You don't think Jeremy Piven is really a rogue Russian spy, do you?
Nah, me neither. Too big a mouth.
Writer David Mamet's comments to Newsday:
"Piven has informed the producers that he hasn’t been feeling well and that the condition is attributable to a high mercury count.
"The show’s producers weren’t returning calls, but Daily Variety
reached out to David Mamet, who wrote the showbiz satire and seemed
skeptical of the reasons for Piven’s departure.
“I talked
to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a
very high level of mercury,” Mamet said. “So my understanding is that
he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.”
Mamet indicated that the show will go on despite Piven’s exit.
Piven's NYC doctor to Variety:
Although legiters view Piven's health claims with skepticism, the thesp's doctor stands by the diagnosis.
“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. “It was not his decision to step away from this play, it was mine. I think it was in the best interests of his health to do that.”
Colker is an attending physician at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, and Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut, and he is the CEO and medical director of Peak Wellness. He said that Piven’s mercury score was alarmingly high, and it was unclear why that level spiked so high.
“The etiology 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.
The problem with having a history of being a problem to producers is this exact moment. Piven may have a legit medical issue to address, but because of his history (and evidently some friction between him at Mamet) you really can't be sure what's gonna happen.
The doctor also said Piven eats a lot, a LOT, of fish. He could be doing this to himself. I knew guys in the 80s who were eating a can of tuna every day after working out and got into the same problem.
Betcha there's an actress in the company who's not upset about seeing him go. Because with Piven, there's always an actress int he company who's not upset about seeing him go.
Recent Comments