Entourage, Episodes 5.9: “Pie”

Wow, big dilemma last time. Ari was offered the studio head job, which he didn’t want, but if he didn’t take it, it would have been offered to Vince’s ex-agent Amanda, which would have meant big trouble for Vince and Ari. A last minute play by Ari, however, got someone else the job, and now the eternally grateful Dana Gordon will be happy to help get Vince’s career back on track. First order of business: A role in “Smokejumpers,” the script that Eric found that is now in production.

So Vince is working again, but this is not “Aquaman.” For one thing, he’s a little spooked being on a set again for the first time in over a year. For another, it’s not “his” film. He’s not the lead; Jason Patric is, and Patric keeps taking Vince’s lines, reducing his part to little more than a bit.

Jason Patric is very funny here, riffing on his rep as an intense-to-the-point-of-psychotic actor. Also turning in good work is Stellan Skarsgard as “Smokejumpers’” crazy German director.

In the meantime, Ari meets up with an old friend, Alan Klein, played by actor Gary Cole. While Ari has become a huge Hollywood agent, Alan hasn’t fared as well. He’s repping TV writers in the Valley. At first, Ari doesn’t even want to be around the guy, but then he’s struck with an idea, something he can do that could benefit Alan.

This is an interesting episode. Vince is taken out of his comfort zone (though it’s odd that “the boys” are hanging out on the set with him, given his diminished status on this film). It seems that he’s still learning hard lessons about Hollywood.

Ari, on the other hand, is actually using his power to help an old friend, so we’re seeing another facet to this character. There are complications, of course, one that comes up at the end that is pretty unexpected.

Three episodes left after this one; another short HBO season.