TV Review: Entourage 5.8 – First Class Jerk

Posted by Rob Hunter (rob@filmschoolrejects.com) on October 27, 2008

Entourage, HBO, Airs Sundays 10pm E/P

Episode: “First Class Jerk” (Season Five, Episode Eight)

Synopsis: The gang returns from last week’s surprise vacation, and Turtle scores a first class seat next to Jamie Lynn Sigler, star of HBO’s The Sopranos. He makes a mile-high claim to the guys, which no one believes, and ends up paying the price for opening his mouth. Slimy agent Josh Weinstein courts Vince with an offer involving Frank Darabont of The Shawshank Redemption whilst Ari is distracted mulling over the studio-head offer.

Review: Utter bullshit. That’s really what this episode should have been called. Total and complete bullshit. First, the bullshit with Turtle and Sigler. While I applaud Sigler for having the courage to portray herself as someone who would jerk off a rotund stranger on an airplane, I just don’t buy that it would happen. It’s not that Sigler’s too attractive (she isn’t) or too famous (not anymore) but I just don’t believe it. That said, if it had happened and Turtle’s chance at sex (especially sex with a celebrity) was ruined by Drama’s big, obnoxious mouth, then I think Turtle should have beat the motherfucker down in that final bar scene instead of simply shrugging his shoulders. It would have been the most believable thing in the entire episode.

The bigger pile of bullshit involves Ari and his decision to pass on the studio-head position. Would any real world agent, even one who runs his own agency, pass on this offer? Highly doubtful. Especially when Ari acknowledges that he’s sinking his money into the agency and has yet to really turn a profit. The job offer of ten million dollars should have been irresistible. Am I just being greedy here? Take the job, and if you’re not enjoying it after a year, you quit… ten million dollars richer. I think that would go a long way towards funding your agency. In addition to Ari’s unbelievable decision, the show then tries to make us believe that they would skip over Amanda, their own second choice, and accept Ari’s suggestion of Dana? Over the course of a single meeting they’re going to just toss their research and planning out the window and offer the job to someone that Ari tosses out at the last minute? The bullshit keeps on flowing…

Believability issues aside, this leaves the viewers stuck with the status qou yet again. All of the characters still in the same damn position they’ve been in for some time now. Ari as a studio head would have opened up so many new and dramatic avenues and story-lines, but instead we get the same old shtick.

This episode irritated me. I have no questions for you.

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flipper fly bootie rag king

Yeah, the bitch should have taken the money and kicked some ass.

Robert Fure

I like the idea of Ari being smooth enough to sell them Dana, but where does the show go now? They've basically given Ari and Vince a blank check to the town without having to make sacrifices anywhere.

I still like the show, but any person anywhere in Hollywood take a studio job in a heartbeat, and slip a knife in their closest friend to get it.

ddog

drama should have been shot for running his mouth . Turtle was way too kind and not pissed off enough for running his mouth...

and how hilarious was it when eric tried to stand up to weinstein tell him to back off ! i nearly laughed my self off the couch at the site of eric tryin to stand up to him or for that matter to anyone. the suit and the shades dont make him someone intimidating just someone loaded....just good to see the guy have vince's back.

Smurf

Yeah I'm pissed that Ari turned down the job too, but at the same time I'm glad there was finally some good news. I was getting sick of the crushing defeat after crushing defeat Vince had been suffering career-wise and It's good to finally get out of the cycle. Though what do you want to bet we spend the rest of the season hitting snag after snag on smoke jumpers?

Cole Abaius

I'd love to give the show some credit, but this season has given me no reason to. Drama is the worst character on television - a complete waste of space who should have caused a major rift in his friendships already (I thought they were heading in that direction when Turtle quit as his assistant) and this week put it over the limit for me. Turtle should have beaten the smug off his face after pulling that. Completely unrealistic.

I knew Ari wouldn't take the job as soon as he walked into the office - this is how Entourage operates. They set up a done deal, and within the last minute of the show reverse it whether it creates a bad situation or solves all problems. And there's just no excuse for it - the show has become so incredibly unrealistic (even by its own standards).

And here's the kicker - can anyone explain why Ari didn't take the job? Nope - because they never really explained his reasoning.

They are trying to make the show more dramatic and raise the stakes while keeping the same old solution that "at the end of the day, we're still bros so we're cool right?" It's wearing really thin.

DJ Icecold

I'm glad Film School Rejects reserves the right to "make me look like an idiot". But that right should not be abused on themselves. For anyone with half a brain, that's seen a minute of Ari's character, you should know he's a habitual (Machiavellian) liar. In plain: HE TOOK THE JOB, you donkeys! Way to earn your names.
He lied to Vince for now. (that's pretty much the only client he cares about).

Patryck

100% agree

Shaun Katz

I've read the reviews for episode 8 and 9 and disagree with your opinion on both of them - I think the direction these episodes are taking are sensational and if you hate them so much dont watch them. also the episode 'PIE', whats awesome about that is how you are seeing Vince being manipulated by his director and not knowing how to handle it - awesome stuff - feels like I'm watching a real life onset war that has happened between actors and directors so many times.

Vik

This is about Ari not taking the job. I own a a business that is mine and no one has any other say, when you have that it takes a lot more than money most of the time to take that away. Just my two cents...and I loved the episode

TV Review: Entourage 5.8 – First Class Jerk

Entourage, HBO, Airs Sundays 10pm E/P

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