(S03E18) You know how I keep saying that guest spots ruin the chemistry of How I Met Your Mother? Well, that's not an absolute; sometimes, guests integrate well into the ensemble, or the story they're given is so good, that it just works. This week was one of those weeks. In fact, it was doubly good, since both Sarah Chalke and Will Forte did a good job of fitting in, with Forte being his usual creepy-funny self and Chalke being... well, anyone who reads my Scrubs reviews knows how I feel about Sarah.What? I have respect for her acting ability! That's all...
Ahem... now, where were we?
I kind of wish we saw more scenes depicting the growth of Ted's and Stella's relationship. I'm guessing if Stella were being played by Alicia Silverstone instead of Chalke, we would have seen more of the in-between stuff. With Chalke in the role, we get some references to an off-camera Stella and, this week, some quick scenes of her dating Ted and getting along with the gang. Stella's absence blunted the story this week a little bit, since we haven't really have time to see Chalke and Josh Radnor together and buy them as a couple that are taking such big steps.
Not sure why Stella needed to be ashamed of her five-year drought. Not everyone humps like maniacs like Lily and the rest of the crew (especially Lily... not sure whether I liked her "sellin' it" line better than her earthquake orgasm... both were good). But I'm glad they had her come back and admit that she overreacted to Ted telling the gang about it. It was the mature way to settle the situation, and in a continuing-storyline sitcom like this one, having Stella stay in a huff over something like this wouldn't have been realistic. Sometimes the guy isn't the rash, stupid one in the relationship. Most of the time, sure, but not always. So Ted got to meet Stella's daughter and end her "Virginity 2: Electric Boogaloo" in the same day.
As I said, Forte was at his creepy best as Randy, Barney's rebound bro. "This happens every time I get an erection" is one of the funniest nose-bleed related lines I've heard in a long time. What else did I like from Randy? His dance when Barney finally decided to make him his new wingman; following Barn's advice subtly put a conquest down by calling a girl a fat, ugly whore; "Goodbye, Geraldine Ferrar-bro;" saying that the night was going to be "Legendary... wait for it... dary." Robin, as usual, was the voice of reason, showing Barney how Randy was the rebound bro and how getting him laid won't be nearly as satisfying as it was to get Ted laid. I almost wish she did say yes when Barney called to ask her to be his wingman.
More fun stuff:
- Marshall going over the pop culture events of 2003, the last time Stella got any. Seabiscuit galloped into our hearts. The DaVinci Code came out... as a book. The best was Marshall's reaction to Nell Carter's death, coupled with Robin's half-paying-attention thinking that it would be hard for Ted to rock Nell's world because of the whole death thing.
- Wow. That old bro of Barney's was really gonna rock that viewing of 27 Dresses, wasn't he? Yikes. I refuse to see that movie with my girlfriend, for many, many obvious reasons.
- The Best Barneyism was him getting Robin to come out and help Randy by threatening to show a video of the two of them on YouTube. Robin wasn't sure the video existed, but Barn came right back with, "which is why you came from Brooklyn at midnight." So glad to see their night of passion didn't affect either of them one bit.
- So Ted forgives Barney, but has outgrown him. Wow. That's mature.
- Robin thinks Barney had more sex than she did when they were together. Makes sense.
- I tend to forget sometimes that Chalke can dial it down and not be as manic as she is as Elliot Reid. This episode was more of the sweet Sarah that we see glimpses of on Scrubs every so often.
- I've never heard of "unexpected number of testicles" in the list of usual dating dealbreakers. But I guess being one ball away from being walked is something freaky enough to drive people away. If Stella ever met Randy, "erection-induced nosebleeds" would likely be added to that list.
It was a sweet episode with a decent amount of laughs. Given the roll Bays and Thomas have been on in the last month or so, it's hard to say this episode is on par with some of the ones we've seen lately. But it was enough to set us up for next week, when Brit Brit returns. Hopefully, she'll be decent and not drag the episode down.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-06-2008 @ 12:51AM
Ian said...
Chalke up another winner!
Yes, I went there. And now crickets are chirping because I went there.
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5-06-2008 @ 7:06AM
Wii60 said...
I'll Chalke that up as a good pun. Just make sure it Scrubs off.
5-06-2008 @ 2:34AM
johnperson said...
Holy crap in a pita!!! Will Forte is the man. The dude is like bacon: he makes everything that he's in better. I feel like I'm almost guaranteed to laugh when I see him, whether it be SNL, this episode of HIMYM, or his guest spots on Tim and Eric Awesome Show. He's always over-the-top, extra-strength weird (see: MacGruber, Tim Calhoun, any song he sings on SNL), but the nosebleed erection line absolutely killed me. I would definitely love to see him on HIMYM again.
Pretty good episode but I was hoping for more of the Barney/Ted fallout, although it was a good idea to give his relationship with Stella more time. It looks like they're saving a Barney/Ted confrontation for the finale, as next week's episode will probably be more Stella-centric, what with Britney guest starring again and all.
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5-06-2008 @ 3:16AM
Robobagins said...
Dang, I too wished that Robin had become Barney's wingman. She was awesome in that episode where she "suited up" with Barney.
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5-06-2008 @ 4:14AM
Ronak said...
Why is Robin getting hotter in every subsequent episode?? I'm not complaining, but those people who were saying she was fading in this season after her bigger role in season 2 needs only to look at her to realize that idea was crazy!
I approve of this episode. I approve of Will Forte and Sarah Chalke! This season looks like it's going end in amazing fashion if Bays and Thomas keep going. Man I can't wait until next Monday.
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5-06-2008 @ 7:30AM
WhoElseButME said...
I HATE TED! He's being an outright bitch to Barney. He even gave him the OK to make a move on Robin in S1 and now when he knows that he has no future with Robin he still wants dictate who she can be with. Plus he is totally duplicitous to forgive Robin. AND he got Barney kicked out of the group. I really HATE TED!
I hope the mother is MIMI from the Drew Carey Show. (Yes, the kids are adopted)
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5-06-2008 @ 9:42AM
hub said...
He's not actually doing that. Like he said, he forgave Barney for sleeping with Robin, it just made him wake up and realize that Barney is incredibly shallow (which he knew all along, but this kind of punched him in the face with it). And his green light on Robin was before they went out. One of the cardinal rules is that you don't sleep with a friend's ex.
Also, I doubt Ted is the one who's keeping Barney away. I'm betting it's Barney, reeling from losing Ted, who's trying to get himself back to normal before heading back to the group.
5-06-2008 @ 7:36AM
Alicia said...
Is your reference of Will Forte and Sarah Chalke really guest stars? Chalke I am sure is looking for something after Scrubs, and I had no clue who Will Forte was until #3 said Tim and Eric Awesome Show.
I can't tell if your comment about Ted outgrowing Barney was sarcastic or not... I *hope* it wasn't.
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5-06-2008 @ 7:37AM
Alicia said...
That was bad... both of you... LMAO
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5-06-2008 @ 8:02AM
Lane Wright said...
I'm a big fan of the show, but to me, this was one of the weaker, less funny episodes, so I'm surprised to see so many people praising it. I honestly thought the "Ten Sessions" episode that so many people dumped on was much funnier. Of course, it probably doesn't help that to me nosebleeds aren't even remotely funny but simply disgusting and repulsive, or that I have no idea who Will Forte is. Still, I realize not every episode can be gold, and I just hope next week's is a return to form.
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5-06-2008 @ 9:39AM
Wintermute said...
Loved this episode. It couldn't stop laughing the entire time. This entire episode was "Legendary. Wait for it. Ary." Priceless...
'mute
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5-06-2008 @ 9:51AM
Donna said...
And what, pray tell, is so horrible about (a) waiting, and (b) being abstinent for five years? The way the gang reacted to this news about Stella has sort of made me respect them a bit less, as well as the show and its writers. It really irks me that the future Ted is telling his teenagers all these details about his sex life in a way that says, "hey, it's OK. We slept around when we were younger..."
I didn't watch the ending. I turned the channel to another station.
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5-06-2008 @ 7:48PM
Ronak said...
Who? Who has slept around except for Barney? Ted isn't looking to hook up with random chicks everywhere he goes, he's still looking for his wife, remember. Yeah, he's had occasional one nights stands, but he's not whoring around on purpose. Marshall and Lily......really? They're married, of course they're going to be doing it a lot. Robin I could see a little as well, but she's not exactly sleeping around as you so put it.
The way I see it, Ted's just more liberal about his feelings that others are. When he said he's going to tell his kids everything, he meant it. I don't see anything wrong with that. He obviously feels comfortable enough to be telling his kids these things, there's no reason to judge his parenting.
5-06-2008 @ 10:16AM
Nick said...
Their... meat is delicious
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5-06-2008 @ 12:31PM
PurpleSlog said...
"Their... meat is delicious"
That and Forte's dance where the only funny parts of the show to me.
5-06-2008 @ 12:49PM
kevjohn said...
Thank you, PurpleSlog.
I'm not a regular viewer of this show and there's a very good reason why: it isn't the least bit funny!! I watched this episode last night because quite frankly there was nothing else on. Forte's character was pretty humorous, in a "middle-of-the-road SNL sketch" kind of way. But other than that... nothing. How talentless do the writers have to be to make Sarah Chalke unfunny?? This was like a bad episode of Friends, except without the "edginess".
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5-06-2008 @ 1:23PM
Pete said...
As much as I love Sarah Chalke, I'm not seeing much range here. She's post-Keith Elliot Reed...moonlighting in NYC. Give her some personality!
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5-06-2008 @ 3:27PM
nattyff said...
I really love the barney and the rebound bro part of the episode really funny (they literally made me LOL, and i don't do that very often), and at the end i really didn't care for the ted part of the story (could be that TED MOSBY IS A JERK and i don't like him anymore??? :)... so, half brilliant, half boring... still great episode!!!
How many more episodes do we get??? any word of a 4th season??? or are they waiting for some brit ratings??? (really don't like her, but if she save these show i will love her forever!!!)
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5-07-2008 @ 5:04AM
ameth said...
hey there..
Can you please tell me what is the music while ted and barney was debating on limo ? (ep: the goat (17))?
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5-08-2008 @ 12:10PM
mel said...
sarah chalke is so pretty!
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