Posts Tagged ‘Kal Penn’

Kal Penn’s First Day of Work at the White House

July 6th, 2009 / Author: Chris Morran

Kal PennSeveral months ago, actor Kal Penn left TV’s House to take a completely new job — at the White House. And Monday was the star’s first day of work for his new boss, President Barack Obama.

Penn, real name Kalpen Modi, has gone to work as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison, with a focus on connecting the president with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities.

Penn, who also recently taught a class at of all places the University of Pennsylvania, isn’t hoping to have the red carpet rolled out for him.

“I expect to be treated just like any other staff member,” he told reporters. “I brushed my teeth; I did floss, used mouthwash … took the bus to work, same thing that everybody does.”

Kal Penn: From House to White House

April 7th, 2009

Now we know why his character was killed off on House last night – Kal Penn is heading to the White House!

 

The Associated Press reports that President Barack Obama’s adminstration has hired the actor as a a liaison between the administration and Hollywood.

White House spokesman Shin Inouye says will join the staff as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison. He’ll focus on connecting Obama with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, as well as arts and entertainment groups.

 

Fans of medical drama House were no doubt bummed as Kal’s character Dr. Lawrence Kuntner was killed off in last night’s episode, at first the victim of an apparent suicide. Hugh Laurie’s Dr. House then expended his efforts trying to prove it was a murder.

Obama Snubs Usher, Embraces Kal Penn

January 22nd, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff

Perhaps someone should have taught Usher some White House etiquette before he went to the inauguration to meet new predisent Barack Obama in Washington D.C.

After performing at the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration concert on Jan 18, the sexy singer waited around at the Lincoln Memorial along with celebs including Steve Carell, Jack Black, Laura Linney and Josh Groban. But when it was time to meet Obama, Usher refused to take off his huge shades. Talk about an executive diss!

“He should feel lucky to meet Obama but instead he cared more about trying to look cool by wearing his sunglasses,” an onlooker tells OK!. “It was overcast and not sunny at all. He looked like he was dressed for one of his music videos and not ready to meet the president. It was so rude.”

Obama appeared to take notice. When he went down the line of celebs, Obama took time to chat with each one, but when he got to Usher, 30, the President quickly shook Usher’s hand and moved on, leaving the snubbed singer in shock.

One person Obama didn’t snub was Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle star Kal Penn, 31, who’s been a longtime Obama supporter. Obama, with a huge grin on his face, gave Penn a tight hug, while the “Love in This Club” singer looked on.

“[Kal] and Barack are like this,” actress Courtney Ford, 30, told OK! at the Huffington Post Pre-Inaugural Ball on Jan. 19, crossing her fingers. Courtney says Kal her and hubby, Superman Returns star Brandon Routh, well as cast members on Penn’s show House involved in the Obama campaign, where they were able to meet Obama.

“Yes, we’ve met Obama several times,” Brandon says. “He was cool. He’s a very, very humble person, well spoken and funny. I think that’s what’s great about him. He has a great sense of humor and he was very grateful for us being there and giving our time as well.”

Obama has many reasons to be grateful for Penn.

“Kal has probably been in every state talking to the young people, hitting the pavement, knocking on doors, calling phones,” Brandon says. “It’s awesome!”

And you can guarantee Kal wasn’t wearing any shades when he saw Obama this weekend.

By Laura Lane

Live from Denver…

August 27th, 2008

Setting: MySpace Cafe, downtown Denver.

 

I’m sitting in a satellite MySpace Cafe enjoying a free grilled cheese, tomato soup and coffee while I wait for Kal Penn and Star Jones to stop by for lunch – and a few questions from yours truly. I heard stars from Madonna to Gwyneth, Bono to George Clooney were going to be in town but am so far disappointed. George is actually in Venice palling around with BFF Brad Pitt and promoting his film in the Venice Film Festival as I write and was saying last night how he’s better suited to be at a film festival than taking the limelight off the candidates at the DNC.

That said, at this point I’m taking what I can get. I like Kal and his character on House and I’ve interviewed Ms. Jones several times before, but they’re not Ben Affleck. I was slated to interview Ben while he was at a City Harvest event at the local Food Bank, but alas, that was not to be.

Eva Longoria was here at MySpace Cafe yesterday. I saw her Desperate Housewives co-star Dana Delaney this morning at a Creative Coalition event honoring the film "14 Women" and its narrarator Annette Benning, who Anne Hathaway gushed ‘is perfect.’

Dana told me, ‘There are so, so, so many surprises next season on Desperate Housewives!" She told me she took a couple of days off to come to the DNC, they’re currently shooting episode five of the season and since it’s five years later than when last season left off, hair/make-up takes a little bit longer, except ‘Not for Eva’ who decided to chop her locks and put on some pounds to change her look in both her real and false realities. Dana, who said she’s been emailing with Eva since she got here, thinks Eva’s dedication to the role ‘is great.’  Conversely, she obvs. doesn’t speak as much to her other co-star Nicolette Sheridan because was quite surprised when I’d informed her Nicolette and her fiance Michael Bolton had called off their long engagement.

 

Stay tuned for more, live from the DNC in Denver…

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