Something strange has been happening over the last few weeks on How I Met Your Mother. And I’m not talking about Cobie Smulders‘ pregnancy, or Sarah Chalke returning as Stella. Although, if they wanted to get the show stuck in the mud, they couldn’t have made a better choice than to have that crappy character (and actress) return.
No, I’m talking about something good. The show’s always been uproariously funny, but it’s also always experienced a fair amount of ensemble rockiness. At least for me. I’ve mentioned in the past how Marshall (of late) and Lily (of always) are the weakest links, but the strength of the others (particularly the legen … wait for it … dary Barney!) more than make up for two-fifths of the cast sucking. Anyway, for some reason there’s just been good mojo these last weeks, a synergy to the cast that makes them totally propel the show forward into sitcom history.
And, it was so smooth that I didn’t even notice the change. It just worked, even though Stella kind of grinds the central story to a halt. The truth is, I may never have noticed the difference. Hell, three years from now I might have been writing about the latter part of season four as the Blow the Hatch moment for the show. Alas, it was not to be. When did I wake up from my naivete? In the waning moments of Monday’s episode. Why?
Because Alyson Hannigan returned. All at once, in those brief moments that Lily re-entered the bar, the balloon, which had unknowingly blown so big, withered and died in my arms. Talk about your weakest link.
I know that a lot of people love her, but where’s the funny? Hannigan so drains the laughter out of everything that she touches, I’m shocked that no one else seems to notice. Well, there was Entertainment Weekly; it’s no exact science, but she was left off of their recent “Funniest Actresses in Hollywood” list. (Then again, amongst numerous other misfires, they included Amy Poehler, Jane Krakowski, Mindy Kaling, and Rashida Jones, so clearly inclusion means less than nothing as well.)
I also realized something else: I like Marshall. It’s just Marshall and Lily, or more accurately, Marshall with Lily, that drives me nuts.
Look: I don’t know Alyson Hannigan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (was that a comedy? I have no idea.) I only know her from the American Pie franchise, Date Movie, and How I Met Your Mother, and the one thing she’s been consistent at is not making me laugh.
Now, I’m prepared to be skewered, ignored, or whatever else my dissenters decide to do, but hear me now: I am only trying to help. I want How I Met Your Mother to be a giant; to be remembered as one of the greatest sitcoms in television history. If for no other reason, Neil Patrick Harris deserves that for his unparalleled work on the show. So, why not surround him with the best?
Check out the laughs ratio on the episodes when Hannigan was on maternity leave; without even double-checking, I feel secure in saying that they were through the roof. With Hannigan? Sure, she had good moments, but they were always with others. Never solo. Slap bet? All Marshall and Barney. Art school, apartment from hell, wedding ruiner, autographed baseball thief? All her, and all terrible.
It’s like; Okay, we (inadvertently) tried something new, took it for a test drive. How was the ride? Oh, smoother than silk? Then let’s stick with it, instead of throwing that itchy mole hair back on.
I’ll admit, I don’t know what that analogy was all about. What I do know is the underlying theory behind it: go with a foursome. It’ll make for better laughs, even seating in their bar booth, and Barney will love being wingman to a divorced/widowed Marshall. Talk about your sympathy vote five!
What do you think?
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on May 14, 2009 @ 13:13 EST5EDT
Sarah Chalke a crappy actress? Amy Pohler and Mindy Kaling not funny? Do you have problem with woman in comedy?
Another thing, the role of Stella was supposed to be played by Alicia Silverstone.
Just imagine how much Stella would be…
*POST AUTHOR*
On the contrary; off the type of my head, I can say that I love the comedy of Patricia Heaton, Megan Mullaly, Jennifer Aniston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Cobie Smulders, Jenna Fisher, Maggie Lawson, Phyllis Smith, Melora Hardin, Tina Fey (the writer), Jane Leeves, Peri Gilpin, Allison Janney, Isla Fisher (need more?)
Wow. Alicia Silverstone would have been a lot worse. Wow.
*POST AUTHOR*
Wait! I forgot Megyn Price!
I had to google half those names (Price, Leeves), but say I can agree with JLD and Fischer at least.
*POST AUTHOR*
Sorry, just had to make it clear that I have no problem with women in comedy. :-)
I also didn’t want to imply that I only liked the actress in one show by using a character name.
Look, just cause you can rattle off a bunch of female names that you respect in comedy doesn’t make you right. It doesn’t make you wrong, exactly – just your own opinion – but in MY own, yeah, you’re wrong. Sarah Chalke is talented. So is Jason Segel and Allyson Hannigan (to mention your 2/5 theory of suck, ALSO wrong), by the way. They’re all talented, and part of why the show works as well as it does.
Well, some people just don’t make you laugh. “Everybody Loves Raymond?” Not me, the man can’t say anything that I find funny. I guess AH is your Ray Romano.
I like her, though. But I think the season has been weird because it’s been so pregnancy-limited.
*POST AUTHOR*
Whoa! What’s that, now? Talk about being off your meds ;-)
No, I definitely agree. The shame here is that the How I Met Your Mother takes a hit for me, because Lily’s a supporting, so she’s not enough of a reason to tune out, but irritating nonetheless. In the case of Ray Romano (are you sure you’re okay?), he is so dominating on the show that he’s enough of a reason for you to never tune in to the show. Thus, you’re spared … his brilliance! Seriously; is everything all right?
At least tell me that you’re a Jerry Seinfeld fan…
I agree with everything Jen here has to say. I only liked Frank and Marie on ELR, but not enough to bear Romano.
Not sure how to resolve some of the pacing of HIMYM, but I enjoyed Chalke’s time. Actually, I love everyone this show except for the actor who plays Ted.
Let me put it like this: I once flew to London to see her in “When Harry Met Sally”. A Comedy. With Luke Perry.
I’ll spare you the rest of my comment because I feel it would bring us both no additional insight. As always: tastes differ, and discussing this seems absolutely futile.
*POST AUTHOR*
Ouch. What kind of crazy dare was that?
No dare at all. I just like her, you don’t. Discussing that leads nowhere and I finally realized that discussing your taste doesn’t work for me :-) I mean I most likely would’ve attacked you for your “Buffy” remark somewhere in between but that would’ve been wrong too.
I’ll give you a hint: I think she’s a great person. Maybe not the greatest comedic actress in the world. But I think she simply plays herself in a slight variation all the time and that she’s just like that in real life. Fun, honest, likable. Real.
That’s what makes it work for me. Makes me like her in “Buffy” and all the “American Pie” movies. When she says she loves somebody I can kind of feel it that she really means it. There aren’t that many actresses in the world who can get that across. Sarah Chalke is another one when she’s not acting towards Josh Radnor but rather Zach Braff.
And Allyson Hannigan has red hair, that’s another plus :-)
I like Jennifer Aniston but I would never say she’s funnier than Amy Poehler.
I don’t think Aniston can be funny without playing a Rachel type character.
*POST AUTHOR*
Or is a Rachel type character really her?
Aniston has plenty of big misses, but Office Space and Along Came Polly? Bingo.
What?! Never watched Buffy? Alyson Hannigan doesn’t make you laugh? Definitely something wrong with you :| .
The episodes without Lily were okay, but just her tiny 2-minute appearance at the end of 4.23 made the episode 100x awesomer than 4.21 and 4.22. Hannigan rocks. NPH and AH are the reason this show has been going so long (not that it isn’t great by itself, but it was on the bubble for renewal the past 2 seasons). Besides having the most talent, they draw in a lot of fans because of the other stuff they’ve starred in.
*POST AUTHOR*
Yes, I’ve gotten a lot of flack for disliking Joss Whedon, but he just isn’t my cup of tea. I did try Dollhouse, but I ran from that one fast.
Aryeh: I’m with you. As much as I like AH (because, unlike yourself, am a fan of Whedon), Lily is the weak link of the show. But I blame the character, not the actor (or the writers, for what its worth). I think that Lily had about three seasons worth of stories to tell. In the grand scheme, she’s just not that interesting of a character. Maybe, when she has a baby next season (pure speculation), that will change things up. They’ll need to infuse something into arc next season, or the show will suffer for it.
Dorv is spot on. It’s the character, not the actress. It’s the writing.
I mean how can anyone be worse than Josh Radnor/Ted on this show? He just sucks.
See, I identify a little too much with Ted. I mean, not so much with the doucheyness, but the sappy, hopeless romantic. And a best friend like Barney. And married friends like Lily and Marshall. So, as much as I hate him sometimes, I can’t do it all of the time…
*POST AUTHOR*
I don’t identify with Ted, but I enjoy him. Bob Saget, on the other hand … Ted’s weak link.
Don’t think of Lily as a character, think of her as an extension of Marshall. Marshall wouldn’t be nearly as funny without her to play off of.
*POST AUTHOR*
For me, Lily brings Marshall down. I hadn’t enjoyed him in a few years, until Lily disappeared these past few weeks.
Lily is alright. I disagree with saying that some of the funniest episodes have occured without her. Thats just not true, considering she’s only been gone for a few weeks and this is season 4. But whatever.
Last season, Robin was AWFUL. I hated that character. This year, some entire episodes have been carried by her.
Marshall is way funnier this season as well, with or without Lily, because he’s been bouncing off Barney a lot more and thats always gold.
TED is the weak link here. He’s just whiny, pathetic, awful, and NOT funny. I hope this is part of the evolution of Ted, because he stinks this season.
*POST AUTHOR*
While the rest is as subjective as my thoughts (except for Marshall even being worthy of speaking to Barney), I don’t think I said that some of the funniest episodes of the show occurred without Lily. What I said was that the laughs were through the roof while she was gone (meaning that it kept on clicking without her), and, that while she had good moments while being a part of a joke with another character (i.e. slap bet), she didn’t carry anything well alone. I certainly wouldn’t argue that the past four episodes of the show were the best ever (see: “Slap Bet”, “Stuff” and “Intervention”, for that).
I’m late to this one because I only watched the episode two days ago. Some thoughts:
1. Hannigan is a delight but Lily is one of the more poorly written characters on the show. Hannigan has good timing but she doesn’t get a lot of good stuff to work with.
2. I think we can all agree (though I shouldn’t assume) that Barney is the strongest on the show, in part because of the way that the character is written and in part because NPH is awesome.
3. I heart Jason Segel but Marshall tends to get on my nerves. Not all the time. I like the guy, but the wussy character doesn’t do it for me. This is totally subjective.
4. I like Ted. I like that he’s a douchebag and yet so sweet at the the same time. He’s oblivious to his douchiness but not in a cocky way. He’s Ted.
5. Robin is Canadian. ’nuff said. More? She actually gets diverse material to work with. Her and Barney are probably the best characters.
6. [There is no rule six?]
I used to say, “Everybody Loves Raymond? I can’t stand Raymond!” I don’t understand how that show stayed on the air as long as it did. I also don’t understand According to Jim, but I know that this is a popular opinion.
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m not sure if you mean that Lily’s poorly written for Hannigan’s talent, or that Lily, as opposed to, say Barney, is poorly written for. While I suppose it’s a fair argument, I always find it a bit hard to grasp if other characters are well written for. I’m not saying you’re wrong; I just don’t know if I can see how the writers would fail with one and not the others. But okay, that’s reasonable.
Yes, no argument here that Barney’s the best and strongest, and I’m sure he gets all the special effort, but a lot of what we see is Neil Patrick Harris, as you say.
I actually like Marshall less when he’s manning up and palling around with Barney. I think there’s nothing about the character that Barney would like. I get Marshall and Ted, but none of Marshall’s other relationships work for me. On the other hand, I’ve never laughed with Jason Segal in a movie, just at him, and not in a good way. I’ve never seen what other people find in him, but, okay. I’ll live.
I’m with you on Ted. I totally don’t get how and why so many people dislike him. He’s annoying, but in a good way.
I’m a Robin fan, though I like Robin and Barney as bros, not anything else. She loses herself when she needs to play a “girl”. And I totally love that she’s Canadian. They make it such a funny thing, but in a fun way.
Whoa, there! That caught me off guard. But, okay; I can think you’re crazy, you can think the rest of us are, and we can still be friends. That’s cool. I mean, you’re crazy, but that’s cool. :-)
*POST AUTHOR*
Wow, thanks!
Except, actually, this is exactly what occurred to me when watching Monday’s episode last night. I wondered if anyone else felt the same.