Obama’s Emergency Phone Call to 'Harold and Kumar' Stars

It's hardly a conventional way to promote a serious convention speech, but the Obama for America campaign has called up comedic relief to court the youth vote: the stars of the stoner cult classic 'Harold and Kumar.'

In an effort to promote their 8 p.m. livestream from the convention on Thursday, to be hosted by actor and former White House Office of Public Engagement Associate Director Kal Penn, the campaign has released a promotional web video opening with a scene of a very-serious President Obama picking up the phone.

"Hey, this is Barack," the president says as suspenseful music plays in the background. "Listen I need to know if you're on board. Okay, good. Cause I'm counting on you, everybody is. We have to get this right. So there's a lot at stake here. Just remember that I'm trusting you on this and I'll see you there."

Cut to a picture straight out of a comedy set: actors Penn and John Cho sitting on a couch with a cardboard pizza box in front of them.

Cho asks, "Who was that? Sounded intense."

Penn responds, nonchalantly, "The president."

"Sweet," Cho responds, chomping on a cheese doodle. A cartoonish sound erupts from the television and they burst out laughing like college frat boys on a weekday night.

On Monday, Penn was spotted getting ready to interview first lady Michelle Obama at the Charlotte convention. The DNC is livestreaming the entire convention, and has teased that they will interview special guests online, including Marc Anthony, Elizabeth Banks, Aisha Tyler, Olivia Wilde, Fran Drescher, Zach Braff and Alexis Bledel.

You can watch the video here.