Ethan Coen News

Broadway producers Jeffrey Richards announced in an official statement on Friday that, 'The producers of SPEED THE PLOW have officially filed a grievance with Actors' Equity re: Jeremy Piven's departure. A date for the arbitration is to be determined.' Piven countered with his own response stating, 'The claims made by the producers of Speed-the-Plow are absurd and outrageous. Mr. Piven's serious medical condition has been well documented by multiple physicians. He withdrew from the play due to medical necessity on the advice of his doctors, after he was hospitalized and warned by his physicians that enforced rest was necessary in order to avoid serious medical problems, including a heart attack.' There is now rumors on the street intimating that the grievance was actually filed a week earlier than first reported but was kept quiet as SPEED producers didn't want any more negative press for the hit show. Sources also reveal that Piven's exit from the Broadway drama has given Hollywood producers pause regarding the Emmy winning actor. That being said up until the SPEED-THE-PLOW scandal he was sought after by industry executives and was celebrated by his peers in relation to his work in television and film.

The following statement has just been released to the media by Jeremy Piven's publicist. Stay tuned to BroadwayWorld.com for future updates as they become available.

SPEED-THE-PLOW producer Jeffrey Richards is not taking Piven's 'fishy' pleas regarding his departure from the show sitting down. Richards announced in a statement that, 'The producers of SPEED THE PLOW have officially filed a grievance with Actors' Equity re: Jeremy Piven's departure. A date for the arbitration is to be determined.' Jeremy Piven defended his sudden and shocking exit from SPEED-THE-PLOW in an exclusive interview on 'Good Morning America' yesterday morning. Piven told GMA host Diane Sawyer was 'brought to my knees' by his condition and said that on doctor's orders he 'couldn't do it.' 'You talk about 'the show must go on,' this is in my DNA. To have the rap be on me that I walked out on this thing. ... This was the greatest moment of my life,' he revealed to Sawyer. To watch the entire video visit the official ABC GMA site by going here.

Jeremy Piven, for the first time on a national news program defended his sudden and shocking exit from SPEED-THE-PLOW in an exclusive interview on 'Good Morning America' this morning. Piven told GMA host Diane Sawyer was 'brought to my knees' by his condition and said that on doctor's orders he 'couldn't do it.' 'You talk about 'the show must go on,' this is in my DNA. To have the rap be on me that I walked out on this thing. ... This was the greatest moment of my life,' he revealed to Sawyer. To watch the entire video visit the official GMA site by going here.

The full list of nominations for the British Academy of Film and Television arts was announced this morning. FROST/NIXON received 6 nominations and DOUBT 3 amongst other theatre-related nominees. The awards will be given out on February 8, 2009 in London.

Jeremy Piven has been talking mercury poisoning for the past number of days and he'll continue his toxicity talking points tour on tomorrow's GOOD MORNING AMERICA between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Jeremy Piven claimed he was too sick with 'mercury poisoning' to show up for his Broadway show and abruptly left the production under a cloud of questions and mystery. In a Dec. 18 statement the play's producers gave a statement regarding the Piven exit, 'We have been advised by Jeremy Piven's medical representatives that he is seriously ill and is unable to fulfill his contractual obligation to Speed-the-Plow. Consequently, he has left the production ten weeks early.'

Former Speed-The-Plow star and mercury poisoning victim Jeremy Piven hit the red carpet at Sunday night's Golden Globe Awards, and was vocal regarding his bailing on Broadway scandal. In an exchange with The New York Daily News' GATECRASHER gossip column, Piven continued his tale of medicial woe, but seems to have bounced back to full 'Hollywood' level health.

Former Speed-The-Plow star Jeremy Piven was out and about at last night's Golden Globe Awards, and was vocal regarding his scandalous exit from the Broadway production.

On the NBC Globes Pre-Show, appearing with Entourage producer Mark Walberg, Mark joked 'I'm hoping your mercury poisoning isn't contagious.' As he stepped away, host Tiki Barber asked Piven how he was feeling after having to leave his Broadway show and Piven said 'You know what, I'm so unbelievably grateful to be here and it was a completely humbling experience.

LA Times The Envelope reports that Woody Allen has received his 19th screenplay nomination from the Writers Guild of America Wednesday for his romantic comedy ' Vicky Cristina Barcelona.Allen, 73, has previously won the WGA award for original screenplay for 'Annie Hall,' 'Broadway Danny Rose,' 'Hannah and Her Sisters' and 'Crimes & Misdemeanors.'

Universal Pictures recorded its biggest year ever for the second year in a row with global theatrical grosses totaling $2.834 billion for 2008. Universal's domestic box-office tally of $1.12 billion outpaced the record it previously set in 2007, which was $1.099 billion.

Whatever caused Jeremy Piven's stunning exit from Broadway certainly wasn't due to lack of passion or inspiration as two New York dailes reveal in their current issues.

PAGE SIX in The New York Post is reporting that former Speed-The-Plow star and 'mercury poisoning sufferer' Jeremy Piven hopped a flight from LAX to Bangkok in the last few days.

Atlantic Theater Company and Druid are proud to announce a four week extension of Martin McDonagh's hit dark comedy THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, which will now play through Sunday, March 1st, 2009 Off Broadway at Atlantic's Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street).

The New York Post is giving more details regarding Piven's exit from the show, and reveals that Norbert Leo Butz will step in to help the production for now. Variety reported last night that Jeremy Piven would abruptly end his run in Broadway's Speed-the-Plow, after missing Tuesday evening's performance and a Wednesday matinee.

Variety is reporting that Jeremy Piven will abruptly end his run in Broadway's 'Speed-the-Plow,' after missing Tuesday evening's performance and a Wednesday matinee. Sources revealed to Variety that Piven has informed the producers that he hasn't been feeling well and that the condition is attributable to a high mercury count.

TMZ is reporting that current Speed-The-Plow star and three-time Emmy Award winner Jeremy Piven is ailing and may not be able to return to the show.

The New York Times reports that those in the audience for the Saturday, December 13 matinee of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow got a little something extra when a technical problem stopped the show partway through the second scene.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) and Druid are proud to reteam in presenting Academy Award? winner and four-time Tony Award? nominee Martin McDonagh?s play THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, directed by Tony Award? winner Garry Hynes, following an acclaimed UK tour.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) and Druid are proud to reteam in presenting Academy Award? winner and four-time Tony Award? nominee Martin McDonagh?s play THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, directed by Tony Award? winner Garry Hynes, following an acclaimed UK tour.