There was one part where Marshall was going on in a long speach that I found myself looking around the room.............

Marshall's long speech was prolly the funniest part of the ep b/c it was sooooo over the top.

I enjoyed tonight's episode, with the exception of Robin's bike ride which was lame.


In previous episodes when Old Ted is talking to his kids, does he ever make reference on where he lives or lived? I didnt understand the hate for New Jersey.

I enjoyed tonight's episode, with the exception of Robin's bike ride which was lame.


In previous episodes when Old Ted is talking to his kids, does he ever make reference on where he lives or lived? I didnt understand the hate for New Jersey.

Its a New York(and to a lesser extend northeast thing). We are trained to rag on NJ at all costs because its the armpit of America :).

You don't have to be from New York; all that's required is that you've had to fly into Newark once. :D

BEST EPISODE OF THE LAST TWO YEARS!

this was just incredibly written. I watched it a second time and all those hints were there from the second half of the episode. Finally the emotion is back into the show. And not that fake Barney emotion I called months ago. ;)

So is Barney getting his infamous three way? The one that Ted goofed?

So is Barney getting his infamous three way? The one that Ted goofed?

Will we see Barney in the belt next week?

Good ep. - Did not think Stella was "the mother" early on. Besides, she needs to get back to Sacred Heart Hospital. :)

Good ep. - Did not think Stella was "the mother" early on. Besides, she needs to get back to Sacred Heart Hospital. :)
From some of the so-called spoilers, I thought she was "the mother". Of course, what can this show do after they have found the mother? Seems that would be the end of the series.

According to the producers, they have already shot the ending of the series with the kids on the couch. So if the series were to be axed, it will have its conclusion.

Now here is the interesting part. CBS barely picked up HIMYM for this season, because Fox actually produces this show, they said they would make a play for it to be on their network.

So what do they do if CBS cancels it? Do they run the ending at the end of this season or do they hope Fox picks up the series? This could be quite an interesting subplot to watch for in the ratings of the HOTP thread.

btw was it me or does robin look hotter. she lost some weight over the off season

Eye of the beholder: As the show was on, I told my wife that I didn't think Robin was as attractive this year; she's lost too much weight.

I did like the bit where she went all "Canadian" in the "moving" episode...

According to the producers, they have already shot the ending of the series with the kids on the couch. So if the series were to be axed, it will have its conclusion.

Now here is the interesting part. CBS barely picked up HIMYM for this season, because Fox actually produces this show, they said they would make a play for it to be on their network.

So what do they do if CBS cancels it? Do they run the ending at the end of this season or do they hope Fox picks up the series? This could be quite an interesting subplot to watch for in the ratings of the HOTP thread.

They try to ink a deal before the final episode airs. If they don't, they air the ender.

Same thing happened with Jericho. They waited to hear about any other potential offers before committing to air the capper.

Eye of the beholder: As the show was on, I told my wife that I didn't think Robin was as attractive this year; she's lost too much weight.

I did like the bit where she went all "Canadian" in the "moving" episode...

If she loses any more weight, she'll be a double "inny". Still a very pretty face.

The Canadian bit was very good.

Different strokes for different folks. I think Robin looks fantastic :) Always has, always will.

Yeah, I don't like thin girls but I think Robin still looks yummie.

Cobie has always made me Smulders. (groan). I hope this show goes another year - five should be enough.

They try to ink a deal before the final episode airs. If they don't, they air the ender.

Finally, if the ratings dropped low enough CBS pulled the program altogether, they'd put the finale on cbs.com.

Recall that even after they yanked the show altogether, they put the unaired episodes of Smith up for viewing as well as plot summaries of how the rest of the series would have played out.

The net really changes the calculus for shows that already have a finale "in the can" as it costs nothing to put the episode up for viewing on the network web site.

Where this goes wrong is with shows like Las Vegas in which the season ended on a cliffhanger and the show is canceled before a finale can be produced.

Note the show still outdraws Big Bang Theory each week, so I suppose you could use that show as a "canary" to know whether HIMYM is really in trouble or not.

Personally I would hate for the show to have to just jump to a finale because there's so much they could do yet with the yellow umbrella hints they gave last year.

But I guess this means the "letter" seen in Stella's place as well as behind the kids in the "future" shot is just prop department reuse…

I thought this week's episode was refreshingly substantive. It really moved the story of the show forward.

I think if this isn't the last season they should only go one more. It would be nice to see the storyline play out with the girl with the yellow umbrella.

Something I think they could revisit is the cake decorator that Ted dated for a while (played by Ashley Williams). I can't recall her name. The two of them seemed so good together that it'd be cool to see them come back together.

Quite honestly, I'm ready to see this show wrap. I want to see it play out, Ted to live happily ever after, and me to come away with a warm fuzzy feeling. Not only would I feel good about the series from beginning to end, but it'd free up a little time each week to watch something else I currently don't have time for.

Quite honestly, I'm ready to see this show wrap. I want to see it play out, Ted to live happily ever after, and me to come away with a warm fuzzy feeling. Not only would I feel good about the series from beginning to end, but it'd free up a little time each week to watch something else I currently don't have time for.

Given the absolutely astronomical cash generated by the show's sales into syndication this year (estimates have it at over $300 million), you can bet the powers that be will keep it in production as long as some network is willing to show it.

It's the only 30 minute sitcom to "hit" at all in recent years, thus why it's a syndication cash cow.

Here's one article on what syndication sales may mean:

For fans of CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, May has been a rough time. Because Mother is only a moderate success, it has to fight to find a spot on the network’s schedule. Will the sitcom be renewed for another season? As a result, CBS waits until the very last minute to decide the series’ fate. Well, it looks like the show’s luck is changing.

Variety is reporting that Twentieth Century Fox Television has made syndication deals with local stations in several national markets. A separate deal for cable-exclusive rights will be decided in the coming months. Though Mother’s ratings have never been outstanding, the series is very attractive in the syndication market for a couple reasons. The audience typically skews younger and there aren’t too many sitcoms that will be offered in syndication in the near future. Though sitcoms aren’t in big demand in network primetime, they’re a big hit in syndication.

Though it’s nice that fans will be able to see the show five days a week, the great news becomes apparent when you read the “fine print” of the syndication agreements. Mother’s four-year syndication contract stipulates that the studio will deliver 110 half-hour episodes in the year 2010. At the end of the fourth season (which kicks off on Monday), only 90 episodes will have been produced. That means that, under the syndication deal, the studio is obligated to deliver at least 20 more episodes, ensuring Mother will get a fifth season.

The profitable syndication market has come into play several times over the past couple years. Though their ratings aren’t great, ABC’s Scrubs and According to Jim were both renewed because they’re big moneymakers in syndication. A similar scenario could mean that Mother may continue past the fifth season. If the show goes for additional years, the local station contracts will be extended, ensuring the studio boatloads of more cash.

Since CBS doesn’t own Mother, there’s no guarantee that the network will renew the series. Since Twentieth Century Fox Television is committed to making more episodes, they may give CBS a good deal on season five. If CBS doesn’t want it, the show could switch networks and would likely move over to the FOX network, a corporate sister to Twentieth Century Fox Television. …

http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/how-i-met-your-mother-syndication-deal-ensures-season-five-for-sitcom/

By the way, it's also been sold to Lifetime, of all channels, for a one episode per week cable run:

Twentieth Television sold off-net sitcom How I Met Your Mother to female-focused cable network Lifetime Television for a once-per-week run starting in fall 2010.

“How I Met Your Mother is a perfect fit for the new direction of our comedy programming, from off-net acquisitions to original series,” Lifetime executive vice president of entertainment JoAnn Alfano said in a statement. “One of the top five sitcoms among all women, this is a truly hilarious and genuine water-cooler show, with sharp writing and a talented cast.”

How I Met Your Mother, which stars Neil Patrick Harris and Alyson Hannigan, has been a hot property since Twentieth brought it to market over the summer. Last week, the company announced that it sold the show to the Fox owned-and-operated stations in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago; to CBS-owned stations in Philadelphia, Boston and Dallas; and to Hearst-Argyle Television's MyNetworkTV station KQCA Sacramento, Calif. The stations also will start airing the show in fall 2010, likely in access and late-fringe time slots.

Mother is expected to earn as much as $3 million per episode from its first four years in syndication, including money earned from broadcast, cable and barter advertising sales.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6598982.html

Why would you want to watch something else when you enjoy what's already in that timeslot? Chances are future options might not be nearly as good.

I have two children and a house to help keep. I don't watch ANYTHING when it actually airs but instead play it back off the TiVo later. I have a limited amount of time each week to watch shows and if we free up a half hour then something else could fill in the slot. I have a number of shows I want to watch but know I'd never have the time to keep up with (The Mentalist and Mad Men to name two of them).

Don't get me wrong. I love the show, and whenever the series ends I want it to be at the top of its game. But frankly it would be nice to have a little more time for other shows, too.

Five Guys beats In N Out any day. I wish we had them out here on the west coast. Had Five Guys at Reagan National Airport a few months ago, and it was the tastiest burger ever.

Just to mention that they are now on the West Coast (if not small number).

http://www.fiveguys.com/store_locator.aspx?s=CA

Rasheed

Maybe Ted will get the Belt after this episode? Two drunk woo-girls in a three-way, haha!

Maybe Ted will get the Belt after this episode? Two drunk woo-girls in a three-way, haha!


He had left the bar 3 hours before that (when they tied Barney to the mechanical bull).

The woooooo girl episode was excellent and on point. I know that there are many of us whom have encountered a group of "woooooo" girls several times of the years. :D

Five Guys beats In N Out any day. I wish we had them out here on the west coast. Had Five Guys at Reagan National Airport a few months ago, and it was the tastiest burger ever.

We just got a Five Guys about a month ago and I do have to say it is a darn good burger.

With that said nothing compares to the Kobe Burger from Burger Bar at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas.

BTW, for those who track ratings, news on the November 18 show:

CBS grabbed audiences on Monday, setting or matching season highs in viewership and ratings with “How I Met Your Mother” and “Two and a Half Men.”

“Mother” drew a season-high 4.3 rating/10 share in the adults 18- to 49-year-old demographic, according to preliminary Nielsen Media Research data.

The show also brought in a season-high 9.8 million viewers.

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/ratings-chart-attack/2008/11/cbs_wins_as_viewers_look_for_l.php

We just got a Five Guys about a month ago and I do have to say it is a darn good burger.

With that said nothing compares to the Kobe Burger from Burger Bar at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas.
Ooh, I've had that one at Burger Bar. It was damn good, but very expensive. Probably because its worth it.

In my heart of hearts I still believe the mother will be the cake decorator girl... I realize we haven't seen her in a while (2 seasons!) but she will return.

And yes, this is entirely a guess :)

We just got a Five Guys about a month ago and I do have to say it is a darn good burger.
I have eaten too many Five Guys burgers and cajun fries - they are all over the place in DC, having started in Alexandria.


Victoria is the character played by Ashley (Brad Paisley is my brother in law) Williams, right? I'll second that vote.

last night's ep was the best of the season IMO...when Barney is in the bar trying to tell Ted that he got the account, i almost fell over laughing.

In my heart of hearts I still believe the mother will be the cake decorator girl... I realize we haven't seen her in a while (2 seasons!) but she will return.
I think so too. They never fully shut the door on her and I thought they were so great together.

They teases us about the girl with the umbrella and is having something to do with that one club, but nothing's ever come of it. My patience is wearing a bit thin at this point.

I think so too. They never fully shut the door on her and I thought they were so great together.

They teases us about the girl with the umbrella and is having something to do with that one club, but nothing's ever come of it. My patience is wearing a bit thin at this point.
But how can the show continue if they actually identify the mother. Wouldn't that be the end of the series?

Well sure... but how the heck will we know! Until he marries her or at least has children (and even then are we sure they are HIS children?)

Victoria is the character played by Ashley (Brad Paisley is my brother in law) Williams, right? I'll second that vote.

I saw her on the CMA's when she was with Kimberly and wondered if they were sisters. I realized immediatly that she was from the new show on CBS and was the cake lady from HIMYM.

It was in the news last week that Cobie Smulders, aka Robin, is also pregnant. She is due in the late spring, so they may work around that by having Robin stand behind furniture or sitting behind tables. I doubt if they would have Robin get pregnant if Lily is pregnant. Several news articles: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1130627/news#ni0615828.

Now THAT was a funny episode. I just knew Marshal was going to be some secret psycho-killer :)

A great episode. This episode highlighted the best aspects of the show and all the actors had major parts, which is a bit different than most of the episodes this year which were focused on Barney.

I didn't laugh much at all last night. I love this show, but thought this was one of the worst episodes. I just thought it was so silly, especially Robin liking the "fighters". The bar worker character didn't work for me. The guys who got beat up dropped suing them because Marshall talked to them? The whole thing didn't work for me at all.

The guys who got beat up dropped suing them because Marshall talked to them? The whole thing didn't work for me at all.
The guys who got beat up dropped the suit against Barney and Ted because Marshall explained to them that Barney and Ted didn't actually fight them. Brilliant legal strategy, since Barney and Ted didn't actually do what they were getting sued for. Of course, that just meant the guys amended their suit to only sue the bartender, and the bartender found out that Barney and Ted threw him under the bus. That's why he wanted to fight them at the end.

Was I the only one who watched the final scene? Marshall song selection for karoke was classic.

I caught it.

It was a big hit in Canada, eh?

Funny stuff.

I saw it too, quite funny. Robin sure didn't think it was funny.

I'm surprise that they didn't recognize Robin.

Great episode last night. I loved the Christmas themed songs that Barney was singing about Teds sister.

Did anyone notice the name on one of the Viking jerseys closest to the camera?

Smulders.

I'm surprise that they didn't recognize Robin.

she looked unrecognizable.

http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/13839/16_2008/97006_D0976.JPG

Was I the only one who watched the final scene? Marshall song selection for karoke was classic.
Another funny way to end it would be to have her singing the song with everyone else singing along and then cut to a patron asking if she looks familiar. When the second says, "no, not really," they go back to singing the song. Robin no longer Sparkles.

Funny thing, after this episode I went online and googled "are Canadians afraid of the dark" ;)

This is a technicality, but wasn't the Viking bar supposed to be bitter about the 1998 NFC Championship Game?

That very game is on NFL network right now, as we speak! :)

[as I write this on December 19th]

Yup, good catch. It's was the '98 Championship game, but - as with most NFL playoffs games - the actual game was played during January of the next calendar year.

I'm guessing there aren't a lot of sports nuts on the HIMYM staff that would know the difference. FYI, in the '99 game the Rams beat the Bucs11-6.

The Rams beat the Titans, not the Bucs.

The Rams beat the Titans, not the Bucs.

Odd, considering that the Titans are in the AFC and we're talking about the NFC Championship game. But it you're sure...:D

Ooops...I was thinking Super Bowl. My bad.

I'm guessing there aren't a lot of sports nuts on the HIMYM staff that would know the difference. FYI, in the '99 game the Rams beat the Bucs11-6.

Tell me about it. The March Madness episode and super bowl episodes made me just shake my head in their ridiculousness.

Yup, good catch. It's was the '98 Championship game, but - as with most NFL playoffs games - the actual game was played during January of the next calendar year.

I'm guessing there aren't a lot of sports nuts on the HIMYM staff that would know the difference. FYI, in the '99 game the Rams beat the Bucs11-6.

Not sure why it's a big deal, since it was the only NFC Championship held in 1999.

They definitely weren't wrong

Here's a link to a story about the game from NFL.com

1998 NFC Championship (NFL.com) (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8060961f&template=with-video&confirm=true)

It's always confusing when a sports season extends into another year. The NFL usually refers to the championship game for the year the season was played, even though the playoffs took place the following year.

But honestly, it works either way. For instance, with College Bowl games, they often use the year the bowl game was played. So this year, we'll be watching the 2009 Rose Bowl, even though the season was played in 2008.

I'm a little disappointed that Ted has put his "search for the mother" on hiatus. Why would two kids in 2030 care about a random story about homesickness that didn't affect the plotline of how Ted met their mother?

Again... a technicality :)

Not sure why it's a big deal, since it was the only NFC Championship held in 1999.

They definitely weren't wrong

No, they were wrong, (http://www.sportingchronicle.com/nfl/nfcchampionship.html) but it's just a stupid sitcom, so you're right, it's not really a big deal.

It's just that for sports fans, the litany of mistakes regarding continuity, facts, action, rules, etc. throughout TV and movie history just leaves you shaking your head sometimes. It's very easy to tell when an actor/director/producer has no clue about sports. And the HIMYM crew proves it at least once a season.

for the record (born and raised in Minnesota), everyone calls it the 98 Vikings or 98 Championship Game, even though the game technically was played in 99.

also we don't dislike Canadians, we dislike Wisconsins :) (atleast near the Twin Cities, that is)

No, they were wrong, (http://www.sportingchronicle.com/nfl/nfcchampionship.html) but it's just a stupid sitcom, so you're right, it's not really a big deal.

It's just that for sports fans, the litany of mistakes regarding continuity, facts, action, rules, etc. throughout TV and movie history just leaves you shaking your head sometimes. It's very easy to tell when an actor/director/producer has no clue about sports. And the HIMYM crew proves it at least once a season.

Wow. As a sports fan, I certainly didn't think it was a big deal. I understand what you're saying about sports fans and continuity in TV, but honestly, try also being a geek about any other thing and then watching movies that mention it. The litany of mistakes regarding continuity, facts, action, rules, etc. throughout TV and movie history just leaves you shaking your head sometimes. It's very easy to tell when an actor/director/producer has no clue about [insert hobby here]. And the [insert show/film here] crew proves it at least once a [season/movie]:

Sports
Guns/Weapons
Cars
Video Games
Computers/Operating Systems/Viruses
Physics
Gravity
Science in general

The list goes on. Sure, they could go out and hire an expert, but the only people who are going to pick up on the error and complain are going to be those whiny geeks who absolutely can't enjoy the show unless they get every fact right. Its just a show.

for the record (born and raised in Minnesota), everyone calls it the 98 Vikings or 98 Championship Game, even though the game technically was played in 99.

also we don't dislike Canadians, we dislike Wisconsins :) (atleast near the Twin Cities, that is)

Seconded. We may dislike Canadiens, however.

Also, we laugh at Iowans. (don't know why I brought this up, seemed necessary)

I'm not liking where this series is going. It's not clever anymore.

is it getting too mainstream? :) the ratings certainly are going up. seriously, though, i realy loved the 1st season and parts of the second. since then it's only average.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090113/en_top_eo/78820

Has the season ended already? I havent seen a new show for a long time! What is going on?

Has the season ended already? I havent seen a new show for a long time!

I believe there's a new episode Monday.

Has the season ended already? I havent seen a new show for a long time! What is going on?
New one on 3/2/2009

Has the season ended already? I havent seen a new show for a long time! What is going on?The Futon Critic (http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch.aspx?id=how_i_met_your_mother&view=listings) shows at least 5 more new episodes...

I've noticed a ton of shows are taking these last 2 weeks and doing reruns? I guess they are just saving episodes for the latter part of the year.

The problems we have had since some of our locals changed their digital signals (UHF to VHF), I am glad that there are a number of reruns the past couple of weeks or I would have missed some shows.

The digital transition caused the nets to bump sweeps from February to March.

Plus many networks yanked new episodes that were supposed to air last week because of Obama's press conference - no sense in burning a new episode for a show that will be preempted or delayed.

ok the actress that plays Robin is preggers...it's always funny to me when they try to hide it.

they didn't seem to try to hide it as much as the did with Lily...

I liked how they implemented Lily's maternity leave too :) Silly Barney and his dirty jokes...

Funny one last night. Having been Sports guy for a year in my company, I can sympathize with Marshal!

i loved the ninja.

whos that guy?

he doenst work here, we need to leave the building

serious?

yeah, its happened before.

Wow, another bad episode for me. I don't like what they've done with Robin's character. She went from sweet naive girl to cranky, skanky girl. And Barney liking her has taken the edge off of his character for me.

Hiding the pregnancies is definitely an issue too.

I think it would be funny to have for the last episode of this season to make a joke out of the hiding of their bellies like they did with Elizabeth Hurley's "naked" scene at the end of the first Austin Powers movie.

They've already done that to a certain extent with Lilly's stomach being shown in the episode where her talent was revealed as competitive hot dog eating.

However they didn't even try to hide Cobie's pregnancy - there were plenty of side shots and far too many flowing mumu-type tops for it to not be obvious.

Frankly I think they could have worked around Lily's but working around both female leads' pregnancies is just too much to deal with, thus the amount of time she also spent in bed or with P.J. atop her.

Still, IMHO it was nowhere near as bad as the "best burger in New York" episode earlier this year.

Allyson Hannigan has already had her baby, although that doesn't mean much as the episodes were likely taped before that. I actually thought it was pretty funny when Ted said "And that's the last time we saw Lily for 4 weeks."

Cobie Smulders was definitely wearing some flowery tops, I could tell in the scene where she was sitting on the couch and PJ was kissing her. She was sitting sideways in a very unflattering "I'm very large" kinda way.

"Creepy back-rub guy".......:eek::D

Allyson Hannigan has already had her baby, although that doesn't mean much as the episodes were likely taped before that. I actually thought it was pretty funny when Ted said "And that's the last time we saw Lily for 4 weeks."

Cobie Smulders was definitely wearing some flowery tops, I could tell in the scene where she was sitting on the couch and PJ was kissing her. She was sitting sideways in a very unflattering "I'm very large" kinda way.

These episodes were likely filmed at least a month ago.

As far as being able to tell, look at her very first scene in the episode where she crosses in front of the camera sideways.

"Creepy back-rub guy".......:eek::D
Yeah, it's even worse when that guy is one of your superiors.

For me the major disappointment of the failure of Knights of Prosperity was the fact it took Kevin Michael Richardson of TV screens.

Seeing him again this week as Stan just reminded me he really needs to be on TV more.

A nice surprise ending with Stella coming back tonight. It sounded like she is the 'Mother'.

For me the major disappointment of the failure of Knights of Prosperity was the fact it took Kevin Michael Richardson of TV screens.

Seeing him again this week as Stan just reminded me he really needs to be on TV more.The big guy? I just heard his voice(over) on a new Pepsi commercial.

The big guy? I just heard his voice(over) on a new Pepsi commercial.

His list of voice work is huge but he's a good comedy performer too and he rarely gets chance to show that.

A nice surprise ending with Stella coming back tonight. It sounded like she is the 'Mother'.
My money is on the mother being a friend of Stella's. Unless the show is coming to an end anytime soon.

They actually made fun of the concept of Stella being the mother in the wedding episode this season, so I think it would be hard to backtrack on that one.

Only problem with the mother being a friend of Stella's is that the kids would recognize her as "Aunt Stella". So he's going to have to meet his future wife somehow indirectly through Stella.

There are a variety of ways this could go, but given the look on Stella's face I'm leaning towards it being Stella telling Ted something that changes his life.

That could be anything from "I'm pregnant" to "I'm dying" with the latter being a good excuse why the kids wouldn't know her as "Aunt Stella."

So for example, say she told Ted she was dying, and that caused Ted to realize life is short and take more risks and make more of an effort to meet people and…

You get the idea.

Also we need to once again take the name of the show into account and say that if Stella was the Mom, the show would have ended last season, as it's not How I Met Your Mother, We Dated, Got Married and Had You Kids.

Article at MSNBC from People.com, Has 'How I Met Your Mother' revealed mom? (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30584419/)

Is Stella the mother?
CARTER BAYS: I won't say whether she's the mother or not, we were definitely very careful in the wording of the narration. Obviously, we're not going to say, 'Okay, here she is! Show's over."

Was it an intentional fake-out?
BAYS: Nothing's a fake-out on this show. We established very early on that this is a very windy, twisty story, and the message of the show is there's a ridiculous series of events that has to happen before this guy meets the woman he marries... I will say this about the next two episodes: Everything will be made clear and it will move the ball forward.

You certainly got people talking.
BAYS: We freaked out a ton of people. We've never really kept a big secret from the audience. And what secrets we do have we usually tell people and there are usually spoilers floating around. And this kind of felt like, "Let's try and do something that takes everyone by surprise and really blow people's minds." And I think we did it.

What kind of reaction have you been getting?
BAYS: It seems to be split 50/50; some people loved it but a lot of people really hated it. And I certainly don't want to tell you that I like it when people hate my show, but knowing where the next two episodes go, I feel like those are both legitimate reactions and both what we were going for.

Does the yellow umbrella belong to Stella?
BAYS: I can't say one way or the other.

[B]Can you give me a preview of next week's episode?
BAYS: We'll reveal why Ted running into her again is such huge moment. He already ran into her once before and didn’t do anything, but this one has more meaning and we'll find out why next week.

Is it your plan to hold off on definitively revealing who the mother is until the final episode of the series?
BAYS: That's always been the plan, but obviously we have a lot of options at our fingertips.

There are a variety of ways this could go, but given the look on Stella's face I'm leaning towards it being Stella telling Ted something that changes his life.

That could be anything from "I'm pregnant" to "I'm dying" with the latter being a good excuse why the kids wouldn't know her as "Aunt Stella."

So for example, say she told Ted she was dying, and that caused Ted to realize life is short and take more risks and make more of an effort to meet people and…

You get the idea.

Also we need to once again take the name of the show into account and say that if Stella was the Mom, the show would have ended last season, as it's not How I Met Your Mother, We Dated, Got Married and Had You Kids.

I always was rooting for Ted and Robin to be the parents of the 2 kids Ted is telling the story too...I just dont care or have a connection with Stella. I was saddened that they brought her back.

Does "Who is the mother?" really matter?

I mean, for the most part HIMYM is a series of gags strung together by a fairly thin device that explains why there is a narrator. I've never once cared who the mother is.

As long as they churn out jokes like the Pie Chart of My Favorite Bars / Bar Graph of My Favorite Pies, I laugh.

And so far, the show has shown an immense capacity to lose its edge once they start centering on why we should care about Ted's love life.

Does "Who is the mother?" really matter?

I mean, for the most part HIMYM is a series of gags strung together by a fairly thin device that explains why there is a narrator. I've never once cared who the mother is.

As long as they churn out jokes like the Pie Chart of My Favorite Bars / Bar Graph of My Favorite Pies, I laugh.

And so far, the show has shown an immense capacity to lose its edge once they start centering on why we should care about Ted's love life.

You bring up a good point. And it is true. I liked the show for the past several episodes (wait for it).....(wait)...until the recent episode where Ted meets Stella on the street again.
:D

I wish they would rename the show to


Wait for it



Wait



How I Met Barney.

LOL

I always was rooting for Ted and Robin to be the parents of the 2 kids Ted is telling the story too...I just dont care or have a connection with Stella. I was saddened that they brought her back.

I'm with you. I've always hoped that him saying it was their 'Aunt Robin' was just a ploy to keep the story going without revealing the eventual punchline of the show.

Personally I always thought Stella would be perfect as the mother, regardless of whether she is or not.

She's sweet, aside from leaving Ted at the altar, kind, and seems just the right kind of person Ted should end up with.

I'd much rather see Robin end up with Barney, if anyone.

Personally, the Ted's love life and driving the Mother story forward episodes have been my favorites; all the rest is just have just been filler that could be any other sitcom.

(Funny, yes, but nothing special.)

Robin is not the mother, no matter how much anyone wants that to be the case. You don't call your Mother "Aunt" anything.

I'm with you. I've always hoped that him saying it was their 'Aunt Robin' was just a ploy to keep the story going without revealing the eventual punchline of the show.

Ever notice who the daughter looks like. And of course the son looks like him.

So, Ted could meet another brunette and have kids that look like that...

Or, the big reveal is that show is really about Barney...and Barney is the narrator...and playing a trick on us all.

As long as they churn out jokes like the Pie Chart of My Favorite Bars / Bar Graph of My Favorite Pies, I laugh.



Maybe you've seen it, but here is a site you should like. http://graphjam.com/

Back when Stella left him at the alter, there were several flash-forwards to the kids. When we were to believe that Stella was the mom, the kids had blonde hair. After she left him, the next flash had them with brown hair. Last night, the kids still had brown hair.

Back when Stella left him at the alter, there were several flash-forwards to the kids. When we were to believe that Stella was the mom, the kids had blonde hair. After she left him, the next flash had them with brown hair. Last night, the kids still had brown hair.
I don't remember that, pics?

I don't remember that, pics?
I will independently verify this claim, however I don't have screencaps. Guess I'll have to wait for the DVD.

Last night, the kids still had brown hair.

As has been the case all along.

Not surprising as they've been using the same video of them for the past four seasons.

As has been the case all along.

Not surprising as they've been using the same video of them for the past four seasons.

When you consider how long this show has been running, Bob Saget must have been telling them this story for about 12 hours straight now. They've been sat on that couch for a long time.

Does "Who is the mother?" really matter?

I mean, for the most part HIMYM is a series of gags strung together by a fairly thin device that explains why there is a narrator. I've never once cared who the mother is.

As long as they churn out jokes like the Pie Chart of My Favorite Bars / Bar Graph of My Favorite Pies, I laugh.

And so far, the show has shown an immense capacity to lose its edge once they start centering on why we should care about Ted's love life.

I totally agree.

I don't remember that, pics?

I'd post pics of my memory if I could. Don't recall how.

Add me to the list of people who enjoy the show a lot but could care less who the mother is. I frankly never even think about it during the show unless they shove it in my face like last Monday. I would be fine if the show was on a few more years and they ended and never even told me who the mother is. That's just me, YMMV!

Robin is not the mother, no matter how much anyone wants that to be the case. You don't call your Mother "Aunt" anything.

In reality, her name could not even be Robin. Ted could have changed it to further hide the direction of the story. If he met their mother in the first episode and told them as much, they'd lose interest.

I frankly never even think about it during the show unless they shove it in my face like last Monday.

Ultimately, the thing is that HIMYM is more like The Simpsons than it is Friends or even Seinfeld. The audience is never that involved with the characters. The characters themselves are largely cartoonish foils for a series of jokes.

The writers have this urge to fight against that. It's sort of like the first couple seasons of House, when the writers were hung up on it being a medical mystery drama. The show got better (and better ratings) when they cut the crap and accepted they had accidentally made a dark comedy.

HIMYM was supposed to be like Friends, only with raunchier jokes. But that's not what the show became. It's time for the writers to stop fighting it -- their show is a simpler, straight up series of jokes more akin to The Simpsons.

I don't remember that, pics?

Yes this is definitely true. In the episode "Shelter Island," when they do the final flashback about how Ted wished he'd told Robin and had Stella tell her ex about the wedding, Ted makes a comment that says "If that had happened, my story would be over," and Stella walks onto the screen with the kids on the couch and says "Let's go get ice cream!" or something like that.

However, the kids look quite different from the kids we've seen throughout the series. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they made the kids uglier on purpose.

They were definitely different kids. Sadly, since it's from the current running season, there's no DVD to get screen grabs of, and I don't save episodes that old on my DVR. But, trust us, it's true.

In reality, her name could not even be Robin. Ted could have changed it to further hide the direction of the story. If he met their mother in the first episode and told them as much, they'd lose interest.

Robin should end up with Barney!

Cobie Smulders is pregnant. How will they write that into the script?

you're kidding, right? she's been obviously pregnant on the show for a long time now. they're just trying to hide it.

We talked about this a few pages back, but on top of that how did you miss Allyson Hannigan being pregnant? They even blantantly "wrote her off" for four weeks while she was giving birth.

I guess I was wrong. Stella is not the 'mother'. Nice to see Lily back, even if it was only for a minute.

That was a pretty terrible payoff. What exactly about that encounter with Stella would have made Ted go running the streets of NYC so excited(in his fantasy from the previous ep)?

That was a pretty terrible payoff. What exactly about that encounter with Stella would have made Ted go running the streets of NYC so excited(in his fantasy from the previous ep)?

It may or may not be explained next week, but off the top of my head it would be that running into Stella made him realize that despite his being "brave" he's really still looking for the one, and perhaps that will cause him to go out and do something he otherwise wouldn't have.

He's been wrapped up in his career for a bit now and perhaps hasn't been ready to start looking again, and his admission to Stella this week and what he went through with his job may reverse his priorities.

Was a weird one... and Stella really is a bitch ;)

Was a weird one... and Stella really is a bitch ;)
No joke... worst feeling in the world to have an ex-gf complain to you about her current bf.

Yes this is definitely true. In the episode "Shelter Island," when they do the final flashback about how Ted wished he'd told Robin and had Stella tell her ex about the wedding, Ted makes a comment that says "If that had happened, my story would be over," and Stella walks onto the screen with the kids on the couch and says "Let's go get ice cream!" or something like that.

However, the kids look quite different from the kids we've seen throughout the series. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they made the kids uglier on purpose.

They were definitely different kids. Sadly, since it's from the current running season, there's no DVD to get screen grabs of, and I don't save episodes that old on my DVR. But, trust us, it's true.

I must have missed that somehow but it sounds like it was n't part
of ted's story but more of a what if and not really anything tha has to do with his story.
so those kids weren't real within the ted story.

do you remember what ep this is in, i'm sure i can find it.

I must have missed that somehow but it sounds like it was n't part
of ted's story but more of a what if and not really anything tha has to do with his story.
so those kids weren't real within the ted story.

do you remember what ep this is in, i'm sure i can find it.

Yes, that scene with the blond haired kids and Stella as the mom was a "what could have been" not what really happened.

Ted's voice over quote was "And kids, if I had just let Stella talk to Robin this whole story might have ended differently." Then they show Stella talking to Robin and Ted talking to Tony. This is followed by a post wedding introduction of Ted and Stella Mosby and then the what might have been scene with Stella as the mom.

Then they return to the wedding site at Shelter Island and Ted's voice over finishes "But I didn't." Ted's character then asks Stella to talk to Tony because he should talk to Robin since she flew all the way over from Tokyo. Stella says "Sure".

Robin tries to talk Ted out of getting married and obviously Stella and Tony reconciled when they talked.

Back when Stella left him at the alter, there were several flash-forwards to the kids. When we were to believe that Stella was the mom, the kids had blonde hair. After she left him, the next flash had them with brown hair. Last night, the kids still had brown hair.

ok so these blonde kids aren't the kids at the
bookends of saget talking to the same kids these last 4 years.
so this quote has nothing to do with
anything.

:rolleyes:

you're kidding, right? she's been obviously pregnant on the show for a long time now. they're just trying to hide it.

Really. They must be tired of swapping who gets the oversized purse every week.

From Fredfa's "Hot Off The Press" thread at top of the 'HDTV Programming' page:

TV Notes
Neil Patrick Harris to Host Tony Awards
By Patrick Healy, The New York Times - May 14th, 2009

After tapping Whoopi Goldberg and Hugh Jackman to host in recent years, the organizers of the Tony Awards have chosen a host for 2009 who has deeper roots in the theater but is less of a household name: Neil Patrick Harris, who starred on Broadway in “Cabaret” and “Assassins” and played the title role on ABC’s “Doogie Howser, M.D.”

Mr. Harris is now a star of the comedy series “How I Met Your Mother” on CBS, the network that is broadcasting the Tony Awards, which will be held on June 7 at Radio City Music Hall.

In a statement this afternoon, Ricky Kirshner — who, with Glenn Weiss, is executive producer of the Tonys — credited Mr. Harris as a familiar face on Broadway who will bring an insider’s eye to the ceremony. Indeed, fans of “Saturday Night Live” might remember Mr. Harris from a hilarious skit this winter about Broadway characters gathering to plot ways to rescue the theater industry from the economic doldrums. (Mr. Harris played Mark, the whiny film-maker in “Rent.”)

Mr. Kirshner said of Mr. Harris, “His love for Broadway and great knowledge of theater combined with his on-stage presence makes him the perfect person to guide us through what is sure to be a great night.”

In recent weeks, rumors abounded that the Tonys were trying to recruit a big star from among its starry list of 2009 award nominees, like James Gandolfini, who is nominated for best actor in the play “God of Carnage” and won three Emmys for best actor on HBO’s “The Sopranos.”

Some theater industry wags had a tough time imagining Tony Soprano as the host of the Tonys; Mr. Harris, by contrast, may not have an Emmy (though he has been nominated), but he is an experienced song-and-dance man of the stage. He is also openly gay, which might provide an added draw to gay viewers who do not usually watch the Tonys.

In the statement, Mr. Harris said: “The discipline of live theater —doing the same perfect thing night after night, eight times a week — never ceases to amaze me.”

“I’m truly honored to have been chosen as the Master of Ceremonies for this year’s Tony Awards,” he added, “and I hope to help provide a first-class evening for all.”

Mr. Harris can also be seen as Dr. Horrible in Joss Whedon’s inventive online musical film “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” about the villainous title character’s attempt to take over the world.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/neil-patrick-harris-to-host-tony-awards/

From Fredfa's "Hot Off The Press" thread at top of the 'HDTV Programming' page:

Critic's Notes
The faux mystery that is 'How I Met Your Mother'
The maternal truth will eventually be told, but, meanwhile, getting there is more than half the fun.
By Joe Caramanica, Los Angeles Times - May 17th, 2009

Does it still count as a cliffhanger if the cliff is miles away? "How I Met Your Mother" has perhaps the least-honest title on network television, a show premised upon the reveal of information that, let's be honest, won't arrive until the threat of cancellation is looming.

The show's fourth season concludes this week (8:30 p.m. Monday on CBS) with an additional kernel of data about the mysterious mother, one that, in typical "HIMYM" fashion, has not a lot to do with the episode in which it's deployed. But arriving at the end of the episode, it's a reminder of the disingenuousness of the show's conceit. They answered "Who shot J.R.?" They solved "Who killed Laura Palmer?" Why must the discovery of the identity of a future upper-middle-class suburban mom be so agonizing?

Perhaps "HIMYM" is really a commentary on how mundane romance truly is, nothing more than an agglomeration of fitful starts, near-misses and half-vivid memories. You can almost hear Ted (Josh Radnor, voice-overs by Bob Saget) tell his son and daughter: "The truth, kids, is that you have no mother, only my pieced-together recollections of the failures that, in total, led to the moments of your creation. Be sure to send thank-you cards to Robin (Cobie Smulders), Stella (Sarah Chalke), Victoria (Ashley Williams) and the rest of them."

Or maybe the whole show's foundation is just a red herring to let its creators get away with something else: putting together the most modern and consistently fresh traditional sitcom of the last few years. Surrounded on CBS by any number of low-ambition family sitcoms and grim procedurals, "HIMYM" is an oasis of 1990s-style urban humor, alone in its commitment to the rhythms of youngish lives in the city: the mismatched friend circles, the offhand jokes that become recurring, the belief that nothing happening elsewhere is more important than what's visible through your own periscope.

As for Ted, he's an emo sap and, seen through his eyes, "HIMYM" is merely a chronicle of letdown and pain. In last week's episode, he poured his heart out to Stella, who'd left him at the altar several months prior, in a scene that was meant to showcase the plain, warm pleadings of a romantic but induced only groans of recognition: another example of Ted picking the wrong moment to unload and the wrong target.

That Ted is something of a simpleton, an emotional naif of undistinguished career and moderate attractiveness, is perhaps essential to this show's success. It's just enough to give the series propulsion and structure but not enough to overwhelm it. Without his fundamental blankness, his supporting cast would actually be forced to play supporting roles. Instead, they're free to be robust. Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) are an endearing couple whose mutual affection is overpowering and relatable. Neil Patrick Harris' Barney is among the most physically present characters on television; Harris is a large actor working on a very small stage.

The show is also cleverly constructed, with oodles of Easter eggs(media) and accompanying bogus websites and viral videos and blogs that take the experience of watching it beyond the half-hour of viewing. It's not the only show to experiment with form, of course, but it's one of the sharpest in execution. (No amount of cleverness, though, can mask the increasingly absurd methods producers have used to obscure the real-world pregnancies of Hannigan and Smulders, one of this season's only real blemishes.)

Optimistically, maybe the show's premise is itself a fraud, with the big reveal making way for an even bigger twist. Any of a number of them would do: "How I Met Your Mother . . . and Boy Do I Hate Her." Or "How I Met Your Mother . . . and Was Happy to Adopt You, Her Children, as My Own." Or "How I Met Your Mother . . . Who Got Tired of My Flashbacks and Has Therefore Left Me for Barney, a Man Who Truly Knows How to Live."

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-monitor17-2009may17,0,4409514.story

There was some mention about the yellow umbrella in seasons past. He was carrying it throughout the scene. Pehaps the owner saw him with it and contacted him.

At some point I really hope they go back and do all the little bits.. like the "Your mother was in the nightclub that night... " blah blah blah.

At some point I really hope they go back and do all the little bits.. like the "Your mother was in the nightclub that night... " blah blah blah.

I suspect the final episode will be just that - the Mother will be revealed and future Ted will say "so if…" going all the way through the chain of events.

It's one of the things this show does best.

Are we ever going to see the remaining slaps? Aren't there still 3 to be dished out?

Are we ever going to see the remaining slaps? Aren't there still 3 to be dished out?
I'm hoping there's one tonight, but even if there isn't we have plenty of show left before they dole out the final 2.

I'm now putting all my bets on the goat being the mother. The chemistry is obvious.

i forget - did Ted get that teaching job from Stella's ex? is that why that meeting at the curb was serendipitous?

also, for some reason i thought there were handcuffs involved in that goat flashback/flashforward from earlier in the season....

i forget - did Ted get that teaching job from Stella's ex? is that why that meeting at the curb was serendipitous?

also, for some reason i thought there were handcuffs involved in that goat flashback/flashforward from earlier in the season....
Yes, he got the job from Tony.

I was really let-down by the goat story... they've been playing it up all season, referencing the goat periodically, and saying it would show up at Ted's 31st birthday party. And that was it?

That was a stupid episode. Ted's (future wife and mother of his children) is a student in his class. The goat story was pointless. And Barney and Robin finally tell each other how they feel. I was expecting better for a season finale.

That was a stupid episode. Ted's (future wife and mother of his children) is a student in his class. The goat story was pointless. And Barney and Robin finally tell each other how they feel. I was expecting better for a season finale.

Not to be an ass, but this show doesn't have a clue how to make its main narrative thread work.

The writers are limping along with that element writing something that's beginning to feel like an adult version of That 70s Show (a decent show that never could stop being hung up on its characters long enough to be great).

As I've said before, HIMYM needs to embrace the fact that at its best it is basically a live-action version of The Simpsons.

Some shows do character-driven comedy very well. Frasier wouldn't have lasted two seasons without it. Friends wouldn't have even been a show without it.

HIMYM could easily survive on gags alone. No one's going to look back on this show ten years from now and say, "Oh, that's the episode where Barney and the Canadian beanpole admit they're in love!"

Frankly, the writers like these characters more than the audience does. Me? I just like the jokes. I may be stuck on the "pie chart of my favorite bars / bar chart of my favorite pies" for quite a while. Once I stop typing, I'm not gonna care what happens to the characters themselves.

Frankly, the writers like these characters more than the audience does. Me? I just like the jokes. I may be stuck on the "pie chart of my favorite bars / bar chart of my favorite pies" for quite a while.
"When I wake up, yeah I know I'm gonna be...... I would walk 500 miles!"

HIMYM needs to embrace the fact that at its best it is basically a live-action version of The Simpsons.

that's not how i see HIMYM. the gags are great ~because~ they're rooted in deeply developed characters. when Marshall is told by the graphics girl that he could get any chart he wanted, his subtle reaction was almost as enjoyable as his childish exuberance in telling the jokes to the others. caring about the characters give the jokes another dimension. if all you had are gags, it's basically Seinfeld, which, to me at least, is very dated and unfunny. that show had no true emotion whatsoever, which is how it was intentionally written. HIMYM is not that (at least not for most female viewers i'd guess). they'll remember the 2 minute date and the rain dance and the blue trumpet.

if all you had are gags, it's basically Seinfeld, which, to me at least, is very dated and unfunny. that show had no true emotion whatsoever, which is how it was intentionally written

Seinfeld's an extreme example, though. In a way Seinfeld was character driven -- most of the stories were driven by how vacuous and soulless the characters were. Seinfeld was a show about empty lives.

What bothers me about HIMYM is that some episodes are completely subverted by the need to invest in the characters.

Scratch that . . . What bothers me about HIMYM is that some episodes are completely subverted by the need to invest in Ted. Who is an endless frakkin wet blanket.

Honestly? The more I ponder this matter, the more I think I actually just hate Ted.

HIMYM could easily survive on gags alone. No one's going to look back on this show ten years from now and say, "Oh, that's the episode where Barney and the Canadian beanpole admit they're in love!"

Frankly, the writers like these characters more than the audience does. Me? I just like the jokes. I may be stuck on the "pie chart of my favorite bars / bar chart of my favorite pies" for quite a while. Once I stop typing, I'm not gonna care what happens to the characters themselves.

Funny, because I think they will.

I never warmed to Seinfeld, but Friends did things like this and I think most long term viewers can remember the episodes in which say Ross and Rachel's relationships took various turns, or when Chandler and Monica got together for the first time.

If Mother just became stupid gags each week, I'd stop watching.

It's the fact that there's some emotional depth and we actually want to see who the Mother is that keeps me and many people I know coming back week after week.

If all I wanted was mindless gags I'd watch Two and a Half Men instead.

FWIW, no surprise but CBS just renewed Mother for next season.

Perhaps more of a surprise it moves back to 8:00 PM/7:00 PM Central/Mountain on Mondays.

FWIW, no surprise but CBS just renewed Mother for next season. Perhaps more of a surprise it moves back to 8:00 PM/7:00 PM Central/Mountain on Mondays.

The story goes that they want to build The Big Bang Theory up into an eventually replacement for 2.5 Men as their flagship comedy. So, they moved TBBT to 9:30.

Too bad, because I thought TBBT paired nicely with HIMYM. Also, it made it very easy to quit watching once 2.5 Men (arguably the most worn out comedy on TV today) comes on. Now, instead I gotta find something else to watch between HIMYM and TBBT.

The story goes that they want to build The Big Bang Theory up into an eventually replacement for 2.5 Men as their flagship comedy. So, they moved TBBT to 9:30.

Too bad, because I thought TBBT paired nicely with HIMYM. Also, it made it very easy to quit watching once 2.5 Men (arguably the most worn out comedy on TV today) comes on. Now, instead I gotta find something else to watch between HIMYM and TBBT.

Not me. Very happy I don't have to suffer waiting for the TBBT to end anymore. Now I can quit watching once HIMYM ends. Although maybe I'll check out the Elfman show at 8:30 to see what it's like.

Just a reminder that the season premiere is next week, Sept. 21 2009, at 8:00 PM (7:00 PM Central/Mountain.)

Loved the season premiere. really looking foward to this season
http://12.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kqcudaid1V1qzu186o1_500.png

So, did the fact that he was in the wrong classroom mean that the mother isn't one of his students? If so, seems like yet another cop out on their part.

So, did the fact that he was in the wrong classroom mean that the mother isn't one of his students? If so, seems like yet another cop out on their part.

Future Ted never said the mother was one of his students, he said she was in that classroom.

So, did the fact that he was in the wrong classroom mean that the mother isn't one of his students? If so, seems like yet another cop out on their part.

Actually, since most states now have laws against that sort of thing, it keeps Ted out of Jail. ;)

Though, I met my wife that way 15 years ago (she was the first year masters student/instructor and I was the student, though I am slightly older than she is).

Maybe someone will do some frame by frame analysis of the classroom and the party she was also supposed to be at.

did anyone else notice the "raised" bed covers around Barney's waist when he and Robin were in bed together?

did anyone else notice the "raised" bed covers around Barney's waist when he and Robin were in bed together?
I was busy looking at Robin not Barney's waist, but that's just my preference.

i was busy looking at robin not barney's waist, but that's just my preference.

lol

I thought that the first episode of the season was really good and am looking forward to the rest. The Barney/Robin thing is going to be fun, I was hoping that they would have started that last season. (better late then NEVER!)

Looks like Lilly got rid of more baby weight than Robin. Both were showing off the positive aspects of this situation, which was a nice touch. :)

I think it's pointless to try and figure out "who is the mother" any time they say your mother was there.

Maybe someone will do some frame by frame analysis of the classroom and the party she was also supposed to be at.
*If* they already know who the actress will be who plays the mother -- which I highly doubt -- they might have included her. I think doing a frame-by-frame lookout for her is pointless.

Actually, I read the other day in Entertainment Weekly that they have not even cast her yet, so definitely no sense in looking around.

anyone else have audio problems? i had the laughtrack and background music, but no voice...i recorded it off WBNS in Columbus, OH.

No problems here. Comcast in the Bay Area.

No issues here in Denver on KCNC, either.

I think it's pointless to try and figure out "who is the mother" any time they say your mother was there.

I think it's clear by now, that Ted is never going to get married or have a permanent partner. He's just too damn picky.

I think the kids are adopted. Or maybe their mother was just an egg donor.

I think it's clear by now, that Ted is never going to get married or have a permanent partner. He's just too damn picky.

I think the kids are adopted. Or maybe their mother was just an egg donor.

Please.

Aside from the fact that this is how people get into trouble - pretending to be something they're not and the fireworks start once they can no longer keep up the facade - Ted even said the "mother" did laugh at his seafood joke.

Please.

Aside from the fact that this is how people get into trouble - pretending to be something they're not and the fireworks start once they can no longer keep up the facade - Ted even said the "mother" did laugh at his seafood joke.

Lighten up, it was a joke.

You're discussing a sitcom, not an autobiography.

No problems here. Comcast in the Bay Area.

No issues here in Denver on KCNC, either.

yeah, it was really weird...the picture was crystal clear and i could hear EVERYTHING except the voices...when the background noise/music died down, i could faintly hear the dialog, but couldn't make anything out. at first, i thought it was part of the show (like when they were showing the 2002/2009 split screen stuff), but i ffw'ed about 5-10 mins and realized something was wrong..

oh well...that's what the Internet is for, right? :D

Another good episode last night, but did you notice they stole the idea of killing off your spouse in fantasies from King of Queens? Their spin on it was still funny though!

Last night's episode was kind of let down for me. Whatcha all thinking about it?

i thought it was pretty good. the robin lessons were great

i enjoyed it as well! The only thing 'poor' in it was the bermuda triangle jokes... Just didn't find them very funny.

Another good episode last night, but did you notice they stole the idea of killing off your spouse in fantasies from King of Queens? Their spin on it was still funny though!


A bit late on this, but I thought exactly the same thing! It's good to know I'm not the only one who (probably) watches too much television :p

A bit late on this, but I thought exactly the same thing! It's good to know I'm not the only one who (probably) watches too much television :p

Glad somebody else noticed this too! I guess it's not so bad considering they're both CBS comedies :)

http://itwasthebestnightever.com/

I enjoyed Monday's episode.

Also, Lily is looking very hot. Robin is not looking that good anymore.

This is one of the very few shows that is smart with that kind of stuff, creating the web tie-ins. Like Barney's Not a Dad Day site, or the one where they were selling Lilly's clothes. I always check any web link they mention because there's always funny stuff.

This is one of the very few shows that is smart with that kind of stuff, creating the web tie-ins. Like Barney's Not a Dad Day site, or the one where they were selling Lilly's clothes. I always check any web link they mention because there's always funny stuff.

Arrested Development had some of the first ones I can remember - ImnotOscar.com and then later Imnoscar.com

Interesting. As we started watching but before anythign actually happened, my wife said, "man, I am so tired of the Robin and Barney thing, it just is not working for me any more".

I guess the writers thought so too.

I agree. I'm glad that relationship is over. I loved it when Barney came into the bar at the end and all of the women were admiring him.

The stakeout in the station wagon was hysterical.

Aaaand, spoiled. I need to stop reading internet forums about a show until after I've watched said show. :-\

Aaaand, spoiled. I need to stop reading internet forums about a show until after I've watched said show. :-\
The first step is recognizing you have a problem.

I've hated the Barney/Robin thing since they first started hinting at it two seasons ago. The writers had been progressively ruining Barney's "Legendary-ness" ever since they started on this track, and the show in general had been suffering because of it. In the last 30 seconds, you could see the awesome potential of Barney and HIMYM might be coming back.

It's amazing how people can "hate" what has been one of the few mature relationships on the show.

I think Robin and Barney were great together, always have, and i think they'll end up together again later.

I'm still convinced they will be together in the end, but it's good to have a break from the Barney/Robin stuff for a while. And the revelation of the failed variety show... now that just screams for more fun :)

I agree that they will probably end up together and I was initially in favor of them hooking up. I just feel like we need a break from them as others have said.

Best episode of the season. :)

Was that Susan Surandon's daughter playing one of Barny's playbook conquest? (it was the Lorenzo Von Matterhorn play)

Was that Susan Surandon's daughter playing one of Barny's playbook conquest? (it was the Lorenzo Von Matterhorn play)

her name is Sarah Wright and she used to be on The Loop, which was an underrated show on FOX a few years back. it drove me nuts for the first 15 mins last night and then i remembered who she was...very attractive IMO.

Was that Susan Surandon's daughter playing one of Barny's playbook conquest? (it was the Lorenzo Von Matterhorn play)

yes

her name is Sarah Wright and she used to be on The Loop, which was an underrated show on FOX a few years back. it drove me nuts for the first 15 mins last night and then i remembered who she was...very attractive IMO.

he was asking about one of the girls in the playbook - not the one being told everything.

Was that Susan Surandon's daughter playing one of Barny's playbook conquest? (it was the Lorenzo Von Matterhorn play)

Yes, that's Eva Amurri (Susan Sarandon's daughter). If you want to see more (all!) of her don't miss this season of Californication. What a figure!

he was asking about one of the girls in the playbook - not the one being told everything.

well, technically, Claire was one of the playbook conquests :)...but i see now that i misread his post initially.

btw, i also just wanted some way mention that i remembered where Claire was from since it was frustrating the heck outta me for a while there :D.

Yes, that's Eva Amurri (Susan Sarandon's daughter). If you want to see more (all!) of her don't miss this season of Californication. What a figure!

holy cr@p! i never knew she was Susan Sarandon's daughter...i've been drooling over her on Californication all season...wow.

And you HAVE to read the web entries for Lorenzo von Matterhorn. Just Google him :) Freaking hysterical. I love how smart they are with the web.

Now THIS is the HIMYM I remember! Easily the best episode of the season (maybe even the past two or three).

well, technically, Claire was one of the playbook conquests :)...but i see now that i misread his post initially.

btw, i also just wanted some way mention that i remembered where Claire was from since it was frustrating the heck outta me for a while there :D.

I remembered here from The Loop as well - took me a minute to figure it out too

And you HAVE to read the web entries for Lorenzo von Matterhorn. Just Google him :) Freaking hysterical. I love how smart they are with the web.

They actually had a Wikipedia entry last night for him. Now it redirects to a page about the episode. It had links to all teh pages they showed on the show last night also. PRetty funny.

I was channel surfing last night and stopped on CTV - I thought I had found another Robin Sparkles episode. The weather person is a ringer for Robin and sorta sounds like her to.



http://www.michelleleslie.com/

She does look like Robin.

Wow, she is dead ringer for Robin!

That site is totally creepy.

So . . .

Nobody watches this anymore?

I thought the segment with Robin working the bar was pretty cool. :)

I watched my recording last night. I thought it was a decent episode, but nothing spectacular. I definitely would have liked to see more of Rachel Bilson though.

Rachel Bilson = super hot.

Big dance number at the end of the episode is CBS' bid to get Neil Patrick Harris that Emmy finally... or maybe a Tony.

Rachel Bilson = super hot.

Big dance number at the end of the episode is CBS' bid to get Neil Patrick Harris that Emmy finally... or maybe a Tony.

He can certainly sing.

Rachel Bilson = super hot.

Big dance number at the end of the episode is CBS' bid to get Neil Patrick Harris that Emmy finally... or maybe a Tony.

How would singing on a TV show get someone a stage award (Tony)?

I'm not sure why exactly, but this show seems to have lost its edge lately (perhaps exemplified by this thread, quiet since January).

However, in this week's episode, I for one laughed at the whole Barney-never-takes-a-bad-picture gag.

"How did you do that‽ You weren't even standing up! Where's the chip‽"

I liked the episode, but I couldn't stop thinking they ripped off My Name is Earl every time Marshall closed his eyes in each photo.

I liked the episode, but I couldn't stop thinking they ripped off My Name is Earl every time Marshall closed his eyes in each photo.

he just looked bad every time - he didn't always have his eyes closed

I'm not sure why exactly, but this show seems to have lost its edge lately (perhaps exemplified by this thread, quiet since January).

Nope - in fact I think it's better than ever.

What they haven't done lately is advance the "Mother" plot line, which usually drives speculation here.

he just looked bad every time - he didn't always have his eyes closed

His eyes were closed for all but one of the photos (and then the very last one). I also thought of Earl.

I have to give this show props for still bringing some good inventive gags to the show. Admittedly most of them hinge on Marshall but at least the creative team are still thinking about it. "Drunk or Kid?" could be another good running gag if they don't forget about it.

I don't think HIMYM achieves any superb comedy heights but it is consistently entertaining and that's more than can be said for a lot of shows on air right now. BBT in particular seems to have peaked very early with some exceptionally funny moments but is just treading increasingly shallower water these days.

"Drunk or Kid" was hilarious! Also liked the inspector giving feedback on Lily.

I find myself looking forward to this more and more each week, wish I hadn't been so late getting in on it.

I still wonder how long this show can go on, though. We seem to be getting closer to finding out who the mother is by showing us the house they live in. Can the show go on after they actually reveal the mother?

The producers have said they will not reveal the mother until the final episode of the series, so that pretty much answers your question.

I still wonder how long this show can go on, though. We seem to be getting closer to finding out who the mother is by showing us the house they live in. Can the show go on after they actually reveal the mother?
My guess is that next season will be the last; possibly two more, but I doubt it.

the show will obviously go on as long as it's profitable. how long did Seinfeld go on past the point of not being funny? a good 4 or 5 seasons. now i'm not saying HIMYM is not funny anymore, but it's definitely not as funny as it used to be (S1+2) but the ratings are still there.

the show will obviously go on as long as it's profitable. how long did Seinfeld go on past the point of not being funny? a good 4 or 5 seasons. now i'm not saying HIMYM is not funny anymore, but it's definitely not as funny as it used to be (S1+2) but the ratings are still there.

I disagree.

Some of the episodes this season have fallen into the best category.

But for me the best episode ever is still Slap Bet, aka the Robin Sparkles episode.

If you are watching this show to find out who the mother is, you're doing it wrong. Besides they have that already taped with the mom and everything. The reveal will be the series finale.

In the meantime, enjoy the jokes and character development. I know I will.

If you are watching this show to find out who the mother is, you're doing it wrong. Besides they have that already taped with the mom and everything. The reveal will be the series finale.

Actually, no, they don't - this is a popular rumor, though.

The show's creators have stated several times even they don't know who the mother will be.

From the wiki:
A scene directly relating to the identity of the mother, involving Ted's future children, was filmed near the beginning of season two for the show's eventual series finale. This was primarily done because the teenage actors portraying them will be adults by the time the final season is shot.
How they can film the reaction without the identity of the mom being revealed is beyond me.

How they can film the reaction without the identity of the mom being revealed is beyond me.

Is that sarcasm?

Actually, no, they don't - this is a popular rumor, though.

The show's creators have stated several times even they don't know who the mother will be.
Its obviously Rachel Bilson's roommate. We've seen her ankle. ;)

Is that sarcasm?

No, but let me clarify. How can they not refer to the identity of the mom without it coming off completely cheesy.

No, but let me clarify. How can they not refer to the identity of the mom without it coming off completely cheesy.
Chroma Key, greenscreen, audio dubbing... a variety of ways. I actually anticipate that's how it will happen, since the "kids" will be late teenagers by the time the "story" is over, and it wouldn't make sense to have those actors reprise their roles.

Either way, having Josh Radnor and the eventual mom in a scene with the kids is probably not all that important to the eventual outcome, especially since Bob Saget is the voice of future Ted (even though we've seen future Ted in other episodes portrayed by Josh Radnor).

From the wiki:

How they can film the reaction without the identity of the mom being revealed is beyond me.

I have no knowlege of whether they did or did not film any scene and can only go by what the producers have said publically, but surely you know anyone can post anything on Wikipedia or any other wiki, right? It can't be trusted as a source for things like this.

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/07/barney-writes-a.html
(the reference for that section of the wikipedia page)
This was 2 years ago
“We’re hoping the show will go a while longer [and] it’s a good mystery. We’ll milk it a while longer,” Thomas said. “We have not made it clear to anyone other than ourselves quite yet who the mother is.”

However he did reveal that more than two years ago, he and Carter filmed a scene that will air when "HIMYM" ends for good. With only the two kids who play Ted’s future children, a cameraman and executive producer/director Pamela Fryman present, they shot a scene that directly relates to the identity of the mother. That scene will be included in the show’s series finale, which Thomas said he hopes “people will see in 2012.”

“We know” who the mother is, he said. “We have a whole plan.”

Well, thats certainly a good reference then. And the quote says that they filmed it about two years ago and hte article was written in January of 2008, so that means sometime in Late 05 or early 06.

The one thing I still wonder though, is have they filmed pretty much all the footage of the kids? They don't seem to be aging drastically. Perhaps they filmed all the reactions they thought they needed at that time and then they just edit them in as needed?

Also, I have to wonder about the specific wording of their quote. Saying the scene was related to the identity of the mother? Are they just trying to not say they filmed the mother or is it possible that it is some reaction that in and of itself but still does not give it away? I would think that if it were to give the identity away clearly, they would have filmed several potential women as the mother as were it me, I can't see the future of my show resting on two teenagers to keep their mouths shut.

I don't see why they'd even bother filming the kids ahead of time. It's an even better joke that it takes so long to tell that we can see them age. I think it would be perfect if when he finishes the tale, we see the kids are old and gray; probably with kids and grandkids of their own.

Well, thats certainly a good reference then. And the quote says that they filmed it about two years ago and hte article was written in January of 2008, so that means sometime in Late 05 or early 06.

The one thing I still wonder though, is have they filmed pretty much all the footage of the kids? They don't seem to be aging drastically. Perhaps they filmed all the reactions they thought they needed at that time and then they just edit them in as needed?

Also, I have to wonder about the specific wording of their quote. Saying the scene was related to the identity of the mother? Are they just trying to not say they filmed the mother or is it possible that it is some reaction that in and of itself but still does not give it away? I would think that if it were to give the identity away clearly, they would have filmed several potential women as the mother as were it me, I can't see the future of my show resting on two teenagers to keep their mouths shut.

They clearly re-use the same kids footage over and over again - thats why we barely see them anymore. Early on they had some specific reactions - but now they just stare at Future Ted and have the occasional "WHAT?" scene reused.
Both actors have moved on to some very prominent roles the last few years and are noticeably older (neither one is a 'teen' anymore)

I'm pretty sure they're saying that they filmed the reaction scene for the mother (probably some sort of 'finally' moment). Maybe they have an older actress walk in - but that can always be dealt with later thanks to computers

They clearly re-use the same kids footage over and over again - thats why we barely see them anymore. Early on they had some specific reactions - but now they just stare at Future Ted and have the occasional "WHAT?" scene reused.
Yeah, Seasons 1 and 2 had the kids actually interacting with Bob Saget, now its just the exact same scene of the camera zooming in on the kids.

Congratulations to Neil Patrick Harris for winning two Emmy Awards... although, neither was for How I Met Your Mother. Yet.

The show is airing in squished for 16:9 on Lifetime HD.
I can't believe it's not being offered in HD for syndication.
Meh.

It's in 16x9 HD syndication here in DC (WDCW).

I am starting to grow a little tired of HIMYM, I give it one more season after this one. Let's get a glimpse of the mother already.

It's HD here in NYC also. Syndicated on My9...

It's in 16x9 HD syndication here in DC (WDCW).

I am starting to grow a little tired of HIMYM, I give it one more season after this one. Let's get a glimpse of the mother already.
We did.

Last season.

It was her ankle.

(Hint: she's a white girl. Or at the very least, has white ankles.)

Does anyone have a list of "what we know" about the mother? We've been told that was her ankle, and we were told she was in Ted's class that day that he lectured to the wrong class. What else?

Anyone else think that the mother isn't around in the future when future-Ted-Bob-Saget is talking to the kids?

That would be a morbid end to the show - the mother has died (or they got divorced) and he's telling stories about how he met the mother after the fact. I'd be disappointed if that's how it ends.

I forgot about the ankle view!

There's also a picture of ted and the mother on their wedding day behind the kids in opening scenes, but their heads are conveniently cut off out of frame.

Speaking of Wedding days, any guess as a to the lucky couple getting married in the future that we see in the season premiere?

That would be a morbid end to the show - the mother has died (or they got divorced) and he's telling stories about how he met the mother after the fact. I'd be disappointed if that's how it ends.

I forgot about the ankle view!

My hunch is that this is his way to tell the kids that they are adopted. Seeing how they already have it shot and do not actually need a parent present for that.

My hunch is that this is his way to tell the kids that they are adopted. Seeing how they already have it shot and do not actually need a parent present for that.
There is definitely a mother. The wedding picture I mentioned earlier is a good clue, and I remember there was an episode (the Blah Blah episode) with Future Ted/Marshall/Lily at a college reunion, and Ted asks them where his wife is.

Speaking of Wedding days, any guess as a to the lucky couple getting married in the future that we see in the season premiere?

I'm assuming it's a 99.9% chance of being "Uncle" Barney & "Aunt" Robin's wedding, unless we've yet to meet a character that would have Ted as his best man (and a bride w/ Lily as the apparent matron of honor).

Was there a reference to "Your Mother" having a red (or maybe yellow) umbrella quite a while back?

Was there a reference to "Your Mother" having a red (or maybe yellow) umbrella quite a while back?

Yellow umbrella

i really fell out of love with this show last season. How is this season so far?

Barney thinking he was black was fairly funny ;)

Barney thinking he was black was fairly funny ;)

his singalong buttinski bit was hilarious :D

I'm assuming it's a 99.9% chance of being "Uncle" Barney & "Aunt" Robin's wedding, unless we've yet to meet a character that would have Ted as his best man (and a bride w/ Lily as the apparent matron of honor).

i read it was the lesbians getting married from the bar.

i read it was the lesbians getting married from the bar.

I thought that was quite obvious from the closing scene. I'd also guess Ted gets to share the yellow umbrella after the ceremony ;)

I thought that was quite obvious from the closing scene. I'd also guess Ted gets to share the yellow umbrella after the ceremony ;)

So the kids aren't Ted's and he's just telling them how he met one of their mother's??? Now THAT would be the proverbial shocking twist!! :eek:

So the kids aren't Ted's and he's just telling them how he met one of their mother's??? Now THAT would be the proverbial shocking twist!! :eek:

You are reading too much into my post. Ted is Best Man for the lesbian couple but I think he marries and has the kids with the "yellow umbrella girl" (Cindy's roommate).

Lily's gi was on wrong.

i really fell out of love with this show last season. How is this season so far?

Terrible. A sad shell of its former self. Might be time to pull the plug.

Terrible. A sad shell of its former self. Might be time to pull the plug.
Just started watching HIMYM last season with the "Benefits" episode... in which Barney was hilarious BTW.
Now one of our local stations has started showing HIMYM in syndication from S01E01 on and I have to agree... the older episodes were funnier. Maybe by 2010 they just ran out of jokes/topics???

I think the show is still hilarious - loved Robin's drunk dialing this week and Barney's dad misconception/delusion last week. I thought the show drooped quite a bit with Ted's marriage deal a couple seasons ago but I'm still loving it each week.

I really think the quality of the series has always been tied to how they played up Robin's character. She was always Ted's white whale. Then they put Ted together with Robin and all was well until the season finale they broke up because they all wanted different things for their future. (which is fine if they had hinted at these ideas as they dated, but instead we got a rushed summary of dialog at a wedding.) Since then Robin's character has been all over the place from smart to naive, confident to insecure and tom boyish to girlie.

Marshall and Lily will always be "that couple" and Barney will always be "that guy". (except when he dated Robin, but that goes back to the writers having no idea what to do with her since she stopped dating Ted) The character development has pretty much stopped (did it ever exist?) for all the characters. I see the series limping to the end to show us who the mother is and taht will be all.

My solution: Give up on Robin. Let her get that big anchor job. Move on. Give Ted a girlfriend that is actually interesting. How long has it been since he was going to marry that scrubs girl? Show the ups and downs of trying to start a family with Marshall and Lily. Let barney be barney.

We can all dream?

So I am guessing that the lack of comments means this is a pretty meh episode. I thought the concept was excellent, but the execution sucked and only made worse by Robin being a permanent debbie downer on the show. :(