Somewhat expected, but more than welcome news, HBO has renewed Entourage for a sixth season. According to Reuters, production will begin in early 2009 with launch slated for the summer.

An interesting find: After every episode this season, HBO.com/Entourage has been updating their page with intriguing audio clips featuring Doug Ellin talking about that episode. In this weeks snippet, he mentions that Ally Musika wrote this episode and it was directed by Julian Farino. Nice to read into the people behind the show. A great addition by HBO.

In semi-related news: Crossing the realms of reality and fiction, checkout FOX 29’s Jenn Frederick’s interview with Mark Wahlberg featuring Entourage, and of course his new film Max Payne.

Tree Trippers is right. The most stunning cinematography you will see in Entourage. Mostly shot at Joshua Tree National Park, this episode culminated in the boys having some ‘time-out’. Using this trip, Vincent Chase tries to gather his thoughts to make the right call on whether to do a Benji movie or try and push for Smokejumpers.

Ari’s little trippin’ out was the funniest. Seeing Ari lose control like this, has to be one of the best moments of the series. While Lloyd under the usual barrage of abuse, reacts superbly, hosting a gay party at Ari’s house, giving Ari a big “F*ck you!” for once. Although Mrs. Gold wasn’t pleased.

If you have ever watched the Sopranos – this episode seemed like it would take the route of Season 6 Episode 2 : Join the Club. One of those weird nonsensical drugged-out hallucinogenic dreams. But it wasn’t, in fact it was more akin to Six Feet Under Season 1 Episode 9 : Life’s Too Short when the 60+ year old mother gets high on ecstasy. It gave a real sense of brotherhood between the guys. And a pleasant break from the Hollywood lifestyle. The dialogue while they were trippin’ was most memorable, this really was Doug Ellin (or was it Ally Musika?) at his best, and definitely worth re-watching.

This episode posed several questions of what the future could hold for the boys -Will Turtle actually get a job? Will Vinnie star in Smokejumpers?
Exciting times ahead…and we’re almost halfway through.

Kristin at E! Online has a scoop with Doug Ellin spilling some beans about Entourage Season 5. Finally some exciting news, although bringing back Dom with terminal cancer doesn’t sound like the most riveting storyline.

A summary of what might be is below or read here to go into the tidbits.

1. Season 5 could be longer than 12 episodes – if HBO orders more
2. No Writers’ Strike will be written into the plot
3. Dom might be back – with terminal cancer, as actor Domenick Lombardozzi is good friends with Doug Ellin
4. Entourage Season 5 will air in September   (Update 11/07/08: Entourage Season 5 Premiere)

And the big one which will excite all Entourage fans

(Doug) Ellin says he has four more seasons of scandalous behavior in reserve, insisting that Entourage will probably run through year eight.

Plenty more lovely girls to profile! Keep an eye out for more juicy details to come, and maybe an exclusive HBO Entourage Season 5 YouTube Preview!!

Further Updates:

• 8th September ‘08 – Season 5 Episode 1 Review
• 15th September ‘08 – Season 5 Episode 2 Review
• Season 5 Weekly Reviews!

After a retrospective look at an article titled ‘Entourage’ may be the next big thing for HBO, I was intrigued in the comment that Doug Ellin made:

“I still think most people watch that show (The Sopranos) by themselves. I think people gather to watch our show. They watch at parties. They also steal it. They get it online.” New York Times Article: Generating Buzz in All the Right Places, ‘Entourage’ Fills a Gap for HBO. August 28, 2006

Personally, I get my dosage from my paid-for-subscription of HBO, but I know a lot of friends who download the episodes off the net (downloading using software called ‘torrents’ i think…is that what Doug means by stealing?) as they don’t have access to HBO.

How do you get yours? And is it easy if you can’t get them by A. Watching HBO or B. Buying the DVD sets?