On the NBC Globes Pre-Show, appearing with Entourage producer Mark Walberg, Mark joked "I'm hoping your mercury poisoning isn't contagious."
As he stepped away, host Tiki Barber asked Piven how he was feeling after having to leave his Broadway show and Piven said "You know what, I'm so unbelievably grateful to be here and it was a completely humbling experience. I don't know if they've ever taken you out of a game, or if you've had to stop a season short, but that's basically what the doctors did to me. I could have gone against doctor's orders. I didn't, but I'm just gratefu to be here."
Jeremy Piven claimed he was way too sick with "mercury poisoning" to show up for his Broadway show and abruptly left the production under a cloud of questions and mystery.
In a Dec. 18 statement the play's producers gave a statement regarding the Piven exit, "We have been advised by Jeremy Piven's medical representatives that he is seriously ill and is unable to fulfill his contractual obligation to Speed-the-Plow. Consequently, he has left the production ten weeks early."
Piven was scheduled to perform throughout the show's run, which is scheduled to run until Feb. 22nd.
Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz stepped into the role of Bobby Gould on Dec. 23rd at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
The cast of Speed-The-Plow by David Mamet also features three-time Tony-nominee Raúl Esparza (The Homecoming, Company) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men). Neil Pepe (David Mamet's Romance, Ethan Coen's Almost an Evening) directs.
The show is playing at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (located at 243 West 47th St.). Tickets are sold through Telecharge.com or 212-239-6200.
