Let Us Give Thanks
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I know I’m personally thankful for all of you who make running this site worth it. I’m also thankful for the discussion, which is above and beyond what I could’ve hoped for when starting Have You Met Ted. We’re about two weeks away from hitting 3,000 comments on the site. That’s insane.
But that’s not all I’m thankful for. And I hope you can all agree with what else I’m celebrating today.
I’m also thankful that How I Met Your Mother continues to be an awesome show. Lately it would seem that a lot of people feel differently. I challenge anyone who whines that the show isn’t what it was in season one to consider this: we’re still getting new episodes. I think that’s something to be thankful for. The show hasn’t sold out, it hasn’t changed that much. It’s impossible to maintain the same new-car-smell magic that the first season of any great show promises. Think of all the shows you like, are they the same as they were in the first season? Themes change, motivations change, and it goes in different directions. If it was constantly the same notes, it would be boring. I think it’s a testament to the show that they’ve taken it in a new direction which keeps the episodes fresh while still preserving the soul of what made the show great in the first place.
Think about a show like The Office. When it started, it followed the UK format of creating incredibly awkward situations that were identifiable by those who work in a similar environment. The Michael Scott character was played as a deplorable antagonist that everyone loved to hate. Now look at it. It’s a dramedy about people struggling to break out of day-to-day tedious mediocrity anyway they can and the character of Scott, once despised, has become one of the great tragic characters of American television, someone who can’t get out of his own way. The show grew since it knew it’s original premise couldn’t survive season after season. (It’s worth comparing the two since even though The Office is a season ahead, it and HIMYM have the same number of episodes.)
Now think about a show like Freaks and Geeks. It’s first season was focused on a singular idea and it was awesome. Then it got canceled. You can’t tell me that you’d wouldn’t have rather seen it keep getting renewed, even if that meant it had to shift it’s focus as it progressed. I know I’d rather have a few seasons of the show rather than just the one.
I guess my point is that it’s easy to complain that a show you love has changed. It’s harder to see that show for what it has become, and appreciate that it’s still on the air. Find the new things to love about it, dont just focus on what you miss. Don’t be a curmudgeon that gets something they want and then complains about it. Let’s celebrate the great things about How I Met Your Mother and hope it continues being awesome for as long as it can, whatever changes it might go through.
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Roxanne | November 27, 2008 @ 8:16 am
Hear hear!!.. that was an excellent blurb to those people who are complaining about this season.. I love i so far.. well for the exception of the burger one.. hehe.. but yeah.. I'm certainly thankful to have another season than no season at all, remember it almost didn't get picked up.. so I'm thankful.. for the HIMYM (brotp) fans, the writers, the cast (NPH!!!).. , and the show…. although I'm canadian, and my thanksgiving was like a month ago.. lol.. haha.. cheers..
BGeo | November 27, 2008 @ 9:54 am
This has been a great season thus far, and I'm thankful for HIMYM, although "real thanksgiving happened over a month ago" haha.
Great blurb JD
TomC2488 | November 27, 2008 @ 10:50 am
Totally agree with everything you've said there. HIMYM is still as funny as its always been, and personally I think season 4 has so far even improved on season 3. Everyone involved in the show should be applauded for continuing to produce such an engaging and well rounded piece of television. Attributes not often found in many sitcoms.
Dex | November 27, 2008 @ 11:14 am
Happy Slapsgiving one and all!
Mothership | November 28, 2008 @ 2:40 am
HIMYM is the only show on TV I like! It is now turning into one I don't like everything else. Once it gets popular it changes into something else.
It's not just the search for the mother! It is the way the show was more like real life. Like we where there watching their life the ups the downs the rights the wrongs. Now it is just another show….with no story. Just a comedy and not a romantic one either.
I would rather see it die then change!
I find it quite funny that you won't say anything bad about the show anymore. And you are even (several times now) trying to correct or influence option. Be more partial to both sides.
The show has been brought and paid for they can’t take that back but maybe this was part of the deal……
Kim | November 28, 2008 @ 2:44 am
I wholeheartedly agree! The show continues to grow and, for me, I just continue to love it more and more. If anything, the fact that HIMYM and its characters change and evolve just make them that much more real and relatable too.
And thanks to YOU, JD, for providing us with an incredible forum to share the show together!
keller | November 28, 2008 @ 3:20 am
Taking about thanksgiving…
I was watching the last episode of Star Wars: The clone wars series. And I realized that they made and hommage to HIMYM. Precisely to the episode that Ted and Barney go to Philadelphia and… C3PO acting as Barney. It is pretty obvious to me. But judge for yourselves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEXY4q05_nE
Happy thanksgiving,
Amanda | November 28, 2008 @ 3:22 am
Absolutely. This show is great, from episode 1 to this last Monday's. So many get cancelled, and for a sitcom, HIMYM is surviving against the odds! I'm also so glad to hear that it got picked up for syndication, which guarantees a season 5!
idioiticonion | November 28, 2008 @ 4:06 am
What I love about HIMYM is coming on here every week and reading people's reviews and realising that there are loads of people who's favourite thing about the episode was the very thing that other people say was the worst thing. This happens every week. Some people's worst whole episode will always be someone else's favourite. The show has such a broad appeal and yet still inspires so much passion from its fans. How many shows can you say that about?
Happy Slapsgiving, everyone.
Muipui | November 28, 2008 @ 5:12 am
I'm very thankful that I found a site that loves and discusses HIMYM like I do. Keep up the good work! Hope everyone had a happy thanksgiving!
John Darc | November 28, 2008 @ 5:54 am
Remember how Veronica Mars almost had to change its whole aspect for a possible season 4? The FBI thing was lame. Not to mention that season 3 was more about lovey drama between V and Logan. And those damned Aerie girls *shudder*
jproductions | November 28, 2008 @ 6:21 am
I'm surprised to hear their is backlash for this season of How I Met because its much better than season 3. Season 3 was the worst of How I Met, it was much more sitcomy and was nothing like the previous seasons. Season 4 is making its way back to the older seasons by focusing on Ted's quest for the mother again. 3 was about the wild times Ted had to become the man he would be, and it was rather boring and dull. A majority of the pre-strike episodes are bad and are more like a plot from an episode of Two & A Half Men than How I Met Your Mother. 3 was the downfall of the show and 4 is bringing it back to greatness. Granted its all my opinion, but one I feel very strongly about.
On the topic of Office, that is a show that truely is not what it once was. Seasons 1-3 were fantastic, while 4 started a downfall and nowadays I barely enjoy watching the show. It was once so realistic and heartfelt, but now its just filled with unnecessary drama and stupid plots.
Marcy | November 28, 2008 @ 8:13 am
Hear, hear!
I hate when people keep saying, that HIMYM is at great a show as it has been. It is moving forward and still really awsome in my opinion. I think JD already said everything. The only thing that makes me sad is the fact that, due to not having an own computer at the moment, I´m not able to take part in all those wonderful discussions here on the site
misha | November 28, 2008 @ 8:19 am
Happy Slapsgiving, you guys!
And JD, your post was pretty damn great. I totally agree with all you've said – and thinking about great shows like Friends or MASH who survived for 10 or 11 seasons, the same thing happened: they changed, they started dealing with different issues, and that's what kept them alive. It's sort of like a real life relationship: if nothing new happens, it's just stagnating. And of all the new shows that have come and gone these past few years, HIMYM really is the one I want most on the air for as long as it makes sense
JustinDickinson | November 28, 2008 @ 8:55 am
This post wasn't an apology. It was pointing out that the show still is great and people like you who don't feel it is anymore might be better served to stop watching it rather than complain about how bad it's gotten. You might rather see it die than change but the majority of us are still enjoying it.
JustinDickinson | November 28, 2008 @ 8:57 am
Well put! The show can be dividing (burger episode?) but it's that division that makes it so interesting. I'm always fascinated with how one person's favorite can be another's least. The important thing to realize though is that the show almost always causes a reaction. That means it's affecting us all, whether good or bad, which is more than you can say for many TV shows that just end up inspiring a “blah” reaction.
DaveR | November 28, 2008 @ 10:37 am
Well put. Although I'm from Canada, and thus celebrate real thanksgiving which happened over a month ago, I too will state that I am thankful for each and every episode that has and has yet to come!
Geri | November 28, 2008 @ 11:28 am
I'm thankful that HIMYM exists and hasn't been canceled, as Freaks and Geeks was.
There's nothing wrong with stating your opinion about episodes and what you did and did not like about them, but there's a difference between that and whining. That's the only thing I'm NOT thankful for.
JustinDickinson | November 29, 2008 @ 2:18 am
I agree. I'm not trying to quell any negative feedback. There are just people who like the show but dislike episodes/parts of episodes and there are those who don't seem to like the show anymore and just complain constantly.
Mothership | November 29, 2008 @ 3:12 am
I would also like to give thanks to the Pilgrims for taking this land by force from the Indians. Maybe we should have a oilsgiving (Iraq) holiday too……
JD you are the biggest hypocrite ever…..
BGeo | November 30, 2008 @ 6:05 am
Comments like that, are exactly what I'm not thankful for. There are other sites out there for you if you don't like like what JD is doing. Do you even like HIMYM?
High_Hoper | November 30, 2008 @ 8:36 am
ok, you had your moment, you think you are correct… now, can you be quiet for the next eternity? thank you!
AmyLeigh | November 30, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Amazing! Thank you for reminding me why I love you blog
Tyler B | December 1, 2008 @ 2:14 am
I'm in complete agreement. I may be negative towards certain parts of the show from time to time but it's only because I love it and want it to be as good as it possibly can be. Monday nights just wouldn't be the same without HIMYM, and this season has been leaps and bounds better than last season. Here's to many more seasons to come.
Courtney | December 1, 2008 @ 2:42 am
I agree with your comments about the show. Every show goes through changes. Everyone is not going like the same episodes. I give HIMYM credit for trying different things and going against the grain. The show is about how Ted finds his future wife, but every episode doesnt need to be about that. I find some of the stand alone episodes to be reason to love the show. One of my favorites, Ted Mosby Architect , is great story telling and it had almost nothing to do with Ted finding his wife.
Luis | December 1, 2008 @ 8:58 am
HIMYM has changed and i share the oppinion of those who see that as a good thing. So what if it is different? It still makes me laugh my a** off, it keeps giving us inteligent, well written stories filled with twists and turns and most of all, it keeps Barney alive. Don't get me wrong, i love the whole cast but NPH keeps knocking every episode out of the park. The only thing that might keep this awesome series from going on for a lot longer is that eventually Ted will have to meet the mother but even then, although the series premise is fullfilled, i think that if they keep this level of writing they could keep the show on the air, even if they have to change the title to "After i met your mother".
NOT keller | December 1, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
Although no one has commented your video. I think it is totally right.
It is an evident hommage.
Your comments are awesome and you are an astoundingly beautiful man. Every comment that you make, objectively, is like the Manna fullfilling us of every posible human emotion.