Jeremy Piven 'Speed the Plow' arbitrator decision revealed

By Eriq Gardner

When we first heard about an arbitrator's decision in August to let Jeremy Piven off the hook for bowing out of the play "Speed the Plow" due to health-related reasons, we assumed the arbitrator had probably grounded his ruling on a very technical analysis of contract law in the theater world.

But it seems the arbitrator felt bad for Piven after the producers' lawyers described him as little more than a party animal who concocted a weak excuse that eating sushi led to mercury poisoning, leaving him too fatigued to perform.

The NY Times published today the arbitrator's confidential 44-page ruling that details the full back-stage drama, both sides' arguments, and the arbitrator's analysis.

Besides the differing medical opinions on Piven's conditions, what stands out is the arbitrator's rebuff of producer attempts "to paint Piven as a fun-seeking night owl; attending (Britney) Spear's (sic) party, playing the drums at a comedy club and attending events he need not have attended if his health was such a concern."

The arbitrator, George Nicolau, adds that "a closer look shows something quite different" and generously allows that actors, like everyone, need time to unwind.

Nicolau doesn't think that Piven was any less attentive to his theatrical duties than the typical actor, which could help Piven's stated desire to work on Broadway again. But judging by the Public Theater's staging of "The Piven Monologues," broadway producers aren't ready to be quite as generous to Piven as this arbitrator.