- Title: USA: Season 5 of "Entourage" features role reversals for many of the characters
- Date: 4th September 2008
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 3, 2008) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) REX LEE, ACTOR WHO PLAYS "LLOYD", SAYING: "You know, I never know if he's having a day where he wants to think about Ari and not really pal around on the set. Like sometimes he's all work, sometimes all he wants to do is laugh."
- Embargoed: 19th September 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVACU4HJQSYTGJZL8L6M4OAEGEZ7
- Story Text: The characters on Season 5 of "Entourage" find themselves in unfamiliar territory as their roles are reversed. The series features cameos by Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Bow Wow.
It was male madness on the red carpet at the New York premiere of season 5 of "Entourage" on Wednesday (September 3). All of the series' stars were there along with executive producer Mark Wahlberg, on whom the series is loosely based. The all-male characters in the Emmy-winning HBO show find themselves in role reversal in the new season - who was once up, is now down and vice-versa.
Jeremy Piven, who has won two Emmies for playing alpha agent "Ari Gold", struggles with his career and becomes more focused on his family.
The one constant is his bulldog persona, which was encouraged by the series' creator, Doug Ellin.
"There was a moment in one of the episodes where Doug (creator) goes 'I want more' - I go 'you want me to put the script in my mouth and rip it apart?' He said 'actually that's a great idea', I was like 'ok'," said Piven. "So, now I am literally just ripping and chewing up props."
While Ari is predictably dominant in the show, Piven's moods see-saw on set, according to Rex Lee who plays Ari's assistant "Lloyd".
"I never know if he's having a day where he wants to think about Ari and not really pal around on the set. Like sometimes he's all work, sometimes all he wants to do is laugh," said Lee.
Season 5 is tough on Ari but it's smooth sailing for "Johnny Drama" played by Kevin Dillon, who finds himself at the top of his television career.
"He taps into a couple new emotions like love, jealousy and just the feeling of success," said Dillon of his character. "Also, you see him being there for his brother when his brother is going through hard times just like when his brother was there for him, which is nice."
The biggest hurdle though is for "Vince", played by Adrian Grenier. His career is in tatters after the disastrous screening of the movie "Medellin" at the Cannes Film Festival. He has grown a beard, gained weight and hasn't been offered a role in six months. His manager "Eric" played by Kevin Connolly is desperately trying to revive his career. The ups and downs of fame chronicled in "Entourage" and in real life have inspired Grenier to produce a documentary on the relationship between the press and celebrities.
"I have recently just been exploring the curiosities of my experience not only on "Entourage" that deals with celebrity but also with the success of "Entourage" and my own sort of foray into celebrity," said Grenier. There is no word on when the documentary will be completed.
True to form, the series features celebrity guests and cameos. Rapper Bow Wow, plays a comedian and Sopranos' star Jamie-Lynn Sigler plays herself.
Sigler said it was the writing that drew her to the show.
"It's an inside look into Hollywood and what it's really like and I believe it's really true to life," said Sigler. "And all these characters are really colourful and fun. It's just always been one of my most favourite shows so I couldn't have been more excited to be part of it."
The show will also feature a cameo by U.S. swimming sensation Michael Phelps. The first episode of season 5 of "Entourage" airs on HBO on September 7 and the series runs for 12 episodes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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