Quote'House' opens way to job with Obama White House
BY Michael Saul
DAILY NEWS POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
Updated Tuesday, April 7th 2009, 12:34 PM
DeCrow/AP
From 'House' to the White House: Actor Kal Penn has scored a gig inside the Obama administration.
New Jersey-born actor Kal Penn, who played a stoner Guantanamo Bay escapee in the movies and a doctor on TV's "House," has scored a job in the White House. Way to go, dude!
Penn, 31, will become associate director in the White House Office of Public Liaison, administration officials confirmed Tuesday. The Indian-American film star will be an emissary to the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, along with arts and entertainment groups.
Penn campaigned extensively throughout the country for President Obama last year and was a hit on college campuses.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Penn explained why he decided to leave "House." His character inexplicably committed suicide in an episode that aired Monday night.
"I was incredibly honored a couple of months ago to get the opportunity to go work in the White House," Penn explained. "I got to know the President and some of the staff during the campaign and had expressed interest in working there."
Penn described the office as the "front door" of the White House, saying he'll be responsible for doing outreach with the American public.
"They take out all of the red tape that falls between the general public and the White House," he said. "It's similar to what I was doing on the campaign."
Penn gained fame as the co-star of the raucous and profane "Harold and Kumar" stoner comedies that have become a cult favorite with fans worldwide. The first installment, "Harold and Kumar go to White Castle," followed the misadventures of two New Jersey guys with a pot-stoked craving for their favorite burgers.
He famously smoked weed with a fictional President Bush in the sequel, "Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay,"
Penn also starred in Mira Nair's 'The Namesake,' and played a terrorist in a recurring role on "24."
Penn acknowledged that ditching Hollywood for Washington comes with a massive pay cut.
"There's not a lot of financial reward in these jobs," he said. "But, obviously, the opportunity to serve in a capacity like this is an incredible honor."
As it turns out, Penn will not be working in the White House, per se. His office will be in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, located next to the West Wing and housing most of the White House staff.
Penn, born in Montclair, New Jersey, said he's long been interested in both the arts and public service. His grandparents marched with Gandhi in the Indian independence movement, "and that was always in the back of my head."
A UCLA graduate, Penn has been taking courses in international security at Stanford University.
On the campaign trail, Kumar helped get actor friend Brendan Rough, aka Superman in "Superman Returns," to stump for Obama. On occasion, they campaigned together.
Asked if he's giving up acting, Penn replied, "Not necessarily."
"Who's to say where any path leads?" he said. "I still have a passion for it. But for the time being, I won't be acting."
What a retard.
Will he have to use his real name?
Quote from: Phillip V on April 07, 2009, 04:44:42 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 07, 2009, 04:39:48 PM
What a retard.
Don't be racist.
Which is better: Being a moderately succesful actor, or being a PR guy for the worst administration in American history?
Quote from: Neil on April 07, 2009, 05:13:42 PM
Which is better: Being a moderately succesful actor, or being a PR guy for the worst administration in American history?
The first is clearly better for people aspiring to a political career. :gipper:
Quote from: Neil on April 07, 2009, 05:13:42 PM
Quote from: Phillip V on April 07, 2009, 04:44:42 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 07, 2009, 04:39:48 PM
What a retard.
Don't be racist.
Which is better: Being a moderately succesful actor, or being a PR guy for the worst administration in American history?
He's working in this WH, not the Bush one, duh. Man i weep for the Albertan education system and apparently news reporting as well.
Quote from: katmai on April 07, 2009, 05:20:38 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 07, 2009, 05:13:42 PM
Quote from: Phillip V on April 07, 2009, 04:44:42 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 07, 2009, 04:39:48 PM
What a retard.
Don't be racist.
Which is better: Being a moderately succesful actor, or being a PR guy for the worst administration in American history?
He's working in this WH, not the Bush one, duh. Man i weep for the Albertan education system and apparently news reporting as well.
I like Neil's trolling on this. It's fun because it's hard to tell the difference between Neil's trolling and Hans' honesty.
Quote from: katmai on April 07, 2009, 05:20:38 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 07, 2009, 05:13:42 PM
Quote from: Phillip V on April 07, 2009, 04:44:42 PM
Quote from: Neil on April 07, 2009, 04:39:48 PM
What a retard.
Don't be racist.
Which is better: Being a moderately succesful actor, or being a PR guy for the worst administration in American history?
He's working in this WH, not the Bush one, duh. Man i weep for the Albertan education system and apparently news reporting as well.
Don't make me destroy you.
Nice proofreading in this article. Brandon Rough? :lol:
As long as I don't have to suffer through another Harold And Kumar movie, then I approve.
Alos, if this means more 13 time on House (hopefully without the black growth attached to her in the storyline), then I double plus approve. I'd bend 13 over a sofa arm and pound away. I'd smile at her first though.
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 09, 2009, 07:08:51 AM
As long as I don't have to suffer through another Harold And Kumar movie, then I approve.
Did someone force you to watch them at gunpoint or something? :blink:
Quote from: Caliga on April 09, 2009, 07:17:06 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 09, 2009, 07:08:51 AM
As long as I don't have to suffer through another Harold And Kumar movie, then I approve.
Did someone force you to watch them at gunpoint or something? :blink:
Yes. I am still allowed to hate shitty stoner movies?
So, is this good or bad? And I never heard of this actor or the show he did. I guess I can't get reception for it in the cave I live in. :blush:
Quote from: KRonn on April 09, 2009, 11:13:55 AM
So, is this good or bad? And I never heard of this actor or the show he did. I guess I can't get reception for it in the cave I live in. :blush:
I'm not happy about it. His character on House was one my favorite & now he made them kill him.
:mad:
It's more important that he work for Obama promoting him in Hollywood, since Obama isn't popular enough in Hollywood as it is. :blink:
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 09, 2009, 11:18:53 AM
I'm not happy about it. His character on House was one my favorite & now he made them kill him.
:mad:
Those barbarians! :o
Quote from: Caliga on April 09, 2009, 11:20:20 AM
It's more important that he work for Obama promoting him in Hollywood, since Obama isn't popular enough in Hollywood as it is. :blink:
It's brilliant for his career, though. He'll be an academy award magnet now.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 09, 2009, 07:56:45 PMIt's brilliant for his career, though. He'll be an academy award magnet now.
Well duh, I never said he shouldn't have jumped at the opportunity. :cool:
Quote from: mongers on April 09, 2009, 08:13:29 PM
Obama certainly is going that extra mile for us; this time saving us from anymore of those shite films. :cool:
:lol: The Bush character in the movie in question was the only thing that made it watchable. The joke about Cheney always hassling him was priceless. Nevertheless, I was glad that it wasn't my money that footed the rental of that particular movie. ;)
Quote from: DontSayBanana on April 09, 2009, 10:53:40 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 09, 2009, 08:13:29 PM
Obama certainly is going that extra mile for us; this time saving us from anymore of those shite films. :cool:
:lol: The Bush character in the movie in question was the only thing that made it watchable. The joke about Cheney always hassling him was priceless. Nevertheless, I was glad that it wasn't my money that footed the rental of that particular movie. ;)
:yeahright:
Neil Patrick Harris was the best part of both movies.
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 09, 2009, 07:08:51 AM
I'd bend 13 over a sofa arm and pound away. I'd smile at her first though.
Wouldn't your gimp crutch get in the way? ;)
Quote from: Weatherman on April 09, 2009, 11:22:20 PMWouldn't your gimp crutch get in the way? ;)
Besides, she's WAY too skinny IRL: pics (http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2743962368/nm1312575)
Kevin
Quote from: The Nickname Who Was Thursday on April 09, 2009, 11:05:37 PM
:yeahright:
Neil Patrick Harris was the best part of both movies.
Unicorn aside, Neil Patrick Harris was doubleplus unfunny in that movie.
Quote from: Eochaid on April 10, 2009, 05:59:11 AM
Quote from: Weatherman on April 09, 2009, 11:22:20 PMWouldn't your gimp crutch get in the way? ;)
Besides, she's WAY too skinny IRL: pics (http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2743962368/nm1312575)
Kevin
Good, while you sneer at her, I'll cornhole her. Everybody wins!
You know, I've never been to a White Castle, am I missing out?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 10, 2009, 01:11:49 PM
You know, I've never been to a White Castle, am I missing out?
:o :o :o
Hell yeah.
But I think the nearest ones to you are probably in Joisey. :(
Do other cities have burger pits like this one:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agilitynut.com%2F05%2F6%2Fhunterh.jpg&hash=00d89dcdf447efd8b4b5527061727d7e56ac3b6d)
Detroit has a number of White Castles; but we also have a number of local White Castle like establishments. Generally they're all white and not much bigger than an RV trailer.
Never seen one of those around here.
There's one fairly close to here (like 10min walk). It has grown much over the last decades but it use to be nothing more then a trailer.
Their menu has barely change at all. Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Pogo, Fries & Poutine.
Ugh. My one and only experience with a White Castle near Atlantic City (long since closed; I think I was about 5 at the time) was bad enough that I've never wanted to go near one again. Also, their frozen burgers are absolute shite.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on April 10, 2009, 01:57:52 PM
Ugh. My one and only experience with a White Castle near Atlantic City (long since closed; I think I was about 5 at the time) was bad enough that I've never wanted to go near one again. Also, their frozen burgers are absolute shite.
I think I've actually thrown up after trying a frozen White Castle burger. It may have been the copious amounts of alcohol I consumed to forget the experience, though.
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 10, 2009, 01:55:43 PM
There's one fairly close to here (like 10min walk). It has grown much over the last decades but it use to be nothing more then a trailer.
Their menu has barely change at all. Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Pogo, Fries & Poutine.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fronkayela.com%2Fpogo.gif&hash=543b5c839d463f83935304c5f20a04c61cb27450)
:unsure:
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 10, 2009, 01:11:49 PM
You know, I've never been to a White Castle, am I missing out?
What Cal said. I haven't been to one in ages, but it's a guilty pleasure.
Quote from: mongers on April 10, 2009, 02:31:59 PM
Thats a bunker.
I think it looks more like a public restroom.
Quote from: Savonarola on April 10, 2009, 01:28:00 PM
Do other cities have burger pits like this one:
I try to stay out of the ones in Dayton, as I would like to remain living and not croak from food poisoning.
Quote from: Savonarola on April 10, 2009, 01:28:00 PM
Do other cities have burger pits like this one:
Yes we have several but only in the city. The further out into the burbs you go the more generic everything becomes.
Quote from: Valmy on April 10, 2009, 02:34:33 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 10, 2009, 01:28:00 PM
Do other cities have burger pits like this one:
Yes we have several but only in the city. The further out into the burbs you go the more generic everything becomes.
Sadly, that's the way it is most places. OTOH, we have a really neat little diner in our town that's got the best burgers I've ever had.
Louisville itself has a surprisingly diverse and high quality culinary scene.
Quote from: Valmy on April 10, 2009, 02:34:33 PM
Yes we have several but only in the city. The further out into the burbs you go the more generic everything becomes.
In Detroit they're mostly out in the older suburbs; (the one in the picture is in one of Detroit's wealthiest suburb, Birmingham.) In the city of Detroit even the White Castles are co-franchised with Church's Chicken.
Quote from: Valmy on April 10, 2009, 02:34:33 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 10, 2009, 01:28:00 PM
Do other cities have burger pits like this one:
Yes we have several but only in the city. The further out into the burbs you go the more generic everything becomes.
And a white cinder block building with no logo doesn't scream generic to you? :blink:
Quote from: Savonarola on April 10, 2009, 02:43:19 PM
Detroit's wealthiest suburb, Birmingham
That's not Grosse Pointe?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 10, 2009, 02:46:49 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 10, 2009, 02:43:19 PM
Detroit's wealthiest suburb, Birmingham
That's not Grosse Pointe?
Grosse Pointe Shores is probably the wealthiest; Birmingham is a few notches down from that, but still quite well to do.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 10, 2009, 02:45:49 PM
And a white cinder block building with no logo doesn't scream generic to you? :blink:
I think you misunderstood the question. The question was not how many white cinder block buildings you have, it was how many small unique burger dives you had.
And in any case I think white cinder block buildings are not exactly super common for restaurants these days.