When he read "House," Leonard thought: This is really good. "I didn't want to be the lead guy. That's too much work. But I thought that it might be fun to be the lead guy's friend. I'd have days off, and still get a paycheck every week. Hugh Laurie, who plays [Dr. Gregory] House, is remarkable. I lean in the door and say, 'Hey, what do you think about egg salad [for lunch]?' Then I have two days in a row off. [Laughs] It's a great gig."

Signed for three more years, Leonard just wrapped the series' fourth season (re-runs of which start tomorrow night). A month-long hiatus between seasons doesn't allow him time to do theatre. "There are a lot of us out here who are making money, but longing to be doing what we love. Within minutes of the [recent writers'] strike being announced, we were on planes to New York."