The How I Met Your Mother Blog

Some more information has surfaced concerning the beginning of season 4. Bays and Thomas have said that the season will open with an arc concerning Stella (played by Sarah Chalke) that they really think the fans will like. But don’t expect that to be the last we see of the good doctor—they also said that the arc would end with the definite possibility that we might see Stella again. Whether or not she is the mother, the creators said they “haven’t ruled it out”.

The first episode will also deal with Barney’s realization from the season 3 finale that he might have feelings for Robin. What that means, I can’t be sure. Will he act on them? Will he try to stifle his emotions? I’m really excited to see what they do with that situation as it has “legendary” written all over it.

With the wild success of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog we’ve been hearing a lot about Neil Patrick Harris lately. He’s currently shilling Old Spice and even showed up on Sesame Street as a shoe fairy:

I love this video. I’m not a huge fan of musicals but NPH really has a gift for them. Thanks to reader Chrissy who sent me that.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: YouTube clips are great but I want something from Neil Patrick Harris that I can spend money on this holiday season. Well look no further. Bays and Thomas announced that they’re turning “The Bro Code” into a real book that you can purchase later this year. It will be written by Bays and Thomas as well as the writer on the show who pen’s Barney’s blog each week for CBS.com.

Did you forget I promised a preview of Season 7? I didn’t. Bays and Thomas, in answer to a question about meeting the mother, reported the same info they revealed at the press screening—that footage has already been shot with the future Mosby kids—but also that they’d like to draw out meeting the mother until the series finale in 2012, which by my count would be season 7. I guess that solves any speculation we’d meet the mother before the series was done. Actually, it doesn’t. We could meet her (maybe we already have) and she might only be revealed as the mother in the finale. I can wait. Especially if it means three more seasons. Can you?

Read more from Bays and Thomas concerning The Bro Code book, season 4, and the series finale.

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Josh Radnor turns 34 today. Josh was born in Columbus Ohio and went to Kenyon college. In Josh’s honor, here’s some trivia:

• Josh is 6′ (1.83 m) tall
• Josh made his Broadway debut in 2002, succeeding Jason Biggs, in the stage version of The Graduate (1967), starring opposite Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone.
• Originally cast as the American lead in the pilot of the WB sitcom “Off Centre” (2001). The role was eventually played by Eddie Kaye Thomas.
• Won the Paul Newman award from the theater department at Kenyon College
• Received an M.F.A. in acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
• He is allergic to dogs.
• Graduated from Bexley High School, class of 1993, and came back as a guest speaker for the 2008 graduating class.

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There’ve been a few more tidbits in the news recently. Thanks to elusive reader Motherhead (who has gone by many names on this blog, but always the same, fake email address) for the links.

Sarah Chalke

It was recently confirmed in a press conference that Sarah Chalke would be returning for a multi-episode arc sometime in season four. I’m glad that she’s coming back as I liked what little we saw of her last year and hope that with a less limiting schedule we’ll be able to explore her character more. The question is when she’ll appear. The logical guess is in the first episodes since we were left with the cliffhanger proposal last year. Can you think of any way she wouldn’t show up till, say, November sweeps?

Season 5

There is a lot of chatter over comments made by Carter Bays recently that season four will be the end of the serialized nature of the show. Bays and Thomas have had “fun writing a soap opera for the past three years” but are planning, after season four, to write more self-contained episodes, like a regular sitcom.

The first thing you’ll likely think is “why?” but before you call betrayal, realize the hidden meaning in that quote. What he said is directly implying that the show will have seasons beyond this one. Imagine a world where we know that the show is renewed before the last possible second? Sounds good to me.

Also, before you pick up the torches, keep in mind that the first season had some very sitcomy moments. It was really season two that was highly serialized. I think the show can continue to be good without a long-term story line. Look at other serialized comedies like The Office, at some point the characters are so fully realized you don’t need the long-term plots anymore, you can just show the adventures of these people that you’ve come to love after so many years.

Does this also imply we’ll learn the identity of the mother? I can’t see how they’d make fully self contained episodes if the plot was still driving toward meeting the mystery girl. What do you think?

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The title is likely to be longer than this post. Just some show news I wanted to share.

Season 3 DVD

The DVD set for season 3 comes out on Oct  7th, 2008. Add the date to your calendars! I’d like to give out a copy or two of this DVD but I need a contest. Any good ideas? Do you think there’d be a good turn out for a “design a slutty pumpkin costume” contest? On the DVD you’ll find:

• Series Retrospective
• Lily And Marshall’s Honeymoon Videos
• Cast Favorites Featurette
• Additional Scenes - How It Really Happened
• Behind The Scenes Of “We’re Not From Here”
• Unrated Gag Reel
• Ted Mosby Is A Jerk Alternate Audio Track - “The Bracket”
• You Just Got Slapped Music Video
• Robin Sparkles “Sandcastles in the Sand” Music Video
• Commentary by Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Pam Fryman, and editor Sue Federman - “The Platinum Rule”
• Commentary by Josh Radnor, Sarah Chalke, Carter Bays, and Craig Thomas - “Ten Sessions”
• Commentary by Neil Patrick Harris, Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, and writer Joe Kelly - “The Bracket”
• Commentary by Cobie Smulders, Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Pam Fryman, and writer Kourtney Kang - “Sandcastles In The Sand”
• Commentary by Alyson Hannigan and Consulting Producer Jonathan Groff - “Everything Must Go”
• Commentary by Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, and Director Pam Fryman - “Miracles”

Sarah Chalke

Ausiello seems to think that Sarah Chalke is returning for several episodes next season. I’d like to see it. She’s pretty!

Stay tuned. It’s been quiet a bit but I’ll be posting all the missing Season vs. Seasons leading up to the fall premieire. It’s going to be legendary!

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The first episode of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog is now up. Watch it for free on the Dr. Horrible site or get a season pass for all three episodes from iTunes for $3.99 (the shows will only be available for free online for a short time.)

I watched it and I love it. Classic Whedon. The premise is wonderful and the cast does a great job. Impressive production value too. This is the future of internet tv shows. In ten years we’ll look back on this as a milestone.

What’d you guys think? Like the songs? Is Felicia Day stalker-worthy?

Update: Act II is available now.

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Remember Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog? Well it’s about to premiere. It will air in three parts on July 15, 17, and 19 and only be available until July 20th on the official site drhorrible.com. After that, the entire series can be downloaded for a fee or a DVD may be purchased that’s loaded with extras such as the world’s first musical commentary.

The series stars Neil Patrick Harris as a would-be mad scientist, Nathan Fillion as Dr. Horrible’s superhero nemesis and Felicia Day as the love interest of both men. Fillion comes from Firefly fame and Day can be seen in the hilarious and not just a little geeky web series The Guild.

I love Joss Whedon. What a fantastic thing he’s doing here. I’m really excited to watch this and I think NPH is going to be fantastic. Read more about the series at TV Guide.

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