I loved the omni-present Maury Povich. :D

I thought it was good, but it was the equivalent of a "road" episode.

Guess I'm a "real NY'er" .... I just killed a cockroach with my bare hand!
When I was out of the building A work associate took a computer in for repair, when I got back from lunch I moved it on the bench- and a roach came scurrying out. Instinctively I mashed it with a quick left- not wanting it to get away. We're just like that in NY :eek:
I instantly thought about last night's episode of HIMYM.

I instantly thought about last night's episode of HIMYM.

I instantly thought about how much I used to love this show and how bad it's become. Just dreadful.

But have you cried on the subway without caring what anyone thought?

But have you cried on the subway without caring what anyone thought?
Not yet!
But you know we don't care what anyone thinks about us anyway.... :D

Gentlemen, gentlemen. On the main stage. Give it up for...Esther!

This week's ep was hi-lar- ..... "wait for it" ..................................................ious!!!
It had several LOL moments - one of the best eps in a long time!!
And Esther had some krazymad skillz --- the likes of which I never want to see in person!!! :D

This week's ep was hi-lar- ..... "wait for it" ..................................................ious!!!
It had several LOL moments - one of the best eps in a long time!!
And Esther had some krazymad skillz --- the likes of which I never want to see in person!!! :D

Loved it this week but I think we need to finally get somewhere with the mother.

Loved it this week but I think we need to finally get somewhere with the mother.

Why? Can she shufle a deck of cards with her hoochie?

God I hope not ;) I don't know, its been fun for a long time with all the clues and misdirection but at some point Ted needs to get an actual outside the group relationship again. Stella was 2 seasons ago and he's gotten absolutely nowhere since then. And how about they toss in some stuff about the house he bought!

God I hope not ;) I don't know, its been fun for a long time with all the clues and misdirection but at some point Ted needs to get an actual outside the group relationship again. Stella was 2 seasons ago and he's gotten absolutely nowhere since then. And how about they toss in some stuff about the house he bought!
The show is largely set at the same pace as the passage of time. Do you think that Ted, were he a real person, would rotate through women like a revolving door? I don't think there is anything wrong with waiting a bit between romantic interests?

Right but its been 2 years or so with both show time and real time ;) I'm not saying it has to be right this sec, but by the end of the year would be great.

I agree. I'm ready for him to meet her. It's becoming REALLY predictable. I even pegged Ted's opening line this weekend in front of my wife. She couldn't help but chuckle.

"Kids, back in the fall of 2010..."

End it on a high note and don't let it gasp for air at the end like SO MANY series do. *cough* Scrubs *cough*

I agree. I'm ready for him to meet her. It's becoming REALLY predictable. I even pegged Ted's opening line this weekend in front of my wife. She couldn't help but chuckle.

"Kids, back in the fall of 2010..."

End it on a high note and don't let it gasp for air at the end like SO MANY series do. *cough* Scrubs *cough*

Those kids always look pretty bored when old Ted tells his stories (I know it's the same shot over and over)! C'mon, lets meet the mother already.

Oh. My. God. Most awesome Robin Sparkles ever.

Oh. My. God. Most awesome Robin Sparkles ever.

Agreed.

Robin Sparkles' joystick made the 2.5 Men's shakeweight jab look tame by comparison. ;)

Great episode last night! So many double entendres, I lost track!

Anyone know the name of the actress that played Jessica Glitter? She looked real familiar.

Great episode last night! So many double entendres, I lost track!

Anyone know the name of the actress that played Jessica Glitter? She looked real familiar.

She's no actress. That's Nicole Scherzinger from the PussyCat Dolls

She's no actress. That's Nicole Scherzinger from the PussyCat Dolls

And I have no doubt she knows how to work a joystick ;). I need a copy of the Beaver song.

Man that episode was so wrong (and by that I mean right) on so many levels. :)

No way my kids are watching that episode :D
Gotta love Robin Sparkles eh!

When I saw it was a Robin Sparkles episode I thought they were running low on ideas. Turned out to be quite a good episode. Loved Ted's Lebron arguement for Punchy along with Barney saying ever catchphrase ever on TV to eliminate someone.

...Barney saying ever catchphrase ever on TV to eliminate someone.
Watch it with the captions on. It lists off every person that he's impersonating as he rattles them off. There were several that I didn't know.

Why? Can she shufle a deck of cards with her hoochie?

Hmm...YouTube??

I have to agree. Two beavers playing with my joystick is more fun than one.:eek::D

I have to agree. Two beavers playing with my joystick is more fun than one.:eek::D
Would have loved to be on the set when they were shooting the joystick scene..:D:D

She's no actress. That's Nicole Scherzinger from the PussyCat Dolls

Scherzinger also did a pretty decent Tina Turner impression recently (at least in voice), being the vocalist featured in the opening credit sequence from the Goldeneye 007 video game re-boot Activision just released for the Wii. The 1st time I heard it - for a few moments, at least - I assumed Euorcom used the original title track that Turner recorded & U2's Bono & The Edge wrote for the old Brosnan Bond flick.

Scherzinger also did a pretty decent Tina Turner impression recently (at least in voice), being the vocalist featured in the opening credit sequence from the Goldeneye 007 video game re-boot Activision just released for the Wii. The 1st time I heard it - for a few moments, at least - I assumed Euorcom used the original title track that Turner recorded & U2's Bono & The Edge wrote for the old Brosnan Bond flick.

we know she can sing and dance - but being able to emulate another singer doesn't maker her an actor.

we know she can sing and dance - but being able to emulate another singer doesn't maker her an actor.

But can she pull my joystick?

Another really funny episode last night! The Blitz ! You missed it? Aw Man!

Good episode last night. I liked some of the LOST references they had.

Everyone shout out random numbers.

Very good episode last night - loved it. And great to see Jorge again ... I've really missed that Dude ... and not in the "Aw Man!" way. :D

I could take a weekly dose of Jennifer Morrison- wow, did she look great in that black formal dress two weeks ago :D
Hopefully we haven't seen the last of her.... Maybe she's mom???

I could take a weekly dose of Jennifer Morrison- wow, did she look great in that black formal dress two weeks ago :D
Hopefully we haven't seen the last of her.... Maybe she's mom???

doubt she was Rachel Bilson's roomate.... nor is it likely she was in that wrong classroom that Ted went to.

doubt she was Rachel Bilson's roomate.... nor is it likely she was in that wrong classroom that Ted went to.

She'd make a great aunt though.

Loved the Ted rant at the end of the episode where he acts like the best friend he's supposed to be:

Punchy: Ted, I can't get married!
Ted: Yes you can, you love her!
Punchy: You're right, I do, thanks Ted!

i loved barney's psa about giving

Weird to see Artemis in another role, and I've seen some commercial with The Waitress in a series (Perfect Couples ??)

Are the reruns on Lifetime in HD? They will air the pilot and the rest of the season in order starting tomorrow. I've never watched the show and interested in checking it out, but it looks very soft on Lifetime. The image seems rather distorted also. Is this show in HD from the season 1 to begin with? Please let me know if you know.

from what i can tell they take the 4x3 image and stretch it. it always looks wierd on there. if you have netflix i'd suggest just getting the seasons from there.

edit: oh and season one on dvd is 4x3 and the rest after that were all 16x9

What a sucky way to start the new year! I was waiting for the countdown to something big and fun, like Lilly getting preg., not this. I really did not need that ending.

What a sucky way to start the new year! I was waiting for the countdown to something big and fun, like Lilly getting preg., not this. I really did not need that ending.

Yeah, I was surprised by the ending as well to an otherwise hilarious episode. I don't recall any other episode ending on such a serious note.

I agree about the ending. Why would a comedy show need to create such sadness? This show is losing me more and more.

Ending didn't surprise me, thought the original call that was missed would be his father having cancer/in the hospital.

Does anyone have any insight into the numeric countdown during the episode? Meaning, why they chose to count down that way? Sometimes the numbers were appropriately subtle, and sometimes they were so obvious they were distracting. Just curious if there's any info on why they chose to do the # thing that way this time.

Here is one take on the countdown, I myself was caught up looking for them and by the time it ended the ending was a gut punch. I thought it was cool. I still dig the show.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/01/04/a-number-of-ways-to-see-mondays-how-i-met-your-mother/


There were two different ways to see 'How I Met Your Mother' last night. I don't know about you, but I much preferred the first way I saw 'Bad News' -- without the numbers.

Some of you noticed that, from the first frame of Monday's episode, the show was counting down from 50 with a variety of visual and verbal gags. I did not notice this in any meaningful way the first time I watched 'Bad News.' I'm grateful for that.

Before I watched the episode, my Twitter feed indicated that something special was happening on Monday's episode of the CBS comedy. I wasn't exactly sure what, but I got the impression that something out of the ordinary was going on.

When I sat down to watch the episode, I was simply impressed at what a solid and enjoyable outing it was, and though I had a feeling something big was coming at the end of the episode, the final scene between Jason Segel and Alyson Hannigan was still very powerful. Both times I watched the episode, I misted up. It was a terrifically written, acted and directed moment, one of the strongest in the show's history.

If I'd been watching numbers tick by for the previous 20 minutes, I don't think it would have hit me the same way.

'How I Met Your Mother' works best, I think, when it connects on a few different levels: When each story line not only humorous but reflects a real-life dilemma or relatable truth, when the humor builds on what we know about the characters, and when there's some bit of structural cleverness that reminds us that we're not watching a run-of-the-mill sitcom.

For me, the flashbacks to Robin's embarrassing moments, her history with Sandy Rivers and the introduction of Barney's doppelganger worked in that regard, and everything else was so satisfying that I would have put the episode in the highest tier of 'HIMYM' outings. There were just so many moments, little and big, that clicked: Marshall playing Go Fish for his dad over the phone was just so perfect; Ted's spazzy kicks and his gleeful references to Robin's owl attack provided the character with some welcome winning moments; Barney's sedate and bearded doppelganger was entertaining and Lily's completely understandable wigout over having Dr. Stengel look at her lady stuff was hilarious too.

But when its really working well, 'HIMYM' touches on deeper fears, hopes and dreams too. Not wanting to tell a parent bad news, parents with boundary issues, fear of infertility, people at work getting the wrong impression of you -- these were all themes that were threaded skillfully through the episode, grounding the funny moments in emotions and dilemmas that most of us can identify with.

The most truthful moment came at the end, and it delivered a body blow to the characters. Apparently there's a fair amount of debate on this point, but I do think it was earned. We'd come to know Marshall's dad and their close relationship was well-documented, and even if his father wasn't a fully-fleshed out character in the 'HIMYM' universe, we knew how much he meant to Marshall. In that wonderfully acted scene at the end, the show delivered the hardest truth of all -- that sometimes, the thing you were worried about ends up not mattering that much. Sometimes our everyday concerns are overshadowed by tragedies that come out of nowhere and upend everything.

So that's the episode I watched first. And I thought it was excellent (my fellow TV Squadder, Joel Keller, went further and in his recap, called 'Bad News' the best of the season).

The second time around, I knew to watch for the numbers and I almost couldn't see anything else, and that blunted the emotional impact of the episode's last moments. Though I appreciate the effort that went into creating the gag, it's hard not to see the numbers as cheapening the death of Marshall's father. You count down to the seconds to the new year or the number of days in pregnancy. It just didn't feel kosher to precede the death of a loved one with a gimmick.

Does it make the episode bad? No. So much else worked that it just took the episode down a couple of pegs. And I'm betting the countdown sprang from a desire to provide viewers with a fun, 'HIMYM'-esque Easter egg. An admirable idea, but I can't help but wonder, why not deploy that little gambit in another episode, one with a more light-hearted conclusion? 'HIMYM' could have dropped this in a different kind of episode and it would have been a lot of fun. I don't know why the countdown had to be inserted into this episode in particular.

I have to agree with Donna Bowman, who wrote in her AV Club review that 'Bad News' was "the wrong time to deploy such a gimmick. It detracts from the funny stuff and cuts off the serious stuff at the knees."

Still, props to Hannigan and Segel for delivering terrific work in that last scene. And Sandy Rivers, owl attacks and Dr. Stengel are still funny.

The second time around, I knew to watch for the numbers and I almost couldn't see anything else, and that blunted the emotional impact of the episode's last moments.
I paid attention to the numbers during my first viewing, and even rewound the episode if I missed a number. I made sure to see all 50 numbers. And the ending STILL hit me like a ton of bricks. Completely blind-sided.

I disagree with the reviewer. The second time they watched the episode, the "blunted" emotional impact was likely due to already knowing what was going to happen.

I agree about the ending. Why would a comedy show need to create such sadness? This show is losing me more and more.

M*A*S*H comes to mind immediately with the killing of Henry Blake in the last scene.

Heck, the episode where Ted gets dumped at the alter was pretty freaking sad too.

At any rate, in real life things like that happen too. Everything is going along smooth and then wham. You never know.

Heck, the episode where Ted gets dumped at the alter was pretty freaking sad too.

Also my favorite episode: "After 2AM" Ted keeps debating on cupcake girl and robin and ends up with neither.


My girlfriend and I completely spaced on the countdown thing. Infact I just realized Marshall's dad is Dobber from Coach. :o

The silver lining is that Marshall got to see his dad one last time before he died. We'll have to wait to see how this affects him the rest of the season/series, though.

idid like how they foreshadowed it when ted did the voice over, 'years later marshal said he was very happy that lily said the next words' because at first i just thought it meant they bonded on a different level, but he was implying it was the last bonding they would do.

when marshal said at the end, 'im not ready for this' i kinda felt the same way

I had no idea about the numbers thing and thought it was so odd when they showed that beer can. I'll have to rewatch it then, thought it was a great ep.

If anything, I think killing off Dobber/Patrick the starfish means Lily getting pregnant is now a for sure thing.

A son they'll name after Marshall's dad - bet on it.

If anything, I think killing off Dobber/Patrick the starfish means Lily getting pregnant is now a for sure thing.
Lily getting pregnant and having a son was already a sure thing. It has been foreshadowed multiple times that not only is Lily pregnant in the future, but it is a son.

Also, it was hinted that they wouldn't be able to conceive until they had met Barney's Doppelganger, which was finally accomplished.

when marshal said at the end, 'im not ready for this' i kinda felt the same wayreminded me of SLC Punk

which Jason Segel was also in

Here is one take on the countdown...

Thanks for the quick & informative reply!!

I like that they resolved the issue that Marshall was so worried about: That his dad might be crushed if he knew his son couldn't make a baby. It WAS great foreshadowing that Lily brought the issue out in the open, because how would Marshall have felt if he didn't have his dad's blessing if Marshall DID have that problem? His dad would have died anyway and Marshall would have always felt like he let down the Erickson name.

The more I think about it, the more I put this in their top 5 episodes of the series. Home run.

Thanks for the quick & informative reply!!

I wins +1 internets forum...

Besides Coach's "Dobber" and SpongeBob's "Patrick" he was also "M O O N spells Moon" from Stephen King's The Stand ... RIP Marshall's Dad ... we barely knew ye. Sad ending to a hilarious episode... I was totally unaware of the countdown - guess I gotta rewatch it.

I was totally unaware of the countdown - guess I gotta rewatch it.
I'm glad I picked up on it from the beginning. The first number, 50, was written large and distractingly on a pamphlet in the doctor's office. The second number, 49, was on the same pamphlet in the next scene. It was too bizarre to be a coincidence or a continuity error.

I was totally unaware of the countdown - guess I gotta rewatch it.

Same for me. I rewatched it and enjoyed it. GF and I counted down every number. Doing it this way really lessens the impact of the ending.

"Last Words"... maybe the least funny HIMYM ever.
I laughed just once- when Barney kneed Ted in the nuts, that's it for the entire 30 min episode.

This show is totally bi-polar now, just a sad shell of it's former funny/entertaining self :(

"Last Words"... maybe the least funny HIMYM ever.
I laughed just once- when Barney kneed Ted in the nuts, that's it for the entire 30 min episode.(
I dunno, it was a difficult subject matter to laugh to. But I did get a kick out of several things: Robin's Mary Poppins bag, Barney giving the phone number back to the drunk 15 year old, the ridiculous multiple last words" by Marshall's dad, the pocket dial that went just a liiiiitle bit longer than Marshall wanted... lots of good little funny bits in an episode that was essentially about a funeral.

"Last Words"... maybe the least funny HIMYM ever.
I laughed just once- when Barney kneed Ted in the nuts, that's it for the entire 30 min episode.

This show is totally bi-polar now, just a sad shell of it's former funny/entertaining self :(

um... most of it wasnt supposed to be funny...

um... most of it wasnt supposed to be funny...
Oh, I thought HIMYM was a comedy?
I'm not against a little drama now and again, but in the past- when there were "serious" episodes, like Ted being left at the altar- they still managed to squeeze in some pretty entertaining comedy.
I don't know... this whole Marshall's father dies story arc just doesn't seem to have much to do with how Ted meets his future wife, and yes... death and funerals aren't funny.

I dunno, it was a difficult subject matter to laugh to. But I did get a kick out of several things: Robin's Mary Poppins bag, Barney giving the phone number back to the drunk 15 year old, the ridiculous multiple last words" by Marshall's dad, the pocket dial that went just a liiiiitle bit longer than Marshall wanted... lots of good little funny bits in an episode that was essentially about a funeral.My thoughts also... the last 2 episodes were about real life making this episode that much better imho...

Great bounce back from the sad episodes tonight. Those last-minute plane tickets back and forth from Minnesota have GOT to be expensive!

Too bad Zoe won't be the mother, (I assume, because you'd expect him to remember her cousin's real name) I like that actress.

Too bad Zoe won't be the mother, (I assume, because you'd expect him to remember her cousin's real name) I like that actress.
She's probably not the mother anyway, since she's blond. This was the reason given for Sarah Chalke not being the mother. Also, doubtful that she lived in the apartment with Rachel Bilson, since The Captain is rich and she lived in a nice apartment.

But she is cute, I like her. Also, good for Barney, I hope they decide to keep Nora around.

it couldn't be Zoe because when you tell a story of how you met someone, you don't go one about the first few years of knowing eachother. the show is how i met your mother, not how i met and fell in love with and eventually proposed to your mother. i mean, if the show ended with their hallway kiss it'd be acceptable, but it's got years to go.

also hasn't Bilson's roomate already been resolved to be Bilson's SO now? i forget, because... well, i don't care as much anymore. :P

also hasn't Bilson's roomate already been resolved to be Bilson's SO now? i forget, because... well, i don't care as much anymore. :P
Ted originally thinks that its the roommate, but the girl that Rachel Bilson is dating is revealed to not be The Mother. I think that they even go so far as to say that Rachel Bilson has moved out of that apartment, but now I don't recall.

I'm really hoping they bring back Ted's first serious love interest the cake decorator -- played by Ashley Williams, I think. THAT was a great fit...and they never closed the option of her being the mother.

I'm really hoping they bring back Ted's first serious love interest the cake decorator -- played by Ashley Williams, I think. THAT was a great fit...and they never closed the option of her being the mother.

I thought Robin was his first.

I'm really hoping they bring back Ted's first serious love interest the cake decorator -- played by Ashley Williams, I think. THAT was a great fit...and they never closed the option of her being the mother.
I liked Victoria, too. But I think she can be ruled out as returning to be the mother because now we have the stipulation that she was in that classroom on his first day teaching, and that he hadn't met her yet up until that point. But it'd still be nice if she came back for a cameo at some point, as other past girlfriends have (Danica McKellar returned for the threesome episode).

I wish they'd go back to some of the chance encounters like the 'yellow umbrella' episodes. There were 2 I think - one where Ted saw passed her with the umbrella on a sidewalk and the other when Ted and Marshall were at an after-hours club and he found the umbrella. I want more.

Yeah, the show would really stay more "on topic" if every episode had some kind of clue or allusion of what's to come.

I'm really hoping they bring back Ted's first serious love interest the cake decorator -- played by Ashley Williams, I think. THAT was a great fit...and they never closed the option of her being the mother.

I recently re-watched the first season and I forgot how great she seemed. It'd be nice if they brought her back some how.

In case anyone missed it, HIMYM was renewed for two more seasons last week.

Good, but two more seasons of not meeting the mother will drag this out too freaking long!

In case anyone missed it, HIMYM was renewed for two more seasons last week.

Hmmm, the Charlie Sheen effect?
:D

Good, but two more seasons of not meeting the mother will drag this out too freaking long!

Yeah, I hope it's either:

a) the final season with Ted meeting the mother and getting married in the finale

or

b) the show continues with Ted and the mother after they marry up to the present.

I don't care as long as the red herrings are cast out and they actually get to the point of the narration.

Hmmm, the Charlie Sheen effect?
:D

HIMYM winning! :D

it couldn't be Zoe because when you tell a story of how you met someone, you don't go one about the first few years of knowing eachother. the show is how i met your mother, not how i met and fell in love with and eventually proposed to your mother. i mean, if the show ended with their hallway kiss it'd be acceptable, but it's got years to go.
Well, we found out last week that its not Zoey, since Ted explicitly tells us its not. But, that doesn't mean they still wont be dating the rest of this season!

HIMYM winning! :D

Bi-winning

I like this show...but of late, its more like How I Lost My Dad! Lets get this show back on track!

John Lithgow was great but it is hard to picture him as a normal suburban dad after seeing his turn as the Trinity killer on Dexter!

John Lithgow was great but it is hard to picture him as a normal suburban dad after seeing his turn as the Trinity killer on Dexter!
Well, even Trinity was a normal suburban dad. Except for the fact that he was a serial killer and abused his family. But other than that, normal suburban dad ;)

I felt like the writer's, when sitting down to discuss this season, knew that eventually they would reveal Barney's dad. But I also felt like they essentially killed Marshall's dad just for the one-liner about "Barney, I'll never see my dad ever again. Your dad lives ten minutes away." I know that's not true, and they killed Marshall's dad for character development, but it was a perfectly scripted line.

I also felt like Barney was a huge dick to his Dad. They've really built Barney up as desperately needing a father figure in his life, and when he finally gets one, Barney rejects him. It's really sad. I hope Barney goes back at some point, just to grow as a character.

I also felt like Barney was a huge dick to his Dad. They've really built Barney up as desperately needing a father figure in his life, and when he finally gets one, Barney rejects him. It's really sad. I hope Barney goes back at some point, just to grow as a character.

Very much so. We will have to see.


I prefer my John Lithgow as: (in order)

Trinity Killer
CGI King
Suburban Dad
Alien
Barney's fictional cool dad

I also felt like Barney was a huge dick to his Dad. They've really built Barney up as desperately needing a father figure in his life, and when he finally gets one, Barney rejects him. It's really sad. I hope Barney goes back at some point, just to grow as a character.

It makes sense that he wouldn't be totally accepting of his Dad. I mean this man has been gone for 30 years. In this 30 years Barney has become a highly independent (sex-crazed I might add) badass. I would find it highly unbelievable if he just all of the sudden could come to grips with the fact that his dad was a lame suburbanite.

It makes sense that he wouldn't be totally accepting of his Dad. I mean this man has been gone for 30 years. In this 30 years Barney has become a highly independent (sex-crazed I might add) badass. I would find it highly unbelievable if he just all of the sudden could come to grips with the fact that his dad was a lame suburbanite.

But this would make for fun development...picture Barney trying to be like his dad...he starts to dress like a suburbanite, act like a suburbanite, even gets into a bowling league, all that fun stuff (but we all see how bad it is, he thinks its fun, then later realizes its bad). In there somewhere, though, he strikes gold when he meets a bunch of single soccer Moms :D.

Suburban - "wait for it" - naughty...Suburbanaughty!

It makes sense that he wouldn't be totally accepting of his Dad. I mean this man has been gone for 30 years. In this 30 years Barney has become a highly independent (sex-crazed I might add) badass. I would find it highly unbelievable if he just all of the sudden could come to grips with the fact that his dad was a lame suburbanite.
Barney also has made it personal policy to not have a girlfriend, and he's had two now in the last two seasons. We see him struggle to accept it, but in the end he does. I see that as character growth.

Barney also has made it personal policy to not have a girlfriend, and he's had two now in the last two seasons. We see him struggle to accept it, but in the end he does. I see that as character growth.

Agreed. I think eventually he will accept his dad. Pretty big development though in his life.

You know, I had an interesting thought which may be a flaw in Barney's character development. He's supposed to be older than Ted and Marshall, yet he doesn't appear to have any other friends. In the episode where it is revealed how Ted met Barney, they became immediate friends (or rather, Ted allowed Barney to become his friend), yet we never see that Barney has other friends. Barney has never seemed to be adverse to meeting new people, so I find that interesting that he went several years living in the city without anyone else. And he latched on to Ted, Marshall, and later Lily almost immediately.

Some insight on the season finale:

http://www.tvline.com/2011/04/how-i-met-your-mother-finale-wedding-reveal/

It's interesting trying to guess who's wedding it is. Barney and Nora, Don and Robin, Barney and Robin? One of the comments was funny, what if Ted's wife is Barney's half-sister? We learned was away at college when Barney met his dad and Ted's wife was in that class his first day so it'd be plausible. Ted talking about banging Barney's sister would be quite a finish!

It's not Punchy's wedding?

Has anyone considered that maybe future-Ted is not talking to "his" kid's but perhaps they are someone's else's kid's and he's telling those kids how he, Ted, met, their mother, who is not his wife, but someone else's.

I know it's a stretch, but ....

It's not Punchy's wedding?

I wouldn't think so. Why would Robin, Lilly, Marshall and Barney be at that wedding? Also, in the episode with the flashforward to the wedding, Marshall appears to be in a tux similar to Ted's, kind of odd for Marshall to be in Punchy's wedding party. Who knows, I'm sure they could just create a reason for them all to be there.

Has anyone considered that maybe future-Ted is not talking to "his" kid's but perhaps they are someone's else's kid's and he's telling those kids how he, Ted, met, their mother, who is not his wife, but someone else's.

I know it's a stretch, but ....

That'd be a total let down, I'd feel cheated.

i'm pretty sure they've called the narrator "dad"...

so I find that interesting that he went several years living in the city without anyone else. And he latched on to Ted, Marshall, and later Lily almost immediately.

did you see Barney's "origin" episode? the one where he turns from a hippie to a suit. maybe he met Ted not long after the epiphony.

or maybe it's just easier to write a sitcom where you don't have to worry about the characters' other friends.

did you see Barney's "origin" episode? the one where he turns from a hippie to a suit. maybe he met Ted not long after the epiphony.

or maybe it's just easier to write a sitcom where you don't have to worry about the characters' other friends.

This is how I figured it. Barney doesn't talk to his old friends anymore because they were all hippie types.

Of course then the stuff with him and his brother (Wayne Brady) both being so "awesome" doesn't really make sense because why would his brother be so like him if the only reason Barney was like that was because of the "Suit" guy stealing his girlfriend.

i'm pretty sure they've called the narrator "dad"...

which is why my adoption theory works so well. they can have ted marry whoever, then bring in what ever extra they want to be "the mother" in that class.

kids are shocked. we are shocked. cut to black, play the theme. THE END.

which is why my adoption theory works so well. they can have ted marry whoever, then bring in what ever extra they want to be "the mother" in that class.

kids are shocked. we are shocked. cut to black, play the theme. THE END.
Viewers would feel cheated. I would hope the writers would avoid suffering from "LOST syndrome".

Definitely wouldn't help DVD/Blu Ray sales after the series is over.

Viewers would feel cheated. I would hope the writers would avoid suffering from "LOST syndrome".

Definitely wouldn't help DVD/Blu Ray sales after the series is over.

It would definitely get people talking about the finale, thats for sure.

Season finale was pretty decent. Don't know why I didn't see Lily's pregnancy coming but I probably should have. I'm not sure how I feel about Barney getting married though I have a feeling that Robin will be the bride not Nora.

My wife and I were both wondering about the pregnancy the whole episode while they were throwing out the red herring of the bad soup.

I think it's inevitable that Barney and Robin will get married. Writers and producers like to put main characters together - not a main character with someone the audience barely knows.

I loved the "And that's how I met your mother... psych!"

I loved the "And that's how I met your mother... psych!"

Yep -- for a millisecond there I thought they surprised us.

I loved the "And that's how I met your mother... psych!"

They have already done that joke twice before. First, with a random stripper Ted met. Then the blond kids gag.

I was really confused because my DVR screwed up right at that part and I missed the whole "Psych" comment. I had to go online and watch that part of the episode again.

Spoilers about Monday's first two episodes of the new season of "How I Met Your Mother" in this article. If you don't want to know what happened, DO NOT READ.

TV Notes
Why I Have Trust Issues With 'How I Met Your Mother'
By Maureen Ryan, AOLTV.com - September 19th, 2011

It's good for the sake of 'How I Met Your Mother' that this is a busy time of year.

The first time I watched 'The Best Man,' the show's season 7 premiere last week, I was extremely irritated. By Monday afternoon, when I found time to watch 'The Best Man' again, I was so worn out from Emmy duty and other tasks that what's below isn't quite an energetic rant.

It's more an elegy of serious disappointment directed toward a show toward which I still have a great deal of residual affection.

It's worth noting that there are two 'HIMYM' episodes airing Monday, but I've only seen the first one. If there's something worth saying after the second episode airs, and I have the energy to say it, I may amend this post. But I seriously doubt as to whether any of the issues I have with 'HIMYM' as a whole will be addressed, let alone resolved, in the second episode of the season. (Note: I've added one addendum below, now that I've seen the second episode.)

Here's one big problem: The whole "who is the mother of Ted's children" concept is played out. It is tired. It was device that had a shelf life that expired some time back. It was once amusing and a little bit fun. It's not any more. We don't know who the mother is, and we're not going to find out for a long time (as the Narrator Ted, who thinks we'll find this funny, keeps telling us. Dear Narrator Ted, Shut. Up. On this subject, you're not amusing).

We keep getting these feints and "clues" and alleged progressions that turn out to be, well, nothing. In 'The Best Man,' we're told that Barney's wedding is instrumental in Ted meeting the mother. Then the show never goes anywhere with that. We're just supposed to wait. Because seven seasons isn't a long enough waiting period, apparently.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The show needs to either stop referencing the mother or introduce her as a regular part of the gang and be done with it. As a storytelling conceit, it's a distraction. It's a growing annoyance. It's actively detracting from what is good about the show. It's had its day. It's pushing up the daisies. It is, in short, an ex-parrot.

So what does the season 7 premiere do? It doubles down on the whole "mystery bride" concept.

Lord, give me strength.

For seven seasons, Ted Mosby has been ensnared in the "Who is the mother" story line, and I'll fully admit, I did my share of stories about mother clues and "developments" along the way. The mother plot wasn't the reason I loved the show, but it was a fun add-on, if you will, to the kind of cleverness that 'HIMYM' does at its best. But, as I said, I'm extremely tired of it now (in part because the show does single-episode cleverness well. Season-long arcs that are structurally and not emotionally based are much, much harder to pull off and far less satisfying).

But now 'HIMYM' is putting Barney in a similar "mystery bride" story line? Instead of giving us real movement on the mother, 'HIMYM' is doubling down on the show's least pleasing, most distracting aspect?

Why? What purpose does it serve to not know who Barney is marrying? I call shenanigans. Major, irritating, possibly corrosive shenanigans.

I would argue that this move actually hurts the show, in that 'HIMYM' will have to make it plausible that Barney could have realistic, deep romances with two different women (and we've only ever seen him try that once, and that didn't work -- or, I should say, 'HIMYM' awkwardly and randomly decided it didn't work). 'HIMYM' will have to do a ton of heavy lifting to make it seem as though he could be headed to the altar with both Robin and Nora (or, God forbid, some other mystery woman).

I can't think of a good reason to put Barney in a "mystery bride" plot. I really can't. Of course, a story line in which Barney gets into a relationship with Nora while secretly pining for Robin and Robin stands by silently and nurtures rekindled feelings for Barney is perfectly good 'HIMYM' fodder. I've got no problem with any of that that. But why the "mystery" of who he's going to marry? It just seems like another artificial contrivance in a show that is already overburdened with a big one.

It also seems like a desperate maneuver to prop up interest in a show that is going into its seventh season. I can understand the desire to keep the media interested in 'HIMYM.' But I can't understand sacrificing the best parts of the show -- its focus on realistic life problems and the ups and downs of friendship and love -- to do it. As I said, the mother story is already tiresome. Another season-long mystery created just for the sake of having more than one gimmick isn't exactly going to help me re-invest in 'HIMYM.'

Let me break it down for you a different way. People have long compared 'HIMYM' to 'Lost,' in that both shows take a lot of narrative chances with structure and storytelling, and both shows are (at their best) about the importance of things like love, loyalty and hope. Remember how people got really, really sick of the flashbacks in seasons 2 and especially season 3 of 'Lost'?

Well, the show eventually found a way out of that box. 'Lost' changed things up narratively, not in ways that were universally loved, but it gave itself a new bunch of tricks and tools, and the show was better for it. Not just because the structure of episodes changed, but because they changed in ways that were designed (at least in part) to get us more deeply invested in the characters' journeys. I stuck with it all six seasons because, even when a particular story didn't work, the ongoing plots and structures were altered and tinkered with in service to the stories of the characters. For the most part, things weren't the other way around.

But nothing about 'HIMYM's' mother plot has changed in seven seasons. We get "clues" (Here's her roommate! Here's her ankle! Yellow umbrella! She's in Ted's class!) that never really go anywhere. Nothing about those clues or the mother plots have made us care about Ted more. In fact, I'd argue that his quest for true love in New York City has been overshadowed on occasion by the contrivances and the mechanics of the mother story line.

Season 1 Ted was a romantic, and sometimes he still is (or rather, a bruised romantic, which is what he occasionally is now, as in that cigar scene with Robin). But maybe we'd be more invested in that quest of his if he had had actual, real movement on this front. No, dating Zoey and his other relationships don't count, because, let's face it, who can really remember any of them except Stella? Maybe we don't care as much about Ted because his non-mother relationships seems so readily disposable.

(Addendum based on 'The Naked Truth') Case in point is the Victoria situation. At the start of the season 7 premiere, Narrator Ted says, "I never would have met your mother if it weren't for a wedding." Well, Ted didn't see Victoria again at a wedding -- he saw her at the Architect's Ball. And he met her way back in season 1. Now, unless you want to interpret things very broadly and say that because of some new belief or attitude picked up at or after Punchy's wedding, Ted wouldn't have spotted Victoria or wouldn't have been open to seeing her again (all of which is a vast stretch), Victoria is not the wedding-connected woman he speaks of. So Victoria's just another relationship that we can see will go nowhere, or Narrator Ted is just talking nonsense. Neither of these things is an attractive possibility.

As for the show as a whole, well, what if 'Lost' had stuck with the exact same kind of flashbacks all six seasons? You would have wanted to throw things at some point, right? Or, more likely, you would have just checked out. By not recognizing that the mother plot has become an albatross -- and by actually creating another mystery bride story line -- I almost wonder if 'HIMYM' is asking me if I want to check out. And I'm afraid of what the answer might be.

If a show has a narrative device, it should be about something. There should be a greater purpose to it. These mystery bride plots should help me care more about Barney and about Ted. In 'The Best Man,' neither of those things happened. In point of fact, the mother mentions made me fear additional stretches of the kind of frustrating non-progress that Narrator Ted likes to joke about. Ha ha! And I don't need a mystery bride plot to know that Neil Patrick Harris will absolutely nail whatever emotional material the writers throw at him. Why not trust him -- and the audience -- to already have that bond and be willing to go on that journey, without a contrived wedding mystery?

I get that some fans of the show like having these kinds of mysteries embedded in the show, and I didn't mind them for a long time -- as long as they weren't distracting. At this point, they're distracting. I'm guessing the show only has two seasons left (though that's not official at this stage). I don't want it to engage in yet more seasons of tap-dancing and evasion (remember how well that worked out for 'Lost' in the depths of its third season?).

I want to spend that time watching kick-ass episodes about characters I care about. I don't care whether or not the episodes have gimmicks or over-arching plots -- as long as they deliver the kind of humor and emotional moments that made me care about 'HIMYM' in the first place.

Of course, there were things to like in the season premiere, especially Drunk Marshall ("I will do this for the child"), Cobie Smulders in the phone call scene, and the dance between Barney and Robin. But everything was overshadowed by a structural conceit that has had no payoff in the past and does not promise a payoff any time soon.

I don't mean to foreground the mother thing: There are things that 'HIMYM' does much better. But the show keeps foregrounding these mystery brides, and if it's going to do so, it has to take me somewhere with all this. Will it?

I guess I'm sort of like Ted -- I've stopped believing. I won't stop watching, probably. I'm too far in for that. But I've stopped believing that the mystery bride plots will have a purpose and emotional payoffs that make them worth the long, seemingly pointless waits. And if that feeling continues, 'HIMYM' episodes may start stacking up, unwatched, on my DVR.

Maybe you have a different take. Feel free to leave it in comments.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
Mondays at 8PM ET/PT on CBS

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/09/19/trust-issues-with-how-i-met-your-mother/

I was very glad to see Victoria at the end of last night's episode, if only because I would like a follow up on her story. She and Ted ended kind of badly, and she's always been my favorite of his exes.

I don't think she's the mother, because it would be quite the feat of literary juggling to get her to shoehorn into what we already know about the mother, but its not IMPOSSIBLE. The main kicker would be that since the mother was in his first class, Victoria would have to have made a quick exit without Ted recognizing her. Also, the whole being in Germany thing, not Rachel Bilson's roommate.

I've been predicting here for years it would be cake girl... and last night that came one step closer to reality :) Yes, there are a million issues with the theory but I'm still in the game!

Weren't we already told in a previous episode/season that Robin marries her old co-anchor Don and that Ted's kids know him as Uncle Don? Did I just make that up, I know we haven't seen the Don character for quite sometime now, but I always thought they already wrapped that side story up so the whole 'mystery bride' thing that the blogger talked about is null right?

Ted has just become sort of sad character at this point (still looking for his soul mate). Let him find her, get happy again, and let's have some fun on this show.... it is a "comedy" after all- isn't it?

Ted has just become sort of sad character at this point (still looking for his soul mate). Let him find her, get happy again, and let's have some fun on this show.... it is a "comedy" after all- isn't it?

I finally watched the first season about a week ago and my perspective of Ted changed from sad-sack (from catching the last few seasons) to full sociopath.

My wife and I have always loved the show but we couldn't agree more with the AOL article above. It's long past time to introduce us to the mother and have her be a regular member of the cast without the need for a narrator talking to the kids each episode. The writers have one of the best comedic ensemble casts EVER in television. Just let them be funny, we don't need the overly tired and drawn out storyline drama after 7 seasons. Ross & Rachel killed Friends, let's not have the same kill HIMYM!

I'm pretty sure they've already said he is going to meet the mother on the last episode. After all if you're telling a story about how you met somebody you don't tell them about a bunch of stuff that happens after you met, you pretty much end on the night that you met.

Otherwise they show would have to be "How I Met Your Mother, and Then Dated Her For a While, and Then We Got Married, and Then We Had You."

Ross & Rachel killed Friends, let's not have the same kill HIMYM!
Your post is contradictory. If Ross and Rachel killed friends, then what we DON'T need is for Ted to meet the mother.

Anyway, this syndrome is common for shows that go on longer than they should. Remember the first seasons of "Boy Meets World", when Cory was still in middle school? His character was a trouble-maker, not smart, and just a generally rowdy kid. By the end of the series, he was touchy-feely, wore sweaters everywhere, kind of nerdy. Same was true of Scrubs and JD.

When the show goes on too long, the characters devolve.

Still watching, though, because this show does have one of the greatest ensemble casts, as you mention.

Your post is contradictory. If Ross and Rachel killed friends, then what we DON'T need is for Ted to meet the mother.

I should have expanded that comment. What I meant was that the constant drama of will Ross and Rachel ever be together became extremely tiresome and depleted my capacity to enjoy the show the last 3 seasons. HIMYM is now in that same area and I doubt they make it to 10 seasons like Friends did if they don't make some changes to the storyline concerning Ted and his mystery spouse.

I for one will be angry if it's Victoria the cake girl. Never liked her, for some I REALLY dislike her, and she does not fit into the narrative they've developed. Really don't know what about her turns me way off, but it's there...

I for one will be angry if it's Victoria the cake girl. Never liked her, for some I REALLY dislike her, and she does not fit into the narrative they've developed. Really don't know what about her turns me way off, but it's there...

I'm as polar an opposite as could possibly be to you.

I love Victoria, always have, and was incredibly thrilled when she showed up again and was very thrilled that she won the straw poll as to who viewers thought the mother "should" be last year.

(But of course we know she can't be for a wide variety of reasons from the yellow umbrella to her being what's her name's roommate, and Ted would have recognized it was Victoria's ankle then.)

I wanted Victoria to be the mother from the time that she left to go to Europe, but it does seem that they've taken the story in a direction away from her.

I agree, we just need to meet the mother already. I think we need some time for him to fall in love with her and for the audience to get to know her and why we want her to be with him.

Noooooooo!

Ah well. My theory dies again. Please tell me they aren't setting up the exit of Colby, that would just be stupid.

Ah well. My theory dies again. Please tell me they aren't setting up the exit of Colby, that would just be stupid.
Far more likely that Barney and Robin end up married, which eliminates the problem Victoria identifies. If Barney is married to Robin, then Robin is no available.

Far more likely that Barney and Robin end up married, which eliminates the problem Victoria identifies. If Barney is married to Robin, then Robin is no available.

I agree this is the direction they are probably going on. Also, Future Ted keeps referring to her as "Aunt Robin" which implies they are still close.

The whole "boob bet" between Marshall, Lilly and Barney was hilarious too! I loved the rapid-fire negotiation on how much hands-on time Barney would get :D

Maybe...just maybe Victoria will come back once Robin is no longer an issue. (A guy can dream, can't he?) :-(

Wow, they really threw us for a loop this week. I thought it was a major mistake to reveal to reveal that Barney was the father in the opening sequence, but then they flipped it around on us. Not a bad episode!

Funny one I thought... Barney trying the spray was hilarious and Marshall getting trapped on the roof while the kid had the phone was also.

So I'm catching up on the first few seasons that I missed. The St. Patty's Day party (S3:E12 - No Tomorrow) - after finding out the one girl is married, Ted goes over to talk to Barney by the bar. Ted bumps into a girl while walking over, that's the mom.

So I'm catching up on the first few seasons that I missed. The St. Patty's Day party (S3:E12 - No Tomorrow) - after finding out the one girl is married, Ted goes over to talk to Barney by the bar. Ted bumps into a girl while walking over, that's the mom.
Her name is "Bump Girl", and there's never been any confirmation that its her. The producers haven't said anything, but they like throwing red herring's out there.

vNXcuFIRu9g

So I'm catching up on the first few seasons that I missed. The St. Patty's Day party (S3:E12 - No Tomorrow) - after finding out the one girl is married, Ted goes over to talk to Barney by the bar. Ted bumps into a girl while walking over, that's the mom.

not a chance.

Her name is "Bump Girl", and there's never been any confirmation that its her. The producers haven't said anything, but they like throwing red herring's out there.

vNXcuFIRu9g

Whoever the mom is, wasn't it established a couple seasons back that when she met/meets Ted, she happens to be a bass player in a rock or punk band? Keep looking for a girl w/ a Fender P-Bass & you'll have your "mother".

Keep looking for a girl w/ a Fender P-Bass & you'll have your "mother".Let's not forget the yellow umbrella...

Let's not forget the yellow umbrella...

Correction....look for the girl w/ the Fender bass AND a yellow umbrella.....:)

Correction....look for the girl w/ the Fender bass AND a yellow umbrella.....:)

Ted already took the yellow umbrella when he went back to the bar after St Patricks day and it started raining.

Yes Mr Rrainwater, why don't you tell us what you know about the umbrella?

:D

Whatever the case, characters don't "bump" into each other in shows unless the writers write it that way. Therefore, there was a reason they did that. I think that (very short) plot point will come up again.

Therefore, there was a reason they did that.So we'd talk about it...like we're doing...

Whatever the case, characters don't "bump" into each other in shows unless the writers write it that way. Therefore, there was a reason they did that. I think that (very short) plot point will come up again.

The writers are attempting to make the show as real as possible with regards to relationships. In real life, you don't bump into your future wife on accident 4 years before meeting her. Bumping into characters is a literary device, so they threw it in as a red herring. Its been discussed in interviews with the creators.

It's a good thing the Vikings scored at least one touchdown on Sunday, otherwise this episode would have been awkward! I wonder if they filmed multiple endings/dialogs based on vague possibilities in the Vikings/Bears game.

Also, love that they brought back Dauber for another episode! His character is great. It was touching when the friend mistook Marshall for his father, since he reminds him so much of his dad. Probably exactly what I would want to hear in that situation, especially since it brought back a wave of good memories for Marshall.

Well the lack of posts for this show the past few weeks is, I think, an indication of the poor turn it's taken lately. I have not been impressed with the show this season. However tonight is an exception; it was funny, poignant and introduced a cute new female. Bummer about Robin but really, Ted? Wtf are you thinking? Let's hope this Ep marks a turn for the better for the show this season.

Well the lack of posts for this show the past few weeks is, I think, an indication of the poor turn it's taken lately. I have not been impressed with the show this season. However tonight is an exception; it was funny, poignant and introduced a cute new female. Bummer about Robin but really, Ted? Wtf are you thinking? Let's hope this Ep marks a turn for the better for the show this season.

Yeah, I thought last night's episode was a return to form with a nice blend of comedy and emotion. Ted's feelings for Robin seemed to come out of the blue though and we all know that Robin is not the mom, so I don't know where they are going with this.

I liked Quinn (though I can't hear that name without thinking about Quinn Mallory). I guess we'll be seeing more of her...

Yeah, I thought last night's episode was a return to form with a nice blend of comedy and emotion. Ted's feelings for Robin seemed to come out of the blue though and we all know that Robin is not the mom, so I don't know where they are going with this.

I guess the point of this will be that Ted can't meet the mother until he has fully resolved his feelings for Robin (and vice versa)

Chances are this will drive Robin to move away or something (again)

I liked Quinn (though I can't hear that name without thinking about Quinn Mallory). I guess we'll be seeing more of her...

Any chance to see more of Becki Newton is a good thing, IMO.:D

Ted already took the yellow umbrella when he went back to the bar after St Patricks day and it started raining.

Didn't he leave it at the future wife's apartment when he was dating her roommate?

Anyway, much better ep this week. Didn't Ted say "I love you" to Robin, and not "I'm in love with you"? Hopefully we won't have to go through that whole thing again. Love the Barney/stripper reveal.

Didn't Ted say "I love you" to Robin, and not "I'm in love with you"? Hopefully we won't have to go through that whole thing again.

Yeah, that's what I was kind of thinking too, the directors/producers are just toying with us and next episode will have him finish saying something like Marshall and Lilly love you too, etc.

I really hope we don't have to go through the whole Ted+Robin thing again, wouldn't that be the third or fourth time.

After having HIMYM sat on my DVR since last season I only caught up with it this week.

And the first episode I'm up to date with had an ending that felt like I was back to square one. I don't think I've groaned so loudly since I had a stomach bug. That only lasted a few days, this Robin thing is lasting forever. The show really doesn't know how to close a chapter.

I really hope we don't have to go through the whole Ted+Robin thing again, wouldn't that be the third or fourth time.

I thought it was more like 118 ;) :D

Anyone else notice Conan O'brien standing in the bar 12 minutes into the show? :)

Great episode BTW.

ok now they're just f*cking with us.

Anyone else notice Conan O'brien standing in the bar 12 minutes into the show? :)


yup - that was definitely him - he turns around when barney goes running out - guess he's a fan.

yup - that was definitely him - he turns around when barney goes running out - guess he's a fan.

Or he's just desperate to get away from TBS and back on network! ;)

ok now they're just f*cking with us.

They've been doing that from season 1. We've been played again.
Well, not really. I expect these bait and switch tactics now.

They've been doing that from season 1. We've been played again.
Well, not really. I expect these bait and switch tactics now.
I was a regular viewer for first 4 or 5 seasons. Since then not so much. When I do watch it's like the same show with just a different catch phrase or relationship issue etc. During last nights show we wondered if the show will wrap up in an orderly fashion, tying up the loose ends or just disappear.

I won't say the show has jumped the shark, it hasn't, but at least in my mind has become very redundant.

Conan story

http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/did-you-catch-the-very-famous-extra-on-tonights-how-i-met-your-mother.html

(he won the extra role in a charity auction - spoke about it on his show last summer)

What the hell was that...

What the hell was that...
A little thing called plot progression... finally.

I hope Ted moves into his house, which I can't recall actually seeing since earlier last year.

Plot progression is good. Sadly that was an awful episode.

So now two characters are homeless while Marshall and Lily have 2 places to live?

So now two characters are homeless while Marshall and Lily have 2 places to live?
Ted has had two places to live for a long time; he bought a house back in season 5 (the "was Marshall a kid, or drunk" episode). Robin is moving in with one of her coworkers.

So now two characters are homeless while Marshall and Lily have 2 places to live?

:D That' s what I was wondering

Ted's house was a long way away I thought... much more even than Marshall and Lilly.

That was a good episode. Ted moving out of the apartment was obviously a big step.

The Robin subplot with Marshall/Lily was hilarious too!

"Seriously, it is like the last half of Wall-E here"...LOL!

Since we already know that Ted will eventually meet the mother at Barney's wedding, everything hinges on Barney getting married. Any development in the Barney getting married department is good.

I just didn't buy Barney being that stupid with the dancer.

I just didn't buy Barney being that stupid with the dancer.

That's why she was named Karma. He got to play the fool instead of playing girls for fools.

That's why she was named Karma. He got to play the fool instead of playing girls for fools.

But what about Destiny?

But what about Destiny?

She's at the Melon Patch now.

She's at the Melon Patch now.

Ha! :cool: :D

TV Notes
How It Met Big Ratings 7 Years Into Its Run
By Bill Carter, The New York Times - Apr. 9, 2012

In what amounts to late middle age in television the CBS comedy “How I Met Your Mother” suddenly finds itself a hit.

Seven years into its run this well-regarded series, which returns with a new episode on Monday night, is scoring its best ratings. It is up almost 20 percent this season among the audience that advertisers most want to reach, viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, and now ranks as the No. 8 entertainment show in that category.

Beyond giving comfort to late bloomers everywhere, the performance by “How I Met Your Mother” is proving that the new ways to watch television can sometimes enhance the old ways. Two factors changed the trajectory of the show this year: its early seasons became available on Netflix, and repeats began running on FX, a cable channel with an audience especially well matched to the show’s core viewership.

“It’s very unscientific,” said Craig Thomas, who created “How I Met Your Mother,” with Carter Bays, “but people have told us: ‘I always heard your show was good. I caught up, and now I watch it live on TV.’ ”

Mr. Bays, added, “What I heard anecdotally was that a lot of people went to Netflix and just devoured the first seasons of the show.” Both men spoke by telephone from their offices in Los Angeles.

At about the same time Netflix picked up the series, 20th Century Fox Television, the studio that produces and owns the show, revised a deal that originally sold its repeats to the Lifetime channel and also made them available on the more compatible FX. (Both the studio and FX are owned by News Corporation.) “That really pumped up awareness of the show,” said Gary Newman, chairman of 20th Century Fox Television.

FX ran a marathon of the series over Labor Day weekend, another invitation for viewers who had heard good word of mouth. The results for the new season on CBS were spectacular, with viewership up 30 percent for episodes in September. By contrast several shows introduced about the same time as “How I Met Your Mother” — including “Desperate Housewives,” “House” and “The Office” — have seen their ratings erode in later seasons.

All of this was especially important to “How I Met Your Mother” because it is a television rarity: a completely serialized sitcom. The show’s premise revolves around a father in the year 2030 recounting for his children the circuitous, obstacle-strewn course of true love that led him to marry their mother.

In the past, when repeats of popular shows became widely available in syndication, they often contributed — with a few exceptions like “Seinfeld” — to a decline for the original episodes, an effect of overexposure. Now that trend seems to be reversing.

Another example is “The Big Bang Theory.” That hit CBS comedy has also reached new ratings heights — up 27 percent over last year — coinciding with the introduction of repeats on TBS. And those repeats have lifted TBS to the top of the ratings among cable channels.

“When audiences for successful series on networks are a little bit smaller, getting onto another platform and exposing a show to other viewers brings new people to the original broadcasts,” Mr. Newman said, adding later, “With all the choices people have now, it just takes longer for a show to break through.”

Brad Adgate, the director of research for Horizon Media, a firm that buys commercial time for advertisers, noted that sitcoms had a history of success in syndication, breeding continued success in first run. “ ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Friends’ or ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ have thrived,” Mr. Adgate said in an e-mail. But he added, “With the emergence of DVRs and streaming video, ‘HIMYM’ ” — as “How I Met Your Mother” is often called — “and ‘Big Bang’ could be the end of an era.” He noted that TBS opted not to bid on the rights for television’s biggest sitcom, “Modern Family,” which will be broadcast on USA instead. “Comedy’s popularity in playback and streaming video may have diminished its value. Time will tell.”

It took a while for “How I Met Your Mother” to find a first-run audience. The show survived a rocky period for sitcoms after its premiere in 2005.

“We were mentioned in articles about the death of comedy on television the first couple of years,” Mr. Thomas said. “We were just sort of hanging on those years. And now we’re around to see the articles saying there’s a rebirth of comedy.”

It did not hurt that two of the show’s regulars, Jason Segel and Neil Patrick Harris, have emerged as major stars — with films like Mr. Segel’s “Muppets” and Mr. Harris’s turns as host of the Emmys and the Tonys.

But Nina Tassler, the president for entertainment at CBS, said the most important factor in the survival of “How I Met Your Mother” was the continued presence of Mr. Bays and Mr. Thomas. “They’ve crafted the show,” she said. “The longer you watch it, the more invested you are, and the more intrigued you are about the evolving relationships. But also about the question of where and how we will finally meet the mother.”

That high-concept premise has been both a challenge and an inspiration, Mr. Bays said. “The first season was very serialized, and we didn’t take off right away,” he said. “We decided we didn’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”

So for a few years the show took detours, with characters hooking up, splitting up, meeting new people, having life adventures that did not always drive the overarching story forward.

“That served us pretty well for a while,” Mr. Bays said. “But the last few years we’ve put a premium on telling a story that’s really fun to watch week by week in a cliffhanging, serialized kind of way.”

One reason for the change in focus, he said, was the awareness that people had changed their viewing habits and were now watching shows on DVD or Netflix all in one sitting.

“We started writing with that in mind,” he said. “So we could try to make every season an epic movie as opposed to 24 individual little short films.”

Of course that meant stringing out the show’s conclusion, which Mr. Bays said they had not had trouble doing. “Very early on we decided how we wanted to show to end,” he said. “That kind of reverse engineering helps the writing process. You know what each episode has to achieve to get you on that road map.”

With the ratings up, the incentive to reach the end of the road is diminishing. CBS has already ordered an eighth season, and hit shows are rarely urged to wrap up soon. “I think we could make the show last longer,” Mr. Thomas said. “It’s not one thing we’re dealing with. It’s the life stories of these characters.”

Having a show run for 9 or 10 years also means a lot of stuff can happen to the real people playing those characters. A few years ago Mr. Thomas and Mr. Bays said they realized that the two actors playing the children, David Henrie and Lyndsy Fonseca, who are occasionally seen on a couch listening to their father (voiced by Bob Saget) recount the tale, would be vastly changed by the time the show ended.

“David Henrie is already two feet taller than he was,” Mr. Bays said. So they thought ahead and shot a final scene with the children several years ago, so they would resemble the ages they were when the show began.

“It’s been many years preparing for the endgame,” Mr. Bays said. “We want to stick the landing.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/arts/television/cbss-how-i-met-your-mother-late-blooming-hit.html?_r=1&ref=media

Interesting. I hope they don't string it out too much longer. Several more seasons doesn't seem necessary.

Good read though :cool:

I was just thinking about the show's longevity this morning. I would think Jason Segel in particular would be looking to get out, as he's has a number of recent successful movies. And of course NPH as well.

(Cobie and Alyson are also in upcoming movies---the only one who doesn't seem like he has any other career is Ted...)

I was just thinking about the show's longevity this morning. I would think Jason Segel in particular would be looking to get out, as he's has a number of recent successful movies. And of course NPH as well.

(Cobie and Alyson are also in upcoming movies---the only one who doesn't seem like he has any other career is Ted...)
This show has successfully avoided pigeonholing these actors though, unlike some other shows (Star Trek springs to mind). You don't see Jason Segel in another movie and immediately think of Marshall. Even "Lily Aldrin" has a completely different vibe than "Michelle Flaherty" or "Willow". NPH worked hard to shed his Doogie Howser image (although his self-parody in the Harold & Kumar films is very Barney-esque).

Not sure what's going on with Josh Radnor.

I thought I had read that Josh Radnor despises being on a sit com? I am sure it is the same mindset that Anna Faris had when making all those Scary Movies. In the middle of shooting she would promise that this would be the last one, but when the studio came calling (presumably with a big check), she would sign back up again. Rinse repeat. I think Radnor would be the first to jump ship... if there was anything to jump to.

It doesn't help that he is intentionally the least likable main character of a sit com ever.

Well, a bit more plot movement tonight. It would appear that Ted has a kid in 3 years. The baby looked to be what - 4 -6 months old at that point, so I guess we'll be seeing some "mother" action soon. 9+6 plus a few months of dating puts us at a year and a half.

Well, a bit more plot movement tonight. It would appear that Ted has a kid in 3 years. The baby looked to be what - 4 -6 months old at that point, so I guess we'll be seeing some "mother" action soon. 9+6 plus a few months of dating puts us at a year and a half.

so you're just going to skip over the whole engagement+wedding...

They were time limited, anyway. By 2030, the daughter is 15. That places her birth in or around 2015.

Plus, they only introduced the daughter. They never said anything about the mother. That leaves the possibility that the daughter is an unplanned birth or that Ted isn't married to the mother (or, at least, "yet".) Scrubs set that precedent, with JD getting Elizabeth Banks pregnant in the last season.

Yeah but the show is "How I Met Your Mother" not "How I Married Your Mother"

so you're just going to skip over the whole engagement+wedding...

I've never counted on them showing any of that stuff. The show is "How I Met Your Mother", not how I met her, dated her, planned a wedding, etc.

The way I understood it is he will finally meet the mother on the last episode, and then they'll wrap it up.

I've never counted on them showing any of that stuff. The show is "How I Met Your Mother", not how I met her, dated her, planned a wedding, etc.

The way I understood it is he will finally meet the mother on the last episode, and then they'll wrap it up.

I HOPE you're right. Even the best shows have a shelf life. Like Friends. It got to be ridiculous when the actors were 45 and still acting like college kids. :rolleyes::eek::p

Well, a bit more plot movement tonight. It would appear that Ted has a kid in 3 years. The baby looked to be what - 4 -6 months old at that point, so I guess we'll be seeing some "mother" action soon. 9+6 plus a few months of dating puts us at a year and a half.

Not necessarily. If you go back and watch the scene they were very careful to *never* directly mention that the baby Ted was holding was, in fact, his own. That could have been Uncle Ted holding Marshall and Lilly's baby (or Barney's). They just did a good job to make the viewer infer it was Ted's.

Not necessarily. If you go back and watch the scene they were very careful to *never* directly mention that the baby Ted was holding was, in fact, his own. That could have been Uncle Ted holding Marshall and Lilly's baby (or Barney's). They just did a good job to make the viewer infer it was Ted's.
As I pointed out above, its extremely likely that the baby is Ted's. The daughter in 2030 is going to have to be born in 2015.

Yep, I think they are probably hoping to end with the 10th season, which would be in the spring of 2015.

I just had a thought: If the show is "How I Met Your Mother", and he's supposed to be telling his kids the story of all the situations that led to meeting the mother, then the wedding we finally meet the mother should be Robin's wedding, not Barney's.

My thoughts for this is because we meet Robin in the pilot episode. At this point, Barney and Ted had already been friends for 4 years, and that would be a more natural starting point for the story.

Not necessarily. If you go back and watch the scene they were very careful to *never* directly mention that the baby Ted was holding was, in fact, his own. That could have been Uncle Ted holding Marshall and Lilly's baby (or Barney's). They just did a good job to make the viewer infer it was Ted's.

ok you're really over-thinking things and making it hard on yourself if you think its Marshall's baby (who is the one who says "he loves her" and seems to be just fine with it - and shows no emotion towards her.... Why would Ted have that much 'love' for Marshall and Lilly's 2nd (or 3rd) child?)
And Barney clearly doesn't have any kids yet with his attitude.

They were just pointing out the obvious - he has a teenage daughter in 2030 - she had to be alive by 2015.....

O, and if you really want to over-analyze the scene - Marshall and Ted both have wedding bands on their left hands (Ted's isn't visible until the very end)- meanwhile, Barney is trying REALLY hard to hide his left hand under his leg in every camera shot (just watch his hand the entire scene)... but it does briefly become visible - doesnt look like there's a ring.......

ok you're really over-thinking things and making it hard on yourself.......
It obvious that the writers are just fracking with us at this point. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride....:D

For some reason, I thought that Ted meets their mother at Robin and Barney's wedding.

ok you're really over-thinking things and making it hard on yourself if you think its Marshall's baby (who is the one who says "he loves her" and seems to be just fine with it - and shows no emotion towards her.... Why would Ted have that much 'love' for Marshall and Lilly's 2nd (or 3rd) child?)
And Barney clearly doesn't have any kids yet with his attitude.

They were just pointing out the obvious - he has a teenage daughter in 2030 - she had to be alive by 2015.....

O, and if you really want to over-analyze the scene - Marshall and Ted both have wedding bands on their left hands (Ted's isn't visible until the very end)- meanwhile, Barney is trying REALLY hard to hide his left hand under his leg in every camera shot (just watch his hand the entire scene)... but it does briefly become visible - doesnt look like there's a ring.......

Boy, never thought of studying scenes from HIMYM the way I would have with LOST or FRINGE. ("Did you see that shark? It has a Dharma logo on its tail!")

But you have to wonder if the HIMYM writers have their own "history log" the way LOST writers did, documenting basically every plot point, line of dialogue, prop, etc from each episode to assist in continuity btwn seasons.

"Did you see that shark? It has a Dharma logo on its tail!"
A plot point which ended up being fruitless.

If the writer's of LOST wrote HIMYM, then the eventual mother would never have owned a yellow umbrella, would not have been the roommate of Rachel Bilson, would not have been in Ted's class (on accident, of course), and probably wouldn't even end up being the actual mother of the kids on the couch. Oh, and Ted is dead, and the couch sequences are purgatory and his way of his life flashing before him before he can go to heaven.

I'm hoping the writers of HIMYM screw around with us less than the writers of LOST!!!

Boy, never thought of studying scenes from HIMYM the way I would have with LOST or FRINGE. ("Did you see that shark? It has a Dharma logo on its tail!")

But you have to wonder if the HIMYM writers have their own "history log" the way LOST writers did, documenting basically every plot point, line of dialogue, prop, etc from each episode to assist in continuity btwn seasons.

I doubt they keep of everything - but they do clearly keep track of a lot of things - and have been very careful when doing 'future' scenes - but Barney hiding his hand was very obvious... NPH was uncomfortably keeping his hand under his leg.

There are also wiki's that keep track of this stuff for them.

I've never counted on them showing any of that stuff. The show is "How I Met Your Mother", not how I met her, dated her, planned a wedding, etc.

The way I understood it is he will finally meet the mother on the last episode, and then they'll wrap it up.
I think they need to be careful how they do this, though. We've seen Ted fall headfirst into so many relationships - even to the point of being left at the altar - that to wrap the series with, "And THEN I met your mother and we fell in love. The end." would be quite a letdown.

I think they need to be careful how they do this, though. We've seen Ted fall headfirst into so many relationships - even to the point of being left at the altar - that to wrap the series with, "And THEN I met your mother and we fell in love. The end." would be quite a letdown.

How about, "I met your mom. We had a one nighter. You were on the way."?

And I am BACK IN THE GAME! Go go cupcake girl! :)

Seriously though, I recognize that there is no way Ted marries the cupcake girl. But since I predicted her way, way back I have to stick to my pick until he proves me wrong. Thought the first half last night sucked, second half was really funny.

Also note that he said the wedding day goes horribly wrong. So I really don't expect Barney and Robin to end up married.

Great episode last night, however I'm a bit confused on something.

Robin's old co-anchor who went off to Chicago, was he not referred to as the kids' "Uncle Don"? I swear I remember that from a few seasons ago, but I may be totally wrong.

I like it better that Robin and Barney end up together in the end though...

They didn't "say" that it was Robin and Barney getting married, did they? Robin was clearly the bride, but was Barney the groom?

Either way, it's still a distraction. Robin has been definitively eliminated as the Mother. So has Victoria.

All we really know about the wedding is that Ted meets the Mother there for the first time.

Either way, it's still a distraction. Robin has been definitively eliminated as the Mother. So has Victoria.

All we really know about the wedding is that Ted meets the Mother there for the first time.

At this point I'd be surprised if it were anyone but Barney's half-sister.

And while it is a distraction - it does explain how Barney ended up with Robin - and then how Ted met the mother, which has to happen at the wedding.

(Barney wouldn't suggest running away with Robin unless Ted had just done it with Victoria, etc etc etc etc)

A new record was set on this show. Las Vegas to NY on a bus in a few hours. That bus must have had one heck of a super-charger on it.
:eek:

A new record was set on this show. Las Vegas to NY on a bus in a few hours. That bus must have had one heck of a super-charger on it.
:eek:
They were in Atlantic City

A new record was set on this show. Las Vegas to NY on a bus in a few hours. That bus must have had one heck of a super-charger on it.
:eek:

They were in Atlantic City

It helps when one pays close attention to the storyline... ;)

They've been to Atlantic City several times (notice the continuity of them always playing with the Asian tourists, too!) but I don't recall them ever visiting Las Vegas on this show.

They went to Atlantic City last episode.

And I am BACK IN THE GAME! Go go cupcake girl! :)

Seriously though, I recognize that there is no way Ted marries the cupcake girl. But since I predicted her way, way back I have to stick to my pick until he proves me wrong. Thought the first half last night sucked, second half was really funny.

Also note that he said the wedding day goes horribly wrong. So I really don't expect Barney and Robin to end up married.

Correct on both.

The showrunners have said Victoria is Ted's last major distraction that he needs to get out of the way before meeting the Mother.

Also, yes, I suspect that "goes horribly wrong" is very important and Barney and Robin likely do not end up together.

That having been said, I love both Victoria and, quite frankly, Ashley Williams in general. :D

http://web.me.com/nealdodson/newashleywilliams/Photo_files/A.WilliamsHshot.jpg