the end of the episode was the perfect touch to the Johnny Drama story arc for the first episode of Season 3.5.

Well done.

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