Vince may tumble, but 'Entourage' is better for it

Oh, how the mighty have fallen -- and in such a superb way.

Hot movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) had one major film flop during last season's "Entourage." Now, with the new season (beginning 10 p.m. EDT Sunday, Sept. 7, HBO), Vince's career is in the toilet.

The results make for one of the best-scripted points in the history of the series.

Yes, the mighty Vince may be tumbling, but "Entourage" is all the better for it. During the show's previous four seasons, the story has suffered somewhat from a lack of desperation. Up until now, Vince has had an uphill joyride.

Yet "Entourage" has remained one of the best insider reflections of Hollywood business ever. The twists and turns and self-parody of the business have been eye-opening for viewers and provocative.

Still, the series could stand to use a hint of desperation and a need to be hungry. After a while, how fulfilling is it to see a man who has everything getting his way almost all the time?

Such desperation also brings out the alarmist in the hateful Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven), who delivers a prognosis of Vince's career like a doctor giving bad news to a terminally ill patient.

"Entourage" has found a way to make it work for years. As a character, Vince has never been compelling unless he's cornered. The closest "Entourage" has been to this was when he had an obsession with Mandy Moore.

Now, the time has come for Vince to pay the piper.

As with many male-bonding shows, "Entourage" holds the line very well. None of Vince's buddies -- the uptight Eric, the flaky Johnny and the always-stoned Turtle -- turn against him.

They unite, as buddies often tend to do, and set their sights on what's needed to correct their situation.

"Entourage" hasn't really matured with age. However, it has managed to keep refreshed from season to season.

This time around has the promise to be a defining era for "Entourage." Perhaps, after all this time, the boys will start to evolve into men.

(E-mail Terry Morrow of The Knoxville News-Sentinel in Tennessee at morrow2(at)knews.com.)