In 2003, he played his first leading TV role in "Out of Order", which was canceled after five episodes. In 2004, he appeared in "The Butterfly Effect" as a child molester; the following year, he guest-starred in the NBC sitcom "Will & Grace" as Debra Messing's love interest. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his direction of the cable movie "My Horrible Year!" (2001). He also directed a short film entitled "The Bulls" as well as the highest rated episode of "Law & Order" in 2005, entitled "Tombstone". He appeared in the music video of The Residents' "Give It to Someone Else", featured on "The Commercial DVD".