Band of brothers

Every "Entourage" episode ends with a scream.

No, Kevin Connolly and Adrian Grenier don't yell at you from the TV screen.

The screams come from the people watching, partly because the episodes seem too short and always leave you wanting more. But, mostly, it's because the writers know how to get the reaction they are looking for from their viewers.

Seven seasons in, Entourage is still going strong. The show, based on rapper-turned-actor-turned-producer Mark Wahlberg's early experiences in Hollywood, stars Grenier as Vince Chase, a down-again, up-again movie star, and his circle of friends, including his manager Eric (Connolly), agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven), brother and fellow actor Drama (Kevin Dillon) and former driver Turtle (Jerry Ferrara).

In essence, it's a male-driven derivative of the Sex and the City, with Connolly as Carrie Bradshaw and Emmanuelle Chriqui as Mr. Big. And like it's fellow HBO show, Wahlberg said he wants to end it with a movie once the TV scripts have dried up.

The show is known for it's celebrity cameos. This week's episode featured Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings runningback and former OU standout. Wahlberg, New England Patriot's quarterback Tom Brady, rapper 50 Cent, and America's favorite dad, Bob Saget, have all had guest spots on the show.

The cameos are a big part of the Hollywood illusion Wahlberg and the writers work so hard to create. The show features everything we expect actors to do: attending star-studded movie premieres, wild nights at the exclusive clubs, VIP treatment everywhere and even midday visits to strip clubs.

This season is a bit different. Vince had a near-death experience in the first episode, and since then, he's been acting a little differently, something that concerns the recently engaged Eric.

The different angle is needed.

Most of season six seemed like fluff. Vince was up again, Drama was on a TV show, Turtle had a lady (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and Eric was bouncing from woman to woman.

Nothing really happened. The show is normally able to balance the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with engaging drama, but hasn't been able to do so since 2008.

Wahlberg says that after this season, a few episodes will air in 2011 and then he will get the movie rolling. A lot is to be answered by then. Will Drama finally find a stable role? Will Ari succeed in bringing an NFL team to Los Angeles? And will Vince finally settle down with a woman, maybe even former guest star Leighton Meester as pop sensation Justine Chapman?

Nobody knows, but audiences will be screaming until they do.

"Entourage" airs at 9:30 p.m. Sunday on HBO.