Fan Fare

Jeremy Piven’s story getting more fishy?

Last week we brought you news that actor Jeremy Piven abruptly left his role in the Broadway production of “Speed the Plow” due to what he claimed was a high mercury count in his body.

A doctor who had treated Piven later told celebrity television show Entertainment Tonight that the actor had six times the healthy amount of mercury in his system. He said the actor was an “avid sushi eater” who had the raw fish twice a day, and that he also had been taking Chinese herbs which could have contributed to the problem.

But others were skeptical including David Mamet, who wrote “Speed the Plow.” He told Daily Variety, “my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.” After Sunday’s matinee performance, cast member Raul Esparza bashed Piven on stage saying that working without Piven was “the first time I really enjoyed playing this show,” according to a report on Foxnews.com.

But this one is better. On Monday, The Center for Consumer Freedom, which calls itself a nonprofit group devoted to promoting personal responsibility and protecting consumer choice, issued a press release about “sushigate.” It said “the entire medical literation doesn’t contain a single documented U.S. case of mercury poisoning from eating fish sold in restaurants or supermarkets. ” Using a calculator at MercuryFacts.com, they reckoned Piven would have to eat 3.4 pounds of sushi-grade tuna — 108 pices of tuna sushi role every week – every week for his entire life to feel any new health risks from mercury.

We’d note that Piven’s doctor did include the detail that Chinese herbs could be involved. In any case, we’re left to wonder just how fishy is this story of Piven and mercury poisoning. Any thoughts?