'Entourage' as documentary

The LA Times has a great piece about how "Entourage" is viewed in L.A. as less than a comedy and more a documentary piece about insider Hollywood.

"Still. What has agents, actors, producers and publicists hooked on the series, despite moderate viewership, is that it also is really about Hollywood — the real traffic snarls on PCH, real restaurants on Melrose, real Laker games and real relationships among agents, managers, publicists and actors. 'Everyone in Hollywood watches that show,' said Brent Bolthouse, the town's premier party promoter. 'Everyone in Hollywood can relate. It's all in there.' "

I love "Entourage," mostly because of the show's great depiction of male friendship and, of course, Jeremy Piven's Ari Gold, which is based on the "secretly pleased" real-life agent Ari Emanuel. It's interesting that everyone is crediting "Entourage" with the phrase "hug it out." I was watching some old episodes of "Friends," and they used the phrase a couple of times. Of course, it's Piven's addition of the "bitch" closer that makes absolutely makes the catchphrase.