Entourage: "Snow Job" OAD: 8-19-2007 *spoilers*

[terpfan1980]

Where's the snow?!

Lots of stuff going on in this episode, which seemed to primarily be about playing phone tag with E.

Some decent Ari hustlin' going on, but the way things are now it seems we're stuck with Billy for several more episodes at least :(

[Sirius Black]

I believe the snow was referring to what Billy's script was supposed to be about. That's just a guess though.

I'm getting a little tired of the Billy character as well.

Are there really places in the hills of Los Angeles where there isn't a cell phone signal? Anyone know where that location was?

The new movie... Blade Runner meets Field of Dreams... sounds... horrible. Those two movies are great but they have nothing in common. It's like writing the Star Wars meets The Graduate movie.

Two more episodes left... but... nothing has happened this season. Nothing big anyway. For Vince, that is.

[WeBoat]

Pretty lame in my opinion... And I'm a huge fan. Seems to have been just a filler episode. Way too easy for Ari to solve the problem. He convinced the studio head and got Billy to Vince's house in an hour or two. Billy has never caved that easy before.

[Rob Helmerichs]

Are there really places in the hills of Los Angeles where there isn't a cell phone signal? Anyone know where that location was?
Yeah, that's kind of hard to believe.

Interesting that we see (for once) just how important E is to the process...and what happens when Ari is forced to stop leaning on E and get the job done himself!

[TAsunder]

Maybe they have a crappy cell phone provider.

[Rob Helmerichs]

Maybe they have a crappy cell phone provider.
I have a hunch a crappy cell phone provider wouldn't last long in LA...

[MegaHertz67]

I'm getting a little tired of the Billy character as well.

Are there really places in the hills of Los Angeles where there isn't a cell phone signal? Anyone know where that location was?I lived in LA for 3 years, and while I didn't have a cell phone then (it was 1990) I know the hills that separate the Valley from Hollywood are probably the answer. You would think that cells and satellites wouldn't care about if you were on a hill or not, but there are magnetic fields at play around certain land features that can play havoc with phone signals. I now live in very flat Miami, and there are plenty of dead spots and other problems with cell signals here. The other issue with cell phones is usage. There are a limited number of call that can be made at the same time in the same area on one network. Either might explain the problem.

Add me to the list of fans that are sick of Billy. His directing and/or writing MUST be genius for people to put up with his crappy attitude. I say let him go back to directing pornos and let's move the story along.

[Amnesia]

Interesting that we see (for once) just how important E is to the process...and what happens when Ari is forced to stop leaning on E and get the job done himself!I think you mean how unimportant E is. Ari managed to do a great job at salvaging the best possible outcome out of the situation that Walsh created. If E had been involved, I don't see how it would have turned out better.

[edc]

The new movie... Blade Runner meets Field of Dreams... sounds... horrible. Those two movies are great but they have nothing in common. It's like writing the Star Wars meets The Graduate movie.


Remember, Dana Gordon hadn't even read the majority of the script. "Blade Runner" and "Field of Dreams" were just an easy way to sell "Futuristic setting" and "Father/son drama." The point was really to show the chasm between scriptwriting/filmmaking and the "high concept" that is the art of the deal.

[Rob Helmerichs]

I think you mean how unimportant E is. Ari managed to do a great job at salvaging the best possible outcome out of the situation that Walsh created. If E had been involved, I don't see how it would have turned out better.
That was exactly my point. Important in the sense that everybody was depending on him, and in his absence everything fell apart, and interesting that when Ari stopped depending on him, things turned out perfectly.

[TonyD79]

I thought it was a fun, fast-moving episode that managed to push the story along.

As for cell phone coverage, I am sure there are spots with problems. Hills can do nasty things to cell phone coverage.

[lpamelaa]

Are there really places in the hills of Los Angeles where there isn't a cell phone signal? Anyone know where that location was?



I lose my cell phone signal in a couple places during my commute every day. The hills between the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles are notorious for dropping signals. It's very annoying, but very true. Plus it makes for a good plot device in the show. ;)

[Family]

I think you mean how unimportant E is. Ari managed to do a great job at salvaging the best possible outcome out of the situation that Walsh created. If E had been involved, I don't see how it would have turned out better.

We'll see about this. I think the script sucks and E hates it. He might have prevented Vince from producing a flop.

[pmyers]

But E didn't have anything to do with that snow movie...remember..he told Vince to go ahead and do it but he was going to sit this one out.

[teknikel]

But E didn't have anything to do with that snow movie...remember..he told Vince to go ahead and do it but he was going to sit this one out.

But he is still Vince's manager/confidant and has a lot of input on what happens in his career.

[Rob Helmerichs]

But he is still Vince's manager/confidant and has a lot of input on what happens in his career.
Then again, he advised Vince not to go ahead with Snow, and look what happened...

[teknikel]

Then again, he advised Vince not to go ahead with Snow, and look what happened...

Is what happened a good thing or bad. Good for Vince and Billy. They get to do a movie they like better than clouds. But I don't know if we will know until it is released or at least in production ( I am assuming it will go to production).

[Rob Helmerichs]

Well, E's point (IIRC) is that he thinks Medellin is going to bomb, and thus Billy's next project's value will evaporate before it is released. So what might very well happen is that everybody signs up for the sci-fi movie (which sounds dreadful), Medellin bombs, and everybody abandons Vince like rats from a sinking ship--thus proving E was right all along, at a time when he is increasingly distanced from Vince.

[Charlutz]

There were some not so subtle hints of how Vince needs E. Turtle and Drama won't read scripts. Vince never used to, but now with the production of Medellin under his belt, looks like he might be more interested in reading. E demonstrated to Anna that he reads a lot of scripts and recalls lots of details, plus has at least some skill in picking good ones. I don't like the whole Anna between VInce and E storyline. At least not if it causes a huge fracture. But it is a new direction for the show and shows some evolution for the characters. Any bets on whether the season finale winds up with Vince firing E?

[Rob Helmerichs]

Vince never used to, but now with the production of Medellin under his belt, looks like he might be more interested in reading.
The difference being, Vince doesn't seem to have any ability to recognize a good script, and E does.

[spikedavis]

I really can't take Billy Walsh any more. Seriously. And Anna Ferris's boyfriend was equally annoying.

I remember when this show used to be fun.

[pjenkins]

Medellin is gonna suck and then Vince will realize what E means to him / why he should listen. At least that's my prediction :)

[Sirius Black]

The difference being, Vince doesn't seem to have any ability to recognize a good script, and E does.

I believe that both Vince and E thought Medellin was a good script. Vince has wanted to do Medellin since before Aquaman.

Do they even have a studio willing to do the distribution for the movie? I want Medellin to be successful but I'm just not sure that's possible. Of course, every Hollywood star is allowed a couple bombs in the box office. With Vince, however, he seems to have his priorities all mixed up.

[hanumang]

If you remember (with the Harvey Weingard thing), Walsh and Vince decided to hold off on selling it - getting distribution - until after Cannes.

Blade Runner meets Field of Dreams. Hah! This show is so foul when they mock the Hollywood process...

[jeffo13]

I believe that both Vince and E thought Medellin was a good script. Vince has wanted to do Medellin since before Aquaman.

Do they even have a studio willing to do the distribution for the movie? I want Medellin to be successful but I'm just not sure that's possible. Of course, every Hollywood star is allowed a couple bombs in the box office. With Vince, however, he seems to have his priorities all mixed up.

They both loved the script, but E hated the cut by Billy where Vince loved it. If it bombs, it will show Vince that he needs to listen to E. Of course E will be too busy with Anna (either as manager,boyfriend or both) to give Vince the attention he needs.

Jeff

[Fofer]

Are there really places in the hills of Los Angeles where there isn't a cell phone signal? Anyone know where that location was?

Yeah, that's kind of hard to believe.

It's very, very common. Lost cell signals is practically a staple of Los Angeles life.

The location looked familiar to me, off hand I'm gonna guess Griffith Park.

[spikedavis]

Oh I simply can not stand Billy Walsh. This show used to be so fun but now it's so annoying!!

[Anubys]

Oh I simply can not stand Billy Walsh. This show used to be so fun but now it's so annoying!!

I was happy that Walsh messed up...I thought that was how we would finally see the last of him...now it looks like he'll be even more in the picture (pardon the pun)...

I don't like Walsh at all...

this show needs nudity...

[phox_mulder]

this show needs nudity...more often

Fixed it for ya.

They did have some a couple episodes ago.


phox

[TivoFan]

That was exactly my point. Important in the sense that everybody was depending on him, and in his absence everything fell apart, and interesting that when Ari stopped depending on him, things turned out perfectly.


I'm not sure that "perfectly" is a great description here. If E had been there, they might have ended up ditching Billy (a great idea) and going with the new director using the original concept, Clouds (which was Ari's original idea, but he couldn't sell without E's support).

Instead they are committed to this new script which neither Dana nor Ari has read. And Vince has shown in the past that he doesn't have the best judgment on scripts. So for all we know this script is horrible.

And it's looking like Medellin will be a bomb. So if Medellin tanks and all support for Vince/Walsh disappears, and they have a script with problems, that's not exactly a great situation.

[MasterOfPuppets]

I like Billy. The fact that some people dislike him so much really just makes me like him more. The show needs someone to stir the pot.

I thought the episode was alright. You could see that Anna's boyfriend was going to be a giant bag of ****** from 10 miles away though.
This episode was really just for starting the conflicts that will happen with E taking on another client when it relates to Vince needing him.

I think that E and Anna will start a "romantic" relationship now, and as previously predicted, it will all come to a head in the season finale.

[Anubys]

I like Billy. The fact that some people dislike him so much really just makes me like him more. The show needs someone to stir the pot.

He's not disliked because he stirs the pot...he's disliked because he's not believable...people like that don't exist usually and so it seems contrived and forced...

[TAsunder]

While young directors like that don't exist to my knowledge, the directors of old had many examples. I'd count Werner Herzog among the living directors who are probably as crazy as billy.

[MasterOfPuppets]

I don't know that people watch the show for its stunning realism.
AFAIK, Billy's really only worked with Vince and crew, especially in semi-recent history. He doesn't want to be a big star, wants to remain an "indie" type director...it doesn't seem THAT far-fetched.

Highlight of the most recent episode was definitely "Shut the f*** up, Lloyd!"

[Fofer]

He's not disliked because he stirs the pot...he's disliked because he's not believable...people like that don't exist usually and so it seems contrived and forced...

There are quite a few crazier examples.

Tony Kaye comes to mind:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kaye_(director) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kaye_%28director%29)
http://www.cinematical.com/2007/06/11/tony-kaye-sits-down-to-talk-about-his-insane-career/

I have also heard stories about how stubborn and megalomanical Paul Thomas Anderson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000759/) can be... and given his relationship with Entourage's exec producer (and inspiration?) Mark Wahlberg ... directing him in his breakout role, Boogie Nights, it stands to reason that perhaps Billy is based on some sliver of truth...

[spikedavis]

There are quite a few crazier examples.

Tony Kaye comes to mind:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kaye_(director) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kaye_%28director%29)
http://www.cinematical.com/2007/06/11/tony-kaye-sits-down-to-talk-about-his-insane-career/

I have also heard stories about how stubborn and megalomanical Paul Thomas Anderson (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000759/) can be... and given his relationship with Entourage's exec producer (and inspiration?) Mark Wahlberg ... directing him in his breakout role, Boogie Nights, it stands to reason that perhaps Billy is based on some sliver of truth...

You'll also notice that Tony Kaye's antics basically had him drummed out of the business. Billy Walsh keeps doing incredibly annoying things and keeps landing on his feet thanks to Vince and E. It has to stop!!

[David Platt]

I think they drew a lot of inspiration for Billy from Vincent Gallo, who is supposed to be damn near that obnoxious.

[TAsunder]

What, you think it's obnoxious to force an actress to give you oral pleasure on film as part of the role and then wish cancer upon someone because they didn't like the film?

[Fofer]

What, you think it's obnoxious to force an actress to give you oral pleasure on film as part of the role

Well, in his defense, they *were* dating at the time. :o


But I do think Vincent Gallo's "merchandise for sale" page is pretty obnoxious:
http://www.vgmerchandise.com/store/pages.php?pageid=4

[smak]

He's not disliked because he stirs the pot...he's disliked because he's not believable...people like that don't exist usually and so it seems contrived and forced...

Haha, this is a joke right?

-smak-

[keyzersoce]

It has been mentioned before, but Billy is based on show creator Doug Ellin's high-school friend and Entourage writer: Rob Weiss. Excerpts from an August 7, 2007 interview in the New York Observer:

HOLLYWOOD—Rob Weiss, a writer and executive producer of the popular HBO series Entourage and the inspiration for its bombastic director character Billy Walsh, was sitting outside at the Bourgeois Pig, a dingy coffeehouse at the foot of Beachwood Canyon. He looked wary.

Mr. Weiss’ nervousness with the press dates back to his days as the badly behaved writer-director of Amongst Friends, a film about young, affluent, aspiring gangsters (“Goodfellas meets Metropolitan”) that was the darling of the 1993 Sundance Film Festival. The film put Mr. Weiss, then 26, in the full glare of the media spotlight (he was photographed by Annie Leibovitz and Bruce Weber), but his self-important, swaggering tough-guy persona didn’t always come across well in print.

In one profile published in now-defunct Premiere magazine, Mr. Weiss, a former club promoter and dropout of the New School’s film program, coyly suggested—or at least did not deny—that he may have killed someone. He told The Observer he was misquoted, though, he allowed, “I’ve had some interaction with some unsavory characters in my life.”

Mr. Weiss does not deny that he has—or had—a temper; he once shut down the set of Amongst Friends over a lost cellphone and admits to “massive, screaming” fights with Mira Sorvino, who starred in the film. Now such youthful antics are being immortalized on the small screen via the fictional “suit”-hating auteur of Queens Boulevard and Medellin.

“We came up with the idea of putting a director in, and I wanted it to be Rob Weiss,” said Doug Ellin, the show’s creator, who went to high school with Mr. Weiss in the Five Towns section of Long Island and described him as “an extremely funny, slightly crazy, good-looking nutjob.”

Mr. Ellin even asked Mr. Weiss if he’d play “Walsh,” but Mr. Weiss declined. Instead, the role went to the Vincent Gallo-esque Rhys Coiro, to whom Mr. Weiss bears little outward resemblance. “I’m more Johnny Drama,” Mr. Weiss said, referring to Kevin Dillon’s physically well-maintained character. “I’m into grooming and metrosexual kind of ****. I’m the guy with like 900 products.”

In recent months, Billy Walsh has emerged as a surprise standout among Entourage’s ensemble of scenery-chompers, so much so that while the plan was to write him into five or six episodes this season, he will end up in nine or 10. According to Mr. Ellin, the character was becoming so dominant that he has received notes from HBO executives, warning him to “be mindful” about not overshadowing the show’s core cast: the buddy-family quartet of Vince, Drama, Turtle and “E,” and agent d’horreur, Ari Gold.

Mr. Ellin stressed that his own experience as a novice director (credits include Phat Beach) also informed the Walsh character, along with reading about Directors Gone Wild in books such as Final Cut and The Devil’s Candy. “I’ve taken all the crazy stories I’ve ever heard about directors,” he said, sitting in his Beverly Hills office, his blue and gold LeBron James Nike sneakers (“I only wear Nikes”) propped up on a coffee table. The Entourage episode in which a documentary filmmaker visits the haywire set of Medellin in South America was “an homage to Hearts of Darkness”—the documentary chronicling Francis Ford Coppola’s breakdown while making Apocalypse Now.

Nonetheless, it is Mr. Weiss who lies at the heart of Billy Walsh. And it’s not the first time filmic homage has been paid. He appeared as himself in Barry Levinson’s movie Jimmy Hollywood and surfaces, less flatteringly, in John Pierson’s indie-world tell-all Spike, Mike, Slackers and Dykes as, among other things, a “posturing director” and “Vanilla Weiss.” (Mr. Weiss had a falling out with Mr. Pierson in the aftermath of Amongst Friends, for which Mr. Pierson provided financial backing. “I have bad feelings about that guy,” he said of Mr. Pierson.)

[Anubys]

Haha, this is a joke right?

-smak-

no. I think you have to be famous before you can act like that...and if not, you won't be around for long...

[Rob Helmerichs]

no. I think you have to be famous before you can act like that...and if not, you won't be around for long...
Haha, this is a smeek right?

:D

[Anubys]

Haha, this is a smeek right?

:D

no. I never let facts interfere with my opinion.

:p

[hanumang]

I find the basic concept of Walsh – understanding that Entourage is a comedy and delves into parody (if unintentionally, at times) – believable. Of course, he's way over the top but there's certainly a seed of truth to him.

That said, they should have written him out in the first episode of this season - Walsh should have had a heart attack and died. He overpowers too many scenes.

Besides, I want more Turtle and Drama stuff...

[Bananfish]

I agree that Walsh is a far less interesting character than the producers seem to think he is. He should have been in about as many episodes as Vince's obnoxious high school buddy.

[marksman]

Anyone else kind of ready for this season to be over? I was all excited when they had the two seasons so close to each other, but now I think it was a big mistake. I am just waiting for these last few episodes to be over.

[edc]

Weiss' temperament is infamous. I imagine you'd have to be like that to date Shannon Doherty.

The tone has leaked out into "Entourage" on a handful of occasions. It would take someone of that personality to hold a grudge against "nice guy Kevin Smith" for nearly a decade because of something pretty trivial.

[madscientist]

I don't mind Billy, although I agree his screen time is taking away from the main characters, and I prefer them to him.

I don't see how the Anna plotline can go on too long: it's rare that an actor playing themselves lasts any amount of time in Entourage. In fact, with what happened with the cell phone coverage etc. my suspicion is that plot is already on the downhill side.

[Sirius Black]

Weiss' temperament is infamous. I imagine you'd have to be like that to date Shannon Doherty.

The tone has leaked out into "Entourage" on a handful of occasions. It would take someone of that personality to hold a grudge against "nice guy Kevin Smith" for nearly a decade because of something pretty trivial.

What does Kevin Smith have to do with it? I must have missed something.

[aindik]

What does Kevin Smith have to do with it? I must have missed something.

Vince got pissed at Ari for signing him to do Aquaman 2 and 3 when James Cameron was only signed to direct the first one. Vince and E got pissed when they found out that Michael Bay was directing A2, and they got even more pissed when Ari told them that Kevin Smith was writing the script.

[hanumang]

What does Kevin Smith have to do with it? I must have missed something.

There have been a few jabs at Kevin Smith - who was upset that Rob Weiss would constantly harass Shannon Doherty while Doherty was shooting Mallrats - in Entourage.

Hopefully edc remembers the others, but the most famous dig was when the studio wanted to rush out Aquaman 2 (early season 3), they hired Kevin Smith to write the script. (I'm doing a horrible job of 'explaining' it, but it was foul)

[teknikel]

There have been a few jabs at Kevin Smith - who was upset that Rob Weiss would constantly harass Shannon Doherty while Doherty was shooting Mallrats - in Entourage.

So Rob is also the inspiration for Anna's boyfriend.

]Hopefully edc remembers the others, but the most famous dig was when the studio wanted to rush out Aquaman 2 (early season 3), they hired Kevin Smith to write the script. (I'm doing a horrible job of 'explaining' it, but it was foul)

Where did I hear this before :D

[edc]

There have been a few jabs at Kevin Smith - who was upset that Rob Weiss would constantly harass Shannon Doherty while Doherty was shooting Mallrats - in Entourage.

Hopefully edc remembers the others, but the most famous dig was when the studio wanted to rush out Aquaman 2 (early season 3), they hired Kevin Smith to write the script. (I'm doing a horrible job of 'explaining' it, but it was foul)

==

In the Sundance episode, Ari yells at Harvey that "If it wasn't for me, you'd be stuck producing Kevin Smith Movies for the rest of your life!"

==
VINCE: Cameron's the only reason I signed on in the first place. Who's directing ["Aquaman 2"]?
ARI: Michael Bay.
ERIC: Jesus Christ.
VINCE: They're just rushing this thing out!
ARI: Vinnie, this is what studios do; the thing is a monster hit. They're just trying to take advantage of it, that's all.
VINCE: I haven't even seen a script.
ARI: They're working on it!
VINCE: Andrew Kevin Walker writing?
ARI: Kevin Smith.
ERIC: Oh boy.
VINCE: F... you, Ari! I want off this movie!
==

A quick Google search reveals Smith's "side":

http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=12101

There is a dude who is on staff named Rob Weiss, who made this movie called Amongst Friends many years ago – back in 1993, I believe. And he worked with a friend of mine, John Pierson. And John wrote this book Spike, Mike, Slackers and Dykes. And in it I do these kind of pre-chapter chapter, where John and I have this conversation that’s kind of relevant to the chapter that follows.

John was one of the producers on Amongst Friends. His chapter about Rob Weiss was called “Amongst Jerks.” John has a very distinctive take on Rob Weiss, having worked with him on that movie. I had worked with Shannon Doherty on Mallrats. Shannon Doherty was dating Rob Weiss through most of the mid-nineties. There were times when – he didn’t come to set; we were shooting in Minnesota – and he was the kind of guy who would call up and be like, “I’m going clubbing.” And she was like, “Well no. You shouldn’t be going out. I’m not there.”

Shannon’s certainly no wilting flower or anything like that. But when it came to Rob she was really passive. She would have to get off the phone because we were doing a take, and he would get mad that she was getting off the phone and he would say, “Well, f... it then. I’m going clubbing and I’m gonna pick up a girl.” And she would get all f...n’ frazzled and start crying and s**t and it would hold up shooting. And I was like, “What a f...in’ horrible thing to do to somebody.” And this dude’s a director; he ought to know better. So in that chapter preceding “Amongst Jerks,” Pierson talks to me about his movie and what-not and what a bad experience he had working with him, so I talked about that in the book.

Now this book came out in 1995. 11 years later he’s still smarting from it? And I didn’t remember everything I said in the book. All I remember from what I said in the book was saying, because Pierson comes down on Amongst Friends pretty hard-core. I remember saying I thought it was watchable… After I watched the Season Two Entourage boxed set and that episode where they took a dig at me, I grabbed the book and thought, “What did I f...in’ say?” And then I read it and it was pretty bad. [laughs] So I guess after ten years, the dude who hasn’t f...in’ done anything in ten years…well, more than that. Twelve years. He finally got a job writing on Entourage and found an opportunity to take a shot. I get it; it doesn’t hurt me. It’s totally fine. But I understand I had it coming.
==

[DevdogAZ]

I thought this was a pretty so-so episode, but it did lay the groundwork for a rift between Vince and E, which should make for a good story.

[DevdogAZ]

this show needs nudity...more often
Fixed it for ya.

They did have some a couple episodes ago.


phox
They had a quick flash in Ep 1 of this season (Billy watching the Medellin dailies), and then a couple eps later Vince and E tracked down Billy in a strip club, but other than that, there's been nothing.

I think that if you're making a show that allows nudity (which clearly HBO does), you have a fan base that wants it (predominantly a young male demographic), and you have actresses willing to do it, there's no reason not to include it. Yet there have been a couple of eps recently where they had a perfect opportunity to include it and inexplicably chose not to (Vince hooking up with the British blonde, the girls stripping to get in the hot tub on the "pot" episode).

[FilmCritic3000]

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/news/celebrity/mmx-0824watcheraug24,0,4540544.story?coll=mmx-celebrity_heds

Entourage cast member Rhys Coiro (Billy Walsh) has joined the cast of 24.

[spikedavis]

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/news/celebrity/mmx-0824watcheraug24,0,4540544.story?coll=mmx-celebrity_heds

Entourage cast member Rhys Coiro (Billy Walsh) has joined the cast of 24.

W T F!

[hanumang]

Well, if that means less Billy Walsh, I'm all for it.