Eli Manning avoids discussing 'Entourage' cameo dodge

Eli Manning did not appear in the "Entourage" movie, but is unintentionally giving the HBO series feature film a little free press.

Series creator Doug Ellin claims he was in touch with Manning about having the Giants quarterback appear in a cameo in the movie and, in fact,  said Manning had reached out to him about a part.

But, according to Ellin, Manning backed out without ever telling the director. He just disappeared and stopped returning calls. Ellin, a lifelong Giants fan, had to turn to Tom Brady to fill the gratuitous role.

 And it sounds like the Giants quarterback will not be checking out the movie in theaters either.

“I don’t think I’ll see it,’’ Manning said Monday afternoon after an organized team activity practice. “I’ll pass.’’

Ellin accused Manning of dodging him, saying he could not get in touch with Manning about making it to the set before replacing him with Brady.

“I was going crazy,’’ Ellin said. “Beyond frustrating.’’

Ellin said he eventually heard from Manning’s agent that Manning wanted to focus on football.

“I went kind of crazy,’’ Ellin said, “and I said ‘No, I don’t understand.’ He works hard, I work hard. I didn’t call him. He called me.’’

Clearly, Manning has another side to tell, but he did not want to get into it on Monday.

“I don’t, whatever, I don’t want to give it any more press than there already has been,’’ Manning said. “It doesn’t bother me. Whatever.’’

"Entourage" received mixed reviews and got sacked at the box office. Its first extended weekend $17.8 million gross finished fourth, behind “Spy,’’ “Insidious: Chapter 3’’ and “San Andreas.’’

Now maybe if Ari Gold could get the Giants and Eli to hammer out a new contract...

HBO Developing Dramatic Boxing Series Based On Mike Tyson

HBO has ordered a pilot from Doug Ellin, the writer and producer of "Entourage," for a dramatic series based on the rise of a fictional Newark, N.J. boxer.  Ellin has enlisted Spike Lee and Mike Tyson to co-produce.

"Da Brick" is the title of the series about the up and coming fighter loosely-based on Tyson's own rise to fame as a boxer. 

The idea for the project stemmed from a conversation Tyson had with Ellin while the former heavyweight champion was doing a guest spot on "Entourage" in 2010.

"Why don't you do with my life what you did with Mark's [Wahlberg] life on 'Entourage?' Ellin said Tyson asked him while on the set.

Simple as that, a gritty new series was born.

The title "Da Brick" is a reference to Newark being know as "The Brickyard City" or "Brick City."

Ellin will act only as producer of the series with co-producer Jim Lefkowitz while "Entourage" ends it's eight year run on HBO.  The head writer will be John Ridley, Lee's co-writer in a film-in-development about the Los Angeles riots.

It is not known if Tyson will hone his "Hangover 2" acting chops and appear in a  role or guest spot on the series but, his wife, Lakiha Tyson will co-executive produce with Azim Spicer.

Lee's people have been scouring local New York City area boxing gyms for locations and actors.  The casting directors are looking for actors who "have chops" and fight experience.

By basing a series on the dwindling fight game, does HBO have a Pacquiao or a patsie on it's hands?

Wahlberg produced "The Fighter," last year's Academy Award nominated and winning film about boxer 'Irish' Mickey Ward and his brother Dicky, which successfully brought the world of boxing to the masses.

On the other hand, FX's "Lights Out," a fine series about a fighter coming out of retirement, was cancelled after a single critically-acclaimed season. 

Even if Tyson doesn't appear in the series, it will probably not be too difficult to separate the fiction from the facts regarding the one-man demolition crew.  There is too much of his life that was public domain.

Both inside and outside of the ring, Tyson's recollections alone bring a solid foundation of incidents for the writers to incorporate into the scripts.  The out-of-control fighter has endured both the glory, the scandals and the shame behind the sport.

I wonder if there will be pigeons and facial tattoos?