Kal Penn Playing a New Role

Actor Kal Penn, best known as Kumar, (spoiler alert!) was killed off in last night's episode of House, M.D. Why, you ask, would an actor want to give up a cushy series regular role on a massive hit tv show? Why, to go work for Barack Obama, of course! Penn told Entertainment Weekly, "I got to know the President and some of the staff during the campaign and had expressed interest in working there, so I'm going to be the associate director in the White House office of public liaison." Awesome!

Hopefully Obama won't catch too much flack in 2012 for hiring Hollywood's stoner hero.

By the way, if you haven't seen The Namesake (starring Kal Penn!), check it out. Mira Nair directed a quiet little coming-of-age story that quietly unfolds into a stunning character drama about family, love, and identity. One of those few movies I'll watch all the way through whenever it comes on cable (along with Annie Hall and Speed, if you're wondering).