JEREMY PIVEN - PIVEN'S HIGH HOPES FOR SPEED-THE-PLOW SUCCESSOR MACY

PIVEN'S HIGH HOPES FOR SPEED-THE-PLOW SUCCESSOR MACY

Actor JEREMY PIVEN has high hopes for his successor after abruptly leaving Broadway show SPEED-THE-PLOW last month (Dec08) - insisting WILLIAM H. MACY will "hit it out of the park".
The Entourage star was ordered by doctors to pull out of the David Mamet play because his mercury levels were "shockingly high" - reportedly due to eating too much sushi.
MACy will debut in the role on Tuesday (13Jan09), after taking the torch from actor Norbert Leo Butz - who's filled in for Piven since 23 December (08), following one week with his understudy playing the part.
Piven tells the New York Post, "I know he'll be extraordinary in the role," adding of his former co-stars, "Raul (Esparza) and Elizabeth (Moss) are pitch perfect in their roles".
Making his first public appearance since the diagnosis at the Golden Globes on Sunday (11Jan09), Piven described the impact the affliction had on him.
He told Access Hollywood, "I fought the good fight, my doctors propped me up and then doctor's orders was enforced rest. That's what I've been doing for a month and here I am. I'm doing so much better. I really am."