CBS

I like Barney and Nora.  I really don’t like Robin and Kevin.  And yet despite all that, I enjoyed this episode.  The perfect combination of humour and heart.  The staple of HIMYM. Oh and the double-meaning of Disaster Averted.

On every show, there are couples people love and couples people dislike.  Unfortunately, I always seem to be on the wrong side of the writers.  I always liked Robin & Ted and never liked Barney & Robin. To go along with that, the new Barney and Nora was perfect.  Nora seemed to change Barney in a way that no one else had before.  Now, it looks like Kevin and Nora will both be leaving the show next week.

But, let’s talk about the first natural disaster of the show, hurricane Irene.  It was a small flashback episode, which gave us a good opportunity to see Lily pre-pregnancy again and to encapsulate a major event in New York.  It figures that Ted would be a real boy scout and that everyone would find his preparedness annoying.  But, it was the phone calls from the group’s parents that really made the story this week.  And, specifically Robin’s lack of one.  Her father has always been a disciplinarian (both version of him,) but you still think he cares.  Turns out he does, but that hesitation before his call, gave Barney a chance to show his affection for Robin.

And that brings us to the second disaster that was averted; Robin & Barney cheating on their partners.  So, that disaster actually happened, which begs the question, how will Nora and Kevin find out?  And how quickly can Kevin get off the show?  But, honestly, it just made me mad that Barney would do that to Nora.  She’s going to be crushed.

Spoonfuls (Thoughts in Smaller Portions):

1. Barney & Robin’s Kids Would Be More Than Half Canadian

Now that we know that Barney is 1/4 Canadian, Robin & Barney would have 5/8 Canadian kids.

2. Always With The Bear

I like that Marshall’s fear of death always involved being mauled by a clearly fake bear.

3. That Song At The End Of Disaster Averted (HIMYM 709)

It’s called Hey by the Pixies and it was a great choice for the scene.

CBS

It’s time.  The Slap Bet Countdown went live 4 days ago, which can only mean one thing.  The last slap.

Tonight’s episode is titled, Disaster Averted and will feature the last slap in The Slap Bet.  The first slap came during that first Slap Bet episode in Season 2.  The second was also in Season 2, while the last two happened in Season 3 and Season 5 respectively.  The slaps are usually around Thanksgiving, and we’re close enough that tonight could be the night.

Originally the Slap Bet involved 5 slaps.  That last elusive slap is going to be very important and will live up to the hype more more than last week’s Slutty Pumpkin return.
Here’s the full breakdown of slaps, from Wikipedia:

CBS

The long-awaited return of the Slutty Pumpkin, now known as Naomi (Katie Holmes), was tonight and surprisingly, it felt like the b-story of the night.  What could top a Slutty Pumpkin?  Barney being Canadian.

Okay, so he’s only 1/4 Canadian (his grandmother on his father’s side,) but that’s still something.  And, it gave the show yet another excuse to poke fun at their neighbours to the north.  We got the requisite accent and hockey references, but there was also mention of the Barenaked Ladies, Justin Bieber and Canadian Whiskey.  It was especially great to see Robin cross-checking Barney and Ted for discussing Ted’s sexual relationship with Naomi.

Lily and Marshall were off contemplating a move to the suburbs, which felt a little forced.  Marshall would seemingly love the suburbs, yet fought incredibly hard to keep Lily from using her “pregnancy brain” to keep her grandparents’ house.  It was a rare miss for the show, and it wasn’t distracting as much as forgettable.  Okay, the “World’s Worst Showcase Showdown” and Marshall’s reaction to winning the skinny mic was hilarious.  But, other than that.

I think the writers must have felt like there was nothing they could do to match the hype around the Slutty Pumpkin besides having her be the titular Mother, which wasn’t going to happen; so instead, they went the exact opposite direction.  Though, I think Katie Holmes would have been better used in another role.  She just has a warm presence that doesn’t come across as awkward or chemistry-free.  This sounds weird before I write it, but it felt like they tried not to have chemistry, even though they did have some.  I’d rather have seen her married or unattainable.

Barney and Robin made up for any other shortcomings this week with the best pranks and storyline.  Barney’s father is Facebook friends with everyone in the group except Barney.  And, that’s how Robin finds out that Barney is 1/4 Canadian.  And she goes so far as to buy him a RCMP (The Mounties) outfit for Halloween.  I love that Barney never backs down though. He wears his all-American outfit, even dropping a flag behind him and playing James Brown’s Living In America (great song choice!)

Luckily, there was no sight of Kevin this week, but we were also without Nora, so that balanced itself out nicely.

Spoonfuls (Thoughts in Smaller Portions):

1. The Ducky Tie Was Even Worn with Barney’s Halloween Costume

Around the arm, while topless.  That’s dedication to the bet.

2. Since Justin Bieber Was Knee-High To A Snow Blower…

That references the common phrase: knee-high to a grasshopper, but cleverly goes Canadian.

3. The Barenaked Ladies Song…

It’s One Week and a terrible choice for having sex.

4. Lily & Marshall Missed Halloween?

I don’t remember seeing their costumes at all.  Sucks, especially after this was shown not too long ago.

CBS

It was a jam-packed week on How I Met Your Mother this week with Barney’s brother James (Wayne Brady), Nora (Nazanin Boniadi) playing a big role, and Kal Penn sticking around as Kevin for another week (regrettably.)  Oh and every one of the gang’s parents show up in creepy cameos.

It was an awkward episode, with Barney’s Mom kissing Barney (eww,) Lily’s Dad, Marshall’s Dad, Robyn’s Dad, and Kevin’s Mom all showing in the mind’s of their children as the have intimate moments with their partners.  It was a funny idea and it’s always great to see so many great actors playing these roles, but it may have been a bit much for 20 minutes.  That was topped with every horrible thing possible happening to Nora in one night.

It probably looked so funny on paper as a script, and perhaps even read out loud, but put it all together with the visuals and it just went a bit past the mark.  Wayne Brady is funny enough to get more screen time as a full guest star.  Same with Bill Fagerbakke, Marshall’s Dad.  Actually, same goes for Robin’s Dad (Ray Wise) and Lily’s and Barney’s mom for that matter.  What is great is that all of those actors agreed to come on the show in such small roles.  It shows how much they like the show to show up for a tiny scene like that.

Barney and Nora’s quest for sex was an equally off-putting storyline, but the best part of it is how their relationship is working out.  The group as a whole is feeling more mature.  Everyone is happier in their relationships, the Eriksons are having a baby, and Ted is calmer with his singledom.  Barney is enjoying the idea of a relationship and isn’t scared off by the small things that go wrong with Nora.  In fact, while everyone else is creeped out that their partners resemble their parents, Barney’s proud of it.  It was a good moment in an uneven episode.

Spoonfuls (Thoughts in Smaller Portions):

1. The Ducky Tie is Still Here

Seriously, all season?  Wow.

2. Nora’s Got A Good Voice

And so does Barney’s Mom.

CBS

Although I disagree with the conclusion, I thought tonight’s comparison between 2005 and 2011 was pretty much dead on.  Debates on factual issues are now easily resolved with one Google Search.  And, to me that leads to more accurate knowledge.  And as the show depicts, the debates are on things that have no right or wrong answer; like the question of mystery vs history or whether to learn the sex of your baby.  Oh and Barney was still wearing the Ducky Tie.

After seven seasons, you don’t expect perfection every week from a sitcom; instead you’re looking for each episode to hit this satisfaction bar, in which if hit, you walk away feeling good.  This week’s episode did that and then some.  It gave us the reveal about Marshall & Lily having a boy, while bringing to light a very real issue in modern-day friendships (ie. smartphones,) all wrapped up in a very funny half hour.

Even Kal Penn’s third guest appearance as therapist/Robin’s boyfriend Kevin didn’t detract from the funny.  As soon as he spent time around the group, it was easy to guess he couldn’t help but analyze the friendship.  And, he naturally diagnosed many disorders (the best of which was Survivor guilt, referring to the show, not death.)  But, we’ve seen the group diagnoses before and at least this time the therapist wasn’t summarily kicked out of the group.  In fact, he ended up being seen as the crazy one, finding it too difficult to keep his opinions to himself.  And honestly, all family style friendships are dysfunction to a degree, but that might just be my anti-Kevin bias talking.  We did get to find out how to text our friends the shape of our bowel movements via emoticons and symbols, something I honestly did not know how to do before.

The most poignant discussion and topic of the episode had to be the reality of digital background checks once you meet a new person.  Most times, they don’t turn out to have the horrible issues Ted’s dates had (Mia was morbidly obese, Nadia had crystal meth charges and didn’t like Annie Hall, and Paula dated inanimate objects but was incredibly hot,) but it does make it difficult to have any suspense about a person.  And often, we pre-judge based on a written resume that’s concocted by a social network that may not accurately reflect our real personalities.

So Ted screwed up his relationship with Janet McIntyre (Amber Stevens), the perfect girl who inherited billions and loved Annie Hall, just because he knew too much about her.  It’s a shame because she left an impression despite her brief appearance.  Possibly because she’s a pretty good actor in her own right.

It was nice to see Barney’s catch phrases continue over from last week along with his incredible presentations.  It was really a lite Barney episode after many focusing on him over the last month.  And, we didn’t see Nora this week, though she was mentioned briefly.  Next week is Halloween on the show, and it  should be a fun one.

One final thought.  Mystery or History? Thoughts?

Spoonfuls (Thoughts in Smaller Portions):

1. Did Anyone Else Think Barney’s Hermaphroditic Burlap Sack Was More Paperbag Princess?

That wonderful child’s tale, The Paperbag Princess seemed like a not so bad outcome of not knowing the sex of the baby.

2.  A Rare Internet Misstep For HIMYM. JanetMcIntyre.net was Down All Night

Either it was down all night or never put up.  Based on the show’s stellar history, I’ll believe the latter. But check out janetmcintyre.net now for all the fun.

3. Barney’s Baby Gender Presentation Had Superstar Direction

Who else caught that McG was the director?

CBS

Another episode, another great set of screenshots. This week we saw a field trip and Barney put together a presentation on Ewoks.  Here’s the slide that presented us with the Ewok Line which states that anyone born before May 25, 1973 would not appreciate Ewoks due to their age bias.  Therefore, Nora was old.  But, Barney quickly skipped through over 20 additional slides.  And here they are…

And here it is, Barney’s full presentation and slide show on the history of the Ewoks.

If you went through the whole thing, let us know what you thought of it? And the Bieber hairstyle!

CBS

Even though this week’s HIMYM felt like filler material, the continuity was still there.  Barney was still wearing the Ducky Tie and Marshall was a newbie at his job with Garrison Cootes (Martin Short.)  The biggest takeaways from this episode had to be Barney’s Ewok Line and being “Pollstered.”

So, Kal Penn is back and while his even-toned, emotionless acting was perfect for a stoner movie and an emotionless doctor on House, it just doesn’t work well on a sitcom.  Kal Penn was horrible.  Remember when Britney Spears’ guest appearance was a big deal because she’s not an actor?  Well, this guy is an actor and he was just plain hard-to-watch.  Robin wouldn’t fall for him and seeing her trying to interact with him was painful.  So, let’s just pretend he doesn’t exist.  That entire storyline is so strange.

Ted’s back to his usual nerdy architecture self, this time touring the city with his class.  I thought they’d drag the idea out, but it led to the funniest moments, first with Barney’s gigantic slide deck on Ewok history, and then with using the class as a focus group.

After the Halloween costume gag they set up and now this gigantic Ewok gag, there has got to be a huge Star Wars fan among the writers.  Barney had over 20 slides in his presentation, and you know we captured them all.  You can find them all, including the Ewok Line, here.

What stood out from Barney’s newest theory was that he doesn’t have to be single to be funny.  Barney can still come up with an insane number of theories while being in a relationship and they may even be funnier.  At first, when Barney wanted to end the relationship with Nora, I immediately thought that Barney was going to turn back into his former self, but I was wrong.  He’s evolving into a boyfriend slowly.  Sure he’d have had trouble if Nora was older, but as we find out later on, he’s upset partly because she may have lied to him.  And, he would still choose to be with her.  That’s a good sign for Barney.

I get that Marshall is going to be a great environmental lawyer and I even understand that he might help change the world for the better.  Part of HIMYM’s appeal is the hope and optimism that dreams can be achieved.  But, having crazy Garrison Cootes think the world will end and Future Ted announcing that Marshall will save the world, was a bit much.  Keep it in the realm of possibility and I’m with you.  Though, we did get a wonderful shot of Lily & Marshall’s upcoming baby.

Spoonfuls (Thoughts in Smaller Portions):

1. Pollstered!

I want to have a focus group follow me around to answer questions.  Barney always gets a kick out of these things.

2. Does Nora remind anyone else of Emily from Friends?

It feels similar to Ross’ relationship with Emily.  She worked with the group, but never became a part of it.  Perhaps an overseas wedding..?

3. Jacob James Olmos vs Edward James Olmos….you’re Olmos right.

It was the only opinion which sided against Barney, but it was a great one.  Probably a real conversation and the answer is, Edward James Olmos, star of Stand and Deliver, and more recently on Dexter.

4. Marshall is Right. You Can Pretty Much Skip the Second Season of Friday Night Lights (but not the rest!)

Possibly the most underrated show on TV in the last 5 years, Friday Night Lights is a gem.  So great to see another favourite reference it (to Garrison Cootes.) If you haven’t seen it, watch it.

CBS

On this week’s episode of How I Met Your Mother, we were treated to another gaggle of screenshots showcasing the hilarity of Ted being in a trio with Lily & Marshall.  Along with Salt & Pepper and cumin were many other memorable costumes, presumably from Halloween.  But, sadly, no Batman, Robin, and Alfred.

Here’s 1998′s Lady & The Tramp and their bowl of spaghetti.  It’s my favourite by far.

We skip ahead to 2000 for Lewis & Clark and their canoe.

And, even further to 2006 for the next one, Dr. Frankenstein, his monster, and a scared villager.

And finally, a close second in quality, was 2007′s C3PO & R2D2 and the robot Luke’s Uncle almost bought from the Jawas.  Simply brilliant.

Another fun extra thrown in for the fans.  And notice how Ted’s roles are always in lowercase.  No equality for the third wheel.

CBS

Fresh off a stint at the White House, Kal Penn popped up on How I Met Your Mother as Robin’s court-mandated therapist.  Also, is this the first episode with no voice over by Future Ted (aka Bob Saget)?

Technically, we hear Future Ted refer to the birth of Lily and Marshall’s child (where is Marshall??) but really, there is no narration at all during the episode.  So, instead of Future Ted guiding us through scenes, we are instead left with generic sitcom music and stock backgrounds of New York.  It’s strange not to have the story told from Ted’s perspective.

The idea that Robin was arrested for stopping the girl that she sent to mess up Barney’s date with Nora was sweet.  And, hopefully the first step in Robin backing down and letting Barney and Nora have a happy life.  Barney and Nora would be a great couple, despite the fact that their conversation over dinner had the opposite of chemistry.  Of course, the focus was on Robin and the blonde girl fighting outside, but it was still awful.

Barney did shine in the quest to unarm his Bimbo Delivery Systems (BDS.)  Not only did we get to see two TV commercials, and a guest appearance by Survivor’s Jeff Probst advertising Barney Stinson, but we also got two new websites to enjoy:

Stinson Breast Reduction stinsonbreastreduction.com doct...@gmail.com

The site has testimonials, links to old gags from Barney’s past identities posing as Google Ads, and a banner on top pointing to Arnie Linson.

Linson Breast Lawsuit linsonbreastlawsuit.com arnielinsonattorneyatlaw@gmail.com

This site is just as thorough, and the highlight is the ticker across both sites, presnting many jokes if you’re patient enough to watch it all go by.

Who knows, maybe an email sent here will actually get read by someone at the show.  At the very least, I can confirm you do get an automated response from Barney, so go ahead and email away.

Ted’s role this week was a little annoying, playing the tag-along to Marshall and Lily.  The requisite birthing class with just the guys was hard to watch.  But, Ted’s sock-on-the-door gesture at the end was sweet enough to make up for it.

In case you missed the screengrabs from the halloween costumes, here are all of them.

Spoonfuls (Thoughts in Smaller Portions):

1. You’d think Batman & Robin & Alfred would include Robin

Maybe that’s why they didn’t show a picture of that Halloween costume.  It just wouldn’t make sense.

2. We’ll Be Seeing Dr. Sonia Again, For Sure

She’s in the scene with Lily when she gives birth, so Vicki Lewis (from NewsRadio fame) will be back, “just a little bit.”

3. The Ducky Tie Was Back

After last week’s Ducky Tie bet, how could it not be?  I wonder how he gets out of this, because Barney can’t keep it up all season.

CBS

There are people out there who often claim that How I Met Your Mother isn’t that great and the show is past its prime.  To those people I suggest watching this episode. The Ducky Tie was HIMYM working on all levels. All the characters were utilized well, the story had both heart and Barney doing something incredible (using both meanings of that word: hard-to-believe and awesome.)

Of all the HIMYM characters, the most divisive is always Ted. Some people hate him.  I find his search endearing and a crucial element of the show.  So, when Victoria popped up last week, I couldn’t wait for what would happen next.  Victoria has always been one of the best connections Ted has had on the show.  Their first meeting was so brilliantly romantic and yet believable that it was hard not to feel like their paths were meant to cross again.  Josh Radner and Ashley Williams’ chemistry is obvious and works both in the serious and comedic moments.  Their Klause alliteration was adorable and sweet.  The best thing I can say is that their scenes together make you forget about any inconsistencies and hope that she’s the titular mother.  And though Victoria should be engaged by now, I have a hunch that won’t last and we will see her again this season.  There’s no way Williams is brought back for such a short return.  Not when that relationship is still waiting to be explored on-screen.

While Robin is the only one really listening to Ted’s Victoria story, Barney, Marshall, and Lily are involved in one of the better bets so far.  It’s not a slap bet, though somewhat surprisingly the stakes were even higher.  Barney’s years long quest to see Lily’s boobs finally ended with disappointment and excitement.  Barney was the one disappointed as losing his Hibachi grilling skills bet and missing out on Marshall-approved second base.  Instead, Barney now has to wear the Ducky Tie for one year.  These guys play for keeps.  I can only imagine the rest of this year with Barney wearing the same tie in every episode.  It also adds some fogginess to the timing of the sweeping declaration drunken casino night Barney and Marshall attend at some point.

Aside from Barney’s hashtag jokes (see below,) the elaborate concept concocted by Barney was brilliantly intricate.  From training Marshall to think of Hibachi grilling every time he coughed to actually learning the cooking skills in a six-month course, and getting Marshall to think it was all his idea; you have to give the writers’ credit for creating the elaborate plan.  It’s a great feat to pull of such absurdity without it feeling over-the-top.

And then there’s Victoria’s astute observation that Robin still hangs out with two of her more serious ex-boyfriends on a daily basis.  There’s no indication she has any feelings toward Ted, but she clearly still likes Barney.  We’ll see something happen there soon for sure.

This episode is the one that hold you over when some episodes aren’t as fulfilling.  Let’s hope there are a lot more like it this year.

Barney’s List of Awesome Hashtags:

ROUND 1
#burn
#ducktieslams
#stinsonrocks

ROUND 2
#burn
#yourtieisstillridiculous
#refill

Spoonfuls (Thoughts in Smaller Portions):

1. Ted’s had a lot of girlfriends

For a hopeless romantic there sure were a lot of girls that were easy to name off (Stella, Zoe, Karen, The Girl Who Beat Ted Up, The Girl Who Ruined The Picture With Slash, & The Girl Who Made You Get The Dragon Tattoo)

2. Barney’s Rendition of ‘Go Down Moses’ (aka. Let My People Go)

Only Barney can turn a civil rights song into “Let Your Boobies Show” and get away with it.

Who else thinks Victoria will be back? Or is it Robin who’s returning as a love interest for Ted?

CBS

Again, another opening episode (or two) of How I Met Your Mother and another hint in the glimpse of the future.  After making another sweeping declaration, we see Marshall and Barney at a casino, surrounded by Chinese business men.  Apparently, Marshall had an interesting night, since he seems to have won some money.  But, more interesting is what it says on his T-shirt (UPDATE: See Barney’s Ducky Tie.)  Check it out after the jump.

Here it is, the words clear and easy to read.

Yep, Marshall & Steph 4-Eva.  I originally thought it said Sarah, and perhaps was a reference to Jason Segel’s 2008 movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but that was not the case.  Who’s Steph and what exactly happened in that Casino?

UPDATE: Some eagle-eyed reader also pointed out that Barney is wearing the Ducky Tie, referenced in the Season Premiere!  Great find!

Anyone find any other clues or have any thoughts?

CBS

The second of the night and it really should have been called “The Sweeping Declaration” as those were the funniest moments of the episode, though there was also the introduction of Edward 40-Hands and Garrison Cootes (aka Martin Short.)  But, the star of the episode had to be Beercules.  Oh and of course the return…

Barney has always been a fan-favourite and his bachelor antics have made for some hilarious quotes and episodes.  But, it’s been seven years.  And while some people may be upset that Barney is actually starting to look for a longer term partner, it feels like its time.  And Nora is a better fit than Robin.  Robin has always had a hard time with relationships, and has been portrayed as a less extreme female version of Barney.  They just seem incompatible over the long haul.  Plus, in reality, people usually find their partners outside their inner circle.  And, this show, while surrounded by zany antics, grounds itself in the reality of youthful adults in transition.  And, Barney is a character in transition.  Seeing him not only be honest with Nora, but then to prove his commitment by staying in the all-night diner all night was a necessary step.  I’m now more hopeful than ever that Barney ends up with Nora.

The pairing of Martin Short–I mean Garrison Cootes and Marshall led me to see a future filled with hilarious comedy, but this first introduction was lacklustre.  The jokes were lame, perhaps on purpose, but they didnt’ work.  Perhaps it was the obviously fake backdrop or the fact that the storylines seemed to move the story forward without actually making any sense, but it just wasn’t that good.  Let’s hope Garrison Cootes is a more developed character in future episodes because it would be a shame to waste Martin Short’s comedic talents on absurdity alone.

Ahh Beercules.  A great HIMYM gag that worked so well.  Seeing Marshall streaking isn’t unexpected (and was the best use of a naked lead of the night,) and was a great gag.  It had to be topped by Pete and the game of Edward 40-Hands, complete with diagram and instructions.  And adding a little extra, as this show is wont to do, was the revelation that Pete is a surgeon.  One thing that always bothers me is the fake brands that shows often use.  I know they don’t want to provide free advertising, but everyone knows that the search engine is Google (they even mention it moments before showing a colourful search engine that just says “search”) and that the video site is YouTube.  Perhaps, just use the real thing?

While one video of Beercules was great, it was the Sweeping Declaration that brought out the second.  Marshall making these declarations was apparently a thing and they have referenced a future event where Marshall and Barney are somewhere in a casino surrounded by Chinese businessmen.  And in that brief glimpse, there was something written on Marshall’s shirt.  And I’m sure we’ll find out what that was soon.

All of that was fun and seeing Nora come back for Barney was a really great moment, but who saw anything coming out of the Architect’s Ball?  Great song choice by the way, and seeing Victoria made me happy.  They seemed to have the most chemistry of almost any potential Mother that we’ve seen.  And even though it probably isn’t her, it still has me anticipating the next few episodes.  Welcome back Victoria.

Spoonfuls (Thoughts in Smaller Portions):

1. Barney’s Suit is lined with Leopard print

It’s true and it matched his crutches, though he said he got them from the lobby.  Perhaps not?

2. The Beercules Videos Were Uploaded by user sTeWh525
Anyone who can figure out exactly what that stands for is better than I am. Guesses anyone?  No clues on YouTube.

CBS

Can you believe this is the 7th season of HIMYM?  From a show that almost wasn’t renewed for a third, it’s an impressive feat.  Back-to-back episodes (review of second episode is here) brought about signature hints at future episodes, huge laughs, and the question, what is the ducky tie?

Let’s get that first question out of the way right now.  The ducky tie is…on second thought, let’s just say that all will be answered in the next episode.

It’s nice to see Future Ted acknowledge the length of time it’s taking him to tell this story.  Clearly, Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, the creators, shot enough footage with Future Ted’s kids to last the entire series.  In fact, I have heard that they’ve already shot the final scene in order to capture the kids at the correct age.  Because, at least one of the kids has gone on to become a pretty big star and they are no longer a kids.

The first episode, “The Best Man,” gave us a new glimpse at Barney’s wedding thought without really revealing who he would be married to.  There are a lot of fans who really want him to marry Robin, but I’d much prefer anyone else and after seeing how they are building up Nora, I wouldn’t mind if that ended up working out.  It would just be nice not to have all the characters pair up with each other (except for Ted, of course.)

The actual episode was great, with Barney “test marketing” his pickup plays (Escaped Manslaughterist, Patient Zero, World Record holder for Longest Fingernails, and my favourite, the Vampire who invented Facebook.) But, the biggest moment was Lily and Marshall revealing their pregnancy, and Marshall subsequently ruining Punchy’s wedding.  It was one of the better season premiere’s for the show because it stuck to what makes the show work.  The fact that the five core people of the show are family and are moving through life together.  Sure, it was funny to hear Robin’s “Truth” voice and to see Marshall almost ruin the wedding many times.  And who doesn’t love Ted making a fool of himself yet again. But, it’s the moments we all remember in our own lives that are the most relatable.  And hearing that someone you love is having a baby almost always tops that list.

Spoonfuls (Thoughts in Smaller Portions):

1. What’s that song Barney and Robin danced to?

It was Groove Is In The Heart by Deee Lite. And it was a little strange how long that scene lasted, right?

2. Marshall Licking the Plane (and the baby)

In a classic sweet HIMYM moment, Marshall transfers his good luck charm for keeping them safe on planes to his unborn child.

3. “The Last Man to Screw You This Hard then Leave was LeBron James”

The line by itself is brilliant, but then Barney, throwing his hands in the air with fake baby powder was genius.

CBS

Every time I worry about the state of How I Met Your Mother, an episode airs that reminds me why I’m wrong.  Monday’s episode shows how well HIMYM balances comedy and drama when its on top of its game. Add Wayne Brady to the episode and you’ve got a classic episode in the making.

For a little while now, we’ve seen Barney playing some odd roles instead of being true tot he character we came to know over the course of the first few years of How I Met Your Mother.  In this episode, we get to see Barney in his element.  A great guy who is highly entertaining to his friends.  And, seeing his family history always reveals another layer of how Barney become the person he is today.  I think everyone got a kick out of seeing Bob Barker as Barney’s dad, but it was also nice to see him move past that idea.  There’s a magic to Barney that’s delicate.  Without a sense of realism, it comes across as fantastical, but because we see the man behind the stories, we can accept the outlandish stories with a healthy scepticism.

How I Met Your Mother also has a great way of weaving their guest stars into the storyline organically.  Wayne Brady is such a great guest and I’d love to see him on the show a few more times a year. And having Ben Vereen as his dad was a really great touch. I think it would be a good show to see all them, including James’ (Brady) son Eli together.

I hope this is the tone this show will continue with throughout the season.  A little bit of heart infused in each of the characters. It’s much better than cheap jokes that make these people a little less believable.

Spoonfuls (Thoughts in Smaller Portions):

1. Barney’s Mom is a HUGE liar!
Frank Aaron, the home run king, Michael Jackson’s birthday glove, and the Postmaster General.  It was just brilliant, but also such a loving Mom the Stinson’s have.

2.  Ted Need Coaching With His Women
Robyn has so many insights into Ted and it was hilarious to hear her describe his deficiencies in the bedroom.

3.  Auto-Tune Stand By Me!
Highlight of the episode by far.  Barney is awesome and this is why.

Did everyone catch the season premiere of How I Met Your Mother?  Right after the opening scene, we all see a beautiful church with people arriving for a wedding. As the shot pans over to Ted and Marshall, it goes past the sign at the front of the church. See what it looks like after the break.

For the patient among you, here’s the screengrab of the church sign that could be a reference to that great song by The Byrds.

CBS

It could be nothing, but this has always been a show that pays attention to the details and this is a giant sign that is clearly visible.  This may even be a callback to a previous episode, but if it is I can’t remember it.

Anyone have any ideas?