Of course as the year draws to a close, we are all bound to be pummelled with numerous top whatever lists. USATODAY, in one of the first lists, has created its own for the top 100 people of 2004. At 78, is none other than Kal Penn. From the lists profile.

Even if it weren’t for Neil Patrick Harris’ cameo, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle still would’ve been a good movie. If you don’t believe me, some further proof: Penn, aka Kumar, has no fewer than five movies coming out in ’05.

IMDB confirms that Penn will play the lead in Mira Nair’s adaptation of The Namesake (due out in 2006), and lists the other five projects as Vegas Baby (starring Kathy Griffin), Man About Town (Starring Ben Affleck and Ling Bai), A Lot Like Love (2005), Son of the Mask (starring Jaime Kennedy), and Dancing in Twilight (Starring Mimi Rogers).

Also listed, and a significant amount higher I might add, is one of the stars of ABC’s silent success, Lost. From USATODAYs commentary…

I don’t have a problem with all these articles about Evangeline Lilly being the breakout star of Lost— I just kindly disagree. I find Andrews, who plays tortured and complex Sayid, by far the most compelling character. Let’s hope he makes out of this season alive.

Here is a link to a post I did on lost back in August, and here is one and another from SM.