TV on DVD: The Sopranos & Entourage

Just in time for tomorrow night's return (though I may have to wait a bit longer to get ahold of the premieres), I have finished the most recent half-seasons of "The Sopranos" and "Entourage." Each show was split into two parts for this season, even though they both aired 12 episodes in their first halves. "The Sopranos" aired the first half of its sixth season back in March 2006, and earned an Emmy nomination for Best Drama Series for its twelve episodes. "Entourage" aired the first part of its third season in June 2006, and therefore will be eligible, along with its remaining eight episodes, for the Best Comedy Series statuette (for which it has yet to be nominated) and any other Emmy awards.

(SPOILERS ahead, don't read if you haven't watched the seasons)

The Sopranos: Season Six, Part One

Many said that this season started off poorly, but I disagree. The show had been off the air for over a year and a half (season five ended in June 2004), so viewers needed a good montage to show what everyone was up to. Tony's shooting and subsequent extensive hallucination was interesting and never quite fulfilling, but a fun ride. This was arguably Vito's season, as he was given a wonderful chance to develop and be featured on a show where he usually served as a background minor character. His ultimate demise was inevitable but well played out, and the conflict between New York and New Jersey is sure to escalate this season. The main thing to say about "The Sopranos," which has been true since the first brilliant episode, is that so much happens in each episode. After watching each episode, I feel like I have traveled so far and the show has just progressed immensely in less than an hour. The fact that Vito essentially had his own storyline which took its own course is proof of the fact that a great deal can be incorporated well into a show.

A


Entourage: Season Three, Part One

I enjoyed the short eight-episode first season of "Entourage" a good deal. The second season, however, was the real hook for me. This season does its predecessor justice, and if anything improves upon it. The cast is brilliant, not excluding Beverly D'Angelo as Ari's new partner Barbara Miller, Rex Lee as Lloyd, and Emanuelle Chriqui as Eric's girlfriend Sloan. Guest stars like Malcolm McDowell as Terrence, Lindsay Sloane as Nicole, who had a celebrity list with Vince on it, and Martin Landau as the wonderfully obnoxious Bob Ryan stand out. The main foursome play amazingly off of each other, and each had a wondrous opportunity to showcase their acting talents, with Vince's one-day fling with a stranger from a bookstore, Eric's threesome, Turtle's search for Saigon, and Johnny's nervousness with his pilot. The seamless addition of celebrity guest stars continues to be stellar, such as Seth Green, whose eventual fight with Eric was beyond amusing. The main scene-stealer, however, remains the extremely hard-working and amazing Jeremy Piven as superagent Ari Gold. His getting fired in the final episode of the season's first half was interesting, but let's hope they hire him back. He wholeheartedly deserved his Emmy win last year, and I vote to give him another one at this year's ceremony.

A-


"The Sopranos" and "Entourage" will premiere tomorrow night, Sunday April 8th, at 9pm and 10pm, respectively, on HBO.