Entourage (HBO)
After viewing the first three episodes, I can see the series continuing to come into its own, with the zeitgeist not just catching up to this trendy Hollywood satire, but zooming right past it. Is it because the show itself has sweetened – the first episode featured Vincent, Drama, E, and Turtle flying their mothers in on a private jet to the premiere of Aquaman – or has the world seemed to have gotten a lot crueler in the interim?
Even Jeremy Piven’s shameless Ari Gold is revealing a softer side, as he’s forced to dip into Mrs. Ari’s trust fund and settle for the $13 Gigi salad at the Palm instead of the lobster. The appearance of an old high school friend in episode three, who shows up unannounced after a prison stint, promises some darker times ahead, but for the most part, the boys are enjoying the box office success of James Cameron’s first movie since Titanic. Their interest suddenly turns from sex to power, which is what enables you to get the former in the first place.
Cameo of the year so far: Jimmy Woods playing himself as the tough guy who tries to get back the Aquaman premiere tickets that Ari’s assistant Lloyd accidentally gave to Drama and E to pick up hot chicks. Still a great show, even if it is turning out to be the testosterone-driven version of Sex and the City transplanted to Hollywood.
NBA Finals
For a moment there, I thought my Miami-in-seven prediction was going the way of the Heat. But Dwyane Wade came out of nowhere to assert some Jordan-esque carry-the-team-on-his-back heroics to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. He put his beleaguered batch back into the hunt with the Mavericks, followed by a Nowitzki meltdown last night that tied the series back up.
I was right on in recognizing that Dampier and Diop would need to control Shaq, which they did in the winning games. But O’Neal finally came through in Game 3 with two clutch free throws and Game 4 with some domination around the paint, something he’ll have to continue to do.
Like I said, a Miami veteran would have to represent come crunch time and one did in Gary Payton. A lot more are going to have to step up (Alonzo Mourning seemed to come alive in Game 4) for the Heat to make my pre-series pick come true.
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Great stuff Roy! How did you get a hold of the first three eps of the new season of Entourage, though? Only the first episode has aired thus far.
2 - El Bicho
El Bicho's takes on Roy's takes....
Just reading the recap of Artie's Roast on Howard's site was hysterical. I do miss the show, but I've missed it since Billy West left and the sex began to dominate. Richard and Sal's Gay Chicken just leaves me scratching my head.
I have enjoyed Maggiano's before. It's a great place for large groups eating together. A similar chain that matches it is Bucco di Beppo in terms of reasonably priced family portions and atmosphere.
Speaking from my own personal issues, we are neurotic regarding flip flops. I can deal with it in the summer, but combined with long jeans it makes no sense to me how that look is in fashion. It makes me want to piss on the floor when I go to the bars just so those trendy bastards traipse through it.
Too busy with NHL & NBA playoffs to think about baseball. I'm two wins away from my Miami pick made last August with them going off at 4:1. Hope to be cashing in at the BC trip. Get back to me after the all-star break.
3 - Eric Berlin
I haven't heard Stern's show since he went to satellite. I'm intrigued by satellite radio in general but just can't take on yet another monthly service fee for entertainment.
I now listen to Carolla (and music) in the mornings -- he's good and ocassionally very funny, but it's not close to what Stern was. And Adam Carolla was outstanding, consistently so, on Love Lines -- I think that might have been his perfect gig. Still, radio shows take years to develop so I think it will continue to improve.
4 - Roy Trakin
HBO traditionally sends out the first three episodes of its series to journalists, though I haven't gotten Deadwood yet. But I do have a publicity contact who sometimes takes care of me. It's funny, but Showtime sent me the entire run of this season's Huffm which I went through and I lost track of where I was vis a vis the airings, so I couldn't discuss it with anyone without being a spoiler, which kinda sucked...
5 - Matthew T. Sussman
Just as I'm killing the competition with the Detroit Tigers in Owner Mode on MVP Baseball 2005, the Mets are playing that exact same way. Omar Minaya must have traded for a cheat code.
6 - Joan Hunt
Entourage would have to take a serious step backward to even come close to SATC. It's miles above SATC in writing and heart.