'Entourage' creator blasts rumors that Kevin Connolly is difficult as a director

Talk about a tight "Entourage" -- Doug Ellin, creator of HBO's long-running comedy, is speaking out in defense of his actor Kevin Connolly.

It was announced last week that Connolly was stepping behind the camera to direct one of the new season's episodes. Quickly on the heels of that news, a report surfaced online saying Connolly was difficult to work with -- that he'd forced long hours on cast and crew and displayed "extreme perfectionism."

"Ridiculous," Ellin told us on the phone Friday, "absolutely ridiculous. He was as prepared and focused as any director I've had. There's a rat on this set and it's a weird thing. It's got to be somebody with a personal thing against Kevin."

Ellin was so impressed, he's giving Connolly another shot at the director's chair. "I'm going to let him do another one next year."

Rumor had it that Connolly and costar Adrian Grenier had words, but Ellin insists boys will be boys.

"He had a little argument with Adrian, whatever," Ellin said. "Boys have arguments."

Connolly is next slated to direct the feature film, "Adrenaline," currently in pre-production. The seventh season of "Entourage" premieres Sunday.

-- Matt Donnelly

Photo: Kevin Connolly at a 2009 Lakers game. Credit: Getty Images

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Comments

[David]

Is this show still on? The first two seasons were worth watching. After that...zzzzzz.