Entourage is an American
comedy-drama television series that premiered on
HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons. The series was created by and largely written by
Doug Ellin and chronicles the acting career of
Vincent Chase, a young
A-list movie star, and his childhood friends from
Queens,
New York City, as they navigate the unfamiliar terrain of
Los Angeles,
California.
Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson served as the show's
executive producers, and its premise is loosely based on Wahlberg's experiences as an up-and-coming film star.
[ Wahlberg discusses "The Departed," life and career.] The series deals with themes of male friendship and real-life situations in modern-day
Hollywood. The show is known for its array of guest stars, usually featuring at least two celebrities per episode.
Development
According to
Mark Wahlberg,
Entourage was initially conceived when his assistant asked if he could film Wahlberg and his friends, calling them "hilarious"."
Other reports credit Eric Weinstein, a long-time friend of Wahlberg's, with the idea of filming the actor's group of friends.
In order to be more satirical of the Hollywood lifestyle, a fictional approach was chosen rather than a straight documentary in order to keep the content light, and avoid directly depicting Wahlberg's violent past.
