Okay so it’s old news: Jeremy Piven abruptly left the Broadway run of David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow” last December provoking a wave of suspicious criticism. As he tells it, he developed very high levels of mercury due to overconsumption of sushi and was advised by his doctor to quit his job “immediately.” Yet, as anyone who keeps kosher—and is therefore restricted to sushi-only secular dining—could tell you, if that were true, a substantial portion of L.A.‘s Jewish population would be chronically out of work.
My interest in this minor little mishap was reignited this morning when I read Ben Brantley’s updated review of “Plow” under the headline, “With Piven Gone, ‘Plow’ Speeds Apace.” Ouch. Nothing like your Broadway show getting rave reviews after you’ve left the cast. Of course Piven also had to endure the sting from Diane Sawyer, who, while interviewing him on “Good Morning America,” questioned why he was well enough to cavort around New York City nightclubs. I’m thinking that’s part of the problem…
