(S04E15) We've waited about three weeks to see this episode, since President Obama decided to inconvenience HIMYM fans by holding his first primetime press conference on the night this was originally supposed to air. Was "The Stinsons" worth the wait? Definitely. And not just because we met Barney's mom.It was just plain ol' laugh-out-loud funny. And Bays and Thomas were able to explore how Barn's ability to deceive could be used for sentimental reasons as well as self-serving ones. It also gave us a chance to see Ted overact, Marshall call himself the runt of the family, and Lily and Robin hide under coats and loose tops.
I know that the show's season finale is either already in the can or soon will be, just to avoid the sticky issue of Alyson Hannigan's and Cobie Smulders' baby bumps. But, with eight episodes left, avoidance measures are already being used. How big are they going to get by the finale? Or will both be going on long trips somewhere far away and just leave the three guys to carry the show? I guess that's something we'll find out as the season goes on.
Of course, the Best Barneyism is the theater lingo he uses to talk about the actors who are playing his wife and son. The woman who plays Betty Stinson "likes to go off book." The kid who plays son Tyler gets berated by Barney into eating an ice cream sundae even though he's lactose intolerant. Even if you knew after the cold open that this family of Barney's wasn't real, the way the story played out was creative enough to make it entertaining. And who can not love NPH saying that "child actors were way better back in the '80s"? For some reason, I never tire of the Doogie references.
Oh, but we can't go into the bullet points without mentioning the close second-place Barneyism: the fact that he roots for the villain in every '80s movie he sees. The blond guy from Karate Kid (anyone who reads Bill Simmons at ESPN.com knows he was played by the immortal William Zabka); Hans Gruber, who died hard in Die Hard; the teacher in The Breakfast Club; the Terminator in ... well, you know. All are movie heroes to Barney. Seems to fit in well with his character, doesn't it?
More fun stuff:
- Lily hates Marshall's "saint" of a mom. So we see more cracks in the armor of the "perfect" marriage. Nice to see Fake Mrs. Stinson coach Lil over the phone as she pretended to make peace with her mom-in-law. Hopefully, we'll see more of this story soon.
- "I told you, you can't have a catchphrase!"
- Seems very appropriate that Ted likes Brecht. I think he's even mentioned his love of the playwright in the past. At least it got him to second base with Fake Mrs. Stinson.
- You knew that Fake Tyler was going to lean in and try to kiss Robin. "I totally misread that," was his response. Maybe he's used to getting some young actress tail and felt some confidence...?
- When did Robin get that job on the morning news show? It really seemed that we got glossed-over big moments from the other members of the gang while Barney was sorting this whole thing out.
- We knew that Barn's mom was a whore, and she admitted as much to M&L, but we didn't know that she spent three weeks with Grand Funk Railroad "getting passed around like a bong." Like mother like son, I guess.
- Frances Conroy did a good job playing Loretta. Sweet and slutty all at once. Hope we get to see more of her.
- Did you notice the little look Barney gave Robin in the cab on the way home? When is that finally going to come to a head?
- So now both Marshall and Ted have slapped Barney silly. I guess he's used to it, given all the times he's gotten slapped by women over the years.
- Barn still thinks Bob Barker is his dad, huh?
How I Met Your Mother' Photos
Actor Neil Patrick Harris arrives in an Audi to the Entertainment Tonight Emmy Party at the Disney Concert Hall on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles.
Kevin Parry/WireImage.com
Presenters Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris on stage at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the NOKIA Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com
Presenters Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris on stage at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the NOKIA Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Presenters Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris speak onstage during the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kristin Chenoweth;Neil Patrick Harris
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Actor Neil Patrick Harris (R) and David Burtka arrive at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Burtka;Neil Patrick Harris
Getty Images
Actor Jason Segel attends CBS Comedies
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com
Actress Cobie Smulders attends CBS Comedies
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com
Actress Cobie Smulders attends CBS Comedies
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com
Actor Neil Patrick Harris attends CBS Comedies
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com
Actress Alyson Hannigan (R) and her husband, actor Alexis Denisof attend CBS Comedies
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-03-2009 @ 8:13AM
Wii60 said...
It was funny and had some good one liners, but I had trouble suspending my disbelief even for sitcom standards.
The idea that you could or would want to hold up that charade for 7 years seems strange, and his mom blowing it off like that was a stretch. I know it was supposed to reflect the absurdity of the characters themselves, but it still stuck out too much and distracted me from the episode.
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3-03-2009 @ 8:21AM
Martin said...
Also got to remember when Barney looks at Ted during the 'scene' at the table and says "This is you in every relationship you are in!" (or something like that) classic!!!
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3-03-2009 @ 8:31AM
Ashley Boyd said...
Robin got the Morning Talk Show host at the end of the episode where she was nearly deported. Barney got it her. The only new info is the fact it starts at whatever time she said (4:30am?) and she'll be starting it soon.
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 8:48AM
G.R. said...
exactly, Barney's video resume got her the job in "The Possimpible".
Liked this one.
3-03-2009 @ 9:14AM
Joel Keller said...
Thanks for that. The three weeks off must have clouded my memory a bit.
3-03-2009 @ 8:48AM
Alfonsina said...
How cool is it that Frances Conroy is Barney's mom? Love her!
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3-03-2009 @ 12:01PM
Allison Solow said...
I was really disappointed in this episode. I expected more. Maybe if Wayne Brady had been included, I would have liked it more. Also, while I appreciate the "out of left field" Barney stories -- like he's gambling addiction -- this was just stilted to me. I didn't buy it. And the fact that Lily referenced Marshall's mom at the wedding when we never saw his parents at the wedding bothered me. I don't know, bottom line is that I didn't laugh much tonight.
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3-03-2009 @ 9:45AM
Vijay said...
What about the Doogie scene transition music? Nice touch by the HIMYM crew. I'm now waiting for the Starship Troopers references.
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3-03-2009 @ 10:03AM
Argus said...
Wait. I saw this a few weeks ago. I'm confused.
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3-03-2009 @ 10:13AM
cdawg said...
LUCKY YOU! For most of us it was preempted by the Presidential speech
3-03-2009 @ 10:42AM
Martin said...
Was the west coast's viewing of this interupted by the live presidential speech? probably not. Well, I appreciate everyone who did get to see this however they did, not ruining it for the rest of us! :D
3-03-2009 @ 1:43PM
Clayton said...
This episode has been passed around on the tubes for weeks. If you saw it, you probably saw it as a torrent.
http://makeasitcom.com
3-03-2009 @ 11:28AM
Joe said...
Not the best episode of HIMYM, but still very good. The only problem with this episode and others like it is that it really doesn't do much to push the story-line along. My only hope it that we got some set-up for things to come with Lilly and Marshal's mom, Robin's new job, Ted and the actress, and of course Barney and Robin.
http://www.joeonthetube.com
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 12:52PM
Josh said...
Great episode. As ridiculous and sitcom-y as the episode was, the hilarity was more than enough for me to overlook the conventional setup of a faux family. I particularly enjoyed Ted's horrendous overacting with a "rich back-story" involving an affair in a billiards' car of a midnight train and hustling Algerians out of their dinar. Some great interplay with the characters made for a fun episode. Others may want more story or plot development, but I am all for episodes that can make me laugh. Mission accomplished, Bays & Thomas.
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3-03-2009 @ 1:01PM
Ryan said...
I loved it! Can't really go deeper than that. ;-)
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3-03-2009 @ 1:49PM
dkny said...
Josh you are 100% right - it is a sit com and it was funny - this was the best episode in a while - very funny tight comedy featuring the strength of the show NPH - who cares about anything else
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3-03-2009 @ 7:06PM
Kristeen said...
I can't believe that anyone actually enjoyed this episode. I guess I must have missed all of the funny parts because I didn't laugh once. This was honestly the worst half hour of television I have watched in years. I'd rather watch an hour of According to Jim than watch this episode again.
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3-03-2009 @ 8:08PM
Todd said...
Kristeen....did you ever like the show? To say you never laughed once?? I loved it! I only wish they had kept the gang in the dark about his "family" a little while longer. As soon as it was sprung on us, they explained it.
3-03-2009 @ 8:50PM
stg said...
I too rooted for the Terminator. He's the title character, and awesome machine!!!
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3-05-2009 @ 6:11PM
Buttercup said...
Did anyone catch that Barney cast his wife as "Betty"? Maybe a little shout out to the Flintstones?
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