Is there something fishy, pun intended, about Jeremy Piven’s mercury poisoning? The backers of the Broadway Production he was starring in, Speed-the-Plow, are understandably upset that the star draw card has left the stage. Now they want to get an independent doctor to assess whether or not he’s really sick.

The producers didn’t have star insurance on Piven. If they had, their insurance company would almost certainly investigate the actor’s claim before paying out any money.

But under the Actors’ Equity contract, the producers are entitled to have Piven’s medical records examined by another doctor. If they suspect fraud, they can sue him.

“If it turns out this is phony, it can really kill him,” says a veteran producer who’s not involved in “Speed-the-Plow.”

Yesterday, the show’s lead producer, Jeffrey Richards, said that Piven has in fact been examined by another doctor.

Richards declined to divulge the results, saying, “They are confidential.”

He adds: “We’re in the process of discussing what our next step will be.”

Several top Broadway producers say that if “Speed-the-Plow” were their show, they’d go after Piven.

“I’d kill the jerk,” one says, bluntly.

“You have an obligation to your investors to make sure he did not get out of this in an illegal way,” says another. “You have recourse, and if I had suspicions, I’d nail him.”

“I’d only bother if the show fell short of recoupment,” says a third. “But I’d let it be known that he’s destroyed his career in the theater.”

New York Post

Speed-the-Plow was a week away from returning its $3.5 million investment when Jeremy quit the show. I like most people, have never heard of mercury poisoning from eating too much sushi, but I can see how in a theoretical way you could get it. But, even if your body was inclined to mercury poisoning, that would have to be a lot of sushi. I’m thinking three meals a day, and eating your cat’s food for snacks.

While Jeremy probably doesn’t care that his Broadway career is over (he was trying to get out of his contract, if he’s faking the illness) it will be interesting to see if legal action is taken. ‘Discussing what our next step will be’ sounds ominous, but that may not be referring to Jeremy faking an illness. Obviously investors are looking to recoup any losses they may have made, and whether the show is viable to continue without Jeremy. He was scheduled to perform until February 22.