HBO hugs it out with Rob Weiss
'Entourage' exec producer inks two-year deal
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
Weiss

HBO is hugging it out with "Entourage" exec producer Rob Weiss, sealing a two-year, seven-figure deal with the scribe.
Under terms of the pact -- hammered out prior to HBO entertainment prexy Carolyn Strauss' exit from the post -- Weiss will continue on "Entourage" and eventually develop projects at the pay cabler.

Weiss is working on the fifth season of the hit Hollywood-themed comedy, which resumes shooting at the end of April. "Entourage" will return to HBO's sked in September; after that, Weiss will turn his attention to new projects for the channel.

"We're talking about a variety of things, some half-hour stuff, some hour stuff," Weiss said. "There's a couple of worlds I'm interested in, subcultures with characters I'd like to explore. But there's nothing firm yet."

Weiss, who's said to be one of the inspirations for "Entourage's" bombastic director Billy Walsh, has been with the show since its first season.

According to Weiss, the upcoming batch of "Entourage" eps will pick up where the show's fourth season left off: the disastrous Cannes screening of "Medellin." The show's characters must suck up the financial hit they took from funding the dog of a project -- and what it means to Vince's acting (and Eric's managing) career.

"It could be a pretty interesting season," Weiss said. "It will be very true to what you see actors go through after a movie like that."

As for the HBO deal, Weiss said he decided to stick with HBO because of a kinship he feels with the net's sensibilities.

"I can think of no better place," he said. "I don't know how some of the things that come out of my head would play on CBS. HBO is more character-driven, and they're similar to the way I think. The execs there are incredibly creative, and have their finger on the pulse."

Beyond "Entourage," Weiss' credits include writing, exec producing, directing and appearing in the Fine Line feature "Amongst Friends." He's next developing a feature based on the Elmore Leonard book "Swag."

From Entertainment Weekly Online:

Wondering how the strike affected fake Hollywood? It'll delay the debut of Entourage's fifth season until September, and the HBO comedy may deliver 12 episodes instead of 14 — though creator Doug Ellin says he's "writing as fast as I can" to reach 14. This season, which starts shooting in late April, will pick up with the fallout from Cannes, where Vince's Medellin tanked. "The group dynamic is changing," hints Ellin. "Eric [Kevin Connolly] is finding success on his own, grabbing other clients, and Vince [Adrian Grenier] is suddenly having a hard time." The boys trek to Mexico and Joshua Tree National Park, where they'll "eat some psychedelic mushrooms and try to find themselves. It's one of my favorite episodes. It's their Into the Wild trip." With a happier ending, we presume.

(I gotta believe there will be some U2 music played in this episode! Can't wait to see it!!!)

OMG r u serious when the boys went 2 the U2 concert for dramas b-day it was totally awesome i cant wait for more of U2 in entourage. The passion and style of their music fits perfectly for the show. sucks that season 5 wont be out till september tho but its a relief that the show isnt canceled. =)

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