'Entourage' Returns for a Sixth Season

Alan Pergament - Buffalo News

'Entourage' Returns for a Sixth Season, With Sexy Sloan Along for the Ride

The sixth season opener of HBO's "Entourage" on Sunday has one dated moment that indicates how long the season of 12 episodes has been in the works.

Vince Chase (Adrian Grenier) the movie star on the comeback trail in Martin Scorsese's next movie, "Gatsby" goes on the "Tonight Show" to plug the film, and an energetic Jay Leno is in the anchor seat. Of course, Jay is late-night history now and has been replaced by Conan O'Brien.

But hey, it's still great to see Vince back in the comedy series about the joys of celebrity while riding along with his pack of family and friends from the old Queens neighborhood.

The opener at 10:30 p. m. Sunday is the 67th episode of the series, which means it is the sixth season on HBO even though it only has been on as long as broadcast network series that are entering their fourth season.

That's usually well past the time that writers need to find new, interesting ways to grab viewers. And there

can't be a more interesting way than to bring back sexy Emmanuelle Chriqui. She plays Sloan, the smart babe that Vince's friend and rising agent, Eric (Kevin Connolly), still pines for after a breakup.

Eric's story line deals with his attempts to become somewhat independent of his pal Vince. And it isn't the only plot dealing with independence. Vince also is learning how to drive, which could free up Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) to pursue a new career by the third episode.

Lloyd (Rex Lee), the accomplished, abused assistant to abusive super agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven), wants a promotion and shows some surprising ruthless tendencies. And the new agent that Ari hired last season, Andrew Klein (Gary Cole), is seeking a little independence from his wife.

As usual, the opening episode has some great eye candy and some clever lines but lacks laugh out-loud moments. "Entourage" really is more about attitude than big laughs anyway.

The most amusing lines in the first two episodes concern the attractiveness of movie star Seth Rogen of "Knocked Up" fame and the destructive behavior of the 1960s characters on the cable series "Mad Men." But, hey, women clearly grade on a curve -- witness the romance between Turtle and Jamie-Lynn Sigler ("The Sopranos"), which is based on their real-life relationship.

Other than the Leno distraction, everything in the opener works fine. However, the second episode is disappointing and makes one wonder if independence and growing up is such a great idea in the long run.

Secret Police

In the heavily promoted 10 p. m. Wednesday premiere of TNT's "Dark Blue," Dylan McDermott ("The Practice") stars as a decorated cop who runs an undercover unit in Los Angeles that even is a secret from other police agencies and the FBI.

From executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer, "Blue" is another take on the possibility that someone going undercover will join the bad guys he is infiltrating.

McDermott's character, Lt. Carter Shaw, is obviously in a dark place since he needs a shave and does a lot of yelling and grieving. Shaw's special undercover task force includes the usual suspects -- a recently married cop who has had enough, Ty Curtis (Omari Hardwick); a renegade, Dean Bendis (Logan Marshall-Green of "The O. C."); and a pretty patrol cop, Jaimie Allen (Nicki Aycox of "Supernatural"), whose specialty is lying. I'd be lying if I didn't say that her one big "surprising" scene is so transparent that is hard to believe any criminal would fall for it.

The opener starts with an excruciating torture scene and then proceeds to introduce viewers to McDermott's emotionally tortured character, who is nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness" by the wife of one of his task force members. It is just a slight variation on past McDermott roles.

The task force and the FBI seem to be at cross-purposes during an investigation of a case that is explained in the final eight minutes. Unfortunately, the explanation comes out of left field, which makes it nearly impossible for viewers to play along.

To make matters worse, the script has a good deal of cliches, led by this crack by the FBI leader (played by Kyle Secor of "Homicide") to Carter: "Your own backyard is the Wild West."

And wouldn't you know it, right after that remark a shoot-out occurs that is as ridiculous and predictable as the rest of the routine hour.

Working the Con

TNT obviously feels that "Dark Blue" is a good dramatic companion piece for the much lighter "Leverage," which has its second season premiere at 9 p. m. Wednesday before the opener of McDermott's series.

Interesting, "Dark Blue" and "Leverage" both have a faked death scene. It works much better for a comedic series like "Leverage" than a dark one like "Dark Blue" that tries for realism.

But them everything works better on "Leverage," which stars Timothy Hutton as the leader of a five-member team of thieves, grifters and con artists who now have become the good guys against powerful and wealthy rip-off artists.

The opener has the team setting up a con to deal with a timely story about a bank that is being bailed out by the government in a deceitful transaction that involves the mob and a banking official.

It isn't revolutionary TV, but "Leverage" is creative, fun and cleverly uses its delightful cast of characters.

TV Reviews

"Entourage"

***

(Out of four)

10:30 p. m. Sunday, HBO

"Dark Blue"

**

10 p. m. Wednesday, TNT

"Leverage"

***

9 p. m. Wednesday, TNT

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