Thanks to the efforts of former TVS writer Ryan Budke, this lovely little blog you're reading is high on the browsing list of the staff of How I Met Your Mother. In fact, they seem to like us quite a bit; at the CBS press tour party, co-creator Craig Thomas said he reads my reviews of the show every week, and executive producer Greg Malins came up to me while I was talking to Craig to tell me how much he loved the Squad (it sounded something like, "You guys are awesome!" But it was too loud in there for me to hear well. All I know is that it wasn't along the lines of "What a fine weblog you have, my dear fellow. Cheerio and pip pip.").Anyway, because of this comfort level, I didn't have any problem asking the other co-creator, Carter Bays, a few questions about where the season is going, as well as some questions about not being picked to be in the post-Super Bowl slot. I also asked him about the origins of the two best episodes of the season, "Slap Bet" and "Swarley."
By the way, in the picture above, Craig is on the left and Carter is on the right. They look so young, don't they?
If you sensed a difference between the tone of last season and tone of this season, it's no accident, according to Bays. "Last year it was so much about the search that was unrequited, and having Ted have this unrequited love for the whole season," said Bays. "I think by the end of that we just felt, 'Let's just have fun from now on,' and make it a fun, funny show."
The goal is to make more episodes that stand on their own. "Ideally you want to reach the point where you can tune in and watch a rerun of How I Met Your Mother and enjoy it from start to finish without having seen any of the others." Hmm... concerned about reruns... that makes me wonder if they realize the show is on solid-enough ground that they're looking towards the day when the show is syndicated...
Whatever the motivation, the change in philosophy has definitely improved the show. Carter was flattered when I told him that I thought "Slap Bet" was the funniest half-hour of TV last year (a sentiment I expressed here earlier this month), and when I asked him where that came from, he was very honest about the plot's origins. "That is a real thing that existed between me and my friend John Read, when we were in high school. It was a very immature, juvenile, stupid thing that we never thought we should put on TV, but we did and it turned out to be funny, so who knows?"
Remember, "Robin Sparkles" was also in that episode, making it one of those multi-layered episodes in the Seinfeld vein; both the A and B plot are so strong, they could have carried episodes by themselves. Bays says they don't usually do A and B plots, but the draw of the slap was too strong to ignore. "'Slap Bet' was an idea we had sitting around since the beginning the show, and we knew like we eventually want to do an episode with the characters slapping each other. Because when you boil comedy down, there's nothing funnier than people getting slapped," he said.
"Swarley" had equally humble beginnings. Bays gives credit for the "crazy eyes" line to Carl, who is his and Thomas' assistant, whose utterances have been used in a number of episodes. The nickname "Swarley," though, "was just one joke that got pitched in the room that turned into a whole plot line that eventually turned into the title of the episode," said Bays. "It kind of grew. The word 'Swarley' was so funny, that it grew. It definitely absorbed the show like the Borg on Star Trek."
He was mildly disappointed that the show didn't get the slot after the Super Bowl, but there are benefits to even being considered, he said. "We're just excited to have the name How I Met Your Mother mentioned anywhere near the Super Bowl. It's a great promotional platform." He mentioned that CBS executive vice president Kelly Kahl went to bat for them, a fact that Kahl himself confirmed to me earlier that day.
Bays wouldn't reveal too many details about the rest of the season or the season finale, but what he did reveal is intriguing. "There's going to be a wedding, basically," he said about the finale. "(It) may or may not be that the two characters that are engaged are planning that wedding." Interesting. Many of the show's fans think that Ted and Robin will be broken up by the end of the season, given some subtle cues that Bays and Thomas have thrown into certain episodes -- "There's nothing we love more than sprinkling little bits in here and there," said Bays -- but maybe that'll happen after their wedding starts. At least it's fun to speculate, right?
Bays says that he and Thomas know where the show is going and what the plan is. Which means that fans can rest easy; the writers haven't forgotten about Barney's unwise selection of slap punishment: five slaps at any time of Marshall's choosing, without warning, for infinity. "Our goal in this show is to never leave things unresolved. Eventually all the questions will be answered every open storylines will be concluded. And, yes, we will see more slaps."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-30-2007 @ 6:36PM
MacGuffin said...
HIMYM is probably the best comedy on TV right now.
I agree that the change in philosophy has made it a much better show. Instead of fixating on metrosexual Ted, it has become a great ensemble where every character is interesting AND funny.
And you're also right, I've enjoyed the re-runs these past few weeks, especially the brunch episode where Marshall and Lily entice each other at the restaurants. That, to me, was the funniest moment of the year.
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1-30-2007 @ 6:52PM
LarriveeJP said...
If the creators are reading this, I'd love to see a return of the Cock-a-mouse even if only for a second. That one still makes me laugh everytime I think about it. The Slapbet/Robin Sparkles espisode may be the gold standard for this show though. Pure genius.
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1-30-2007 @ 7:04PM
Lacey said...
This show is fantastic.
Robin: So what was it, a cockroach or a mouse?
Lily: It was a cockamouse!
Robin: A cockamouse?
Lily: It was some mutant combination of the two. It was like a cockroach and a mouse, you know...
Barney: Did the horizontal, ten-legged, interspecies tango?
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1-30-2007 @ 7:07PM
mj said...
I love this show. I don't understand why CBS doesn't promote it that much. I think it one of the best on tv.
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1-30-2007 @ 7:57PM
Josh said...
The show has begun to hit its stride, and the sense of a group of friends having a good time is definitely present. The only thing that throws me off is the introduction of relatives for an episode as it usually disrupts the group aspect of the show. We got two episodes close in relation with Barney's brother and Robin's sister, though the latter worked better since it was a springboard for the group's stories rather than a true 'A' plot surrounding the sister. I was fond of Ted's parents earlier in the season, especially with the method of storytelling from different point of views leading to that one ensemble scene of disaster. Guests on the show should help bring forth the group's dynamics rather than a showcase of the guest themselves. The father from Malcolm in the Middle was too over the top, and the clichéd buildup and climax didn't help.
I'm loving the show as a whole and find comfort in laughing at a sitcom again. Cheers to Bays and Thomas.
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1-30-2007 @ 7:59PM
MustImpeachGWB said...
One word:
'Legendary'....
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1-30-2007 @ 8:09PM
1iPete said...
This is the best comedy on network TV (Sunny in Philly best overall!) and I really enjoy the entire ensemble. As great as Slap Bet and Swarley were, I actually thought Ted the Architect & World's Greatest Couple were the 2 best eps. of the season so far.
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1-30-2007 @ 8:12PM
Ryan said...
If the creators are even remotely reading this site (and thus my comments) then even though they want to have more stand alone episodes, I hope hope hope we get to see Marshall slap Barney a few more times randomly in random episodes. That continuity would be amazing for the fans.
And for the casual fans, the sheer silliness of it would still work.
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1-30-2007 @ 8:17PM
Joel Keller said...
Ryan, read the last sentence of my post. Bays addresses the "more slaps" issue.
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1-30-2007 @ 9:53PM
M. Stephen Lukac said...
Well, since Ted and Robin were still together at Barney's brother's wedding (which -IIRC- was set "One Year Later") then there shouldn't be a breakup this season.
Should there?
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1-30-2007 @ 10:45PM
TVSeriesFinale.com said...
Really nice article. I enjoyed the show last year but it's really come into its own this season.
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1-30-2007 @ 11:49PM
Joe Sparano said...
I actually prefer the tone of last year. I've laughed a lot the season, but last year's more serious episodes were really working for me. It's still different in all the right ways, though. These guys obviously know what they're doing, so I trust that the change is best for the show.
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1-31-2007 @ 1:31AM
Alex said...
M. Stephen Lukac,
They had single stamina not couple coma.
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1-31-2007 @ 8:55AM
Alicia said...
@ 11. Well, since Ted and Robin were still together at Barney's brother's wedding (which -IIRC- was set "One Year Later") then there shouldn't be a breakup this season.
Should there?
But we know who the wedding is between huh? Marshall and Lily were calling each other "Husband and Wife".
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1-31-2007 @ 2:00PM
Mike said...
A lot of people have said this already but it is true for me to. This is the best sitcom on television right now. I'm 33 and a Dad now but I identify with these characters so much because I was at that stage in my life about 8 years ago. This show brings up great memories for me. I have a lot in common with Ted. I wear my heart on my sleeve. The dynamic this group has resonates with me on a personal level. I've had friendships and experiences like this. I can't explain it but this show does need more promotion.
Why so many reruns lately? That has been really bumming me out. The quality of this show is up there with the best tv shows of all time in my opinion. My favorite show of all time is Northern Exposure followed by Seinfeld. I also love Smallville. I liked Friends a lot too but I'm usually afraid to admit that in public. I watched Buffy and Angel too and recognized how great the writing was but I'm not into the whole vampire theme.
This show is so very good. Please CBS stay with it until its natural conclusion. I'm trying to get people to watch it.
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1-31-2007 @ 2:56PM
Matty said...
Regarding Robin and Ted being together at the wedding: I didn't think they looked "together" when they danced. I assumed they had broken up at that point.
My only complaint with this show is that Season One was only released in fullscreen on DVD. I hate fullscreen. Are there plans for the widescreen DVDs of Season One?
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4-06-2007 @ 5:39AM
Markus said...
I think they should bring Victoria back to the show... seemed like a perfect match for Ted and it's time to shake things up again
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4-02-2008 @ 9:51PM
Adam said...
Only comedy that is better on TV right now is The Office. We all gotta do our part and tell our friends to watch the show. What's up with all the reruns lately?
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