Analysis Blog #3-Entourage

Currently airing in its third season HBO’s hit comedy series Entourage has become of one of the hottest shows on television today. It takes a look at the day-to-day life of a hot young actor Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) along with his elder brother and two best friends. They all come from the Queens, NY and successfully arise into the celebrity lifestyle in Hollywood, California (About the Show). Examining season 2 episode 20 we see that it incorporates vulgar language, the image of ‘money’ and particular forms of music which has allowed it to become one of the televisions hottest shows primarily directed towards men.
The young men of this show use very vulgar language when communicating with one another. For example, during an argument between Eric (Vince’s manager) and Aari (Vince’s agent) they communicate vulgar language to one another. In a particular instance Eric says to Aari “if you ever f****** sandbag me like that we are going to have a big f****** problem” (Good Morning Saigon).The above example portrays how men need to be seen as tough and strong when interacting with other male counterparts. There male ego enforces them to act in a particular way through the use of vulgar language in order not to appear weak. From a female stand-point it appears as though that young men in their twenties enjoy viewing this type of degradation because it reinforces them to feel tough and strong.
Along with vulgar language the image of ‘money’ has also become an important aspect in the success of this show. The four young men live in a large expensive house in Hollywood along with driving a Hummer and a Maserati. In this episode, their Maserati is stolen and the following day they go to pick it up. While waiting to pick up their 100,000 dollar car Vincent’s brother Drama makes a comment that “once a car has been stole it never runs the same again, its like a guy sleeping with your girl, he leaves his mark all over” (Good Morning Saigon). The writers portray this as a metaphor that an expensive car is like sleeping with a beautiful woman. Once another man sleeps with a man’s girlfriend she is tainted and he cannot sleep with her again. Hence, one also cannot drive the expensive car because it is tainted by the person who stole it. Relating an expensive car and a beautiful woman in this metaphor argues that most men who wish to be or are successful only care about those two notions. Consequently, it reinforces in a young man’s mind that the only way to be seen as truly masculine is if they have success of having a beautiful car and lady by their side.
While driving around in expensive cars the young men of this show primarily listen to rap music and as a result often draw attention to themselves. The four of them usually go everywhere together and they are depicted as bouncing their heads back and forth while listening to the rap music. Some men viewing this and who enjoy rap themselves see this as the way the rich and famous ‘like to ride’. After viewing this show they might be reinforced to believe that in order to draw attention to themselves, perhaps to pick up a girl, they should be listening to rap music as well.
Some may say that Entourage has become the new Sex and the City for men because of its ability to reinforce the male ego to believe that behaving tough and strong through vulgar language is the way to go. Having become a popular show it provides young men with images of how successful and masculine men should behave. As more young men work to become successful and flaunt their ego Entourage will continue to become one of hottest shows on television.