Entourage: Let's Blog It Out

By Mark La Monica

Possession of the Entourage Season 3.5 DVD, officially titled "Entourage, Season 3, Part 2" provides on-demand access to one of the greatest moments in show history: Johnny Drama at the Grand Canyon.

Is there more of a rallying cry or sentimental moment than seeing Drama, post-meltdown, fall to his knees overlooking the Grand Canyon and scream "Victory!"?

Having access to this scene at any point in your everyday life makes it worth the purchase.

But, as with all DVDs these days, extras are necessary. (Gone are the days of "Hey, let's make viewers who purchase 'Goodfellas' flip over the DVD to watch the rest of the movie.)

Included on this DVD is an interesting panel discussion involving the cast, creator Doug Ellin and director Julian Farino. The Museum of Television & Radio panel was moderated by Elvis Mitchell, the guy who interviewed E, Vince and Billy Walsh for Interview magazine.

The panel is from March 2006, but is still interesting to hear the backstories and thought processes behind some of our favorite scenes.

If you're already a subscriber to the Entourage podcast on iTunes, then you've already seen the "Anatomy of Entourage" featurette that goes behind the scenes of the Season 3.5 finale. If you're not a subscriber, then you'll enjoy this 11 minutes. It basically is the real-life version of the "Medellin" documentary that opened Season 4.

One of the traits of "Entourage" is bringing guest stars and periphery characters back to the show on occasion. Remember Rufus, the Home Video Solutions guy from Season 1? He came back in Season 3.5 as Rufus, the auto body repair guy.

In the three audio commentaries, show creator Doug Ellin talks a lot about how and why he brings characters back. He also mentions the new houses for the guys each season and how the lack of continuity isn't much of an issue for the show.

In the interest of full disclosure, in the commentary accompanying "The Resurrection" episode, aka Drama at the Grand Canyon, Ellin hammers Newsday, "my hometown paper," for bashing the show in its first season.

In the interest of fuller disclosure, I had nothing to do with that back then. I was only a sports writer at the time and "Entourage, the blog" wasn't even in my radar.

Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Doug Ellin and Kevin Connolly (in one of the three commentaries) point out their favorite lines in certain scenes and how they went about delivering them or the backstory about how they decided to do things a certain way. It's pretty interesting stuff.

Most notably, in "The Resurrection" commentary, Ellin said he went into writing that episode with the idea of getting Dillon an Emmy nomination. He did.

Epsiodes with audio commentaries:
• "Manic Monday"
• "The Resurrection"
• "Adios Amigos"

By Mark La Monica

To fully appreciate the Best Printable Line from the Season 3.5 finale, you need to understand two words:

1) Billy
2) Walsh

He's a whackadoo character on the show, and every time he shows up on your television screen, he refuses to disappoint.

Of course, he didn't win the BPL this week because every fourth word out of his mouth is an F-bomb or worse. But, his new (and fitting) arc as a porn director gave rise to an unlikely BPL victor: Vince.

Vince and E rolled onto Walsh's set to discuss Medellin without knowing anything about his new gig. After discussing what movie it might be in the car ride over, Vince and E walk into a porn set with a pool table, leather outfits, naked women and men and, of course, Billy Walsh.

Vince turns to E and quizzically opines about Walsh's new movie, "Boogie Nights 2?"

Funny on so many levels.

The Final Season 3.5 Best Printable Line Standings
Drama 2
E 2
Turtle 1
Vince 1
Sloan 1
Kelly 1

By Mark La Monica

After a full season away from the top of the heap, Johnny Drama returns to share Entourage, the blog's coveted Big Knish Award for Season 3.5. He splits the title with E, who delivered his share of one-liners in this short season of eight episodes.

This marks the second straight season of co-champions in the race for the Big Knish Award, given at the end of each season to the character with the most Best Printable Lines, those memorable and printable quotes from each episode.

Similar to rounds in a boxing match, the judges rate each episode individually. They don't look at the running total until after each week just to update the standings. And since so many things go on in real life during the seven days between episodes, the judges don't remember the standings.

Props to both Drama and E for giving us so much good material to use in the office on Monday.

The Final Season 3.5 Best Printable Line Standings
Drama 2
E 2
Turtle 1
Vince 1
Sloan 1*
Kelly 1*

Big Knish History
Season 3.5 -- Drama, E
Season 3 -- Ari Gold, Turtle
Season 2 -- Johnny Drama
Season 1 -- Johnny Drama**

* As determined by the readers those weeks based on voting.

** Entourage the blog began midway through Season 2, but we went back and did the research from Season 1. Not surprisingly, Drama won that season's Big Knish, too.

Best Printable Line rules
Just to refresh your memory, the weekly honor of Best Printable Line comes with the caveat of the quote being able to be reprinted for people of all ages. If not for this rule, Ari Gold would win every week. If not for this rule, I'd have been fired for dropping too many curses and lewd material in this blog.

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 didn't really get upset about the week off from Entourage. At least, not until Tuesday night.

On this night, I offered to lend a proofreader's eye to PhD friend Lina on part of her thesis. By no means am I intelligent enough to offer insightful comments about a PhD thesis, especially one in history, but I can catch a typo or a missing comma like nobody's business.

The topic had to do with the history of Colombia, or at least I think it did. Again, I'm not that intelligent. However, life threw me a bone on page 13 of 24. There it was, in regular type, 12-point, Times New Roman font.

Medellin.

I put the paper down and laughed. Culture shock. How did Entourage wind up in a history thesis?

Oh yeah, Medellin isn't just a movie script on a television show. Still, it was funny.

Note: Paul Haggis and Vincent Chase were nowhere to be found in the thesis, which is probably a good thing for PhD friend Lina.

But here in Entourage, the blog, I thought it was worth a few paragraphs of our time.

By Mark La Monica

The voters have spoken, albeit much quieter than the last time. Such is life. The winner of the Best Printable Line for Episode 7 of Season 3.5 is Kelly, Rufus' daughter.

Her bomb carried the way for the readers of "Entourage, the blog" in what was an average episode.

While hooking up with Turtle in the car, she asked what his real name is.

"What, you think I'd have sex with someone saying 'Oh Turtle!'?"

The results make the Season 3.5 finale on June 3 that much more important. Drama and E are tied for the Big Knish Award, given to the character with the most BPLs in a season.

Drama won the title in Seasons 1 and 2, and Turtle and Ari shared it in Season 3. Can Drama get the hat trick? Or will E sneak up and claim his first crown? Or can Turtle cause a three-way tie atop the BPL standings?

Best Printable Line Standings
(with one week left)

Drama 2
E 2
Turtle 1
Sloan 1
Kelly 1
Ari 0
Vince 0

By Mark La Monica

We'll waste no time and dive right into this week's nominees for Best Printable Line.

1) Johnny Drama, after telling the guys he was just offered a part in "Rush Hour 3" without having to audition.

"Johnny Drama don't shine shoes no more."

2) Turtle, moments after Drama's line above

"I knew my life would suck if Drama got a career before I did."

3) Johnny Drama, after Brett Ratner tells him the only parts he has left for "Rush Hour 3" are French part.

"Je pas francais."

4) Kelly, while hooking up with Turtle in the car and asking what his real name is.

"What, you think I'd have sex with someone saying 'Oh Turtle!'?"

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

That's right, folks. To quote Daniel LaRusso, "It's coming around again."

It's another chance for our loyal "Entourage, the blog" readers to decide the Best Printable Line for Episode 7 of Season 3.5.

All the same rules apply. The nominees will be posted shortly after 11 p.m. on Sunday, May 20. You'll then have 25 hours to cast your ballot. Vote once, vote twice, vote 300 times. Whatever you want.

When the clock hits midnight on Monday night, the polls close.

Then, Tueday morning, we'll announce the winner.

Best Printable Line Standings
(with two weeks left)

Drama 2
E 2
Turtle 1
Sloan 1
Ari 0
Vince 0