Barneyism of the Week Pt. 1 - Mos Eisley Cantina

I am not impressed with the talent in here tonight.

And the more I drink the less attractive they get.

I am one scotch and soda away from the cantina scene in
Star Wars.

- Barney Stinson

"Not a Father's Day"

How I Met Your Mother

Has anyone else noticed how well How I Met Your Mother is doing in the ratings? After struggling for three seasons to find an audience, the show’s audience is growing and HIMYM is doing incredibly well in the key 18-49 demographics. In fact, “ratings are up 15% in viewers (9.6 million) and 24% for advertiser-coveted young adults” (link) It’s looking more and more like The Blot was wrong to criticize the show’s stunt casting of Britney Spears last year.

What is really interesting is that “while most series suffered steep declines” in ratings after the WGA strike ended, “Mother, boosted by Britney Spears’ guest appearances, shot up in the ratings.” (link) This has led to “a string of series highs and rich syndication deals” for HIMYM, something that will prove very profitable for the show’s creators. (link) Additionally, in the past CBS has considered How I Met Your Mother “on the bubble,” meaning there was some question as to whether the show should be renewed. But, HIMYM’s new found popularity combined with Lifetime winning the exclusive cable rerun rights for around $725,000 an episode should be enough to ensure the show is picked up for many more seasons to come. (link)

Barney-ism Of The Week

Why are you trying to ruin my life?

"Well, you slept with me
and then you never called me again." - Abby

And?

"That’s it." - Abby

That’s it?
As far as I’m concerned if I leave you safe on dry land with adequate transportation home you’ve got nothing to complain about.

- Barney to Abby
(Guest Star Britney Spears)

"Everything Must Go"

How I Met Your Mother

Well another Britney Spears episode has come and gone. While this week’s episode wasn’t horrible, it also wasn’t on par with the other episodes that have aired since the show returned from the writer’s strike hiatus. I was kind of hoping this would be the last we’d have to watch of Britney on How I Met Your Mother, but unfortunately the show’s producers are already talking about a return engagement for her sometime next season if HIMYM is renewed for a fourth season. (link) I guess I’d be willing to watch a Spears cameo again if it meant the show would be definitely picked up for at least one more season.

As was mentioned at the end of this week’s episode of How I Met Your Mother, you can now go to LilyandMarshallselltheirstuff.com to bid on props, autographed memorabilia and clothing from the show to raise money for the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. You can even win the opportunity to Meet the Cast and Visit the Set of How I Met Your Mother in Los Angeles, California. (link)

Neil Patrick Harris “Clarifying” His Britney Comments

It seems like someone at CBS didn’t appreciate Harris’ comments last week, because he is already talking to the media again and backpedaling on his comments about Britney and the show’s decision to bring in well known guest stars. According to a statement Neil Patrick Harris gave to EW.com in response to the AP article, Harris believes that the writer “took some quotes of mine and speculated an opinion about their intent.” (link) Harris went on to state that “Britney did a great job on the show. She really did. In fact, we are all hoping she returns rather soon to reprise her role as Abby.” (link) Really? Everyone is hoping she returns? There’s not a chance in hell I believe that statement rings true with everyone at How I Met Your Mother. What I do believe is that a Spears return is already in the works and Harris had to do a quick reversal before the issue escalated with the Spears camp.


Harris went on to say, “look, that episode garnered our highest ratings of the season — I would never ignore or disrespect that fact. I am just very protective of our show, and its content. I have a high standard of quality, and hope to maintain it on every level. Television is big business, I understand that. I have great faith in our casting department, as well as [Twentieth Century Fox Television] and CBS, to find the appropriate person for every role on our show. I was remiss in speculating otherwise.” (link) If that doesn’t reek of meddling by CBS and the Exec-Producers of HIMYM, then I don’t know what does. The actor ended his statement by saying, “my job description is to act, and I should really do just that.” (link) Sounds like someone got a pretty big scolding for talking to the media, what do you think?


In Harris’ defense, the AP has gone back and issued a clarification to their original story by stating that “Harris did not say that he opposed a return engagement for Spears” on How I Met Your Mother and that the writer wrongly claimed that Harris did. (link) Sounds like a lot of semantics from both sides, with everyone trying to cover their position and previous comments. Here’s hoping for only good things in How I Met Your Mother’s future and many more seasons on CBS.

Ted Mosby Is A Jerk!

It might have appeared to be just another throwaway line in this week’s episode of How I Met Your Mother, but as always there’s more to it than meets the eye. As we found out in "The Bracket," Barney told one of the women he slept with and then never spoke to again that his name was Ted Mosby. When Barney and Lily went to find her and apologize for his actions we find out that not only did the woman still think his name was Ted Mosby, but she created a website to warn all the women in New York to stay away. And from that little segment comes TedMosbyIsAJerk.com.


Created by the How I Met Your Mother crew, the website is hilarious and even comes with its own theme song which is really funny in a stalker-ish kind of way. The site’s also got some funny drawings of deaths that would be too good for Barney/Ted, but the best part of the site is that one page references a story from last year in which a former friend steals Ted’s name and becomes a porn star. I have to say the fake porn ads are a really nice touch to TedMosbyIsAJerk.com.


As for some other How I Met Your Mother news, it seems like my greatest fears have come true. How I Met Your Mother is becoming the next Will & Grace, a funny show that goes down hill quickly by constantly using stunt casting for a quick bump in the ratings. On the heels of Britney Spears’ guest appearance two weeks ago comes news that Dawson a.k.a. James Van Der Beek will be guest staring on a future episode this season. (link) I don’t want to ruin anything, but lets just say his appearance involves another flash back to the career of our favorite 90’s Canadian pop star Robin Sparkles! I do love me some Robin Sparkles so maybe Van Der Beek’s appearance won’t be all bad.

Along those same lines, it sounds like after the success of Britney Spears’ guest appearance, the producers of HIMYM are considering a return engagement for the aging pop star. According to Michael Ausiello multiple sources are confirming that “Brit’s in talks to reprise her role as Ted’s stalker in at least one more episode.” (link) I don’t know about you, but I really don’t see the point.


Yes it was nice to get the boost in ratings from her guest staring in an episode, but do they really think bringing her back will have the same impact? The more times she appears the lesser her impact will be. Besides, HIMYM really doesn’t want to be known as the show Brittney Spears is on do they? I guess they’re just trying to pull out all the stops to ensure a 4th season, and for that I say do whatever must be done. But please, once the show is finally renewed, dump the celebrity guest stars and just sign Sarah Chalke for the long run.

How I Met Your Mother’s Impending Renewal and Britney Spears' Impact

I guess its true what they say, you can’t keep a good show down. With Britney Spears much hyped appearance last Monday, CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother achieved its highest ratings ever. According to The Hollywood Reporter “the second week of strong Mother ratings (10.6 million viewers, 4.5 rating for adults 18-49/12 share) assures the one-time bubble comedy will be renewed for the fall. Mother was the fourth highest rated show of the evening and CBS won the night.” (link) For its two weeks back HIMYM has now scored a rating of 9.7 million, 4.3/11 in its first week and now obtained a rating of 10.6 million, 4.5/12 this week. (link)


You know what this means? As of their first two weeks back on the air from the Writers strike imposed hiatus, How I Met Your Mother has beaten The Big Bang Theory in the ratings both weeks. In its first week back The Big Bang Theory scored a rating of 9.1 million, 3.7/11 and in its second week its ratings actually fell to 8.6 million, 3.4/10.


I would say this proves my theory that it was the 30 minute later time slot which accounts for The Big Bang Theory’s higher ratings over HIMYM earlier in the year, except for one thing. According to the Nielsen Ratings, all of CBS’ Monday night “comedies dropped slightly from their post-strike returns last week.” (link) All except for How I Met Your Mother that is. Obviously this has something to do with Ms. Spears appearance, but it also says something to the show’s popularity and fans' reactions to its bubble status. After a few more weeks of new shows I’d be interested in seeing how The Big Bang Theory and HIMYM’s ratings now compare to the ratings of that same time slot pre-Writers strike. Only then will we be able to see which show truly is more popular.


As for this week’s episode “Ten Sessions” with guest stars Britney Spears and Sarah Chalke I have mixed emotions. While it seems Spears’ stunt casting did help ratings, her character didn’t really bring much to the show. Britney didn’t come off badly Monday night and the show definitely wasn't a train wreck, but she also seemed to just be playing her old crazy self. Plus, I’m not quite sure that role really needed a celebrity in it. Did she really bring anything special to the episode? Not only that, but her name alone over shadowed the appearance of Sarah Chalke who was absolutely fantastic.


Also, the episode wasn’t really that funny and most of the main cast seemed pushed to the sidelines until the end when everything was tied together. But I have to say, the scenes between Ted and Sarah Chalke’s dermatologist Stella were really, really great. There was instant chemistry between the two and it made me almost glad Alicia Silverstone ended up dropping out of the role. It’s just unfortunate Chalke won’t be able to return to the show this season. Hopefully Scrubs’ imminent demise will mean future appearances for Chalke on HIMYM.


The biggest debate on the internet now is whether or not Stella/Sarah Chalke is Ted’s future wife and the mother of Ted’s children. I’m going to go with no since that plan was scrapped once Silverstone dropped out of the role and because Stella’s character already has a daughter. That isn’t to say it couldn’t happen and that the daughter in the show’s opening segments to whom future Ted is telling all of his stories to isn't Stella’s biological daughter and Ted’s adopted daughter. This debate brings up the question of which of Ted’s future children is older, the boy or girl? Because if it’s the boy I think that dispels the thought that Stella is Ted’s future wife. I guess with 6 episodes left and the rumor still circulation that we will meet the mother of How I Met Your Mother this season, we’ll know soon enough if Sarah Chalke is the mother or not.

Reminder: Britney Spears on How I Met Your Mother Tonight

I just wanted to send out a quick reminder to everyone that tonight is the night for Britney Spears' guest appearance on The Blot's second favorite television show, How I Met Your Mother.


While the show is being hyped a ton by the media, it really hasn't reached the fever pitch I was expecting. Let's just hope it has the intended effect of increasing HIMYM's ratings instead of the typical effect most Spears appearances have on shows nowadays, which is the show crashes and burns. I'm starting to cross my fingers now.

Britney Spears, Alicia Silverstone and Sarah Chalke to Guest Star on How I Met Your Mother (Plus Scrubs News)

Wow, its been a huge news week for How I Met Your Mother as the show tries to make a major push in the ratings to ensure its renewal for next year. Bringing in all this star power has been known to backfire in the past, as many viewers were turned off from NBC’s Will & Grace as it became so guest star heavy. I think there is definitely some potential backlash to having the paparazzi’s favorite target Britney Spears showing up in an episode. I don’t know if this is a major “get” for HIMYM or not, but it will definitely draw lots of attention by the media and hopefully some new viewers looking for the next big Britney screw up.

Originally it was being reported that Alicia Silverstone (Clueless) had been cast as Josh Radnor’s Ted’s dermatologist and love interest for a multi-episode arc. (link) Michael Ausiello even went so far as to hypothozie that he thinks Silverstone could possibly be the mother in How I Met Your Mother, just in case these were the last few episodes of the season. (link)

Then it was leaked that Britney Spears would appear in one of Silverstone’s episodes as an employee of the doctor’s. E! reported that Spears would star as “Abby, a girl who works in Ted’s doctor’s office” and is described as “sweet and friendly and scattered and a little nerdy – a female Michael Cera.” (link) Ok, that description is so all over the place it actually might work for Britney in that she doesn’t have to act, just show up as her crazy, all over the place self. The Blot was nervous as this point because over the past year Britney has come off as a pariah and seems to poison everything she’s involved in. The only thing worse would have been if HIMYM cast Lindsay Lohan for a guest role.

Then news came today that there is already a big Spears backlash that is evidently changing the future plans for How I Met Your Mother. Today Ausiello is reporting that Alicia Silverstone has dropped out from her multi-episode arc as Ted’s doctor and lover. (link) The reason Silverstone dropped out of the role is “because her reps (understandably) feared she would be overshadowed by Spears” who would be playing her assistant in the doctor’s office. (link) The role of dermatologist will now be played by Scrubs’ Sarah Chalke, but the multi-episode love affair is now being scraped because of Chalke’s schedule. And so it now seems the opportunity for all of us to finally meet Ted’s future wife this season has been scrapped, all because of little Miss Britney Spears. There is a silver lining as Ausiello reports there are still “big plans for Silverstone” and the show intends “to creat another character for her” in the future. (link)

In other exciting Sarah Chalke news, it is being reported in this week’s Ask Ausiello that the reason why Chalke can only appear in one episode of How I Met Your Mother is that the cast and crew of Scrubs “are due back on the set the week of March 24th to being production on an 18-episode final season to air on ABC.” (link) Now how exciting is that!?!