Grid Effect

We thoroughly enjoyed last night’s episode here at Grid Effect. But it was just so expendable compared to the other television that was in full force last night. Never the less, it seems that any episode revolving around showbiz has me fixated, even if I believe the drama is somewhat underwhelming.

Kevin Dillon definitely stole the spotlight last night in his psuedo-tragic/comedic tale of a struggling, poorly received actor. Johnny Drama has finally caught a break, and it was painfully obvious that while the series was dissected critically, it would be welcomed commercially and provide NBC with a much needed hit (Note: they said Drama’s fictional series “Five Towns” scored close to seventeen million viewers. This is almost twice as much as NBC lands for any of its primetime series’). His drive to the Grand Canyon did seem somewhat cryptic, he was so devastated by the reviews one would think he contemplated pulling a Thelma & Louise (And what are the odds this wasn’t coordinated with The Sopranos episode that concluded with Tony cheering over the end of a cliff in a peyote induced trance in Nevada? Like 10,000,000 to 1?)

A phrase that seemed to be repeated many times in regard to the abismal ratings of “Five Towns” was “fuck the critics”. This seemed to be not-so-subtly directed at the TV critics who regularly criticize this series for its simplistic, debased portrait of the proverbial male fantasy. I cannot understand how this series invokes such strong convictions from people. It seems to be just a campy show about hollywood for the 18-34 male demographic. As far as I know it has never claimed to be anything else. And why would the writers on Entourage take it personally?

On the film side of things, Ari’s shameless desperation to get back into Vince’s good graces simply illustrated why I thought Amanda walking out on her client was so improbable. Agent’s are, by nature, shameless. They don’t take moral stances when they are partially at fault. Its like a social tax one must pay for working strictly on commission. Simply put, there isn’t a chance she is passing up $600,000 a picture to “put Vince in his place”. I, much like any rational soul watching this series, wants to see Vince get his commeupence at some point, but this was just contrived and unfounded.

You compare her attitude to Ari’s, who has now gone from attempting to manipulate Vince’s career to assisting him into producing his own film, despite the most certain financial consequences. I enjoyed seeing the artistic concern on the part of Vince and Eric, despite how pompous the two of them were about it. Particularly Eric, who the hell is he to be making demands? Why should either of them feel entitled to anything? I know I have advocated for Ari reuniting with Vince & Co., but part of me was hoping Ari would tell them to go share a bed with Josh Weinstein and fuck off. But alas, this show is an idyllic depiction of a up and coming actor, that portrays the actor extremely favorably, so we got what we got.

For the first time since Saigon was around, Turtle got his own storyline. The only time we’ve seen him show any interest in any relationship interest in any girl is (questionably) with Shauna’s assistant (where the hell has she been?), and he was prudently rejected. Now with Rufus’ daughter (The same guy who sold them there home entertainment system in “Talk Show”, then reinstalled it in season two’s “Oh, Mandy”. Apparently he has his hand in multiple investments because he was running a body shop last night) they share a common interest in “sneakers”. I still maintain that Turtle would make a better manager than Eric, and this episode only helped solidify that position. Did you see how collected he was when Rufus forced him into hitting on his daughter while he stood in observation? Eric would have been traumatized and asked for Ari’s therapist’s number. Like night and day, those two.

All in all, a stellar episode. I am more interested in Drama’s arc at this point than I am in Vince’s (though part of me wants to see how they depict the process of getting a film off the ground) and Ari should be priceless in these last three episodes, Debi Mazar will probably also come back into the fray as they look to put a good public face on this new venture.

We’ll be back tomorrow with a Survivor finale/reunion recap.