I am 90% sure the following conversation occured in the writing room at Entourage while writing “The Dream Team”:
Writer #1: Okay, so here’s the deal. I’ve written this great script that returns the series to its Hollywood roots. There’s agency drama, trailer drama, Vince actually attempts to get work, and there’s some great Ari/Lloyd antics. But the episode is short, and we don’t have anything for Drama and Turtle to do.
Writer #2: Well, Drama is going back to work…
Writer #1: But I don’t have a storyline for him!
Writer #2: Well, I just watched Showtime’s Weeds over the weekend-
Writer #3: That show rocks!
Writer #2: Yeah, and they smoke weed on that show!
Writer #3: People smoke weed on our show, too!
Writer #2: They also had a medical marijuana facility! And Snoop Dogg!
Writer #1: Wait, I can’t write this down fast enough, this is gold.
And thus “The Dream Team” was born. And the result was a good episode of Entourage.
In Review
– Drama’s marijuana hijinx may have been ripped directly out of Weeds, but it wasn’t as good: Drama was a tad bit too naive, and things spiraled a little bit too far. The young kids on the set pressuring him about the weed didn’t feel natural and I don’t think he’d be that stupid. He DOES have anxiety issues, though.
– I am really, really glad to have the show returning to agencies and projects. After Carla Gugino’s Amanda became little but a love interest at the beginning of 3.5, the show has moved away from it and it was nice to return to people like Dana Gordon and Josh Weinstein.
– Lloyd and Ari were awesome. Lloyd needs more screentime, and I am led to believe that he might be getting it. Even if he was a bit stereotypically gay, it was still pretty well hysterical.
– Although part of me would rather Walsh just disappear forever, I know that he’s sticking around for now considering he’s part of the Dream Team. Still, at least now the show has turned him into a pure obstacle that can, hopefully, be overcome. As soon as physically possible, please and thank you.
Cultural Learnings 