BRAD REVIEWS THE SEASON PREMIER OF 'ENTOURAGE' ... AND IT'S NOT GOOD

Finally got to see the season premiere of "Entourage" (AP photo, right) last night on HBO, and all I have to say is: "What the hell?" That was the worst episode I've seen from this show in a long time - and this is one of my favorites. "Entourage" began to go overboard with the whole "we're cool" thing last season, but this first episode, and what is sure to follow, already has the cast drowning. And I'm not happy in the least.

Do I really care that Vince is having sex with tons of women? No. Do I really care that Turtle is finally having sex on the beach of Mexico? No. Do I really care that my favorite character - Johnny Drama - doesn't want to be photographed from the right ... or is it left? ... does it matter? No. Do I really care that Eric is on his way to being a big-shot with a nice office, movie posters, new clients and a secretary? No.

Anyone seeing a pattern here? Even the Ari Gold parts were lame and overacted.

After 10 minutes, I was bored. And that continued until the last three or four minutes, when something finally happened. But the drama that kicked in with Vince getting used by a "Danger Beach" producer to pump up someone else's price, was dropped in a heartbeat. Then it was to the credits. So, like I said, "what the hell?"

Nothing happened ... and that's not the nothing happened in a "Seinfeld" sense ... just plain nothing happened.

Entourage used to be the best show on television, but now it's become a huge joke. It's gone from these group of family and friends making their way through Hollywood, helping Vince become a star, and getting the perks that come with it, to nothing but perks, perks and more perks. Like I said earlier, the show has made these characters "too cool," and it's killing a once-great series.

The producers and writers need to pull back the reigns and go back to basics - which is what made this show an instant hit in the first place. And they need to stop falling back on lame story lines as well. In the first episode, Vince was done with Hollywood, Vince was having sex, Drama had a problem with a photo shoot, Ari wanted Eric to talk sense into Vince, and the gang took a plane to Mexico to talk sense into Vince in person. Does any of that sound familiar? Well, it should, because that was seemingly every episode for the past few seasons.

The only new part of the show was that Eric seems on his way to becoming a success. The only problem with that, is the show is so much better with everyone around Vince (and sometimes including Vince) trying to "make it" in Hollywood. That is what gave the show its charm. Sure, these guys are living the high-life and are always at the hottest parties and so on, but they were still just a bunch of typical guys from Queens (my hometown). They were grounded. But that has changed now, starting with Eric's new success. He is becoming the new Ari - and that is not good for the show.

Oh, and having Richard Roeper doing his television show panning "Medellin" and ripping Vince was useless and worthless and just plain lame. It wasn't needed at all, and the fact his name was mentioned later on, just made me cringe.

It was just the first episode, so that is the good news. It could get a whole lot better, and I'm hoping that it does. But this first episode set up absolutely nothing for the rest of the season. I'll keep my fingers crossed, but so far, so bad, for "Entourage."