White House hires a Hollywood liaison

White House hires a Hollywood liaison

WASHINGTON — The White House has hired actor Kal Penn as a liaison between President Barack Obama’s administration and Hollywood.

White House spokesman Shin Inouye said Tuesday that the actor who has a recurring role on Fox’s TV show “House” and has starred in several movies would join the staff as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison. His role will be to connect Obama with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, as well as arts and entertainment groups.

Penn starred as Kumar in the movie “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.”

Turow plans sequel to ‘Presumed Innocent’

NEW YORK — Scott Turow is putting out a sequel to his million-selling “Presumed Innocent” and leaving his longtime publisher.

Turow’s next book, “Innocent,” will be released in May 2010 by Grand Central Publishing, a division of the Hachette Book Group (USA) that announced the release Tuesday.

The author had spent the past two decades publishing hardcovers with Farrar, Straus & Giroux and paperbacks with Grand Central (formerly Warner Books).

Today’s birthdays

Comedian Shecky Greene is 83. Original Mouseketeer Darlene Gillespie is 68. Singer J.J. Jackson is 68. Singer Peggy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters is 68. Songwriter Leon Huff of Gamble and Huff is 67. Guitarist Steve Howe of Yes is 62. Bassist Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad is 58. Singer-actor John Schneider is 49. Guitarist Izzy Stradlin (Guns N’ Roses) is 47. Singer-guitarist Donita Sparks of L7 is 46. Singer Julian Lennon is 46. Rapper Biz Markie is 45. Actress Robin Wright Penn is 43. Actress Patricia Arquette is 41. Singer Craig Honeycutt of Everything is 39. Drummer Darren Jessee (Ben Folds Five) is 38.