How I Met Your Mother
Added 12 years ago by gi97ol • Updated 5 months ago by Y F
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Type: TV Show
Tags: stinson sitcom character tv show how i met your mother neil patrick harris matt kuhn jason segel alyson hannigan
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About
How I Met Your Mother is an American TV sitcom created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays that premiered on CBS on September 19th, 2005. The series follows the lives of a group of friends living in present-day Manhattan, New York City, though the story is narrated in retrospect by the main character, Ted Mosby, as a father recounting the events leading up to his marriage to his children in the year 2030.
Online History
Websites Created By Characters
Throughout the show’s nine season run, many of the characters create websites for various situations. For example include tedmosbyisajerk.com[4] (created by a woman scorned by Barney who was pretending to be Ted), notafathersday.com[5] (created by Barney after a one night stand's pregnancy scare), and itwasthebestnightever.com[6] (created by Marshall to commemorate a double date between himself, Lilly, Robin, and Barney). The real websites were created by the show's staff members.[7]
Bro Code: Book Adaptations
The show has also launched four books written by the character Barney Stinson-The Bro Code, The Playbook: Suit up. Score chicks. Be awesome., Bro on the Go, and Bro Code for Parents: What to Expect When You're Awesome. All four are either co-written or ghost written by How I Met Your Mother staff writer Matt Kuhn.[13]
Reception
The series holds a 8.6 on IMDB[1] and the first season received a 69 from Metacritic.[14] The show has been nominated for two Golden Globes, both for Neil Patrick Harris' performance as Barney Stinson, and 28 Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2009.[15] Later seasons where criticized with some critics arguing the show was going on too long, though the ninth and final season has received positive reviews.[16][17]
Online Presence
The official CBS website offers instant streaming for recently aired episodes, as well as behind-the-scenes footage and Barney's Blog written from the perspective of Barney Stinson. As of January 2014, How I Met Your Mother’s official Facebook fan page[8] has over 24,000,000 likes; the Twitter account has over 620,000 followers;[9] and the YouTube channel has more than 124,000 subscribers and 8.2 million total views.
Fandom
In addition to the show's branded social media presence, there are numerous fan sites offering news and gossips about the show, including the now-outdated Tripod fan site, HIMYM-Source, HIMYM at Fan Forum and FanPop channel, as well as episode guides offered by TVRage, IGN and Wikia. There are several Tumblr blogs dedicated to the show, such as fuckyeahhowimetyourmother[10], himymconfessions[11], and onlyhimym,[12] and DrinkiWiki offers a list of drinking games that people can play while watching the show. As of March 2014, the Fanfiction.net[38] page for the show has more than 1,350 submissions.
Death Theory
A fan theory has circulated that at the time Ted is telling the story to his children, their mother is already dead, since at least July 2010, when GQ[19] published an interview with HIMYM star Jason Segel. During the interview the interviewer said he had a theory that the mother was dead, and Segel replied, "I suggested that also." The theory resurfaced on March 25th, 2013 when an episode of How I Met Your Mother titled "The Time Travelers" aired. The episode showed a kind of "dream sequence" in which Ted goes to the mother's door and explains they'll met in 45 days, but he wants those 45 days with her.[18] Many fans and entertainment writers believed that Ted's desire for those 45 days suggests he feels he was robbed of time with her by her death.[20]
The theory's strength grew after an episode titled "Vesuvius" which aired on March 3rd, 2014.[21] In the episode a scene is shown set in 2024 (six years before Ted begins telling his story). Ted and the mother are out to dinner as he recounts the story of Robin and Barney's wedding. When he mentions Robin's mother shows up unexpectedly and the mother replies, "What mother would miss her own daughter's wedding?" Ted begins to cry.[22] Fans and journalists point to two main pieces of evidence other than those mentioned above to support their theory that the mother is dead. First, the fact that the mother never appears in 2030 while Ted is telling his kids the story, and second, the fact that the cast and writers have alluded to a series finale, including Alyson Hannigan tweeting a photo of the final script covered in tissues.[23][24]
There is a smaller theory that the sadness, both from the shows creators and characters, is because Ted dies. On the r/HIMYM subreddit[25] user Vorsa suggests,
"The mother says "No mother would miss their daughters wedding", she says it without thinking which isn't something you would do if you were the one on a timer, but what if Ted is the one that's ill, and he's upset about the same being said about a Dad (him)? She wouldn't have clicked until he got upset about it. She then immediately goes back to letting him live in the past, letting him recall all the happy times HE'S had in HIS life with him and his friends. I won't speculate any further than that, but that conversation reeks of the situation being reversed."
Series Finale
The hour long series finale of How I Met Your Mother aired on March 31st, 2014.
In the episode, it is revealed that Barney and Robin part their ways after three years of marriage, with the former coming to find out that he has a daughter, and Lily and Marshall return to the United States from Italy to have their third children, while Ted's wife and the show's titular character Tracy (played by Cristin Milioti) succumbs to death after ten years of marriage. The series ends with Ted’s children encouraging Ted to pursue Robin, leading him to her apartment with the blue French Horn he stole for her in the first season.
The finale episode was largely met by frustration from the fans and TV critics, many of whom expressed disappointment at the abrupt end of Barney and Robin’s marriage and the reunion of Ted and Robin, which came off as anticlimactic, especially when considering the build-up of anticipation and mystery surrounding the Mother. On April 1st, Buzzfeed[39] published a piece expressing their disappointment titled “Why We Deserved More From The “How I Met Your Mother” Series Finale,” New York Magazine[40] published “The How I Met Your Mother Finale Bailed on the Entire Show” and Jezebel[41] published “People Are So, So Pissed About the How I Met Your Mother Finale.” In the 24 hours surrounding the finale, the hashtag #HIMYM[42] was tweeted out more than 280,000 times. Many fans on Tumblr created edits with Ted’s reveal of the mother, “And that kids, is how I met your mother.” Examples include “how I met your stepmother” and “how I met your plot device.”
Related Memes
Many of popular GIF and photos sets found on Tumblr from How I Met Your Mother revolve around the characters' catchphrases, particularly those said by Barney Stinson. Examples include variations of "high five" (sad five, self five) and "challenge accepted."
< Challenge Accepted
“*Challenge Accepted*” is a catchphrase introduced by Neil Patrick Harrison's character Barney Stinson in Season 2, Episode 6 “Aldrin Justice” while taking on a dare to seduce an older woman. In rage comics, the phrase is associated with a smug looking stick-figure character in crossed armed stance.
True Story
True Story is a rage comic character based on a black and white contour drawing of How I Met Your Mother character Barney Stinson (played by actor Neil Patrick Harris) smiling smugly while holding a wine glass. Often accompanied by the text “true story,” the character can mostly be found in the final panel of a rage comic to either indicate or falsely claim that it is based on a true story.
That's a Penis!
"That’s a Penis" is an expression and reaction GIF based on a scene from Season 2 Episode 6 wherein Ted's client reacts in shock after being presented with a design for a building that is shaped like a penis.
Criticisms
#HowIMetYourRacism
On January 13th, 2014, Season 9, Episode 14 titled "Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment at Slapmarra" aired. The episode portrayed three of the show's main characters (Robin, Lily, and Ted) dressed as Asian individuals. Viewers who felt depicting these white actors as people of color voiced their distaste on Twitter using the hashtag #HowIMetYourRacism.[2]
On January 15th, 2014, co-creators of the show Carter Bays and Craig Thomas issued an apology via Twitter:
Carter Bays: Hey guys, sorry this took so long. @himymcraig and I want to say a few words about #HowIMetYourRacism. With Monday's episode, we set out to make a silly and unabashedly immature homage to Kung Fu movies, a genre we’ve always loved. But along the way we offended people. We're deeply sorry, and we’re grateful to everyone who spoke up to make us aware of it. To everyone we offended, I hope we can regain your friendship, and end this series on a note of goodwill. Thanks. @CarterBays @HimymCraig"[3]
Craig Thomas: I second everything @carterbays just tweeted -- we love all #HIMYM fans and apologize that we caused offense.
Length of Series
With the show lasting for nine seasons there has been some criticism and jokes about how long the narrator's children must sit and listen to the story. On a season six episode of The Office the importance of having a "how I met your mother story" was mocked.
How I Met Your Mother poked fun at themselves in a promo for the ninth and final season, depicting the narrator's children as captives who have been trapped on the couch listening to his story for nine straight years.
Search Interest
External References
[1] IMDB – How I Met Your Mother
[2] Buzzfeed – “How I Met Your Mother” Puts A Character In Yellowface
[3] The Huffington Post – 'How I Met Your Mother' Creators Apologize For Racism In 'Slapsgiving' Episode
[4] Ted Mosby is a Jerk – Ted Mosby is a Jerk
[5] Not a Father's Day – Not a Father's Day
[6] It Was the Best Night Ever – It Was the Best Night Ever
[7] Yahoo – 10 Funny Websites Made by 'How I Met Your Mother' Staff
[8] Facebook – How I Met Your Mother
[9] Twitter – How I Met Your Mother
[10] Tumblr – Fuck Yeah How I Met Your Mother
[11] Tumblr – HIMYM Confessions
[12] Tumblr – Only HIMYM
[14] Metacritic – How I Met Your Mother
[15] IMDB – How I Met Your Mother
[16] Television Without Pity – How I Met Your Mother Recap
[17] IMDB- How I Met Your Mother
[18] AVClub- How I Met Your Mother: “The Time Travelers”
[19] AVClub- How I Met Your Mother: “The Time Travelers”
[20] E! Online- The How I Met Your Mother Theory We Hope We're Wrong About”
[21] AVClub- How I Met Your Mother, “Vesuvius”
[22] UpRoxx- Did Last Night’s Episode Confirm Our Favorite ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Finale Theory?
[23] Crushable- How Pissed Would We All Be If It Turns Out The HIMYM Mother Was Dead The Whole Time?
[24] Crushable- How Pissed Would We All Be If It Turns Out The HIMYM Mother Was Dead The Whole Time?
[25] Reddit- Vesuvius – Thought's on the "death" theory. Do we have it the wrong way around?
[26] CBS – How I Met Your Mother
[27] CBS – Barney's Blog
[28] YouTube – How I Met Your Mother
[29] Tripod – Fan Tripod Site
[29] HIMYM Source – How I Met Your Mother Source
[31] FanPop – How I Met Your Mother
[32] TVRage – How I Met Your Mother
[33] Wikia – How I Met Your Mother
[34] HIMYM.co "How I Met Your Mother"http://himym.co/
[35] IGN – HIMYM Episode Guide
[36] Wikia – How I Met Your Mother
[37] DrinkiWiki – HIMYM drinking games
[38] Fanfiction.net – How I Met Your Mother
[39] Buzzfeed – Why We Deserved More From The “How I Met Your Mother” Series Finale
[40] NY Mag – The How I Met Your Mother Finale Bailed on the Entire Show” Series Finale
[41] Jezebel – People Are So, So Pissed About the How I Met Your Mother Finale
[42] Topsy – #HIMYM” Series Finale
Entry Editors ( 5 )
Recent Videos ( 8 )
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lily and robin kiss
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How I Met Your Mother Alternative Ending
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How I Met Your Mother Alternative Ending
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How I Met Your Mother explained in under a minute (HD)
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Barney Stinson - The Game
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Barney Stinson - Suit up!
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Barney Stinson BEST TOP TEN quotes - How I Met Your Mother
Recent Images ( 90 )
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Darth Barney Stinson | /r/PrequelMemes
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So nice when landlords care this much
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Boom! Lawyered
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Creative brain time
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Barney's watching you
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Star Wars people lived it
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другzoned again.
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The irony is strong on this one
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Hands
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yellow umbrella
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Uncle Barney and love delusions
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Comments ( 68 )
I think this could either work as a subculture entry for How I Met Your Mother, or possibly a meme entry for Barney Stinson. Since it is a fictional character, it should not be a person entry.
+1 Change to meme.
"I used to be sad, but instead I became awesome and moved on."
+1 confirm to a legen (wait a moment) dary entry!
Couldn't we just make a Neal Patrick Harris entry instead?
I say merge it with the "True Story" page, as sort of a small spin-off. It has merit, but not enough to have it's own page yet.
There is a Neil Patrick Harris page already. +1 merge
Just because there is a rage face doesn't mean the guy needs to have an entry. Epic as he is, this isn't really needed.
hmm….
well--- I dunno
+1 wait +1 work
+50 work
+1 confirm
There's like 25 words apart from titles.
+1 research
Is this a thing now? Finding racism in everything? I didn't watch the episode so I don't know how savere it it.
You didn't watch the episode? Is that because most of the cast is white?
You racist bitch!
That hashtag was supposed to clever?
Once again, people get way too sensitive over something that really isn't a big deal.
Honestly, you would probably be complaining even if this was a "big deal". Nowadays no one can even try to point out the legitimate bigotry and racism without being called sensitive.
I don't have an opinion on whether or not people should be offended by something, but I am glad the creators didn't take the "I'm sorry you were offended" approach and actually had a legitimate apology
That's wong
oh great, ANOTHER "controversy"
Nowadays you can't do anything without offending people…
To think this will get even worse in the future. An overly Politically Correct future. Great.
Actually, I don't think it can get worse. This is the critical point, and in a year or two, people will finally start calming down.
Hopefully.
Hopefully.
What is wrong with things being a little racist ? White people weren't up in arms when Dave Chappelle wore white face and acted like a white stereotype. Is racism only bad if white people do it ?
Apparently, yes.
Oh god…..
Oh god…..
Well it’s not unfounded. American history isn’t the best showcase of how great and accepting white people are to say the least.
According to the social justice douchebags, racism is power plus prejudice; therefore, only white people have the ability to be racist.
Apparently, yes.
Oh god…..
Oh god…..
It's really sad that I've seen so much yellowface growing up, on both television and real life, that I'm not even offended by it anymore.
If anything, I'm just really, really, really annoyed by it.
Actually, I don't think it can get worse. This is the critical point, and in a year or two, people will finally start calming down.
Hopefully.
Well it’s not unfounded. American history isn’t the best showcase of how great and accepting white people are to say the least.
Honestly, you would probably be complaining even if this was a "big deal". Nowadays no one can even try to point out the legitimate bigotry and racism without being called sensitive.
You didn't watch the episode? Is that because most of the cast is white?
You racist bitch!
I am personally offended that this white web article isn't considered complete until it's filled in with black letters.
WHITE-OUT POWER, WHITE-OUT POWER!
Hopefully.
More troll additions to drive clicks.
Google trends graphed a search for "how i met your mother slapsgiving" at a meager 68, trending only in the US.
If this trended on Twitter, Trendsmap doesn't show it.
How about let's give the race baiting a rest for awhile and move on to other things eh?
People these days get offended over every fucking thing. I blame tumblr
According to the social justice douchebags, racism is power plus prejudice; therefore, only white people have the ability to be racist.
So I just watch the recent episode.
There is a chance that it was implying that Ted's mom died before he got married.
Oh, the forums much be a blazing.
Gawd this has to be the worst ending for a series I have seen in a while.
I mean the mother dies and she barely gets any screen time.
Barney and Robbin were together for about 18 minutes.
And then it starts going against everything it built up.
Barney makes a second playbook despite him being okay with the first 2 burning, and giving his notes to two guys at a party to carry it on in his honor. And it undermines "The Robin" because it isnt the last play you will ever need.
And then everyone drifts apart. Robin chooses not to go to Ted's wedding and really just gives up on her friends. She really becomes a crappy person in this episode.
And Ted getting with Robin goes against Ted moving on and realizing she and him arent ment to be (Which he's been dong for the past 9 season). But then he steal her the blue french horn to show his spontaneous love for her. The whole speech the mother had with Barney was suppose to show that things like the blue french horn dont work. Thats why he made "The Robin".
But in the end we're back to square one. Ted and Robin dating and ultimately will probably not work out, Lilly and Marshal are together, Barney is single. Nothing changed. All forward progression has been destroyed.
This. Although I disagree a little on Barney. In the end, he became a responsible adult because of his daughter.
And that was the only character who got any progression whatsoever.
Now I would watch Barney raising his teenage daughter. He be a wreck if his play were use on his daughter.
Now I would watch Barney raising his teenage daughter. He be a wreck if his play were use on his daughter.
If they broke lily and marshal up I would've
If I learned anything from being a fan of Scrubs, it's that TV writers will never, ever deviate from the boring, expected cliche norm when it comes to endgame coupling. in this area, they have zero talent.
This. Although I disagree a little on Barney. In the end, he became a responsible adult because of his daughter.
And that was the only character who got any progression whatsoever.
Now I would watch Barney raising his teenage daughter. He be a wreck if his play were use on his daughter.
Now I would watch Barney raising his teenage daughter. He be a wreck if his play were use on his daughter.
I'm not sure how to say this without disclosing some form of spoiler, but I kind of lost it at the conclusion of Barney and Robin's relationship
I have no suitable reaction to define my disappointment, so instead, have a pair of tits.
Happy April Fools Day btw.
…aaand retired.
Great show, week ending. I hoped they wouldn't go for the obvious tragic scenario.
And I really hope they don't do this "How I met your Father" thing…
weak*
I am a fucking retard.
Spoilers in this post
Well I was behind on the last season and a half and was planning on catching up again when the show ended and it all went up on netflix.
Now that I know what a shit ending this magnificent series was given I'm wondering if there is even a point to finishing the series anymore. I've seen some shit endings in my day, but boy was this a doozy. I would have been fine with the series ending with literally anything other than Robin splitting with Barney and getting together with Ted. Fucking titans could have broken into NYC and eaten everyone and I would have been more ok with that ending. I tended to get annoyed any time Ted and Robin got together during the series (which was several times, what kind of brain dead children would think it could work out again?) because they have horrible chemistry together as a couple. So having them get together after all of the events of the series just makes everything pointless and moot.
Is… Is this the ultimate April Fools joke? Please tell me this was a masterfully done April Fools.
Agreed. I honestly could live through Barney and Robin splitting up, and to be completely honest, the episode is mostly fine. The only thing you need to do is scrap the final 2-3 minutes of the episode and it becomes a solid B+
I did like him with Robin better than any of the other girlfriends (minus the mother) they were just awful awful people.
This is an April Fool's joke, right?
I mean, this can't be the real ending, right?
Agreed. I honestly could live through Barney and Robin splitting up, and to be completely honest, the episode is mostly fine. The only thing you need to do is scrap the final 2-3 minutes of the episode and it becomes a solid B+
You know what's the unfortunate part? The mother seems like she was only there just to give him kids to bypass Robin not wanting them/can't have them. And I'm wondering if Ted even love, love the mother. Guy didn't even marry her until five years after getting her pregnant.
To be fair, they were planning the wedding when they found out she got pregnant, that's why they put it on hold. I can understand being disappointed with the finale, but some people get way too dramatic by saying "the mother was just an obstacle between him and robin". It's pretty clear from all the flash forwards in season 9 and especially in the finale that Ted loved the mother, and that when he was with her he wasn't pining over Robin. It took 6 years after her death for him to get the closure to move on. I know it seems like a short time because of the framing of the show, but Ted and the mother were together happily for 11 years, and the finale doesn't undercut that.
To be fair, they were planning the wedding when they found out she got pregnant, that's why they put it on hold. I can understand being disappointed with the finale, but some people get way too dramatic by saying "the mother was just an obstacle between him and robin". It's pretty clear from all the flash forwards in season 9 and especially in the finale that Ted loved the mother, and that when he was with her he wasn't pining over Robin. It took 6 years after her death for him to get the closure to move on. I know it seems like a short time because of the framing of the show, but Ted and the mother were together happily for 11 years, and the finale doesn't undercut that.
I've only watched this show because my mates would turn it on. I was entertained, just what I expect from a sit-com, but I never found it to be so special. It was an improved upon "Friends."
Did this show really have need to air for 9 fucking years? It should have had the decency to bow out after 4 or 5 years, if that.
With the ending it had, yes, it should have happened around season 4.
This is just like Mass Effect 3…99% of the product was great, but the 1% ruins not just the product, but everything before it. It's a stain that can't be removed.
pretty much
HIMYM Extended Ending coming soon!
With a red, blue, and green ending.
With a red, blue, and green ending.
How I Hate This Show
WHITE-OUT POWER, WHITE-OUT POWER!
pretty much
I'm going to add this to my list of good things with disappointing endings. Right between Mass Effect and M. Night Shyamalan's Career.
With the ending it had, yes, it should have happened around season 4.
I hate how the kids were like “Screw mom! Go fuck robin.”
I did like him with Robin better than any of the other girlfriends (minus the mother) they were just awful awful people.
If they broke lily and marshal up I would've
My opinions on 'Friends' is certainly mixed (Especially because it is on air every fucking second of every day) but that show knew how to close things out. A good finale that wrapped up a lot of loose ends and showed the characters moving on to better things.
This was… well you could pretty much watch the first episode of the first season and know the ending and plot of all nine seasons- Ted being a shithead and going after Robin. Wow. And they knew right from the start that this was how it was going to end, they just dragged it on for nine seasons to make even more money.
All these years of build up to a character who was callously discarded in the last five minutes.
HIMYM Extended Ending coming soon!
With a red, blue, and green ending.
weak*
I am a fucking retard.
If there were a series consisting of nothing but Neil Patrick Harris staring at the camera, it would be a hit.
They should have just sent everyone to jail like in Seinfeld.
Well, Ted did stole the French Blue Horn. Again.
If I learned anything from being a fan of Scrubs, it's that TV writers will never, ever deviate from the boring, expected cliche norm when it comes to endgame coupling. in this area, they have zero talent.
With a red, blue, and green ending.
Wow, didn't realize how much hate there was out there. I liked the ending. It had its issues, not the least of which is they crammed too much in which could have been done over several weeks.
However, the Robin thing makes perfect sense. The pilot episode literally ends with "and that kids, is how I met your Aunt Robin". Should have been a huge hint that if this enormous, meandering story begins at that point out of all places in his life, it must mean something.
Well, Ted did stole the French Blue Horn. Again.
I know the show ended and all, and this is supposed to stay in the ground, but I watched the finale again recently. I gotta say… it wasn't that bad. If literally everything after Ted said "how I met your mother" hadn't happened, I would love it. But it did. And 9 years of quality television was destroyed.
ahh……How I Met Your Mother…….The Real Ghostbusters of the modern times….
anybody else agree?they're both good shows (despite one being an animation)…….anyone else?
anyone? just me? ok. just me.
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