Entourage: Concluded (and long overdue post)

Diligent Sugar & Gravy readers – I owe you a post. 16 days with no updates is absolute sacrilege, so without further ado…

A NEW POST!!!

I mentioned in my last post that I'd write about the series finale of "Entourage" slash the last season in general, which is good because I just re-watched the last ep, so it's once again fresh on my mind.

For those of you who don’t know, Entourage ran on HBO for 8 seasons.  Each season varied in length, but most fans (if not all) were pretty horrified to find out that the 8th and final season was going to be only 8 episodes long.  6th season, in my opinion was AMAZING, but 7th season was somewhat lackluster… not because there wasn’t enough going on, but just because it was hard to see the gang sort of independent from one another, never mind Vince going through a whole bunch of ups and downs (mostly downs), which was not so fun to witness.  However, I stayed optimistic and just hoped that 8th season would really deliver and wrap up the show in a neat little package, tied with a bow… you get what I’m saying.  So I guess the thought was, how are you going to do that in only 8 episodes?!

The truth is, in my opinion, that they rushed this season.  I don’t know why they had only 8 episodes, or whose decision that was, but it was a whole lot of stuff to happen in 8 episodes and felt unrealistic.

HOWEVER, in a superficial way, I was incredibly satisfied with how it all wrapped up, realistic or not.  What I wanted for the characters happened… I just wish that it had been in a more real way.  I mean, it’s not TV, right?  It’s HBO.  But it’s also not “Six Feet Under”, it’s “Entourage”.

As for the series finale itself?  It was a grand slam!  Once again, realistic or not, loose ends were tied, there was a happy ending, all characters ended up where they were supposed to, and it just felt good.  And I appreciate that.  Ari’s final scene in the office with the opera music playing?  BRILLIANT.  It was just wonderful!  Upon a second watching, I was moved to tears.  Bravo!!!

Then there’s the movie… well, it’s obviously not just a rumour because that little cliffhanger with Ari at the end is an opening if I’ve ever seen one.  I can’t wait to see the boys on the big screen.  Bring it on, and make it a damn good one!  I’d also love if they had Fergie sing the movie’s theme song… I’m not totally joking either.

s08e04

I watched episode 4 of the current season of "Entourage" a second time around and realized I hadn't checked in on S&G with my thoughts... I might've missed out on posting on ep. 3 as well. Anyway, without further ado...

I thought/think ep-4 was fantastic!! I found out today that Jerry Ferrara a.k.a. "Turtle" wrote the episode along with creator/producer/writer Doug Ellin. I love that! Kevin Connelly a.k.a. "E" directs episodes and Turtle writes them... I love HBO. Such a collaborative broadcast community. It's not TV, you know...

Anyway, I thought the ep brought things back to where they used to be. The essence of the show has always been the 4 friends, and though their group has grown, it's back to that sense of friendship, loyalty, etc. I love that!

Only 4 more episodes left. 1/2-way done. Say it ain't so...

Holiday... Celebrate!!!

Just finished watching the first ep of season 8 (the final season) of "Entourage". Seeing a new episode of the show was a total delight after nearly a year of drought, but I'm not sure I'd say that the episode was a total EXPLOSION into the new - and last - season. However, it had some great moments, and it seemed to set up the next - and last - 7 episodes for some interesting story lines. The first ep of season 7 was also not a total hit, but the rest of the season was great, and I feel optimistic about season 8 as well. I can't wait for next Sunday - ahhhh!!!

The reason I didn't watch the episode until today - beyond the fact that I don't have HBO, which is sort of stupid - is that I was in Muskoka at a cottage my parents rented for a few weeks. I was there for 3 nights with my girlfriend, sister, and my sister's BF, and it was such a great time. It was the kick-off to a 10-day holiday from work that I'm currently on, and it started things off perfectly. I spent the 4 days sleeping, eating delicious cottage-y meals (read: lots of burgers), reading (more on that in a sec), swimming, went for a kayak, a few short boat rides, lying in the sun, and playing a really fun card game (a sort of re-working of my fave - "war") that the GF taught me (I believe the end tally was 20-16 for the GF).

So reading... I don't think I've posted about the reading challenge for a while. That's because after I hit the half-way point I fell into a bit of a slump. I tried a few books, fiction and non-fiction, but couldn't get into anything. One day I was chatting with my boss and asked him if he was much of a reader. Turns out he is and we have similar taste in books (one of his favourite authors is John Irving, so I knew we were onto something). I asked him if he had any recommendations and he suggested No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod. If you didn't know already, my goal is to try not to buy any new books and instead get through the ones on my bookshelf that I haven't read (which is about 60%... more like a bookstore than a personal library). It just so happens that I already own No Great Mischief so I pulled it off the shelf and started to read it. I finished it this morning before I left the cottage and absolutely loved it!!! A great read for Canadians with a Scottish family history... especially those who are still very connected to that history. I'd say I both am and am not... the book definitely makes me want to reconnect more.

Anyway, as I said, I'm off to a great start on this holiday. Toronto for the next few days, then a secret adventure (more on that later this week), a trip to Waterloo for a wedding, and then some more chill time in TO before back to PH on the holiday Monday. It will be glorious... now for some serious chillage in front of the TV.

e-Gravy

I'm home from work today as I am sick... bummer...

That said, it's always kinda nice to have a day at home to tidy the apartment and putter around and read and marathon season 2 of "Entourage"... ya know...

Anyway, a good friend of mine just posted an interesting interview of Margaret Atwood from the Globe. The interview is on the topic of e-books/e-reading, and it's a great, quick read. Atwood doesn't necessarily disagree with the use of them, but she has some really interesting points to make about them.

It made me think about something, but first let me quote the interviewer, Rosalind Porter:

Yet publishers and booksellers are allowing themselves to imagine a nightmarish world in which they are irrelevant – where technology companies which distribute e-books, such as Amazon, Sony, Google and Apple, also take over the choosing and the selling of books. Gail Rebuck, the chief executive of Random House in the U.K., recently described her “idea of hell” as a website ‘with 80,000 self-published works on it’ – a world where publishers and bookshops are replaced by a sort of online, super slush pile. Despite these fears, many smaller, independent publishers have had a few very profitable years, perhaps as a result of concentrating their focus on the books themselves and allowing the hyperbole of the yet-to-come iPod moment for books to simply see itself out.

This is a really interesting idea: publishing companies being taken over by the technology companies that distribute e-books. As I said, it made me think of something, which Atwood sort of alludes to... the music industry. Justin Bieber (tired example) and many others are now being discovered on the Internet. Even if you just have a crappy webcam you can record a song and post it on a platform that makes it possible to reach an audience of millions. Another thought: I can't think of the last time I bought a CD! On top of that, the process of recording, even in a studio, is increasingly (although I'm sure not exclusively) digital. Basically I'm saying, anyone with a computer can record a song.

But what about a book? Can just anyone write a book? Perhaps not yet... it's still a process that requires a lot of jumping through hoops and other obstacles, but maybe it's heading in that direction. My blog, for example. I know at least a few people read it, so I've got my work published out there... on a website, sure, but my writing is being read. It wasn't that long ago that an opportunity like this was unheard of. My blog's not making me famous or anything, but my writing is being read... it's that simple, but sort of amazing at the same time.

So if it's this easy for me to get my writing read, then could I just get a whole book online, too?

The thing is, publishers, record companies, etc. are out there to get stuff published or produced, but also to decide what could sell. What sells is (ideally, but definitely not always) what's good. I go on the Hype Machine a lot for music; a lot of it's good, but a lot of it is decidedly not good. What if all books were aggregated on a site like that? Wouldn't I have to hunt through a lot of amateur crap for a good read, whereas going to Indigo and looking at the top sellers can partially guarantee that I'm going to like what I buy... see what I mean? That said, I know that a lot of what sells isn't good, or at least not to a lot of people's tastes, so my points can be argued, but, it's definitely interesting to think about.

Entourage Crush!

Obviously we know I love Entourage. Did you know Turtle was one of my (if not the only) favourite characters? Well he is. I've always liked him. In fact, I've even crushed on him a wee bit - since the beginning.












Now check him out!































Damn Turtle! Your arms are bulging and your face is so intense!


Mmmmm.

Spring Forward, Autumn's Back!

Let's talk for a quick sec about "Entourage".

More specifically: Autumn Reeser.


Dear Autumn,

You are hot, fierce, and super talented. You are killing it as Lizzie Grant, and I mean that. Keep it up. Your ferociousness turns me on.

Sincerely,
Madam Sugar Gravy

Gravy's All Right

**EDIT: Guess what?!?! This is my 200th post on Sugar and Gravy. I love it and I have no intention of stopping. Enjoy!!!**

I am so excited to see this! Talk about the most solid lesbian couple ever - in terms of fantastic actresses. We lucked out! And by "we", I mean the gays all over the world.



In other news, there's a new episode of "Entourage" on tonight. The trailer looks amazing! I don't get HBO, but I'll download the episode tonight or tomorrow morning. I can't wait!

Sea Sun Say Vun

It's a new season of "Entourage" (there's been 2 episodes so far) and I'm pumped. I've never actually watched the show as it's happening, so it is CRAZY to be waiting a week in between episodes. I need to know what happens next... NOW! But, it's also a lot of fun to get so excited for the next installment.

My thoughts so far?

• Episode 1 left something to be desired. It was a little flat, but sometimes a well-established show's premiere doesn't necessarily start with a bang... or maybe it was that I saw all the main scenes already in the teasers.
• Episode 2 was AWESOME! That's the "Entourage" I know and love. There were surprises, there was serious drama, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Tune in for sure, and if you've never seen it - do yourself a favour and give it a try!!!

All work and no play makes Gravy crazy

Ugh... 24 hours until I'm writing the last exam of my undergrad. I cannot find the motivation.

Distractions include:
(1) Chuck Klosterman's Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs
(2) Season 6 of Entourage - I'm re-watching the series in prep for 7th season
(3) Alex & Luke - their charm is still too much for me!
(4) Anything but studying

Entourage-Withdrawal

I just finished the last episode of 6th season of "Entourage" and I'm already in withdrawal. It is just SO good. I cried during it and now I'm just aching for a new season. When will it come out?

I'm also following "Glee" (which I've already mentioned) and I love it!!! What else should I watch? I've got a bunch of my "To Watch" list, but any suggestions?

I think I might watch some "Alias" today. That used to be a favourite of mine! Plus, it's got some great torture scenes, which I want to analyze for one of my classes.

Ugh. This is a boring entry!

Today's Gravy Boat

Alright, here's what I got going on today.

1. My show of choice right now? "Entourage". Holy shit, this show is GREAT! I'm addicted. Now don't go on spoiling anything for me, 'cause I'm only half-way through season 4. I can't wait to get caught up. I hear the season 6 finale is a doozy!
2. I wish I had a video game console because DJ Hero looks INSANE! My gf sent me a link to the site today and I spent a while checking out tutorial videos. My God, it looks like a blast. I wonder if you can be Steve Aoki. He is my DJ Hero, no doubt. I think they're doing an awesome job marketing the product, too. They've got DJ Tiesto as a European ambassador for the game (I believe), and Jay-Z and Eminem supporting the project in the US. Unreal.
3. Today is a Sugar&Gravy day (at least for the next couple of hours). I have the whole day off, a bunch of things to cross off my to do list, and the energy to do it.

PEACE!

Sugar & Gravy Movie Mania #3

3 movies this weekend - 1 in theatres and 2 I've already seen.

#1: "Mamma Mia"
Fabulous! I've been listening to the soundtrack for weeks, but I finally got to see it and I loved it! Simple, great cast, some really fun scenes, and fab singing!
Rating = 4.5/5.0

#2: "The Usual Suspects"
This was on TV this morning and I got to see the whole thing! It's been about 5 years since I saw it last and it's never as good as it was the first time, but it was still great. Awesome cast (although there are some real B-list actors in there - even though they were great in the movie) and a GREAT twist, of course. I love Kevin Spacey.
Rating = 4.2/5.0

#3: "The Royal Tenenbaums"
Very dark, very weird, and very Wes Anderson. Great movie! I can't believe Owen Wilson co-wrote it. That's pretty cool! It's full of black comedy, but it's heart-felt and original. Also - Gwyneth is SO great in it!
Rating = 4.4/5.0

Also - I've been watching episode after episode of "Entourage". GREAT show!