By RORY MCCARTY

Senior reporter

Last week, the sudden death of Kal Penn’s character, Kutner, on “House” came as a shock to many fans of the show. The episode had been previewed as “the episode that will change everything,” but TV show advertising does that every few months. Right around sweeps time.

But it turns out that Kutner’s apparent suicide on “House” was to cover Penn’s move from the realm of entertainment to the realm of politics. Or civil service, as he called it on “The Rachel Maddow Show” Friday. He has taken a job with the Obama White House working in the Office of Public Liaison, specifically reaching out to the Asian-American and arts communities. (LATimes.com)

Penn’s acting career was on the rise when he decided to make the switch, after starring in such movies as “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.” Additionally, he acknowledged the career move means a significant pay cut. So why make the switch?

According to Penn, he’s studied international security at Stanford University and he cited seeing his grandparents march with Ghandi as an inspiration. He also supported Obama’s campaign throughout the 2008 election. Penn described the opportunity as an incredible honor. (CNN.com)

But I have to wonder: if Penn goes further into political campaigning in the future, the image of him having sex with a giant bag of pot may come back to haunt him.