There’re more than a few reasons as to why Entourage should have been a show that some potential viewers were turned off by. It isn’t that HBO has any tremendously troublesome programming. And in fact over the last decade or so, the network has been able to crank out some of the most entertaining and intelligent fair on the small screen. The premise of this particular franchise, though, could be construed to be comprised of a number of self absorbed and indulgent characters focused on dollars and tale to a point where the show could have come off like a scripted version of MTV’s Cribs.

Based partially on the experiences of Mark Wahlberg (bka Marky Mark), who functions as the show’s producer, the basic premise is that an urban dwelling, pseudo-tough guy from the east coast makes it big after appearing in a few commercials. While there are innumerable avenues to take such subject mater down, the story doesn’t sound too unique. Really it’s not and considering the fact that HBO series’ are cinematic, this could really just be perceived as some cut up version of The Player or any number of other Hollywood-centric flicks from the last twenty years.

Somehow, though, the show eschews the obnoxious parts of ‘the biz’ by humanizing each of the main players – to a certain extent. The star of the troupe is Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), who basically bank roles his three friends, enables each to live in opulence while purchasing them everything from food to clothing and cars. His older, failed actor of a brother, Kevin Dillon’s Johnny "Drama" Chase (who’s actually Matt Dillion’s brother which, could explain the actor’s ease in portraying the part) remains absorbed in his brief flirtation with stardom although it was roughly a decade ago at the beginning of the series.

Rounding out the ‘family’ is Turtle (Jerry Ferrara), a rap fan and man of few talents as well as Chase’s manager Eric Murphy (Kevin Connolly). That latter character, while the most sympathetic, still comes off at times as weak or obsessive amidst his daily duties keeping his only client happy. Supplementing all of this is Jeremy Piven’s acerbic Ari Gold. As much stereotype as truth (which are difficult to untangle at some points), the character and his contacts basically propel each episode while various schemes by members of Chase’s ‘family’ link everything together.

In its introductory season, comprised of only eight episodes, the boys help the successful Chase wrangle a new deal for a film that he actually wants to do. And in good form, as the final episode comes to a close, the crew is set to head back to the east coast after the five year west coast sojourn in order to complete Chase’s art house flick. Viewers are left to wonder how it’ll all wind up. But that’s part of what makes HBO programming what it is. And the fact that Larry Charles (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm), who not only writes a bit and directs occasionally, is on board only solidifies that fact that Entourage, now in it’s sixth season, has become one of the strongest, third generation series from the cable network.