Was Bailed to Bangkok Piven 'Lovesick'?

Whatever caused Jeremy Piven's stunning exit from Broadway certainly wasn't due to lack of passion or inspiration as two New York dailes reveal in their current issues.

Today the New York Daily News reports that while Piven was struggling with eight shows a week he was fairly breezing through a series of models, hostesses and even a model/bottle service waitress who toiled at New York hot spot Mansion, when not fighting off his advances, although the two are now rumored to be an item. The smitten Piven is even thinking of taking her as his date to the Golden Globes, in the past his Mother was his traditional date for the starry event.

To read the entire Daily News article detailing his amorous Manhattan after hours click here.

On the inspiration front, Michael Riedel gives us a very interesting quote from Piven describing what he, at that point at least, thought of performing on the Great White Way. Here is just a small, but telling, snippet of his comments to Riedel, "It's going to be my Olympics. I just hope I'm ready for eight shows a week!" And scene.

To read not only the witty bit on the mercury plagued Piven, but a few wonderful tributes in regards to some of the theatre greats that passed away this past year visit here.

PAGE SIX in The New York Post reported that former Speed-The-Plow star and "mercury poisoning sufferer" Jeremy Piven hopped a flight from LAX to Bangkok a week ago in search of a cure for his "very serious ailment", and illness that forced him to exit the still running 'Plow'.

Jeremy Piven claimed he was way too sick 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.

Photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.