Entourage took a trip this week.  'Cause they're fun guys! Get it, fun-gi?

That's right, Ari, E, Vince, Drama, Turtle and of course Eric Roberts all hopped in the magic Winni and hightailed it out to Joshua Tree to ingest some of the juiciest lookin’ shrooms this side of Kentucky.  Turns out that in Entourage’s Hollyworld Eric Roberts is not only Julia’s bro, but also a purveyor of fine hallucinogens. Does that explain his presence in The Dark Knight? No.

For a season that has been amazing mainly for its’ blazing plot speed, this week’s episode slowed the whole thing down for a little classic drugging, with Ari “Why are my hands so big?” Gold being the center of the hilarity.  Left alone in the desert experiencing his first trip, he ends up having to be agent-whispered by Lloyd -- speaking as Confucius!!! -- through the depths of his mind and back into safety.

While Ari is lost, the rest of the crew spend their journey dedicated to their purpose.  Vince needs to decide whether to star in an Arctic Benji sequel (remake? is there some hybrid term?) to earn some much needed green, thus sacrificing any shred of artistic integrity he might have left after the fat suit. In the end, after a slew of “signs” he decides to bail on the stupid flick, and begs Ari to do whatever he can to get him on Smoke Jumpers.  We are left to wonder weather Cuba Gooding Jr. was ever faced with the same decision before Snow Dogs or Love Boat, and perhaps more importantly why the convertible full of porn stars the guys encountered on the road out to Joshua Tree didn’t convince Vince to pursue a life in hardcore smut. God knows he’s got reverse cowgirl down.

The show ends with Ari, in just about the biggest home life trouble he’s ever seen after Mrs. Ari comes home to find Lloyd’s total-Freddie Mercury-style-party raging in the pool while Ari is just coming down.  A level one no-no in the marital handbook, people, page 71: no gay sex parties while mommy is out.

Entourage, only five episodes into the season has already covered more ground than most shows do in three seasons.  We note admiringly that each ep has been completely different from the one before, and whereas this installment could have been filled with nothing but tripping jokes, it actually ended up being a relatively authentic shroom trip (erm, according to what we’ve heard about them, that is) -- fears, confusion, oddities, revelations, giggles, and love abounded.  Decisions were made, lives were changed, penises were misplaced, if for only a few hours.  And all, thankfully, without a note of sitar music.  (Guess Eric Roberts forgot his iPod.)

-- Seth Jacobs

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"Entourage": Keep Your Friends Close
"Entourage": Everyone Gets A Taste Of Gold