The How I Met Your Mother Blog

Neil Patrick Harris was on Live with Regis and Kelly today. During the broadcast he revealed that 26 episodes have been ordered for season four. That’s great news!

Ideally that means that the rushed feeling that was present during the end of season 3 will not be there next year. It also means, I would think, that more story lines can be explored in depth.

So, knowing this, I have two questions to ask you. First, what would you like to see from season 4? What’s your ideal season-long arc and what smaller adventures/stories would you like to see told?

My next question is sure to be a controversial one. There’s a lot of talk back and forth about when and if we’ll meet the mother. There are two philosophies at odds here. The first school believes that the final moment of the final episode should be Ted meeting the mother, then fade to black. The other camp believes that it’s possible we’ll meet the mother and that the show will continue indefinitely after the titular moment. Which side do you fall on and why?

Of the shows that have returned from the strike How I Met Your Mother has continually done well for CBS. This week’s episode was the highest rated yet for the show. From the Hollywood Reporter:

A guest appearance by Britney Spears on Monday gave the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” its highest rating ever.

“Mother” spiked to a series high 4.5 preliminary rating among adults 18-49, even as the rest of the CBS comedy lineup fell from last week’s record-setting return to original episodes.

The second week of strong “Mother” ratings (10.6 million, 4.5/12) 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 (averaging 12.5 million, 4.4/11).

It’s not official, but I can’t see CBS canceling a show that’s doing so well. This is great news for us fans. Good work to those of you who wrote letters and signed petitions, but at the end of the day it all comes down to ratings and, lucky for us, the numbers don’t lie.

If you’d told me a year ago that Britney Spears would save How I Met Your Mother I’d have laughed in your face. I guess strange things do happen.

Now, for a bit of talking shop. I’ve heard readers suggest they’d be interested in a weekly ratings section, where we can track the shows stats in real time. Is this something you’d like to see?

Bonus points for the first person to get the reference in the phrasing of that poll question.

via TVGuide and the very legendary and handsome reader Rainier:

Sources are confirming to me exclusively that the lovely and talented Alicia Silverstone has been cast in a multi-episode arc.

Her character, a doctor, will be a love interest for Ted and she’ll be sticking around for several episodes.

Holy crap. This is awesome. First, she’s perfect. A classic actress in need of a great mainstream comeback role ala Danica McKellar. It sounds like Rainier was right to point out the careful wording when, in The Platinum Rule, Ted says “that was the end of Stella, for now”. How did I miss her in my poll way back when? I, like any other male who went through puberty in the 90s, have an undying love for Ms. Silverstone. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane…

Aerosmith – Crazy

It says the video is unavailable, click on it before you hit play (refresh the page) and it’ll go to Youtube where the video actually plays

Aerosmith – Crying

Aerosmith – Amazing

It says the video is unavailable, click on it before you hit play (refresh the page) and it’ll go to Youtube where the video actually plays

Forget about Liv Tyler, these videos were all about Alicia.

I really can’t wait to see her on the show. She’ll be much better than the string of dubious conquests and skanktrons Ted’s been running with this season so far. Is she hotter than Robin? I might be biased but I say yes.

Now only one question remains, and I’ll leave it to you: Will “Stella” be another Victoria, a relationship that we’ll see start and end, or will she end up as the mother? How will it all play out?

Before people start saying “she can’t be the mom, the kid’s would know, he said her name” let me point you to the very HIMYM-esque Definitely Maybe where the main character tells his young daughter the story of how he met her mother. He changed the names and some of the facts in the story to keep her in the dark. I’m sure old-Ted could do something similar.

And now, some pictures of Alicia, since I know that’s what all of you want. Click through for bigger size.

I suppose that Ted will have to learn to make meatless lasagna if he’s to wed Silverstone.

Over at TVSquad they have a piece explaining why LAME (Lily Aldrin and Marshal Erickson, get it? Pass it on.) haven’t moved into their sweet Dowisetrepla co-op yet. Turns out I was right back when I said they were probably closing in the background of the last few episodes. The show does this alot—mentions one thing then doesn’t go back to it for awhile (ala Ted’s ass-antlers). Looks like the next new episode might bring back the co-op and some more LAME jokes. (editor’s note: zing!)

Now that Ted lives alone, how will it play out? I have a few ideas, then you guys vote and tell me which you like the best.

1. Bachelor Pad – Ted lives alone, rents out the second bedroom to Barney, and the two of them ride the metaphorical 4×4 every weekend and alternating Wednesdays
2. New Roommate – Ted can’t afford the place and has to find a roommate. This would make sense since I see so much of myself in Ted and I am going through that very process right now (ps, anyone in Manhattan looking for a place?) and it would thus follow the “This show is suspiciously close to my real life” axiom I’ve seen in the past. Plus, new main character. Maybe Wendy the Waitress? Or someone new altogether.
3. The Odd Couple – Robin can’t afford her BK apartment and moves in with Ted. I know this is a long shot but come on, it would be awesome. That’s a lot of opportunity for hilarity. Plus, one thing leads to another and Robin invites Barney upstairs one night… I’m just saying.

So, what would you like to see?

PS. Sorry for going so long without posting. Things are crazy.

Which HIMYM guest star would make a good permanent or semi-permanent fixture? Victoria proved in Season One that a sixth person wouldn’t ruin the flow of the show, and there’ve been some good guest stars that could turn in legendary performances if they became full time. Who would you most like to see expand their roll?

For the sake of equality, I’ve separated the votes into boy/girl. It’s not fair to poor Marshall Manesh that he isn’t as cute as Danica McKellar.

Guys:

• Marshall Manesh…Ranjit the cab driver (it’s been awhile)
• Joe Nieves…Carl the bartender (where’s Carl been? more to come)
• Matt Boren…Stuart (of the “Stuart and Claudia” wedding)
• Alexis Denisof… Sandy Rivers (almost guaranteed to return, he’s married to Alyson Hannigan)
• Nate Torrence… Clark Butterfield (Barney’s arch-nemesis in an inter-office war)
• Michael Gross… Alfred Mosby (Ted’s dad)
• Joe Manganiello… Brad (one half of the World’s Greatest Couple)
• Bryan Cranston… Hammond Druthers
• Wayne Brady… James Stinson
• Enrique Iglesias… Gael
• John Cho… (Marshall’s boss)

Girls:

• Jayma Mays…Coat Check Girl (maybe?)
• Danica McKellar…Trudy (always welcome as far as I’m concerned)
• Virginia Williams…Claudia (of the “Stuart and Claudia” wedding)
• Ashley Williams…Victoria (fan favorite and pro-baker)
• Erinn Bartlett… Mary (the paralegal)
• Charlene Amoia… Wendy the Waitress (reader Michael makes a good case for her in the comments)
• Cristine Rose… Virginia Mosby (Ted’s mom)
• Lucy Hale… Katie Scherbatsky (Robin’s little sister)
• Mandy Moore… Amy
• Busy Philipps… Rachel (one wheel of the tricycle, also from Freaks and Geeks)