Entourage: Let's Blog It Out

By Mark La Monica

This writers' strike doesn't seem to want to end it, does it? It's as if Billy Walsh were in charge or something.

Initially, most of us didn't really care about the strike since we all figured that once the inventory of new shows ran out, they'd settle the strike and maybe we'd have a week or two of reruns.

That was a few months ago. Now, its time to officially begin worrying if this WGA strike will affect Season 5 of "Entourage."

Adrian Grenier and Rex Lee have already said they're not sure if there will even be a Season 5 this summer. Typically, all the scripts are just about written by now and shooting would start in February.

But Doug Ellin and his crew aren't allowed to write during the WGA strike. (Whether or not they have been writing or at least thinking about script ideas is known only by them.)

Co-executive producer Rob Weiss said last August that they planned on sitting down to discuss the new season in September. How far those talks progressed is again known only by those in the room.

Even if all 14 episodes of Season 5 have been written, they can't be shot until the strike ends, if it ends.

How much longer can the strike go on before HBO moves along with its Sunday night summer programming?

There are other questions at hand, too:

* If the strike ends soon, how quickly can the Entourage crew mobilize without sacrificing show quality?

* If the strike doesn't end soon, how quickly can the Entourage crew mobilize without sacrificing show quality?

* Would the perception and enjoyment of the show for viewers suffer by airing in the Fall instead of summer when we all have a more care-free attitude.

Yeah, I'd say it's time to start worrying. Perhaps the WGA and studios should turn to Jeremy Piven in full Ari Gold mode to mediate. We know he'd get the deal done.

By Mark La Monica

And it's Jessica Biel in the . . . with the . . .

By Mark La Monica

With 22.4 percent of the vote, Jessica Biel won via plurality. (See the full results)

The people have spoken . . . and they've said they want to see a smokin' hot chick on Entourage next season.

Now for the real fun. We've created a few storylines incorporating Biel into the show. It's up to you to pick your favorite and you've got one week to do it. The deadline is noon on Sept. 6.

A quick refresher: I know the "Entourage" creators have read this blog in the past. I know they'll be sitting down in September to write Season 5. I don't know if they'll read this blog then. But who knows? Maybe we'll shape a future episode. Maybe we won't. Either way, at least we can have some fun now as the show goes into hiatus for the next nine months.

Here are the scenarios. Read, then vote.

Just a reminder to vote in out "Pick a Guest Star for Season 5" poll. You've got until noon on Thursday (Aug. 30) to cast your ballot.

Vote here