Although the US election had its fair share of weird celebrity moments, one moment stood out more than any other.
We’re talking about you, Kal Penn. In the run-up to the election, Kal Penn was everywhere – making speeches, appearing at inaugural balls, blithering about politics on his blog – even though he’s only famous for being fellated by a giant bag of weed in a film.
Anyway, now Kal Penn has quit acting to become an associate director at the Office of Public Liaison for the Obama administration. Next week, Eva Longoria takes control of the nuclear football and everybody dies.
Like it or not, celebrities played a huge part in getting Barack Obama elected as the American president. Whereas the other guy only really had the support of that gonk from The Hills and about 12 boss-eyed country singers, famous people were queuing up to help Barack Obama out, whether it was by offering intelligent rebuttals of Sarah Palin’s policies or by making videos so awful that it made you want to vote Obama just to shut them up or by spinning around in their garden like a lobotomy patient.
And Barack Obama hasn’t forgotten this help, which is why he’s now decided to start hiring these celebrities one at a time. And first on the list is Kal Penn.
Oh, you know, Kal Penn. Kal Penn from Harold And Kumar. Kal Penn from Epic Movie. Kal Penn who played an identikit fundamentalist Islamic terrorist for about 30 seconds in 24 a few years ago. You know him. He’s a big star. You know, if you like that sort of thing.
During Barack Obama’s election, Kal Penn was always on hand to raise a number of important questions – primarily “What’s Kal Penn doing on my TV?” and “Since when have we been supposed to care what Kal Penn thinks about crap?” – and in return he’s decided to quit acting to pursue a career as a very important part of Brack Obama’s administration. The LA Times reports:
The actor has been hired as an associate director at the Office of Public Liaison, where he will help the Obama administration connect with arts and entertainment groups as well as the Asian and Pacific Islander communities, according to an Associated Press report… Penn stated that he will “do outreach with the American public and with different organizations.”
An associate director at the Office of Public Liason. Wow. That’s an important job. Who knew so many words would have such little meaning when put together. But good for Kal Penn – if he keeps his head down and works hard enough, one day he might even reach the glittering heights of senior associate inter-coordination analyst for systems and planning! Shoot for the moon, Kal Penn! Shoot for the moon!
Oh, we’re being unfairly harsh on Kal Penn here. If anything, this is just the same as when Arnold Schwarzenegger took his first careful footsteps into the world of politics. Except, you know, people actually knew who Arnold Schwarzenegger was.
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Chris says
must mean that he wont be in House from now on.
shame he was good in that.
supermonkey says
I had a thought about Penn a while back that he is the only approachable, nonscary actor of his particular ethnicity
Shooty* says
Who?
name says
wow – you need to get a different job
sasha says
hey supermonkey,
kalpenn is Indian and saying he looks like a terrorist is like saying Americans look like communists just because there are some Russians in the USA. Makes no sense at all- irks me that people in this day and age can think that India is in the middle-east… (yes, I am assuming that supermonkey assumes that “terrorist” as defined by him is of middle-eastern desent. FWIW India has as big a problem with “terrrorists” as the US does.
cryomom says
Egomania? Is everyone who changes careers to try to make a difference an egomaniac? Why would it even matter? Would you rather people be meek and timid and slither into the background? Or, are you saying actor=idiot? What makes actors any less capable than the next person? What a strange article.
So says
What a bitter and envious article. It appears the writer had a personal beef with Kal Penn.
Yes he is not famous, but obviously Obama picks only the brightest and knows winners.
This is about winning and it is apparent the author of this article has lost sight of why and how our country became so great.
Good Bye Green Monster
Sam says
So, quitting a job for public service is selfish? Weird.
kidproquo says
Sasha said:
“kalpenn is Indian and saying he looks like a terrorist is like saying Americans look like communists just because there are some Russians in the USA.”
Well, he certainly doesn’t look anything like Timothy McVeigh.
sb says
Stuart, you’re an a-hole. But then, you already knew that.
Melodie says
Kal Penn isn’t just an actor, actually. He studied international security at Stanford, and he taught an undergraduate course at the University of Pennsylvania in 2008, and gave a seminar.
Granted, that course was “Asian-Americans in the Media,” not “Advanced Astrophysics” or “Neurosurgery for Geniuses” or whatnot, and the seminar was “Contemporary American Teen Films,” but I get the impression that it isn’t entirely a vanity thing, this.
There’s maybe more to him than having once been fellated by a bag of weed on film, is what I’m saying.
culchiewoman says
Kal Penn looks like a terrorist? I wasn’t aware there was a ‘terrorist look’. What I do know is:
1. He is an extremely likeable actor and lecturer (vis a vis his Penn course and seminar).
2. He is smart as shite.
3. He will make one hella public liaison director. If Barry picks ’em, I likes ’em.
Definitely one weird article for Hecklerspray. Com’n, Stuart — stick to spearing Lohan or some other garbage. Leave Kal alone.
StuFan#1 says
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!1what do you think are are which is a coat from a popsongin case you did know.who dare you arrive here and begin slugging off Stuart Heritage which in cause you don,t know is only the boggest name in pop andyes I enclude mr Micheal Jackson on that (boggest name in pop)so why don,t you take your holes and your abuse and your name which is sb and shave them into your ahole you ahole (your holes and your abuse and your name which is sb)
Dallas says
>This is about winning and it is apparent the author of this article has lost sight of why and how our country became so great.
Yes, because clearly it is actors going into politics and the public service that made America the great land it is today.
Having said this I liked Kal Penn in “House” and I’ll miss him on the show. If he feels more fulfilled working as a bureaucrat, good on him – I’m sure there are tons of bureaucrats who’d rather be acting on a hit TV show.
Kathryn says
Ridiculous. But not surprising for Obama. Up next is Miley Cyrus in another unimportant job. But Obama at least knows how to look really cool. Thank goodness.
Max black says
There is someone who is taking a pay cut to serve his country and gets no Respect , what is wrong with this country!!!
You says
You, Stuart Heritage, are a moron.
Ryan says
He.. HE’S Kutner.. his character killed himself… He was a main character for 2 years in the shows 5 year span.
Fuck that Kumar B.S. It’s a b-movie… You actually saying that Arnold Schwarzenegger was well known for movies outside of Terminator? Yeah.. everyone loved him as a pregnant man on Junior, right?
You stupid shits.
I mean, honestly. Kal Penn plays a roll of a stoned nutcase in 2 movies and loses his credibility as being a serious actor for TWO YEARS… Keanu Reaves – Bill & Ted. I mean seriously… He was a stoned lunatic who, rather than reaching a tangible location, travelled through time in a phone booth… Thank god we “Know him only as Johnny Mnemonic and Neo”… FUCK OFF.
Kal Penn has just as much ability to follow out in a political career as Jerry Springer did to go from Mayor to “Talk Show Host”. Stop being bigots.
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halo3v says
ok, people – especially the one with comments like “forgetting what made our country great”
HELLOOOOOO – Hecklerspray is BRITISH, get a freakin grip.
And so, but “If Barry pick’s em you like em” – obviously you are like the many millions of lazy thinkers who fail to scrape the veneer and see what the ugly truth is.
So “Barry Pick’s em” You really like a TAX CHEAT RUNNING THE IRS?????
You may be as intelligent as Miley Cyrus – go figure
– Courtesy of a soon to be Expat
soo sweet says
Ok seriously whats the big deal?? so yes Kal Penn (or should i say Kalpen Suresh Modi) is an actor so what ?? he was on that harol and kumar movie so what?? get over it!! just because he just to act that doesnt mean that he doesnt have the credencials, give the poor guy a chance and lets see how bad or good he is,.
Nick says
If frigging Bush can become president in the US for 8 years, why these conservative morons are crying. These stupid conservatives will elect Sarah Dumb Palin as president but not happy when a Stanford eductaed actor leaves his acting to serve for the country. Dumb people.
Slappy says
Eductaed? Stupid liberal. And Penn is a whiny maggot, always complaining about the discrimination that most likely he has never experienced but wants people to believe he has. Of course, you masochist leftist douchebags fall for it. Go die, scum.