Entourage: Paging Tyra Banks

Hold onto something, Entourage fans, because this show’s world is on the verge of flipping upside down. The potential twist is nothing as drastic as Vince becoming a Quaker or Turtle quitting weed, but it would represent a profound shift in character dynamics and create a world where Hollywood rests at Vinny Chase’s feet. What is this potential game changer, you ask? Ari might become a studio head!

At the funeral of mortal enemy and Warner Bros. honcho Alan Gray, Ari manages to simultaneously pay his respects and make shameless plays for Vince to co-star in Smokejumpers. Out of the blue, Alan’s boss tells Ari to postpone that particular negotiation to instead ponder the notion of moving into Alan’s job. Upon returning to a nightmarish day at the office replete with reality show writers trying to pitch a script for The Hobbit and Jeffrey Tambor kvetching about his lack of work, Ari starts to feel that maybe taking a few steps up the ladder wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Vince & the boys spend this week under the same plot umbrella. Unfortunately, it’s little more than an excuse to inject a large dose of gratuitous eye candy for the Maxim-reading frat boy demographic. Shawna gets Vince a deal to pose in a Dolce & Gabbana ad for a cool million, creating the apparent necessity of hanging around dozens of semi-nude models. Drama & Turtle angle for an easy hookup, but it’s E who lands one. Or so he thinks. Unfortunately, the Amazonian beauty isn’t after Eric for his body, just his management know-how. I guess becoming a slashie (model-slash-actress for any non-Zoolander fans out there) is harder than you’d think. Vince meanwhile falls for the co-star of his shoot, only to see her get fired by a jealous swinger photographer with an eye for Vince. Ever the romantic idealist, Vince passes on the much needed paycheck to go get the girl. It all winds up like some sort of horndog fairy tale with the boys hitching a ride on a private jet to a wild sexy party in Hawaii. The only way any of this romp develops the slightest bit of genuine plot heft is when Vince & Ari have a chance meeting at the airstrip where Ari confesses his ambitions to his favorite client. Things end on an ambiguous and bittersweet note, leaving both men confused and wondering what any of it might mean for their professional and personal relationships.

I love where Ari’s story might be heading, but for the rest of the gang, the writers seriously need to focus less on T&A and more on LOL.

Season 5, Episode 7: Gotta Look Up To Get Down (originally aired October 19, 2008)

For another take on this episode, check out The Next Level by Tanya Lane.

For more on Entourage, click here.

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Photographs courtesy of HBO