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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Piven says illness forced his hand

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Jeremy Piven

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Jennifer Love Hewitt

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Taylor Swift

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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Jeremy Piven says his decision to abruptly leave the Broadway revival of "Speed-the-Plow" in midrun because of mercury poisoning was "a completely humbling experience."

Speaking publicly Sunday for the first time about the incident, Piven told former football star Tiki Barber during NBC's Golden Globes red-carpet show: "I don't know if they've ever taken you out of a game or if you've had to kind of stop a season short, but that's basically what the doctors did to me. I could have gone against doctors' orders. I didn't. I'm just grateful to be here to be honest with you."

Piven, a Golden Globe nominee for his role on HBO's "Entourage," departed the critically praised production of David Mamet's comedy in December, less than two months after the show opened in New York. His doctor told the producers that Piven was "seriously ill and unable to fulfill his contractual obligation to 'Speed-the-Plow.' "

HEWITT GRANTED RESTRAINING ORDER

LOS ANGELES — Jennifer Love Hewitt has won a restraining order against a 62-year-old man she says has been stalking her.

Court records show a judge in Burbank, Calif., yesterday granted Hewitt's request for a three-year restraining order against David Nolte. The actress stated in a court petition that Nolte recently sold his home in Colorado and moved to Los Angeles to be closer to Hewitt.

Documents also include dozens of letters allegedly sent by Nolte, describing violent and sexual fantasies about Hewitt. The actress wrote that she became more fearful of Nolte after he appeared at her mother's house in December.

Hewitt currently stars on CBS' "The Ghost Whisperer."

ROCKY WINEHOUSE MARRIAGE ENDING

LONDON — A lawyer for the husband of Amy Winehouse says he is seeking a divorce on the grounds of the soul diva's infidelity.

The lawyer for Blake Fielder-Civil said he had been ordered "to commence divorce proceedings on the grounds of Amy's adultery."

Winehouse and Fielder-Civil married in Miami in 2007, but he was arrested six months later and jailed over an assault. He was released into a drug rehab center in November but sent back to prison weeks later for violating his bail conditions.

Winehouse shot to stardom with the multi-Grammy-winning album "Back to Black" in 2006. But her music has been overshadowed by reports of drug use, run-ins with the law and her tempestuous marriage.

SWIFT TO APPEAR IN 'CSI' EPISODE

LOS ANGELES — CBS says pop star Taylor Swift will appear on an episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

Swift will play a girl whose family manages a seedy Las Vegas motel and who undergoes personal changes that have tragic consequences. CBS didn't announce the air date for the episode.

The 19-year-old country crossover singer was 2008's best-selling artist, with more than 4 million albums sold. Her sophomore effort, "Fearless," debuted at No. 1.

"CSI" says goodbye this week to star William Petersen. Laurence Fishburne has joined the series as a new investigator.