Amongst Friends (Entourage)

Lore & Background

In the episode, Vince, Turtle, and Drama help Eric move into his new house. Needing dates for the Gatsby premiere, Eric asks Sloan, Vince takes a woman named Lisa (played by an uncredited actress, not Gal Gadot, who never appeared on *Entourage*), Turtle takes Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and Drama asks a clerk named Kelly. Ari and Andrew prepare for the premiere, with Ari asking Melissa to spend time with Andrew's wife Marlo (played by Debi Mazar, not Jami Gertz). Ari becomes annoyed when he learns Andrew has taken an interest in a young agent, Lizzie Grant, and warns him against it. Meanwhile, Lloyd undergoes a crash diet as Ari demands he lose weight for a promotion. Eric reaffirms he is just friends with Sloan, though he has developed feelings for his neighbor Ashley. At the premiere, Eric is surprised to run into Ashley.

Reader's Guide

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.69 million household viewers and gained a 1.6/5 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. This represented a 21% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by an estimated 3.40 million household viewers. The episode received positive reviews from critics, who considered it an improvement over the premiere. Ahsan Haque of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8.7 out of 10, writing that it was "another fantastic outing." Josh Modell of The A.V. Club called it "pretty decent," particularly praising the relationship between Ari and Gary Cole's character. Emily Christner of TV Guide noted Ashley's call to E. at the moment they find her missing bracelet. Jonathan Toomey of TV Squad wrote that the episode "felt a lot more put together than the premiere" and praised the addition of Jami Gertz.

Did You Know?

• The episode was written by executive producer Ally Musika and directed by co-executive producer Mark Mylod.
• It originally aired on HBO on July 19, 2009.
• The episode featured Gal Gadot as Lisa and Jami Gertz as Marlo.
• Viewership dropped 21% from the previous episode, from 3.40 million to 2.69 million household viewers.

Narrative & Character Threads

The episode weaves together multiple romantic and professional storylines set against the backdrop of a high-profile movie premiere. Eric, needing a date for the Gatsby event, enlists his friends' help: Vince brings a woman named Lisa, Turtle secures Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and Sloan agrees to accompany Eric. Drama, left without a partner, improvises by inviting a clerk named Kelly. Meanwhile, Ari's storyline takes a darker turn when he uncovers that Andrew has developed a romantic interest in one of his young agent employees, Lizzie Grant. Ari warns Andrew to stop, but the older man proceeds anyway, forcing Ari to publicly chastise him at the premiere. Eric's own romantic confusion peaks when he confesses his feelings to Sloan, only to be gently rejected. The boys rally around him, pushing him toward his neighbor Ashley. As Eric walks out of the mansion to visit her, a text from Sloan arrives with an apology—he deletes it without a second thought, signaling his commitment to moving forward.

Behind the Camera: Writing & Direction

Amongst Friends sits at the intersection of two creative professionals building their track records on Entourage. The script was penned by executive producer Ally Musika, marking her eighth writing credit on the series, while the helm was in the hands of co-executive producer Mark Mylod, for whom it represented his eighteenth directing assignment. The episode, the second installment of the sixth season and the sixty-eighth in the show's overall run, hit HBO's airwaves on July 19, 2009. The pairing of a seasoned writer with a director still accumulating credits reflects the show's practice of rotating creative talent through its episodes. The series itself follows Vincent Chase, a young A-list movie star, and his childhood friends from Queens, New York, as they navigate the competitive world of Los Angeles entertainment. This particular episode channels that premise into a single, event-driven night—the Gatsby premiere—where personal secrets and romantic entanglements collide under the glare of red-carpet cameras.

Critical Acclaim & Audience Response

Critics largely embraced Amongst Friends, viewing it as a meaningful step up from the season's opening episode. Ahsan Haque of IGN awarded it a strong 8.7 out of 10, calling it a fantastic outing and noting how refreshing it was to see Vince in a happy, worry-free state while hinting that future challenges loomed. Josh Modell of The A.V. Club described the episode as pretty decent, singling out the dynamic between Ari and Gary Cole's character Andrew as a standout. Emily Christner of TV Guide highlighted the Ashley subplot, commending Eric for hopping back on the wagon. Jonathan Toomey of TV Squad felt the episode was noticeably more cohesive than the premiere and praised both the chemistry between Jami Gertz and Jeremy Piven's character as well as the surprise public announcement of Turtle and Jamie-Lynn Sigler's relationship. On the viewership front, Nielsen Media Research recorded an estimated 2.69 million household viewers, though this represented a 21 percent drop from the prior episode's 3.40 million.

Notable Appearances & Casting

The episode features a handful of guest performers whose brief appearances left a mark on the series. Gal Gadot, who would later achieve global recognition as Wonder Woman, plays Lisa, the woman Vince brings to the Gatsby premiere. Jamie-Lynn Sigler makes a memorable red-carpet moment by publicly announcing her relationship with Turtle and sharing a kiss in front of cameras—a beat that critics singled out as one of the episode's highlights. Jami Gertz steps in as Marlo, Andrew's wife, and her scenes with Jeremy Piven's Ari were described by reviewers as particularly funny and well-matched. Autumn Reeser appears as Lizzie Grant, the young agent employee at Miller Gold whose involvement with Andrew sets off Ari's central conflict. Perrey Reeves plays Melissa, the friend asked to keep Marlo company before the event, and Azita Ghanizada portrays Kelly, the clerk who accepts Drama's last-minute invitation. These ensemble choices give the premiere-night setting a sense of lived-in reality beyond the core cast.