‘Entourage’ Creator Doug Ellin on His New Pilot About (Fittingly) Second Acts

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I find myself reminiscing about the golden days of Hollywood as I delve into the captivating narrative of Kevin Dillon, the charismatic actor who breathed life into the iconic character of Johnny “Drama” Chase on HBO’s iconic series, Entourage. Born in Queens, New York, to a family steeped in showbiz lore, it was only natural that Kevin would follow the path paved by his father, the late actor and producer, Donald Borraine Dillon.

In the unrevealed teaser for a proposed pilot, Kevin Connolly is seen engaging in a typical Hollywood scheme alongside Kevin Dillon. At first sight, it appears to be a revival of Doug Ellin‘s 2000s series, Entourage, which centered around a rising actor and his crew, with Connolly, Dillon, and others as the main cast members. However, midway through the trailer, Charlie Sheen makes an appearance, hinting at something different from the original show.

In a playful scenario, Connolly, portraying himself, requires a hit for his podcast production. He then strikes up a conversation with Sheen, also acting as himself. “This situation might prove incredibly beneficial for the two of us,” fictional Connolly tells fictional Sheen. “It could serve as your ticket out of any current predicaments.

As a gamer reflecting on my past adventures, I can see parallels between my own journey and the upcoming project, “Ramble On,” which seems to revolve around second chances and redemption. Twenty years have passed since my last grand quest, Entourage, first graced our screens on HBO. Since then, I’ve embarked on various other escapades, but it seems that Entourage is experiencing a resurgence of interest, largely due to a podcast we did together through Connolly’s real-life company. “I understand why it resonates,” I mused during a recent phone call from my home in Beverly Hills, “because it was an authentic tale. It’s about loyalty and friendship, and I believe people appreciate that.

Ellin, aged 56, is accustomed to the bustle, yet he’s not fond of it. Originally from Long Island, he moved to Hollywood in the early 1990s via Tulane. He started off working in the mailroom at New Line Cinema while pursuing stand-up comedy, until he managed to secure funds to produce a short film with David Schwimmer. This led him to the American Film Institute. Following this, he directed the films ‘Phat Beach’ from 1996 and ‘Kissing A Fool’ in 1998, both starring Schwimmer. (Best of luck finding the latter movie on streaming services.)

Subsequently emerged the series titled “Entourage.” Ellin’s friend from Tulane, Stephen Levinson, was the manager of Mark Wahlberg, and they approached Ellin about creating a show centered around Wahlberg and his entourage. After numerous revisions to the pilot script, HBO gave its approval, coinciding with the conclusion of “Sex and the City.” The show revolved around actor Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), his brother Johnny “Drama” (Dillon), their childhood friends Eric “E” Murphy (Connolly) and “Turtle” (Jerry Ferrara), and their agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven). The group traversed Sunset Boulevard, dined at Urth Caffé and Koi, and mixed with models, while Vince’s career prospered. There were few major misfortunes, and the primary drama stemmed from “Drama.” Disagreements among the guys were resolved with the phrase, “Let’s sort this out, buddy.

Initially, the first season attracted approximately 4.7 million viewers. This number rose to 8.1 million by 2010. Co-creator Chuck Lorre believes that the series offered a strikingly accurate portrayal of Hollywood during that era and a unique depiction of male camaraderie seldom seen in media. In a 2011 article for The Hollywood Reporter, the show was referred to as a “cult favorite,” not just among its slightly male-skewing audience aged 18-49 but also within the industry it portrayed. By its final season in 2011, the series had garnered six Emmys and a Golden Globe, yet it was also becoming increasingly parodied or criticized.

Ellin made two additional attempts at new projects. The first, a comedy featuring Michael Imperioli, centered around four friends dealing with turning forty. The second was a boxing drama, directed by Spike Lee and starring John Boyega, which loosely followed Mike Tyson’s early career. Neither of these projects were produced. In 2015, Ellin and the Entourage team came back with a movie, as well as another Time magazine cover story. At the time, Grenier stated, “It’s the best job in the world. We get paid to portray what it’s like to live the lives of men at the top of the world.

It appeared that not everyone found the male characters as appealing anymore, with some critiques being quite harsh. A relatively mild critique by THR described the movie as resembling a condensed season nine, which while having its moments, wouldn’t be ranked among the show’s best. At this particular moment, it seemed inappropriate to bring back a series whose episodes often fell short of passing the Bechdel test (where two female characters discuss something other than men), along with other issues that were characteristic of the late Obama era.

Later, the culture changed again, and during the pandemic, Ellin, Connolly, and Dillon started “Victory the Podcast,” which was named after one of Drama’s catchphrases. On this podcast, they discussed various episodes of “Entourage” and invited other alumni such as Ferrara, Piven, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Rex Lee, and eventually Grenier. They produced over 100 episodes, surpassing the series’ 96-episode count. Fans of “Entourage” couldn’t get enough. As Ellin put it when they were taping live in Hawaii, “It felt like the show was still on and more popular than ever… People would shout ‘Victory!’

Then Victory abruptly ended. Ellin now points the finger at Dillon, whom he says is like a brother. “He wasn’t motivated to show up every day, and that’s fine.” (Dillon could not be reached for comment.) Ellin now hosts a different show, Is That Something You Might Be Interested In, its name a reference to another memorable Entourage line, the catchphrase of an over-the-hill, Robert Evans–type producer played Martin Landau. In late November, Ellin and Connolly released the first Victory episode in more than a year, without Dillon, though they did not go so far as to say the podcast is back for good.

Discussions about a possible revival of the series “Entourage” have been intriguing, but as of now, no plans are underway (Recently, JD Vance posted a picture with his team on Twitter, saying, “This ‘Entourage’ reboot is going to be amazing.”). Interestingly, another HBO show about four friends has resulted in two films and a new series. However, the creator of “Entourage”, Doug Ellin, emphasizes that the shows should not be equated. He explained, “I always tell the guys, ‘This isn’t Sex and the City. Sex and the City is a romantic comedy. Sarah Jessica Parker is a movie star. Let’s stop making the comparison.’

As I delve into yet another gaming session, I can’t help but reminisce about a show that still resonates with many – even the newer generation. It’s “Entourage,” a series that has left an indelible mark on pop culture. Funny story, at my daughter’s college, they call the newbies in the fraternity Lloyds, a tribute to the character who often bore the brunt of Ari Gold’s less-than-PC outbursts. Now, when you visit the streaming platform, you’ll notice a special “20th Anniversary” label adorning the show. The charm lies in nostalgia and escapism. A recent 2023 GQ article, titled “Entourage is for the Girls,” aptly captures the post-revisionist appeal: “It’s a show about what it’s like to be awesome.

Ellin appears delighted by the new admirers. A few days prior to Halloween, he sent a picture of five individuals who seemed quite youthful, dressed up as characters from “Entourage”: “It seems the younger generation is still appreciating it.

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2024-12-13 21:55