. >> reporter: kal penn, everyone's favorite stoner from "harold and kumar." >> that was the best meal of my life. >> reporter: famously left hollywood to serve in the office obama administration. >> you can trust the working conditions inside the beltway and inside hollywood? >> you can't, absurd. >> oh, come on. >> i have an air conditioned trailer and somebody will bring me a coffee if i want it, here. there -- >> you're in cramped quarters. >> i'm eating vending machine sandwiches and working 19 hours a day. >> reporter: on set, penn became a de facto fact checker. >> if you get the kal penn seal of approval that's a good thing? >> flattering unthat ran it's little things. how many people would be in would somebody actually run into this person or are we taking creative license with it? >> that's weird. >> reporter: while they might not get everything right, no doubt all the drama will feel true to life. for "nightline" i'm juju chang in toronto. >>> next, dwayne johnson on going from action hero to animated hero for disney's ? ? ? ? how else do you think he gets around so fast? ta

please welcome kal penn. ( cheers and applause ) >> thank you, thank you oh, man.hanks for having me. >> trevor: welcome to the show. >> thank you, sir. >> trevor: i've been a fan of yours for so long. thank you for coming to the show. >> thank you, man, that's nice to hear. >> trevor: i remember you were in movies and all of a sudden you disappeared, and then i saw online a thing that said you were now working for the obama administration, and i said, "that's a joke." because you're high all the time. >> oh, sure. >> trevor: your character is. >> you were high when you were watching me for long enough. >> trevor: i never smoked weed in my life. >> no, of course,. >> trevor: i forgot. >> people thought it was a joke but it was a real thing. >> trevor: let's go back to tho real quick because a lot of people don't know this. so are you an actor known for comedies, extreme comedies like "harold & kumar," having a great time. >> yeah. >> trevor: how do you go from that to working in the white house? >> yeah, sure. >> trevor: like, is that one of those things where obam

>> reporter: did you talk to kal penn? >> yes. a lot. >> reporter: does he ever stop and say, this isn't authentic? >> absolutely. yes. >> reporter: and i assume you guys all listen. >> yes we do. we wanted to create a sense of chaos. and kal said, "these people wouldn't be allowed in here." and they said, "oh, no. i would expect not. but in the circumstance." he said, "no circumstance." >> reporter: did you change it? >> oh yeah. right away. nailed, perhaps to an extreme, is the degree to which any president is under constant scrutiny and stress. >> i didn't hear the question. >> the muslim teenage whole was beaten by police, mr. president, do you have a comment? >> reporter: we love, as an electorate, to a airchairquarterback, to it is around and critique. >> it's fun. >> reporter: the decisions of the president. i don't think a lot of the critics, however, would actually want the actual responsibility. >> no. the lack of respect that i have seen for the office of the president is, i think, something sad. let's focus on one thin

kal penn, best known for his lovable stoner role in "harold and kumar." >> no eating until we get to white castle. yo, let's roll. >> reporter: and for his unusual sabbatical. unlike the rest of the cast, he's an actual west wing alumnus. he left a lucrative career in hollywood to work for president obama as the associate director of the office of public engagem engagement. >> what do you say, no, you're not going to serve your country if you have that kind of po >> reporter: did you talk to kal penn? >> yes. a lot. >> reporter: does he ever stop and say, this isn't authentic? >> absolutely. yes. >> reporter: and i assume you guys all listen. >> yes we do. we wanted to create a sense of chaos. and kal said, "these people wouldn't be allowed in here." and they said, "oh, no. i would expect not. but in the circumstance." he said, "no circumstance." >> reporter: did you change it? >> oh yeah. nailed, perhaps to an extreme, is the degree to which any president is under constant scrutiny and stress. >> i didn't hear the question. >> the muslim teenage whole was beaten by police, mr. presi

today, from the series a "designated survivor," kal penn. and emmy award-winning star of "crazy ex-girlfriend," rachel bloom. plus, o.a.r. performs the hit. also, mr. robot star christian slater joins kelly at the cohost desk. all next on "live"! and now, here are kelly ripa and christian slater! ? ?

today, from the series a "designated survivor," kal penn. and emmy award-winning star of "crazy ex-girlfriend," rachel bloom. plus, o.a.r. performs their new also, mr. robot star christian slater joins kelly at the cohost desk. all next on "live"! and now, here are kelly ripa and christian slater! ? ?

today, from the series a "designated survivor," kal penn. and emmy award-winning star of "crazy ex-girlfriend," rachel bloom. plus, o.a.r. performs their new hit. also, mr. robot star christian slater joins kelly at the cohost all next on "live"! and now, here are kelly ripa and christian slater! ? ?

today, from the series a "designated survivor," kal penn. slater joins kelly at the cohost desk. all next on "live"! and now, here are kelly ripa and christian slater! ♪ [cheering and applauding]

today, from the series a "designated survivor," kal penn. and emmy award-winning star of "crazy ex-girlfriend," rachel bloom. plus, o hit. also, mr. robot star christian slater joins kelly at the cohost desk. all next on "live"! and now, here are kelly ripa and christian slater! ? ?