"High mercury levels" force Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW — Page 10

Best,

Really, stop digging.

My sources are correct and by the number of PM's I got, I think I know what I'm doing.

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Which one?

I perfer to think of the most recent, where he was found guilty.


Lying will only get you in trouble.

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Inside Edition was talking about Piven, and his doctor was saying the high levels were caused by consuming large amounts of tuna and sushi.


Hm.

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"Almost a week after Jeremy Piven abruptly pulled out of Broadway's "Speed the Plow" citing a high mercury count, the story continues to develop.

Piven's theatrical castmates Raul Esparza and Elizabeth Moss have now joined playwright David Mamet in making fun of the "Entourage" actor and implied they are happy he is gone.

Fox News had a spy at Sunday's matinee and reports:
Sources say that when the matinee was finished yesterday, Esparza suddenly addressed the audience...

According to those who saw this, Esparza -- famous for being outspoken -- reamed Piven while Moss, my sources say, "sobbed."

"'He said, I'm sure you've read the headlines about the silliness in our show.' Then he said, Today was the first time I really enjoyed playing this show.' I hope you weren't expecting a big TV star." It was pretty emotional."

Esparza has a reputation for being lively -- and much of a diva himself."
Jeremy Piven Mocked By Former Castmates

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I find it unprofessional if that is happening with the cast. Granted the first time I heard the reports I thought it was a lie, but the tv show I work for spoke with Jeremy's doctor and it was a lot more serious than most people think.

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"And I'm still unclear why those who choose not to jump to conclusions are demanded to explain themselves."

Good question. Some folks just like to make their own mind up immediately, instead of waiting for all of the facts to come out.

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I was thinking along the lines of, "Let's see what Jeremy does in the next few weeks" sort of thing.

THAT will be telling.

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Why do people keep calling him "Hollywood" when his parents were both theatre actors and trained him? He's done a lot of theatre before he made it on TV.

Again, I don't know him at all, but all of the finger pointing and misrepresentaion is a bit overwhelming.

And re-hab, for mercury poisioning? Was he addicted to sushi?

And if Raul DID make those statments at the curtian call, that is SO unprofessional. He should have just kept his mouth shut.

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The part that made me laugh was thinking of the Scientologist sobbing while Raul gave the curtain speech.

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"I feel for Mr. Piven, and wish him a quick and complete recovery."

Assuming it's true...which pretty much no one working on Broadway believes to BE true...particularly those who work at the Barrymore.

Honestly? Having seen this show earlier this month and having been totally wowed by Raul's performance and off-stage graciousness (while being so-so about JP on both counts), I have followed developments since with varying degrees of interest, skepticism and amusement.

I don't think Piven has handled this at all well, but I genuinely thought he seemed to gel with his fellow actors when I saw them perform together. I'm disappointed in his apparent disrespect for his producers, co-stars and potential audience members with the lack of direct input he has had into explaining his inauspicious (and seemingly long-foreshadowed) departure.

And if Raul Esparza made an impromptu speech to a matinee audience de-crying Piven's contribution, then I think he is hardly covering himself in glory either.

As it stands I think the play is in VERY good shape. I wish I had the chance to revisit it with Butz and Macy in the role of Bobby Gould. Kudos to them for stepping in at such short notice. I just hope - for the sake of two very fine actors, not to mention everyone else who has been on-board from the beginning of the run - that this controversy can be laid to rest soon.

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I have no problem AT ALL with anything Raul might have said to draw attention to the sterling efforts of Piven's understudy stepping into such a high-profile and pressurized role at such short notice. I think RE deserves credit for giving praise where it's due.

But if he did make disparaging comments about Piven to that audience then I'm not so impressed. I just don't see the need to air 'dirty linen' in public, no matter what the provocation might be. Let the facts / public perception speak for themselves! It's not as if any of it was reflecting badly on anyone else involved in the production. :-/

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