“Entourage” has become, arguably, HBO’s biggest show. Especially given the fact that “The Sopranos” will be ending in 2007 and “Deadwood” is on indefinite hiatus.

As with our very own UWM Post, the theme of last week’s Entertainment Weekly magazine was about the upcoming fall television season. A staggering number of shows are featured: 26 new shows are discussed and 55 shows are revisited.

One of the problems — according to many — is that television, well, quite frankly, sucks.

Television in its current state is littered with rip-offs, mid-season cancellations, bad acting and, worse, bad writing. Granted, there are stellar shows on television, but as a whole, the landscape has been better.

Then there is HBO, which consistently delivers highly enjoyable shows and still serves as a good reason to stop by your parents’ house every once in a while.

HBO always seems to pull through with, at worst, a decent show — a feat no other station can attest to. HBO may have funds other stations do not have access to, and above all, paying subscribers, but the fact stands that HBO is the most consistent source of great television.

Take the smash hit “Entourage” as an example. After the highly enjoyable second season, “Entourage” had built up a large following, allowing the show to join ranks as one of HBO’s “big shows.” After the equally impressive third season, which just ended, “Entourage” has become, arguably, HBO’s biggest show. Especially given the fact that “The Sopranos” will be ending in 2007 and “Deadwood” will end its run with two upcoming made for TV movies.

“Entourage” follows the trials and tribulations of Vincent Chase, an up-and-coming major movie star, his three best friends and his agent Ari — played by Emmy-Award-winning actor Jeremy Piven — who often steals the show from his co-stars.

The show is very loosely based on Mark Wahlberg, who serves as a producer, and has won over audiences with its clever humor, likeable characters and easily digestible episodes.

While there is no set date for a season-four premiere — is there ever with HBO? — it is safe to say viewers can expect another dangerously entertaining season from the posse. As for the other networks, maybe they will begin to take notice of the HBO formula and begin to implement it to give their own ratings a pick-me-up.

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