Grey Lady Gets Quadruple-Stuffed by Entourage Gang

Yet again, the New York Times gives Entourage the slobbering, fawning 'zeitgeist' treatment today. Don't be surprised if you soon find an entire new section called ENTOURAGES peeking out of their yawny Wednesday edition.

Despite what you think of the series, there is something inherently annoying to this report of packed agency conference rooms erupting into howling, knowing laughter when someone makes a winking reference to the show, regardless of how tired that reference is:

" 'Did you hear what Ari said?' is now a regular feature of our Monday staff meetings," said Jeremy Zimmer, a founding partner at United Talent Agency. He was referring to Ari Gold, the show's insufferable talent agent, played by Jeremy Piven in an expensive Caesar haircut. Meanwhile, at International Creative Management, the agent Brian Sher said he got huge laughs by announcing at a staff meeting that the priority project at Warner Brothers this fall would be "Aquaman." That's the show's fictional underwater action movie starring the groovy pop idol of "Entourage," Vincent Chase (Adrien Grenier), and directed by James Cameron (the actual director of "Titanic" and "Terminator 2" fame, playing himself).

"Even the most senior agents got the joke," Mr. Sher said. " 'Entourage' has become part of the fabric of what we do."

That last quote ushers nightmarish images of a giant floating Swifty Lazar head, chanting a Homer Simpsonesque "It's Funny 'Cause It's True" between hearty cackles.

Describing the show's bigger budgets and higher profile locations, the reporter finds the perfect combination of speed, pressure and tongue-swirling dynamics to use on these column inches:

The flashier locations also help. This season, with its higher production budget, "Entourage" shot scenes during the Sundance Festival, at a live U2 concert and courtside during a real Lakers game. This last setting provided a delicious meta-"Entourage" moment. The show's five stars sat in the $2,000 seats normally reserved for Ari Emanuel, the real-life Hollywood talent agent who is the model for Mr. Piven's character.

Am I being a Grumpy Gus if I find the cast of Entourage sitting in Ari Emanuel's courtsides being not at all 'delicious' and only marginally 'meta'? Where's my U2 shoutout? Where's my oft-repeated insidery industry catchphrase? I think I'll start one right now.

"Eat cancer, my loveable Muppet!"

Um...Let me work on it.