"High mercury levels" force Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW- Page 5

[Jack King]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 11:42am

HA! The "mercury poisoning" could be that he is leaving the the speed of mercury. Metaphorically, then. :)

[WOSQ]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 11:56am

A "high mercury count" just doesn't pass any sort of 'sniff test'.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 11:58am

That doctor sounds too much like a quack to be a real quack--he sounds like a character in a Hollywood comedy:

“Jeremy has been a trooper, and did everything he could to fight extreme fatigue, among other things, since the condition was diagnosed,” said Dr. Carlon Colker....He said that Piven’s mercury score was alarmingly high, and it was unclear why that level spiked so high.

“The ideology is unclear, but his level of mercury was uncharacteristically high, one of the highest we’ve seen,” Colker said. “We’re not sure if this is from his diet, which is high in fish, or Chinese herbs, which he’s been a fan of in the past, or a combination of both. He needs convalescence and rest and treatment, and this will clear his body and he will be back in action very soon. Again, it was not his decision, it was mine, along with a board certified cardiologist from Yale who I won’t name, but who has 29 years of experience.”

Colker said that skepticism and critical reaction — like the Mamet barb — were unwarranted.

“Any insensitive comments like that are not only unkind and unfair, they reflect a profound lack of understanding of a problem that can actually kill,” Colker said, who added that Piven’s stamina wore down over time.

“He did the best he could to hang in there as the rigors of the show continued to increase in intensity, which, coupled with his symptoms, became increasingly difficult to contend with,” Colker said. “I felt the need to step in and make the decision for him to stop.”

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 12:23pm

Yay for Norbert Leo Butz and William H. Macy.

I can not WAIT to see Norbert Leo Butz and Raul Esparza on the same stage! FINALLY!

[lusciouslace]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 12:24pm

According to his IMDB account Jeremy got malaria during the filming of PCU and had to be rushed to the hospital. Maybe he's just really susceptible to strange illnesses.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 12:25pm

He probably got sick indeed. Sick of being acted off the stage every single performance by the sublime Raul Esparza.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 12:26pm

Yes, that must be it.

(SNORT!)

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 12:47pm

"Maybe he's just really susceptible to strange illnesses."

Oh, so that's what they're calling it these days?

[wonkit]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 12:51pm

I get a kick out of Colker citing the advice of a Yale cardiologist with 29 years' experience who doesn't want his name used. Must really be confident of his opinion. I understand from the New York POST (pass the salt please) that the producers want a second opinion. Maybe they can find a cardiologist at Yale who has 30 years' experience and doesn't want HIS name used either.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 1:10pm

He's bitched about the rigors of 8 shows a week since they opened. Every interview including tv made some mention of how gruling he finds it. It's startling that he couldn't last until February. And October - Feb run ... in an 85 minute play ... too taxing for a 40ish man? The fact that he's already back in LA speaks volumes. Methinks he has issues. If he's merely depressed, the show and adulation would surely have been more useful to his creative "id" than holing up in a West Hollywood home. But who knows the story? He doesn't seem a happy camper. He would've been wiser to ask for an early release. The abruptness of the departure, heading into holiday sales, suggests a career-sabotaging indifference to professional standards.

Posted: 12/18/08 at 1:11pm

First off, I wish Jeremy a rapid recovery. I saw him twice in the play and he was wonderful. I hope he comes back to Broadway in the future. It's exciting that Butz and Macy will join the cast. I hope to see both of them. Let's not lose sight that "the play is the thing". This was my first experience of David Mamet's work on stage and all I can say is MORE PLEASE!!!!!

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Laurie Beechman Theater February 2 7p Updated On: 12/18/08 at 01:11 PM

[burnsy]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 1:23pm

and the eBay auction is still going on!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Meet-Jeremy-Piven-2-Broadway-Tickets-Speed-the-Plow_W0QQitemZ200286213190QQcmdZViewItemQQptZTickets_Experiences?hash=item200286213190&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 1:40pm

The connection between Atlantic founders William H. Macy and David Mamet, and Atlantic's Artistic Director (and this show's Director), Neil Pepe make the call to Macy a no-brainer. He's going to tear this role up and I can't wait to see him. Likewise, NLB will be awesome as well and it's a great role for him. I just wonder how the new 'No Fish Clause' will fit into the Equity contracts in the future. I suspect we'll lose some Sushi joints over this :)

[Moviejoemovies]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 2:21pm

Don't see how anyone could vote for Piven after seeing Frank Langella in "Man for All Seasons". But by May 2009, both performances would probably be overshadowed by a more recent arrival.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 2:25pm

Langella? Are you kidding? I doubt he'll get a nomination for that performance.

Radcliffe will be the one to beat.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 2:27pm

radcliffe will be the one to beat.

and the sound you heard was bwwers across the country clamoring to be the one to "handle" that task.

[Moviejoemovies]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 2:29pm

Are you serious?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 2:30pm

Yes, I'm serious. Langella gives a snooze-inducing performance. That whole production should be snubbed.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 2:34pm

no, he's wanna be a foster.

[Moviejoemovies]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 2:35pm

Langella? Are you kidding? I doubt he'll get a nomination for that performance.
Radcliffe will be the one to beat.

Yes, Radcliffe is a definite contender. But are you serious about Langella? Which of us is kidding?


radcliffe will be the one to beat.

and the sound you heard was bwwers across the country clamoring to be the one to "handle" that task.

LOL!

[EugLoven]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 3:06pm

SHOW SOME SUPPORT FOR THE UPPERSTUDY!

"Speed The Plw" on TDF right now ($31.50)

Thursday December 18 at 8PM
Friday December 19 at 8PM
Saturday December 20 at 2PM
Sunday December 21 at 3PM

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 3:11pm

From the Time Out New York blog:

Maybe the impending Broadway Armageddon of January 4 has Jeremy Piven scared. (Nine shows are closing that day, and more the following Sunday. It’s grim out there.) The flamboyant star of Entourage and, on stage, David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow has abruptly left the production. His reason? High levels of mercury. Hands down, this is the most bizarre excuse we’ve ever heard for leaving a show. Mamet told Daily Variety: “I talked to Jeremy on the phone and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury. So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.” Since Mamet is cracking wise, we must assume that the medical situation is serious. That, or Mamet doesn’t want to rock the Hollywood boat.

But wait a minute. Mercury, mercury… where have we seen that word recently? Oh, yeah, in TONY’s capsule-review listing about Piven’s devilishly good costar, Raul Esparza: “Entourage’s Jeremy Piven and Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss are more than ably assisted by the mercurial Raúl Esparza.” Just a coincidence, we’re sure.

The show will go on, with replacement actors in the role of morally conflicted Hollywood fixer Bobby Gould. None have been announced yet. Get well soon, Jeremy! Broadway’s not dying, it’s just very, very sick.

UPDATE: Norbert Leo Butz and William H. Macy have stepped into the breach. Both will take on the role Piven vacated so hastily. Butz assumes the position December 23 through January 11. And then Macy takes over the plow January 13 through closing matinee, February 22. These two talented gents just gave us a couple reasons to revisit the show.
Jeremy Piven leaves Speed-The-Plow...WTF?!

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 4:42pm

The Chicago Tribune's got their take on it up- with an interesting comment from one of the producers:

""Speed-the-Plow" producer Jeffrey Richards said Piven had collapsed Monday at his home and had been under the care of Colker."

Well, I'm still not buying the mercury line, but at least it looks like there was something wrong with him.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/high-mercury-count-sidelines-piven.html

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 4:43pm

it looks like there was something wrong with him.

that's been apparent for years.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 5:07pm

I wonder if it is a coincidence as Time Out New York alluded to.