So That’s How They’re Going to Handle Hannigan’s Pregnancy
By JD
Ever since the news was broken that Alyson Hannigan was pregnant there’s been speculation on how that will manifest on the show. Will Marshall and Lily be having a baby? Will it be ignored? Will we only see Lily from the shoulders up?
In classic HIMYM style, the writers have thrown a curve ball. The pregnancy will be written into the show, just not in the way you might expect. Less babies, more ballparks.
TV Addict has the news that Lily’s larger belly size will be explained as the result of a hot dog eating contest at MacLaren’s. Unconventional? You betcha, but this is the same show that brought up licking the liberty bell and making it rain.
Look for the hot dog gorging during the episode on February 9th.
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49 Comments to “So That’s How They’re Going to Handle Hannigan’s Pregnancy”
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High Hoper | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 01:29 am GMT -4
So she gets tremendously fat just in a day eating hot dogs? Even in a week, you don't get THAT fat in a week.
Not credible at all. Bad move, boys.
ps: The only way she would get that fat would be eating lots of hotdogs, not only one day or week. Even 2 weeks wouldn't be credible.
I repeat. Bad move.
JustinDickinson | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 01:36 am GMT -4
Since when do we care about credibility? Was Robin's date for Slapsgiving really 65 years old? No. This is all how Future-Ted is telling the story so embellishments abound.
High Hoper | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 01:43 am GMT -4
I do care. At least on things this kind of important. We know Robin's date was 41. But seriously, you can NOT get that fat in a brief period of time, and … one contest of hotdogs and she appears like this?
Ok, what about a burger contest for Robin?
I really do not like this. I only hope writers come with this kind of stupid things for the rest of the 3 and a half years of the show, really. You understand now my comments the other day on season 4? On season 1 THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER APPEAR.
(i'm not screaming LOL)
DarkeSword | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 01:45 am GMT -4
Yeah, because Robin being able to do crazy backflips on a little girl's bike and Marshall and Lily hopping out the window of the bathroom in their third floor apartment without a scratch is really credible.
JustinDickinson | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 01:49 am GMT -4
I don't see the problem with this. It's funny, it's a clever way for them to handle to situation. Why wouldn't it have happened in season one? What is the difference between this embellishment and anything else? Why are we so hard on the show we're supposed to love?
JustinDickinson | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 01:49 am GMT -4
Exactly. There's a motif in the show of unbelievable plot lines. It's part of the humor.
High Hoper | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 01:53 am GMT -4
I didn't like I heart NJ, and that thing was completely disaster to the concept of the series.
Once again, i'm not talking about all credible and non-credible things in the sitcom. Here, in Spain, we have awful writers for sitcoms, that, when they need to finish a character, they always die, or must go on vacation, or everything's a dream.
For 3 years and a bit more, I loved the writers on HIMYM.
But, come on, how can you make a hot dog contest to solve a pregnancy issue? Tell me. It's not about the serious – non-serious of the writers and its creation, but… Hell, it's almost the worst thing they could get to explain the pregnancy issue. The other ones I hope they weren't as "wear as a pregnant mother to get a porsche".
Rudolf | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 01:54 am GMT -4
Though I do not exactly think that this is a bad move, but I guess High Hoper is right by that the "feel" of HIMYM has changed since the first season.
High Hoper | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 01:59 am GMT -4
I am hard on the things I love. If I weren't hard on this, I wouldn't love it.
For example, I like a lot Big Bang Theory, and I wouldn't mind if this happens there. But not in HIMYM, because it's the show i love most in the world. Sometimes it's hard to see the things they do like this last season, who has some of the best and the worst of all series. (at least, it has the worst episode, the second worst episode… and more lol)
I feel that HIMYM is losing the magic that made it so unique and special.
High Hoper | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 02:03 am GMT -4
Thank you for understanding it..
JustinDickinson | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 02:06 am GMT -4
We've talked about thisad nauseum. No show is going to be the same as it starts. If you like season one, go watch more of season one. Everything changes, and HMYM is one show that's changed for the better. Why are we getting so hung up on what it isn't anymore when it is, in fact, so many more things?
JustinDickinson | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 02:10 am GMT -4
I guess I just don't know why this is such a big deal. This isn't the writers being lazy. It's tongue-in-cheek. They know it doesn't make sense, and they know we know. It's a hyperbolic wink at the audience. Is it really a “disaster” for the series? Does this ruin the rest of the show for you? Can one thing that bothers you invalidate all the good things that've come? I hate the font in the title but I don't think it's a “disaster” for the show. Look past the flaws of the thing you love.
High Hoper | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 02:22 am GMT -4
No, it doesn't ruin the rest. But I feel that, if everything goes on like Season 4, they had the best sitcom and they made it one more. Don't know if I explain myself right here… It's not ruining everything, but this show is not as special as season 1 or 2 were. Even like Shelter Island, who for me is on my top5.
And replying your other comment, I'm not gonna watch Season 1 from here to eternity. LOL. I want at least to have the same amount of "magic" that it had.
JustinDickinson | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 02:32 am GMT -4
Do you think that perhaps some of the magic is that it was new and no matter what, now that we're four years in, it's lost that newness?
High Hoper | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 02:40 am GMT -4
No, because Woo or Shelter Island had the magic I'm talking about. Even Benefits. And episodes like Miracles had the 'thing'. I just mentioned 3 episodes of the last 14 of the show
High Hoper | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 02:41 am GMT -4
D'oh! 4 of the last 14!
GoForBarney | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 02:43 am GMT -4
I think we should all hold our comments until the show airs. I'm sure seeing in context will, well, put it in context. Catch my drift?
JustinDickinson | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 02:55 am GMT -4
So you're talking about the episodes that have more dramatic characterization. I think you've just proven that it still exists, just in smaller doses. We just have to take it where it comes, and also appreciate the funny that comes in between.
Pizzaboy | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 04:03 am GMT -4
I like the way you think. And come on people. HIMYM is kind of like pizza. Even when it's bad it's good.
JustinDickinson | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 04:06 am GMT -4
Thanks a lot Pizzaboy, now i want a pizza.
Lucas deGroote | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 04:07 am GMT -4
Hey dude,
at TV.COM you can finde some photos of Alyson and of this episode.
See HIMYM photos at TV.COM HIMYM page.
Congrats for your blog, thanks from Brazil.
SuperNova | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 04:47 am GMT -4
Considering they had to film the season finale early in order to have normal-sized Aly, and have talked about all the strange ways they're going to cover her up, I doubt this is the "solution". It's probably a strange fantasy sequence or something.
Tash | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 05:56 am GMT -4
I don't think this will be a 'disaster' for the show. Rather, I think this is more like the exaggeration of many things future Ted gives us about the storyline. But the one problem I do see with this is that it's not very original….being a huge fan of frasier (yeah, I know…I sound old) lol; when Jane Leeves got pregnant they just played her character Daphne off as getting fat as well. So it'll just have a very similar feel I guess….
John Darc | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 07:48 am GMT -4
That's what I was thinking. When I heard about this a few months ago, I assumed it was a one off gag.
une.heure.bondée. | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 08:19 am GMT -4
I prefer this waaay more than the tired sitcommy route of Lily and Marshall getting a baby. I'm so so thankful they didn't go there. Kudos to the writers!!
Oh and I'm watching season 1 right now, and i have to say it's a little overrated. It's still good, but honestly, this show really does get better and better.
Gravity | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 09:25 am GMT -4
I agree with Tash, I bet this is another future Ted exaggeration
shimsham | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 11:49 am GMT -4
i think it is actually kind of credible, cause she's not getting fat in the conventional way, by eating too much in a period of time and gaining body fat, but by the actual amount of hot dogs stuffed in her belly.. where do you think all that hot dogs go after eating? you can't just eat a lot of hot dogs and stay thin. maybe she has a really expandable stocmach
besides, a pregnant belly does't even look like someone who gained a lot of weight and is actually "fat"
Ike | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 02:57 pm GMT -4
From what I gather this is a one episode occurrence. Future Ted is an unreliable narrator at best. When each one of us tell stories about our past we embellish parts of them, leave parts out, or slightly alter events. This sounds like it's going to be Ted's over active imagination at work like in Slapsgiving with Bob (in reality your Aunt Lily looked like this (show slightly bloated Lily) I saw this (pregnant Lily)). I only defend Carter and Bays because I have judged story lines (Benefits) before seeing the episode and was proven wrong. Give them a chance to pull this off. After this airs we'll see if it worked. If it doesn't I still say no big deal not every episode can be in your top 10.
Ike | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 03:02 pm GMT -4
Unless you're 2.5 men. They've had the same premise since day one. Which is why I stopped watching a long time ago. I doubt much has changed form snippets I've seen. Charlie the Lothario is still chasing bimbos and had no true character development has happened (especially compared to Barney's). Jake was cute and funny when he was young, now it's just sad how dumb/clueless he is. IDK how they continue to get such high ratings.
cheetachica | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 05:31 pm GMT -4
cmon now are you really upset by this? you really think that its credible that Barney can just take and run the NYC marathon? or Robin can manage to do newscasts spanking herself or doing weird dances? or Marshall and Ted can stab Lily in the shoulder with a sword and shes ok? This show is fun and goofy and you all wish you had these guys as your buds you want an escape from everyday boring reality not credible things that happen in mundane everday life or youd watch your own life
westfall | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 06:24 pm GMT -4
i'll reserve judgement to after i see the episode. Credible? It's not. Had me ROFL when i read what they were going to do? ABSOLUTELY. But that will work this week. What about the other episodes? Making Lilly unexpectadly pregnant would be predictable but would work longterm. What about Cobbie's pregnancy? Will she become pregnant in the show, too? It will be interesting to see how the show deals with this.
GoForBarney | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 07:50 pm GMT -4
Thanks.
Tomorrow night!
GoForBarney | Sunday, February 1st, 2009 07:52 pm GMT -4
Seconded
BGeo | Monday, February 2nd, 2009 01:12 am GMT -4
i must have laughed for 2 minutes straight when I read this. Sure it isn't credible, but Future Ted will over exaggerate the size of Lily for sure. This will undoubtably be a hilarious one time episode.
Sean | Monday, February 2nd, 2009 03:16 am GMT -4
haha, i bet high hoper hits his kids..jks
clearwater | Monday, February 2nd, 2009 11:09 am GMT -4
2.5 Men gets good ratings because it is completely mindless entertainment and since it hasn't changed at all in the past 6-7 years, you can tune in and understand what's happening.
clearwater | Monday, February 2nd, 2009 11:11 am GMT -4
I'm pretty sure they're just riffing on the idea of a food baby, which I personally think is hilarious.
David | Monday, February 2nd, 2009 11:29 am GMT -4
When there is something you "love" you let it fall in mediocrity?? Why are you so hard on the comments that we, your readers, leave on your blog??.
I prefer to comment about this after I watch the episode.
Cheers
JustinDickinson | Monday, February 2nd, 2009 01:05 pm GMT -4
I'm just trying to understand where you guys are coming from. It's too easy for everyone to say “the show sucks now, it used to be good.” I don't want the comments to degrade into mindless bitching. If you have a well thought-out reason for complaining, I'm all for it. I just don't want to support thoughtless criticism.
Pizzaboy | Monday, February 2nd, 2009 04:23 pm GMT -4
Sorry to have induced a pizza craving. Just make sure you don't leave the box out on the floor.
Tyler | Monday, February 2nd, 2009 08:25 pm GMT -4
I just love the look on Marshall's face in the photo above. Just a great picture in general.
Ally | Monday, February 2nd, 2009 09:50 pm GMT -4
I don't see why everyone is so upset. Since they filmed the finale early, it's obvious that this isn't their solution for the whole season. It works for the show because they often have slightly over-the-top stories, further exaggerated by Future Ted's narration. I, for one, am excited to see this and think it will be hilarious. There have been many times in the past where I've scoffed at ideas like this, only to realize HIMYM can pull them off.
JackAtak08 | Monday, February 2nd, 2009 10:23 pm GMT -4
ATTENTION EVERYONE
Please notice the lady to the right of Marshall. is it just me or does it look like first season Lilly?
I know it isn't, but goodness!
TheMix | Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 12:31 am GMT -4
"This is all how Future-Ted is telling the story so embellishments abound. "
Word.
Big Fish-style.
TheMix | Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 12:45 am GMT -4
"For example, I like a lot Big Bang Theory, and I wouldn't mind if this happens there."
I'm confused….how would this event on that particular show fit better and not worse? If anything, it would be more harshly rejected on that show. That show is so severely grounded in a supremely physical, non-metaphysical reality that it would be ridiculous to even think about. I'm with J.D. on this one…..HIMYM is and has always been more about embellishment than perhaps any other non-fantasy show on TV. Certainly more than any other sitcom out there. It's a ridiculously blatant (and good, I think) attempt to un-serialize the way other sitcoms approach the off-camera pregnancies of their on-camera stars. It may not be a mind-blowingly awesome plot move, but it's certainly not something to look at and say "wow, that's stupid". Mediocrity is personified by something falling into the same holes that the others that came before them have.
Criticize all you want, but it's not mediocre.
As for the idea that the show has changed to a great extent over the season, while I don't think this is completely true….it does have a basis. But that's a good thing in my mind. If the show were to remain stagnant, then we'd be focusing wayyyyy more on that, and probably would be more outraged by it. That said, as J.D. noted, this is still much like the many incidents of odd and perhaps fantastical hilarity that have come before it. I.E. – Ted making it rain, a sword fight, Robin's bike jump, etc.
There's no physical way this could happen, obviously, but there's no reason not to make light of it either. This kind of nonsensical business has been what's made us all smile about the show from the very beginning.
-Jason
Ikkakujuu | Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 01:11 pm GMT -4
I didn't know anything about this before I saw the episode, but I thought it was hilarious and creative! Someone mentioned that another sitcom has used the "put on weight" method to deal with pregnancies before, but this is unique in that it happened so suddenly, and I figure it's just going to be a one-time thing and they are not going to show her belly continuously from now on. Kind of like she's bloated (lol). I mean, that's how I think I look when I eat too much… haha!
Lily | Thursday, February 4th, 2010 05:08 pm GMT -4
I think it’s great Alyson’s pregnant! I love h.i.m.y.m it’s wicked!
Melanie Long | Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 09:31 pm GMT -4
you won’t be able to eat any food that you want during pregnancy as some foods could be harmful to the baby, like foods that ha”,’
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