Entourage: Let's Blog It Out

Emmy Award nominations hit the masses this morning and there were few surprises in the "Entourage" camp.

Once again, Kevin Dillon tests the strength of his work as Johnny Drama against Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy category. It would be grand to see Dillon win this time, if only for the high probability of a "Victory" chant. The competition is tough in this category: Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother"), Rainn Wilson ("The Office") and Jon Cryer ("Two And A Half Men").

"Entourage" is also in the Emmy running for Outstanding Comedy Series, up against defending champ "30 Rock," "The Office," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Two and a Half Men." That is some stiff comp right there.

That about does it for the TV awards you'll see handed out Sept. 21 at the Nokia Theater. Other Emmy nominations for the show are:

• Dan Attias for Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series (Episode: No Cannes Do).

• Steve Morantz, Dennis Kirk and Bill Jackson for Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (half-hour) And Animation (Episode: Adios Amigo).

[Kevin Dillon (HBO Photo); Phil Mickelson (AP Photo)]

So, there I was, staring at the HBO press release, the celebrity guest star paragraph to be precise.

Three words jumped out at me: golfer Phil Mickelson.

Sure, I had already written about his appearance. But now I started to think more, and these wirds jumped into my head:

In real life, Kevin Dillon is the son of a golf coach and knows how to play golf. Mickelson is notorious for collapsing on Sundays at major championships. Johnny Drama has a meltdown every other scene.

So here's my uneducated guess (I have no inside information on this script, which is why this post is field under the Fun & Games categories) as to what we might be in store for:

Who would win the match? Tough call. Who would have the bigger meltdown? Again, tough call.

Let's hear your thoughts on it.

HBO confirmed in a press release on Thursday what we have known for a little while: "Entourage" returns to the airwaves on Sunday, Sept. 7.

My apologies for getting this to you on Friday, but I was swamped with all kinds of other things on Thursday. I know, I know, "Entourage" should take preference over those things, and it usually does, but since this wasn't too earth-shattering news for regular readers, I figured it would be OK.

Plus, most of you should have been out partying on Thursday night and then stumbling into work late on Friday, so now seems like the right time.

It's a 12-episode season which will take us up to Thanksgiving. It picks up where it left off with the boys struggling to survive after sinking all their money into "Medellin."

Guest stars include Leighton Meester, who returns as Justine Chapin. Also on the previously reported guest star list: Bow Wow, T.I., Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Phil Mickelson.

Add to that list Fran Drescher, Lukas Haas, Kevin Pollak, Martin Landau, Paul Ben-Victor, the cast of "The View," Mark Wahlberg, and these two gems -- Eric Roberts and Tony Bennett.

An insider on Entourage: Let's Blog It Out's non-existant payroll who has read most of the scripts so far says we're in for some outstanding episodes this year.

If someone out there has the skills to build me a countdown ticker, I'll gladly post it on the blog. I'm fired up, folks. Get ready.

Victory!

- La Monica

(Getty Images)

Blogger compadre Verne turned me on to this little nugget from E!: Smoking hot Jamie-Lynn Sigler has a three-episode arc on "Entourage" this coming season.

Early reports have the pride of Jericho (the Long Island town, not the defunct TV show) playing herself and a potential love interest on the show.

Now comes the fun: Guessing the plot line.

I have no inside information on this (at least not yet), so I'm just taking a shot in the dark and letting my mind roll with it. I suggest you do the same in the comments field.

I'm guessing her storyline is intertwined somehow with the New York episode. It's too obvious for her to get with Vince, and given her image as anything but a Hollywood floozy, E seems like the logical choice.

However, that's almost too obvious. Consider Doug Ellin's history here. Most guest spots somehow make fun of themselves one way or another. So, the guess here is that Turtle will visit the "Meadow Lands" in some sort of late-night rendezvous at the W Hotel or The Surf Lodge in Montauk.

Again, it's a crazy scenario but anything is possible. Let's hear what you got.

(AP Photo)

Thanks to Blog reader "entourage fan" for posting this link to a Kevin Connolly interview. In the interview, E mentions that Entourage is doing a New York episode.

Finally, the boys are coming home and it's about damn time!

Any chance they read my script idea from two seasons ago about a New York homecoming episode? I doubt it highly, but it's fun to dream the dream.

With "Sex and the City" raking in big bucks at the box office, the topic of conversation for me and a few other friends over a recent breakfast at Chateau Marmont centered on HBO's next movie.

Would "SATC" open the doors for "The Sopranos," "Entourage" and other hit HBO series to go on the big screen?

Mark Wahlberg, in a recent interview with MovieFone.com, hints that there's a movie or two in Entourage's future.

Will it ever happen? Who knows. But I do know I'll be Fandangoing my tickets weeks in advance.

Kevin Dillon has a part in the Jan. 16, 2009 Dreamworks release "Hotel for Dogs."

It looks very kid-friendly, a role we're not used to seeing from our beloved Drama. However, his cameo in this newly released trailer is outstanding. It appears the fake mustache he donned in his "Medellin" cameo went over big with the producers of this flick.

Enjoy.

E's got a new movie coming out soon, "He's Just Not That Into You." The trailer hit the web this week. Give it a looksee and see Kevin Connolly in a new role. (Unless you prefer him on the big screen as Chickie the schoolyard bully in "Rocky V.")

* Time to pre-order Entourage Season 4 on DVD. HBO will start shipping Aug. 26, just in time to get everyone hyped up for Season 5 which will start a few weeks after that.

* This is a week old -- hey, I was on vacation in Hawaii and Vegas -- but in case you hadn't heard, Bow Wow has a recurring role as a stand-up comic in season five.

* According to GoErie.com, pro golfer Phil Mickelson has a guest spot in an upcoming episode of "Entourage." Consider that "Entourage" guest stars tend to make fun of themselves (OK, so the writers and producers make them do it). Then consider that Mickelson is notorious for collapsing in big moments of major tournaments. Oh, this has the makings for some hilarious television.

* Our fave, Emmanuelle Chriqui, breaks down working with the "Entourage" actors in this little interview.

* Thank you, GQ! Peep the latest issue of the men's style magazine on newsstands this week for a smokin' hot photo shoot with smokin' hot Emmanuelle Chriqui. Regular Entourage blog readers know about our special affinity for Sloan, and we're begging for a return arc on the show. Please!

In the meantime, here's a funny little story about our favorite Emmanuelle courtesy of the Daily News. If that doesn't make you want to move to Malibu, or start a new career as a photographer, nothing will.

After reading that, head over to GQ.com for more photos. And then peep your head below for the video, compliments of my new favorite magazine Web site.

* Adrian Grenier and his Reckless Productions company joins forces with investment group J. Loar Inc.

* Though we haven't heard an official word from HBO, Kevin Connolly suggests in comments to the New York Post that "Entourage" will indeed be back in 2009 for a sixth season.

According to various Internet reports, Leighton Meester of "Gossip Girls" fame will take another turn as Justine Chapin on "Entourage" this season.

T.I. is also set to do a cameo on the show this season, which no doubt will help album sales of his sixth solo effort "Paper Trail," which hits stores Aug. 12. Well, maybe it will also boost illegal downloads.

Time for plot guessing with these two cameos. My random guesses are below, read them and then post yours.

For Leighton Meester: The obvious call here is something to do with Vince and a bed (or a coat room), but I'm going in the other direction. I say Drama lands a date with her in some kind of reverse cougar plotline.

For T.I.: T.I. teams up with Rufus, who after installing home audio systems and repairing cars, is now a club owner. Turtle befriends T.I. backstage at a concert, gets on to his tour bus and actually reveals his first name to land a girl. That girl turns out to be T.I.'s sister and Turtle gets thrown off the bus.

Again, these are just random guesses. Your turn.

- La Monica

Waiting in line to pick up a media credential for UFC 83 at Montreal's Bell Center this past weekend, Mandy Moore strolled right on by with a few friends.

Before I had a chance to get out, "Mandy, why'd you break Vince's heart like that twice?" she was gone. My bad.

But I did promise myself that if there was another Mandy sighting later in the evening, I'd drop that one on her.

There was another Mandy sighting later in the evening.

I broke my promise to myself. But there was a reason for this one:

Yep, Minka Kelly, aka Lyla Garrity from "Friday Night Lights."

Ridonkulous!

Mandy Moore is still kryptonite, but in a good way this time.

If that headline confuses you, let me explain.

"Entourage" recently has been filming scenes for Season 5 in Hawaii. According to Pacific Coast News, Hawaii is doubling as Mexico for the purposes of the episode's plot. Pacific Coast News also has a bunch of photos from the set.

Forgive me for asking this, but was it really easier for a show situated in Southern California to go to Hawaii to replicate Mexico instead of just going a few miles south to the actual Mexico?

I'm probably just a bit upset for three reasons:

1) Pure jealousy
2) Mad they didn't shoot in Hawaii in late May when I'll be out there.
3) Does this mean the show's one traveling episode per season won't be in New York this time around?

Here's a little Q&A with Adrian Grenier from The Guardian over there in the U.K., compliments of Intrepid videographer friend Bobby.

Some interesting takes on stuff.

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/theatre/drama/story/0,,2266616,00.html

Season 5 of "Entourage" is indeed in production as I blog, which means these hot stove reports will soon be replaced with things about the new episodes.

* The new season of Entourage is scheduled to start Sept. 28.

* Adrian Grenier wins the Blue Sky Award for Environmental Activism

* Doug Ellin suggests that Dom will return for a few episodes and that Entourage could last eight seasons.

* An enterprising lad compares the characters on "Entourage" to the top teams in NCAA hoops this season.