The Jeremy Piven sushi saga continues

For those of you who, like former "Speed-the-Plow" actor Jeremy Piven, just can't stop when it comes to sushi -- or at least tales of toxic sushi -- here's the latest on the story that has Broadway's mercury rising.

Piven cited health reasons this week when he abruptly exited the David Mamet play, but he apparently wasn't just suffering from high levels of mercury. Reports say he also complained to his Broadway producers that he had mononucleosis.

And that's not all. Word is that Piven put out calls to actor friends and casting agents, trying to find his own replacement for the part of Hollywood agent Bobby Gould. (Hint to Jeremy if he's ever hired to do Broadway again: Casting for the stage works kinda like TV -- you don't have to find your own fill-in.)

The Emmy-winning "Entourage" actor had received generally good notices playing a part not unlike his character on the HBO series. He was under contract to appear in the revival of Mamet's play through Feb. 22.

The playwright, known to be a little toxic himself, seemed a bit more than miffed, telling Variety that "my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer." Perhaps that's because Mamet was pretty focused on this production -- even though he had a second Broadway show, "American Buffalo," playing at the same time.

Meanwhile, Piven's physician, celebrity doctor Carlon Colker, appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Friday and made a plea to the world: "If anyone sees him eating seafood, tell them to call my office."

If you need help with the number, let Culture Monster know.

-- Lisa Fung

Photo (top): Is this the only culprit in Piven's Broadway exit? Credit: Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times

Photo (bottom): Jeremy Piven in "Speed-the-Plow." Credit: Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images

Comments

[GR]

I would think lab tests would confirm mercury poisoning or mono or both.

[Tom]

The only time I ever saw Jeremy Piven in real life was when he was in line behind me to get into a sushi joint in West Hollywood. He was with a gorgeous blonde probably 5 inches taller than him.

This was probably '96 -'97, when he was more working actor than star.

[Tom Moran]

There are a lot of well-placed sources around Broadway giving the real reasons that Jeremy Piven decamped from "Speed the Plow," and they don't have anything to do with sushi.

I'm sure the truth will come out eventually.

[David]

Piven is 160-ish pounds. Which means he would have to eat 3.4 POUNDS of yellowfin (sushi) tuna every week for his entire lifetime before any negative health effects would hit him.

Who the heck eats that much tuna? That comes out to 108 pieces of tuna roll, every week, for life.

Check it out:

http://www.mercuryfacts.org/mercuryCalculator.cfm

[Sandy Anderson]

I had a friend (I think he was 30 at the time) who died of mercury poisoning 2 years ago..... pretty much his entire food intake was fish. Didn't really have any symptoms until it was too late - went into the hospital and while they were running tests he passed away.

[Steve Bozich]

He always shows up at awards shows shows with his mother , maybe mumsy outta keep the tuna fish sammiches on ice for Mr. " I've only seen him on the Travel network in India" what does he do for a living?