(S04E21) Perhaps this dates me a bit, but I remember an episode of M*A*S*H where Charles basically played both sides of a practical joke war between B.J. and Hawkeye, and ended up having the joke be on him in the end. That episode was what came to mind as I was watching this one, which was amusing but by far the least funny HIMYM episode in quite awhile.
The practical joke plot, with someone always being in the middle, is an old saw of the sitcom biz, and Bays and Thomas pulled it out of their bag of tricks this week. They tweaked it a little bit, though; this became more of an exercise in Marshall and Barney teaching Ted a lesson that ended up going way to far, and everything seemed to work out for Robin, who was the middlewoman. But it was familiar enough that it had the ghostly imprint of sitcoms past on it. And when that happens on this show, it's never good.
I give Barn and Marshall credit for trying to save Ted from his overly-romantic self. We've seen from the first episode how he can get carried away; heck, they even flashed back to it, when Ted told Robin he loved her on the first date (boy, they both looked different back then, didn't they?). So pretending to be Holli (with an 'i') to see if Ted breaks the three days rule was wise. Who knew that it would get to the point where a) they're looking with love at the big dude from The Knights of Prosperity or that b) they'd be in Barney's office arguing which of them Ted would rather sleep with ("I'm cuddly, bitch! Deal with it!" was Marshall's argument)?
Through this whole thing, though, the funniest scene to me was one where instead of Holli sitting on her couch in her old cheerleader outfit, reading architecture magazines, we see Marshall and Barney doing it. I wonder if NPH piped up and said to the costume designer, "I'll take the sleeveless one!" Considering how much of Jason Segel we've seen on the big screen these days, it was odd to see him be the one who was more covered-up in that scene.
More fun stuff:
- At least Ted got his comeuppance, as Holli was Ted in female form: too-soon joke about getting married, letting slip with personal details too soon, and a way-inappropriate trip proposal. Maybe seeing it used on him will make him see why it creeps most women out.
- I like how Ted doesn't seem to know when to properly use LOL in his text messages (or "texty texts," as his first one to "Holli" called it).
- As the middle woman, Robin was in two weird places: she was trying to push Ted to use the "three days months to live" story on Marshall and Barney, but then she also was there to defend her honor as Ted's former girlfriend. Just a slight bubble-up of feelings from her, but they're still there.
- At least Robin knows how to elicit Ted's "naked lady noise." Though, in real life, she'd be flashing him her baby bump.
- Speaking of which, I was trying to keep track of all the silly ways Bays and Thomas used to cover up that bump, but just couldn't keep up. I like that they know we're in on the joke and just keep plugging away at it.
- Best Barneyism: his theory on name spellings: Ends in "ly" is always dirty, and "i" where a "y" should be means they're a sexual roller coaster. Second place is how the three days rule could be traced directly back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Note that Barney and Robin still always sit on the same side of the booth, even when Marshall's alone.
- And it all works out for Robin, as she goes out with the uber-romantic Stan. I like the last line of the episode: "You like chicken wings?" "Yeah!"
- Old Ted gave a mother reference at the very end of the episode. Hm... wonder if we're going to come back to that... and aren't we due a Goat sighting at some point soon?
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
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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
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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
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-28-2009 @ 8:46AM
Martin said...
I wonder if the girl in the bright yellow dress was of any importance at the end of the episode, considering the yellow umbrella having some importance with the mother if my memory is correct.
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 9:49AM
WhoElseButME said...
The yellow umbrella was left at the club after the St. Patrick's day party. I doubt that the yellow dress has something to do with that.
About the episode, with all due respect, Joel what are you smoking? Or is it me? I found this episode super funny, old-himym-is-back-funny! CHUCK ME!
I have been a fan of this show from Episode 1. I have felt that the series kinda lost its way in this season. I watched it more out of habit. I actually thought that Chuck & TBBT did a lot better on Mondays. Actually, it made me rethink Friends. A couple of years back I used to describe HIMYM as 'better than Friends'. But this season got me thinking, its quite an accomplishment to be funny 10 years, if I am feeling a 'bored' midway into the 4th season.
Just me 2 cents.
4-28-2009 @ 8:52AM
Andrew said...
I liked this episode, even though I didn't see it as a rehash of M*A*S*H, and I've seen all of those,too. I think you missed a neat reference, too. It was to Pablo Neruda--the Chilean poet. The movie Il Postino was about his life. His poetry is amazing especially his Love Poems:
I can write the saddest lines tonight.
Write for example: ‘The night is fractured
and they shiver, blue, those stars, in the distance’....
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 9:14AM
brenth said...
I liked this episode. As you mentioned the practical joke plot in a sitcom reminded me initially of friends, and "they don't know that I know..." But it didn't go quite that far.
And yes a goat sighting...Ted's birthday is April 25th, and it looks like the goat sighting is going to be on the season finale, May 18th.
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 9:40AM
HIMYM said...
I was cracking up this entire episode, especially when Barney and Marshall were fawning over Stan. Did you notice that Barney started his flirting routine with him? "Do you like magic?"
I agree with your Best Barneyisms, though I would switch them so the origin of the Three Days Rule was first...probably because my name falls into the category of names that end in I but should end in Y...awkward.
I also thought that Robin seemed really interested in Barney. It could have just been Cobie smiling and laughing at his jokes, but I haven't seen Robin like that since she was with Ted.
Week two without Lily, but I was too bust laughing to notice right away.
I had been hoping all season to get closer to the Mother, but when I thought for a second that it could be Holli, I freaked out for fear that the show could be reaching its end.
I hope to see the Goat next week, that should be legen- wait for it...
dary.
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4-28-2009 @ 10:54AM
Alicia R. said...
It was 3 months to live, not 3 days.
And once again Joel... very funny episode.
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 11:00AM
Joel Keller said...
Thanks. I'll fix that. Are you the one who told me before that you always think the opposite I do on each episode?
4-28-2009 @ 11:01AM
dckatiebug said...
I'm really surprised that you didn't like this episode, Joel. There's no way it was less funny than the last new episode (Mosbius Design); I also found it to be funnier than "Three Days of Snow," "The Possimpible," "The Stinsons," and "Old King Clancy."
This has been really uneven season. While I'm sure that the writing has been constrained by the pregnancies of Allyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders, I think it's incredibly bizarre that this has been (by far) the show's highest rated season. I think there's probably a big difference between those who have watched the show from the first episode and those who got into it at the end of last year, and probably a big difference between how those groups of viewers would define a good episode.
While last night was a little sitcom-y (even if it did have the twist of technological advancement), it was laugh out loud funny but also offered some character meditations for the more long-term fans.
I think the remaining episodes (particularly what I've read about the season finale) sound solid, but I'm really looking to the fall to see if my favorite sitcom can come out of this funk and adjust to life as something other than a cult-fav (because right now, the jury is still out).
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 11:04AM
mj said...
Actually, I thought this was really funny. Maybe some simple humor from the 'olden days' can't hurt? Sometimes it is just fun to laugh, and enjoy.
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 11:35AM
cdawg said...
nope i'm with Joel, wasn't a big fan of the ep. It dated itself by centering the whole plot around a rule that was made popular in the early 90s. While I liked the twist at the end and the whole Stan thing, the rest of it bored me.
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 12:13PM
The Guy Behind The Guy said...
I must have been in that half asleep half awake state where everything is funny. I cracked up a bunch of times.
The scene with Barney and Marshall in the bathtub was awesome.
Where's Lily? She can't look bigger than Robin? (Did u see the difference during the flashback.) Couldn't they just stick a guitar in front of her keep her around?
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 1:10PM
TK101 said...
Hannigan is out with her new baby - there was a line in an episode a few weeks back ("and we didn't see her for six weeks", or something to that effect) that is in reference to this.
TK
4-28-2009 @ 1:00PM
Charles said...
I thought that episode was great, one of the funniest of the season. I'll agree the season has been uneven this year, but the pregnancies of the two leading ladies has made it difficult on many occasions to push the storyline where it needs to go. I'm hoping for a better season 5, but there has been a lot to laugh at this year. I'm also hoping we get somewhere new with Barney and Robin and the mother search before the end of this year. I'm pretty sure it'll happen, just wonder how they'll do it.
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 2:40PM
sam said...
no honorable mention to barney's jesus monologue?
the origin of the 3 day rule and the high five!
true story.
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 2:54PM
Greg Hayes said...
Did anyone else feel like the jesus part was improv. I did by some of looks on the others faces especially Josh Radnor. NPH seems like the kind kind of actor that would do improv.
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4-29-2009 @ 12:57PM
tuhyk said...
Yeah I've actually noticed the look you're talking about. The Jesus story was pulled great
4-28-2009 @ 3:40PM
Andrew said...
This episode reminded me of the one episode of Friends where "the messers became the messees!" and I actually think it's one of the stronger episodes of this season.
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4-28-2009 @ 5:22PM
Wax said...
i didn't even miss Lily in the episode. there was enough going on that her character was completely unnecessary. i know she will be majorly down-graded for the rest of the season because of her baby-bump, but i gotta say, i dont miss her that much.
good episode. loved the parts where marshall and barney were "the girl" in ted's texting romance.
Reply
4-28-2009 @ 6:43PM
Daune said...
Yes, sorry! I really liked this episode. MUCH better than Mosbius Designs. It's such a nice pairing with Big Bang Theory. I laughed out loud a few times last night. By the end of the show, we were chiming in with the "Orrrr...!"
Reply
4-29-2009 @ 2:34AM
Bert and Ernie said...
I have to agree with a few of you that this season has been disappointing overall. It seems like the episodes have been dumbed down a lot. But then again maybe that's why its got more viewers now. The characters seem a lot more cartoonish now... much like a quality show like Scrubs seemed to suffer from in its later years. Perhaps its really hard for writers to keep the characters smart for long periods of time.
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