Kal Penn Ditching the White House for How I Met Your Mother Romance

In his first TV role since leaving House for the White House, Kal Penn has signed on for a recurring role on How I Met Your Mother,  a show rep confirms.

Penn, 34, will play a new love interest for Robin (Cobie Smulders) named Kevin, according to TVLine.com, which first reported the casting. The new gig will also reunite Penn with his Harold & Kumar co-star, Neil Patrick Harris.

Kal Penn returns to White House after filming Harold & Kumar

Penn, whose House character committed suicide in Season 5, left the medical drama to join the Obama administration shortly after the President was elected in 2009. Penn will leave his post, as associate director in the office of public liaison, by the end of the month.

Penn also recently finished shooting the third Harold & Kumar film — A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas — set to hit theaters this November. Harris also reprises his role as, uh, himself in the movie.

Season 7 of How I Met Your Mother premieres on Monday, Sept. 19 at 8/7c on CBS.

Do you think Penn will make a good match for Robin?