HBO feted the final campaign for
Entourage with a screening and party last Tuesday (July
19), giving fans, family and friends a chance to hug it out
with the Hollywood buddy series in Manhattan.
Like its send-off for The Sopranos at Radio City Music Hall
in 2007, HBO brought out the executives, crew and cast of
Entourage at the Beacon Theater on July 19 to say farewell
and soak in the applause. Following red-carpet activities,
HBO co-president Richard Plepler and Michael Lombardo,
president of HBO programming, extolled and introduced
the players, including executive producer Mark Wahlberg,
whose life/career served as the inspiration of the show, and
creator Doug Ellin. Saved for last were the boys, in alphabetical
order: Kevin Connolly (E), Kevin Dillon (Johnny
Drama), Jerry Ferrara (Turtle), Adrian Grenier (Vince) and
three-time Emmy winner Jeremy Piven (Ari Gold).
HBO provided free popcorn and beverages at the Beacon,
then ran Hollywood Sunset: A Tribute to Entourage,
the retrospective currently airing on the network; the
show’s final season debut episode (July 24) at 10:30 p.m.;
and the season’s second installment.
The after-party took guests to Milstein Hall of Ocean
Life at the American Museum of Natural History,
several blocks away.
At HBO soirees, there are no velvet ropes or VIP areas.
Hence, celebrity-watching and interaction are part of the
party favors. Amid the cocktails, sushi, shrimp, sliders and
salads stood all of the series’ stars, including Perrey Reeves
(Mrs. Ari) and Emmanuelle (Sloan) in form-flattering outfits.
Other notables spotted either at the Beacon, en route
to the after-party, and/or at the museum included U.S.
women’s soccer national team members Hope Solo and
Alex Morgan, and newly minted Time Warner Cable
CMO Jeffrey Hirsch.
Ellin was espied as he engaged in a photo op in the balcony
with the great blue whale, hovering over the hall,
in the background. Earlier, a slimmed down Ferrara,
perched on the steps outside the museum’s Central Park
West entrance, was overheard responding, “I’m trying to
figure that out,” when asked what’s his next career step.
Entourage advocates will soon reach that crossroads
when the show premieres its finale — unless a rumored
movie comes to fruition.
‘Team Coco’ Visits
10 Cities This Fall,
Delivering Buttons
TBS, HBO’s sister network in the Time Warner Inc.
media empire, is taking its late-night personality on the
road this summer ... in button form.
The network in thirdquarter
2011 will roll out a
“Team Coco Button Booth”
display in 10 markets,
including Atlanta, Miami,
Boston and Houston, in
high-traffic areas like retail
locations, sporting events,
street festivals and concerts.
Conan fans stepping
into the booth can have
their face embedded on Conan O’Brien’s torso and
printed on a large button, according to network officials. Consumers can also access the photo online
to share with their friends via social media platforms
like Facebook and Twitter.
Affiliates looking to get into the action can have
their system logos imprinted on the button along with
the TBS brand.
TBS executives would not project how many consumers
will stroll through the various booths around
the country, but they are hoping to further boost viewers’
awareness of the 11 p.m. show.
