Jeremy Piven decided to use his hiatus time from Entourage for a very well received stint on Broadway in Speed the Plow but he bailed on Tuesday and Wednesday and then took off for LA on Wednesday night, citing mercury count as the reason – something about his doctor ordering him to take off.

Playwright David Mamet is not impressed, and doesn’t sound like he believes the Piv either:

"I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury. So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer."

Smutty sense is tingling… yours?

Here’s Piven at a screening of The Wrestler just the other day. Piven’s party lifestyle has never been a secret, and while he can at times be a snarky bitch, there are those who are fiercely loyal to him, who vehemently insist he’s a terrific person and a total professional. I’ve interviewed him once while the boys were in Cannes shooting the Medellin premiere. He was lovely and engaging and articulate. In fact, the only douchey one of the group was actually Kevin Connolly. Dating a Hilton gave him an attitude. Loser.

Jeremy is the reigning Best Supporting Emmy winner, and he’s said to be the favourite at the Globes next month…At least he WAS the favourite at the Globes next month. Keep you posted.

Photos from Wenn.com