Jeremy Piven recently sat down to talk with Parade Magazine, with whom he discussed the controversy over his leaving Broadway’s Speed the Plow due to mercury poisoning, his upcoming projects, including comedy The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, and more.

The other side of Ari.
“For those that love me on Entourage, they’ll see some similarities in Don Ready in The Goods, who is kind of an abrasive, fast-talking car salesman. But the journey Don goes through, Ari Gold would never go through. He’s just a different human being, a great huckster who figures out he isn’t happy with his personal life. So in a way, it was completely cathartic to play a guy who desperately wants to evolve.”

Connecting with the search.
“I relate much more to the guy in The Goods, who’s sort of maxed out, putting everything into his job, and wants to settle down and find something more in life. I need more time in my own life to find the right balance, to be honest with you, and I’m trying to do what I can. Balance is something I’ve been seeking and I did take some time off, which I haven’t done in years.”

Getting pumped up to play Ari.
“I have to kind of whip myself up into a frenzy to get to his level. He’s always in a state of movement and high energy. But it’s a gift to be able to play that guy. I just am incredibly blessed that I have this role that allows me to keep exploring the dualities of a tragically flawed, type-A wrecking ball.”

No aid from artificial substances.
“Espresso is the deepest I’ll go in terms of getting amped up. Back in the day, I did dabble. I’m not running for office, so I can say that.”

The selling of Gold.
“I know they have like ‘Ari Gold Entourage hotel suites’ now. I think someone is making a great deal of money out of it, and I’d love to find out who it is. I have no idea. People say like, ‘Wow, you have your own line of jeans. I’m like, ‘I do?’ So you go to the store and there are the Ari Gold jeans. There is a lot of merchandising, but I don’t really have anything to do with it, and I don’t think I’m getting a piece of the action.”

Check out the rest of the interview on Parade.com, and also watch the video of his interview below:

And watch the trailer for his upcoming movie The Goods here: