Actor Jeremy Piven
was starring in David Mamet’s Speed the Plow revival on Broadway until
he abruptly left the show because of mercury poisoning via eating too
much sushi.


We know the theatre is the bastard baby of show business —
and that television and film rules the mind and the money — but we
will still be disappointed to learn if Piven’s escape was preplanned
for personal profit if he was not genuinely ill.

David Mamet mocked Piven’s break:

“My understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.”

We can’t help but think Piven’s departure smells fishy.