Entourage: The Complete Seventh Season

Season seven of Entourage is the darkest chapter in the show's history to date, and while even long-running series may have one or two Very Special Episodes, an entire season filled with drugs, rejection, and breakups is too heavy for a comedy. After hemming and hawing over doing a stunt himself, Vince (Adrian Grenier) gets into a slight accident that leaves him shaken but craving adrenaline, kicking off a self-destructive spiral that lasts all season. He begins a drug-and-alcohol-fueled relationship with porn star Sasha Grey (as herself), which further diminishes his reputation (especially when he brings her to a business meeting with Stan Lee and he tries to recall where he's seen her before). It doesn't help that Vince is the new face of an imported tequila that Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) is attempting to market. Meanwhile, Ari (Jeremy Piven) reveals a particularly nasty side when he overreacts to the departure of a junior agent he mistreated and believes has aligned with his rival (Carla Gugino). This puts him on even shakier ground with the long-suffering Mrs. Ari (Perrey Reeves), who gives him an ultimatum on their marriage. And while Eric (Kevin Connolly) is newly engaged to Sloane (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and a rising agent in his own right, he faces stiff competition from his brasher, more charismatic associate (Scott Caan). Finally, Johnny (Kevin Dillon) develops a buddy sitcom with John Stamos--but must play Ping-Pong against him to woo him into the taking the part. When Bob Saget steals it from him, Johnny is offered what could be the greatest career move of his life, but he's too offended to consider it: a starring voice-over role (as a gorilla) in his own animated series called "Johnny's Bananas." This story line was the only spark in Entourage's downer of a season, which is commendable for going a different direction but never found the right balance of the elements that made it such a hit series. Even when Grenier and Piven are going through their struggles, they come off more annoying than sympathetic. As the series wraps up next season, here's hoping it finds its spark before the party ends. --Ellen A. Kim