Fans of “Entourage” got a surprise when Jeremy Piven and Adrian Grenier reunited for a Betr ad, bringing two of the show’s most recognizable stars back together. While the appearance may have been a nostalgic moment for fans of the hit HBO series, not everyone was thrilled to see it. “Entourage” creator Doug Ellin has shared his reaction to the unexpected reunion, and he is far from amused.
HBO’s “Entourage,” created by Doug Ellin, followed Hollywood star Vincent Chase and his close-knit group of friends as they navigated the highs and lows of fame. The series starred Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, and Jeremy Piven.
The show was a major hit series, running from 2004 to 2011 for eight seasons, and was followed by the “Entourage” movie in 2015.
On September 8, the sports gaming company Betr released an ad featuring Piven and Grenier, and while they didn’t appear as their respective “Entourage” characters, their appearances, behaviors, and mannerisms are identical to their on-screen counterparts.
In the ad, Piven, who played ruthless and ambitious Hollywood agent Ari Gold in the series, arrives in a sports car and barks orders at people. Grenier, meanwhile, appeared as relaxed as his “Entourage” character, actor Vincent Chase, and was lounging on a yacht.
Doug Ellin Calls Betr Ad ‘Trash And Theft’
Following the ad’s release, many wondered whether Doug Ellin, who wrote “Entourage” and was the main creative force behind the series, was involved. He took to X and answered some questions.
One fan said he hoped Ellin directed the Betr advertisement. Ellin responded by saying, “I think it’s pretty d-mn obvious I didn’t write it. My god.”
He also replied to another user who said it was “cool” to see Piven and Grenier together again, and some positivity would be nice from Ellin.
“I have zero positivity in watching things I busted my a-s of on for years he turned into garbage seek. Zero positivity. Go create your own sh-t. And if you need money for Flip burgers. This is trash and theft. Period,” Ellin wrote.
The ‘Entourage’ Showrunner Said The Ad Made Him Want To ‘Throw Up’
Ellin took to social media to share his thoughts after receiving messages from people about the “god-awful commercial.” In a video, he made it clear that he wasn’t involved in the creation of the ad at all.
He acknowledged that “Entourage” was not for everyone, but he said it was a great show. “This wasn’t,” he then added, referring to the Betr ad. Ellin went on to say that many people in Hollywood work hard but don’t get enough credit, adding that it wasn’t about him, but about all those who worked on the hit series.
Moreover, Ellin said he had to “beg” Piven to do “Entourage” because he initially didn’t want to do it, and the actor allegedly distanced himself from the series and his character afterward because “he had so much better sh-t going on.”
“I watch it and I wanna throw up,” he added.
Toward the end of his video, Ellin said the video was “trash.” However, he said he wasn’t bitter about it. “I want everyone to get paid, get rich. Just f-ckin’ do your own sh-t,” he said. In the caption, he wrote, “When I see cheap, sh-ty imitations that try to pass for what we did it makes me puke.”
A Betr spokesperson has responded to Ellin’s comments and said, “We were excited to bring Jeremy and Adrian back together,” stressing that the actors appeared in the ad “as themselves.”
They noted that the response to the video was “overwhelmingly positive,” claiming they garnered “10 million organic social views in less than 24 hours.” As for Ellin’s remarks, the spokesperson said, “We appreciate Doug watching the ad and helping promote it.”
Jeremy Piven And Adrian Grenier Reunited Off-Screen
Piven has a background in theater and sketch comedy, and in 2017, he transitioned into solo stand-up comedy. In March, the actor shared a photo of a reunion with Grenier.
In the caption, Piven said he was performing a stand-up show in Austin, Texas, when he spotted his former co-star in the audience. It was a welcome surprise because the two have not seen each other in almost 10 years.
Multiple “Entourage” cast members have expressed that they are interested in a reboot, but Ellin shut down the possibility multiple times, citing the cultural shift in the entertainment industry and a lack of an offer to bring the show back.
