Everytime a major character is abruptly "removed" from a television series it is usually the case of (1) the actor/actress being sacked from the show or (2) he/she has moved onto bigger things (read: going into films). So when Kal Penn's Dr. Lawrence Kutner committed suicide in the previous episode of House I had presumed he was in the latter category, especially when he already had a film career prior to the show.Turns out the reason is that he had accepted the offer of the position of Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison (which is kinda like the listening ear of the government to the various interest groups). I wasn't totally surprised as I knew he played an active role during the Obama campaign and saw some of his rallys on YouTube.
Taking time off from acting (and switching a comfortable actor's paycheck for a mid-level public service job's salary), we probably won't be seeing a third instalment of the Harold and Kumar franchise anytime soon.
For someone we know first as a stoner looking for White Castle; he now has found the White House. All the best!