The end of Season 5 took the boys out of the klieg lights of Hollywood and back to their roots in Queens. “My favorite episode was probably the last episode when they went back to New York,” said Doug Ellin. “There was something about seeing where these guys were from. Also, two of my directing heroes, Martin Scorsese and Gus Van Sant, were on the show.” Ellin holds equal affection for the episode in which the guys drive to the desert to take mushrooms with Eric Roberts. “It was pretty polarizing. People either loved or hated it. I liked it because my son was in it. He plays Jeremy’s son on the show.”
Claudette Barius
Two moments stood out for Ellin as the most surprising developments of the season. “When Vince got fired from the movie [ Smoke Jumpers],” he said. “It was the lowest point in the season. He was coming out of a movie that didn’t work and to witness that moment with him was pretty dramatic. It was a big change in tone from what we normally do.” The second moment? “When Ari was thinking of taking the studio head job. He had this scene with Vince where we watch him stick with him and help get him back to where he needs to be. It was one of the most touching moments in the show.”
Claudette Barius
For a second, it looked as if Ari, who had newly established his own talent agency, Miller Gold, would abandon the grind for a cushy job as the head of a major studio. Fortunately, Ellin and the writers agreed it wasn’t time for Ari to rest on his laurels. “I know a lot of people who were watching thought, why wouldn’t he take it? I don’t necessarily think he would. I don’t think the real Ari Emanuel would either,” said Ellin. “But we thought about going in that direction. The guy just started his own business and for him to give up his own business to work for someone else even though it’s a big job—it just wasn’t right. I thought he was too young. I just didn’t think he would give up on his business that early.”
Claudette Barius
Despite winning the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series three years in a row, Jeremy Piven’s name was noticeably absent on this year’s ballot. “I was surprised. I thought that was a personal backlash for everything that was going on,” said Ellin referring to Piven’s much-talked-about mercury poisoning incident and subsequent early exit from the Broadway play Speed the Plow. “Jeremy was as good last year as he was the three previous years when he won. If you win three years in a row and then you don’t get nominated, you’ve got to think something’s going on.”
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Jeremy Piven’s Emmy snub may prove advantageous for co-star Kevin Dillon, Entourage’s sole acting nominee. His Best Supporting Actor nod for his role as the guileless, struggling actor Johnny Drama is Dillon’s third. “Kevin’s just brilliant. He brings a lot of layers to the role,” said Ellin. “He can bring a level of sympathy to everything he does—he makes it funny and touching at the same time. It’s interesting because he really wasn’t known for comedy before this show.” Ellin’s favorite Johnny Drama moment? “When Drama had a breakdown on The View.”
Claudette Barius
Finally! In Season 5, Turtle emerged from Vince, E, and Johnny’s shadows to win the heart of Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who plays herself on the show. To make the moment even more meta, Sigler and Jerry Ferrara are also dating in real life. “I couldn’t have imagined at Season 1 that Turtle was going to date Jamie-Lynn and turn it into a really incredible romantic comedy,” said Ellin. “Jerry proved me right by getting the girl in real life as well.” Ellin continued, “I don’t think Jerry Ferrara gets enough attention. The critics don’t really talk about him, but the fans love this kid. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he’s doing.”
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Season 5 also proved that the show was about more than Champagne bottles, limousine rides and red carpet premieres. “I definitely made a concerted effort to make it less fun and show a side of Hollywood that we hadn’t previously shown, which is that it’s not always so easy for this guy,” said Ellin. Did he have Emmy nominations in mind when he decided to take the show down a dramatic path? “Obviously every year you hope you get nominated and you pray that you win, but you can’t write like that because you’re guessing what someone else wants. I try to make it as real and as good to us as possible.”
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Entourage is also known for being rife with celebrity cameos and memorable guest stars. Last season, along with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, the show welcomed guest performances by Jason Patric, Eric Roberts, Leighton Meester, and Giovanni Ribisi. The standout guest performance, however, went to Stellan Skarsgard, who played Verner Vollstedt, the director of the embattled firefighter movie, Smoke Jumpers, and Vince’s biggest nemesis. “I think he should have won an Emmy nomination hands down,” said Ellin. “The acting he was doing on the show was film acting. It’s not a performance you see on a sitcom.” The scene in which Vollstedt fires Vince was one of the most intense yet humorous to date. “Mark Wahlberg called me after he saw that episode and said it was one of best he’s seen in his life,” said Ellin. “We’re dealing with stuff that we deal with in real life. Adrian was like, ‘Whoa!’ after each take.”
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Even though Entourage is nominated for four Emmys, Ellin isn’t holding his breath for a big win in the Best Comedy category. “I’m looking forward to losing again. That’s always fun,” he said with a laugh. “ 30 Rock has 25 nominations. Something tells me they’re going to win.” If he does attend the ceremony, Ellin plans to make the most out of being surrounded by his favorite actors. “I like to see all the people who are doing the shows. I always like to see Larry David. I hope he’s there this year.”
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