Entourage 6/11: 'Entourage' returns to being 'Entourage'

Just when we considered putting "Entourage" on our "Watch on DVR" list instead of watching it "live" at 10:30 p.m., Doug Ellin and the crew gave us reason to hope.

Reason to believe that next week's season finale wouldn't be just a 30-minute chore designed to give us closure on a season gone awry. Reason to consider that maybe Season 7 isn't that bad of an idea.

"Entourage" can still be "Entourage."

After two exceptionally sub-par episodes and a third "decent only because it followed two woeful shows" episode, Episode 11 of "Entourage" proved to be a legitimately good episode. And rewatchable, which is the key to any good episode.

(It's OK to admit that you deleted the last three episodes of "Entourage" from your DVRs and TiVos because you don't care about wanting to watch those again before the Season 6 DVD comes out next summer.)

This episode had all the elements that make "Entourage," well, "Entourage." We had a super-neurotic, ultra-nervous E thinking he might have contracted an STD from some girl. An amusing plot seeing how this entire season has been about E playing the field and struggling with his desire for a real relationship. Mix in the plot twist of Johnny Drama having slept with that girl Tara first and we've got ourselves old-school comedy.

Thankfully, we finally saw E having girl troubles without it involving a girl in the scenes beyond that one establishing shot. Eric Murphy is at his best when he's freaking out over things, be it an STD or Vince's career, not when he's struggling to make emotional decisions.

Another massive Johnny Drama meltdown always keeps us entertained, and when they involve his auditions, that's pure comedy. Even better, though, is the classic 10-second celebrity cameo and how they always manage to know Drama. We never know why or how they're connected, nor do we want to, but when Dean Cain entered the "Melrose Place" audition with a "Oh, hey Drama," I laughed.

Ari Gold is always scheming, but when he has a real adversary, he shines. Bringing Terrence McEwick back was a nice touch, but the better move was showing Ari doing his investigative due diligence, even if that meant going to talk to Terrence's wife. And his negotiation meeting with Terrence was fantastic. (Does anyone really think the deal will go smoothly next week?)

For the relatable guy lesson, and there always is one -- think of it as "Entourage's Fables" -- we had the long-distance relationship issue between Turtle and Jamie-Lynn Sigler. Here's the tip: In today's technological world, when you're in a committed relationship, DO NOT save your email and Facebook passwords on your computer if you're both going to use it.

And, of course, we had a random sex scene with Vince and some girl with an insane body.