While watching Entourage tonight, I was reminded of a game of chess. Although I do not play the game, I understand the general concept. Everytime one piece is moved, the game changes. Make the right moves, and you defeat your competitor.

Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) proved tonight that he is the ultimate Chess King. He trumped his enemies (Amanda Daniels played by Carla Gugino and Josh Weinstein played by Joshua LeBar) by making just the right move at the right time.

Struggling with his decision to take a 10 million dollar offer to take over Warners (we should all have such dilemas in today's economy), Ari first tried to engage Amanda in a game of chess. He told her he would let her win, if she agreed to cast Vincent in Smoke Jumpers. But, Amanda was having none of it. Pride wouldn't allow her to make a deal that would allow her ex-client (and ex-lover) and her biggest competitor get back in the game.

So, Ari took her out of the game in 2 moves. First, he brought frienemy Dana Gordon (Constance Zimmer) back into the mix. Hoping just to be Ari's 2nd, Dana Gordon may not have even imagined that she herself had a shot at the head of Warners. Ari was able to put a mate/checkmate move and get Dana the job of a lifetime and Vincent (Adrian Grenier) a 2nd chance at the life he always wanted.

The end of Entourage left us in a Win-Win situation for the first time all season.

I would feel bad about Turtle and Jamie-Lynn Zigler, except we know she will be back (and that Jerry Ferrara and she are dating in real life). Plus, either way, he will have a story for a lifetime.

It ws interesting to see Eric Murphy (Kevin Connolly) engage in busines with Josh Weinstein. E has to walk a thin line, if he thinks that Josh will have work for one of his clients in the future. After all, he has 2 other clients (Bow Wow will be back next week).

Ari's "work spouse" Lloyd and Mrs. Ari both confirmed what we already knew- Ari Gold was more interested in being his own man than making money. If it really was able the money, he would have dropped Vincent Chase a long time ago.

I would say that Ari Gold was able to yell "checkmate" at the end of the episode, but checkmate means the "the king is ambushed". And, in actually, the opposite occured. Because, after all, Ari Gold is king. Long live the king!

Season 5 of Entourage is Hot and Fire Sale continues to demonstrate this point.

Unlike last week's filler episode, this week was all about moving on.

Vincent Chase, our leading man, finds out that he doesn't sell anymore. Offered a role in Benji, by the end of the episode Vince not only agrees to 2nd lead in Smoke Jumpers, he also grows more than a little. This is never more evident than when he tells Eric to do what he has to in regards to his clients and their script. Season 3 Vincent would have guilted E into getting the script back for him. Season 5 Vince has learned to be humble and generous.

As for Vincent's Entourage:

Brother Johnny pours out his heart on The View. Something tells me this moment of weakness will pay off in many ways. Not only will it make him more appealing to women, the fair Jacqueline may just respond once the daytime talk show airs overseas in France.

Best bud Eric is learning to play the game, as Amanda so specificially points out. This is more evident at the end of the episode, when he is suprised by an extremely lucrative counter offer. On a personal note, it was extremely nice to see Kevin Connolly get a lot of air time on this episode. It is great to see him play off someone besides Jeremy Piven's Ari Gold for a change. If we didn't know that Carla Gugino was only signed on for 3 episodes, it would be interesting to see what would come of the Amanda/E interactions. Its nice to see someone appreciate his skills, rather than belittle him all the time like Ari likes to do. Hopefully, she will make it back for Season 6.

Poor Turtle was just along for the ride on this one, there to play off Debi Mazur's Shauna. The best is yet to come for him this season.

So, the million dollar (with 3 mil riding) question: Who will play the lead in Smoke Jumpers if Vincent Chase is playing the brother? Will it be former competitors Jake Gyllenhaal or Russell Crowe? Will Ed Norton sign on after all? Or, will Vince get his groove and his leading man status back?

None of this matters. What truly matters is I care! Unlike the Medellin storyline, which became stale and frustrating all at the same time, I want to tune in again next week to see how these guys continue to grow and change. I can't wait to see what happens next!

And, that's HOT!

Jeremy Piven, Adrian Grenier and Kevin Connolly help to make Season 5 of Entourage Red Hot!

Jeremy Piven adds an Emmy to his collection at the 60th Annual Emmys Tonight!Jeremy Piven was calm and composed before his Emmy win for Best Supporting Actor- Comedy Series during the 60th Annual Emmy Awards.

The Entourage standout won for his role as Ari Gold on the HBO hit.

Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara formed a fantastic looking Entourage at the 2008 Emmys!

His Entourage co-stars Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara were equally cool and hot on the red carpet as well. The boys of Entourage were on hand to support Piven and Dillon, who competed in the Supporting Actor category, and to find out if Entourage would take home the Best Comedy award.

Kevin Connolly Rocks A Tux and some shades at the 2008 Emmy Awards!

The 2008 Emmy Awards aired on ABC, Sunday, September 21, 2008.

Mary Hart and Perry Reeves at a female presence to this manly Entourage at the 60th Annual Emmys!

Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Adrian Grenier star in the Emmy nominated hit Entourage!

Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly and Jerry Ferrara enjoyed a night at Sushi Samba in the Palazzo in Vegas last night!

Adrian Grenier and Kevin Connolly are caught by Spy on Vegas!

Kevin Connolly and Jerry Ferrara fielded questions about Season 5 of Entourage on the red carpet at the Grand
Opening of Sushi Samba at the Palazzo in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, September 19, 2008.

Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly and Kevin Dillon pose for pics on the red carpet at Sushi Samba in Vegas!

Like the pic, things are slightly askew for the Entourage crew in Season 5!

Together, the men of Entourage will put things right again.

Emmanuelle Chriqui joined her male co-stars on the red carpet. She will also appear in one episode of Season 5. The Eric/Sloan saga will continue thru Season 8.

Jerry Ferrara and Kevin Connolly took advantage of the Grand Opening to catch up. Could they be talking about the Yankees?

lainiek

Source: Kevin Connolly's Entourage

Adrian Grenier and Kevin Connolly are caught by Spy on Vegas!

Kevin Connolly and Jerry Ferrara fielded questions about Season 5 of Entourage on the red carpet at the Grand
Opening of Sushi Samba at the Palazzo in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, September 19, 2008.

Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly and Kevin Dillon pose for pics on the red carpet at Sushi Samba in Vegas!

Like the pic, things are slightly askew for the Entourage crew in Season 5!

Together, the men of Entourage will put things right again.

Emmanuelle Chriqui joined her male co-stars on the red carpet. She will also appear in one episode of Season 5. The Eric/Sloan saga will continue thru Season 8.

Jerry Ferrara and Kevin Connolly took advantage of the Grand Opening to catch up. Could they be talking about the Yankees?

lainiek

Source: Kevin Connolly's Entourage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1a98n1ONh0

Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara and Jeremy Piven lent their voices to this unique Season 5 promo video for HBO's Entourage!

Vincent Chase, Eric Murphy, Johnny Drama and Turtle circle the globe until Ari Gold declares "I need my golden boy!"

Just what the loyal Entourage fan ordered to satisfy their cravings for Season 5!

Entourage returns to HBO on September 7, 2008.

The boys from Entourage are very animated in the Season 5 promo- Entourage rolls back to HBO September 7th, 2008!

Season 5 of Entourage is coming to HBO on September 7th, but you can catch the first 2 minutes of the Season Premiere here!

Michael Phillips and Richard Roeper roast 'Medellin' in 'Entourage' season premiere

"Entourage" returns Sept. 7, and if Vince Chase and his posse were hoping for some positive reviews for "Medellin," their drug-lord drama, they're dashed in the season premiere's opening moments.

Things will not be rolling along smoothly for the boys of Entourage as we find out in this Season 5 Premiere Sneak Peak!

"At the Movies" is on the TV in Johnny Drama's apartment as the episode begins, and Eric is watching the film-review show as Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper and Tribune film critic Michael Phillips pan Chase's overwrought film. (Roeper and Phillips, as it turns out, are no longer with that program; a new version of "At the Movies" -- with new hosts -- premieres Sept. 6).

The scathing-review scene below is followed by a scene of Ari Gold walking through the offices of his agency, loudly warning everyone to never mention Phillips and Roeper's show again. He doesn't dispute, however, the idea that "Medellin" was a pretty terrible movie. (Also glimpsed in the show's season premiere, by the way, are Leighton Meester from "Gossip Girl," who plays as a pop singer that Vince makes a play for, and Carla Gugino, who returns as an agent that Vince once had a fling with. I'll have more on the return of "Entourage" soon.)

Check out the amazing video clip at the link below:

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/08/michael...

-Maureen Ryan - The Watcher

Adrian Grenier and fellow Entourage star Kevin Connolly were on hand to host the Los Angeles Absolut World Premiere Party at Kress on July 23, 2008.

Adrian arrived on time to greet his guests, but commented to ENews about buddy Kevin Connolly's tardiness (not normal for the usually punctual actor).

Kevin's answer when he arrived...."he was supposed to pick me up"

Seems like they both could use a vacation.....

They Entourage stars were joined by co-star Rex Lee, former guest star Jaime Pressly, reality starlet Khloe Kardashian, Shane West, Michael Vartan and a ton of other celebs.....

Adrian Grenier was an Absolut host at the Los Angeles Absolut World Premiere Party at Kress July 23, 2008

ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES was toasted with a celebrity-studded, red-carpet event in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 23, with host Adrian Grenier adding some Hollywood sizzle and DJ Myles Hendrick spinning the hottest tunes out of LA. Spectacular out-of-home executions include an acrylic 20-foot bottle of ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES mounted above Hollywood's iconic KODAK Theatre, which will be donated to Aaron R. Thomas Design to be "upcycled" into furniture, lighting or sculptural pieces with a percentage of the sale of these items going to Green Way LA(TM). An integrated marketing campaign featuring advertisements in national magazines depicts giant bottles of ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES under spotlights with the tag line 'In An ABSOLUT World, LIGHTS, CAMERA, VODKA.'

Adrian Grenier, Jaime Pressly and Kevin Connolly make an absolut(ely) great looking trio!

Furthermore, ABSOLUT has partnered with high-end clothing designer Lisa Kline to create an ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES window display and feature the product in her men's boutique on Robertson Boulevard. Signature cocktails include 'ABSOLUT La La Land' featuring cranberry juice, pomegranate juice and lemon-lime soda, garnished with a squeeze of lime, and 'The Sunset Strip' made with ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES, fresh lime juice, muddled watermelon and cranberry juice. Bottle images and additional ABSOLUT LOS ANGELES cocktail recipes are available upon request. Visit absolut.com/cities for more information and to vote on the next city in this limited-edition series.

Entourage Co-Stars Adrian Grenier and Kevin Connolly are absolut(ely) certain Season 5 will be great!

http://www.examiner.com/p-199784~ABSOLUT_R__Vodka_Puts_a_Spotlight_on_Lo...

Entourage stars and guest stars Kevin Connolly, Rex Lee and Jaime Pressly were amongst the tv celebs, athletes and reality stars to make the event.

Kevin Connolly had an Absolut(ely) great time at the Los Angeles Absolut World Premiere Party at Kress on July 23, 2008

"Look Kev, same Shirt" Adrian Grenier admires Kevin Connolly's taste in shirts at the Los Angeles Absolut World Premiere party at Kress July 23, 2008

more pics at: http://www.theinsider.com/news/1088030_Adrian_Grenier_hosts_celeb_studde...

lainiek

Alyssa Milano, Kevin Conolly and all guests at the 33 Club Party danced to the likes of Wyclef Jean at Roseland Ballroom on July 13, 2008 during the All Star Celebration Weekend!

Alyssa Milano was at the 33 Club Party with Kevin Connolly from Entourage. They also spent time during the Super Bowl parties together and often \"see\" each other when they are both at home in NYC. Kevin and Alyssa both love sports and their hometown, and, both having been on successful family sitcoms, are a great couple. This is one to watch. • 21 hours ago • DiggStars

Alyssa Milano hosted the 33 Club Party given by MLB.Com at Roseland Ballroom in NYC on July 13, 2008

http://www.diggstars.com/1-12-2540/127876/Alyssa_Milano_was_at_the_33_Cl...

According to Diggstars, Kevin Connolly may have been at the 33 Club Party to see Alyssa Milano and not all those All Stars!

The Men of Entourage are heading back to HBO in September!It’s been a runaway hit since the first episode of the first season, and the guys from Entourage were spotted hard at work on some Season 5 action yesterday.

The men of Entourage lei it all out in Season 5!

Adrian Grenier , Kevin Dillon, Kevin Connolly, and Jerry Ferrara looked intense as they made their way around the show’s Santa Monica, California set wearing flowery leis… perhaps they’re heading off to Hawaii!

Kevin Dillon, Kevin Connolly and Jerry Ferrara say Aloha to Season 5 of Entourage on September 7, 2008!

And with such high expectations for the new season, the show’s producers have gathered up a premium collection of guest stars in the upcoming episodes.

Jerry Ferrara's Turtle may be showing the Entourage men a way to earn money in Season 5!

A rep for Entourage announced that Arrested Development’s Jeffrey Tambor, The Sopranos’ Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester, and rapper T.I. will all be making guest appearances this season, which begins September 7th.

Has Vincent Chase stooped to playing Grey Brady in a Brady Bunch Hawaiian Made for TV movie?

Gossip Girls

Enjoy the pictures of the Entourage stars filming scenes in Santa Monica (July 9).

Season 5 of Entourage returns to HBO September 7, 2008 with Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon and Kevin Connolly and cast!

http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/celebrities/hollywood/entourage-crew-get...