Zoo or False: How I Met Your Mother

I’ve been suffering from HIMYM withdrawal. I can’t remember the last time it was new or last time I even saw an episode of it. The closest I’ve come this month I think was watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall this weekend with Jason Segel.

At least I’ll be interruption free tonight as everyone is working on papers tonight.

So wait, Ted, are you saying you’ve been lying to us? This could make figuring out who the mother so difficult.

I loved Barney’s voice as he said, “We made sweet love! I got pictures!”

Why does Ted reanact scenes from Sleepless in Seattle? He’s very strange at some points.

Poor Marshall. But how does someone as tall as him get mugged? Oh, obviously if it’s at good point. Of course Barney will use his story to get chicks. It was funny that he copied Marshall’s every line.

Okay, it makes more sense if a monkey mugged Marshall, surprisingly. Not going to lie, Marshall isn’t the type of person I’d pick to mug given his height and his build.

Aww, Marshall accidently injuring Lily reminds me of how my boyfriend always accidently injures me.

Eww, what was the monkey doing with the wallet that Marshall didn’t want it back? I don’t think I want to know.

Is this whole episode just going to be different versions of this event? I’m not digging it all that much.

Okay, woah some guy is screaming at his dolls while he’s interviewed on Robin’s talk show. That’s weird. I’m glad Marshall gets to be on her show, better than Ted, Ted, Ted, Ted, Ted. I’m sick of Ted.

When the girl was screaming at Barney “Neil!” (because Barney told her earlier he was Neil Armstrong—who is stupid enough to believe that a 20-something is Neil Armstrong?) I could only think of NPH.

I knew that he wasn’t going to end up being mugged by a monkey. I repeat my previous statement. I don’t like that this is all only one re-imagined event. I’m not digging this storyline for Marshall, even though I normally love him.

I love Ted’s weird creepy stare with Marshall to tell if he’s telling the truth.
Barney, while some journalists lie. But I don’t consider them journalists. GOOD journalists don’t lie. But yes, Barney, lots of people do lie.

“Now, I want to buy a gun.” Best line by Barney.

Of course they brought the monkey and the monkey has a sad story and that is going to make Marshall not say the monkey mugged him. He’s such a softy.

WHAT?! Your not going to tell me what happened? Not liking how this is going.

They slightly redeemed themselves with having Bobo the monkey climb Ted’s model of the empire state building at the end, making a mini King Kong. But, overall, this episode didn’t really do it for me.

I hope the HIMYM writers can redeem themselves in the last couple of episodes in the season, or otherwise I’m worried HIMYM has jumped the shark.

I'm hoping Glee tomorrow isn't disappointing like tonight was.

HIMYM: Hooked

     This episode certainly didn't have me hooked. While I can't say that I hated it, it was definitely missing that "How I Met Your Mother" charm that I fell in love with in the first three seasons. I can see now why my roommate now sees it as just kind of "eh" (saying that it has some funny moments, but otherwise it's not really interesting): she's only seen these newer episodes and a couple of older ones (she watched them while I was watching the DVDs).
     I think the primary reason for the shows recent “eh” factor is how now, they're constantly having guest stars that don't really add much to the show. They're just their because they're famous. Carrie Underwood (Tiffany) did absolutely nothing for me in the episode. I kind of wish (and secretly think that the role would have been better) a no-name actress had played her character. And what was with her calling Ted “Big Brown Eyes?”
     Another “eh” factor is definitely the writers strange pushing of this relationship factor idea (and it’s absolute need for a name, even when its completely wonky like “hooker” and “Hookey”). First we had the “reacher” and the “settler,” which I kind of liked, but this one just didn’t work for me. I like the more creative lines like the "Slap Bet" episode that weren’t trying to prove a point about relationships.
     At the beginning of the episode, I was surprised Ted had admitted he was a going to be jerk in this storyline. I thought it was nice of him to come around to what he’s done wrong in his relationships—I think that should be what eventually lands him “the mother.” Unfortunately, I didn't get what I was expecting. My view about this statement changed as I continued watching the episode. Ted wasn’t really the jerk here, Tiffany was. She was the one who was stringing Ted along and in the end she was the “bad guy.” (Ted strung another girl along in a subplot, but that event took place in the past.) Ted’s done some questionable, even jerk-like things, but I don’t think this counts as one, which makes me a little bit confused about why they decided to open with this.
     I wasn’t much more pleased by Lily and Marshall’s version of the “Hookey” and the “Hooker” plot line. I liked that they brought the character Scooter back(he's the perfect representation of a creepy ex-boyfriend). But, given Scooter and Lily’s past at the wedding, I don’t think Lily would have actually been stringing him along just because he possesses puppy dog eyes. Other than that, I liked the rest of their storyline. I could totally see them practicing Lily breaking it off with a cute pig (I’ll get to the pig later) and then, as Lily actually succeeds in breaking it off with Scooter, having Marshall come in and mess it all up just because he himself can’t resist his puppy dog eyes either.
     Lately, I’ve also been disappointed with the lack of Barney (as well as Robin—where was she this whole episode?). It seems Barney has primarily been the punch line of jokes recently—at least that part of the show still succeeds in being funny.. For the most part, I loved the line about Barney trying to find the perfect bait: first testing a slot machine, then a trampoline, and then finally a teacup pig, which works. I’m still not entirely sold on the teacup pig. While it was cute, a puppy dog would have fit without being quite so weird. I also liked Barney’s storyline, albeit short, with Carrie Underwood about the profession hot women always flock to.
I’ll give it 2.5 stars out of 5. I hope some of the next couple of episodes are more enjoyable.

     Please take part in my poll! I'll be back tomorrow night with a review of the new TV show Parenthood, featuring Lauren Graham.

HIMYM Recap: "Jenkins"

This episode was interesting, even if some of it was kind of predictable. While Marshall and Lily are certainly my favorite pair on the show, I didn't really enjoy the whole "Jenkins" story line. I wasn't surprised that Marshall didn't think he was the "reacher" but instead was the "settler" in the relationship or that he would then go try and use Jenkins to try and make Lily jealous.

The storyline I enjoyed most was that the college students used Robin's morning news show as a drinking game. At first I thought it was a little reaching to say that college students were still up then, but then I realized that night when I was up w between 4 and 5 in the morning that in fact, yes, there actually is news on at 4 in the morning. I also like that Robin chose to get back at them (even if it meant risking her career--although this is the TV world. She's certainly done stupid things before and still kept her job).

I though Neil Patrick Harris did an okay job at directing this episode, although I was disappointed at the lack of Barney in it. I think Barney really makes the show what it is and his character can always make me laugh.

In other news, my 4th season DVD of HIMYM should be arriving shortly so I should be able to watch and review that soon.

What have you been watching on TV this week?

Review of "Girls Vs. Suits"

Sorry for making this review kind of short. I've got a terrible headache and need to get to bed.

But on with the review!

For a 100th episode that I expected to be over-the-top, I thought it was okay. I thought that Barney's trouble with the suit vs. girl was written well, Barney would in fact do anything just to get a girl in bed. I LOVED his musical number (but then again, I'm extremely partial to musicals).

The one thing that annoyed me in this episode was Lily constantly questioning how the Bartender was way more good looking than she herself was. It just seemed out of character to me. I feel like Lily is confident in herself to know that she was no ugly duckling. I did, however, like it when the writers instead decided to turn it around to make it that Lily did think the bartender was better looking than Marshall. Because, lets face it, she is.

I was sad that Rachel Bilson's role was short. I really wanted her to be the mother, but I knew better. I think it was just because she kind of looked like Ted's teenage daughter. But, according to Ted, the mother is Bilson's roommate. So will we possibly see more of Bilson? I hope so.

Check out this video of the cast's favorite moments of the first 100 episodes: Top Moments of How I Met Your Mother.

The song, "Nothing Suits Me Like A Suit" has been available on Itunes since December 5th.

Check back here soon for reasons why I love South Park and a trip back to the past as I revisit Veronica Mars!

What Do three of my favorite TV shows have in common?

Glee, The OC, and How I Met Your Mother all come together in tonight's 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother airing tonight at 8 p.m. on CBS. Stop reading now if you'd like avoid being spoiled about the upcoming episode.

Glee choreographer Zach Woodlee designed a huge number for tonight's HIMYM episode. The musical number centers on how Barney (played by actor Neil Patrick Harris) gives up suits in order to woo a bartender and is titled: “Nothing Suits Me Like A Suit” and features Barney dancing on top of a taxi cab.

 Also, "OC" star Rachel Bilson makes an appearance in the episode.

Check in later for a review of the episode!

Source

My New Favorite Television 'Ship'

According to Wikipedia, "Shipping"is

"a general term for fans' emotional and/or intellectual involvement with the ongoing development of romance in a work of fiction. Though technically applicable to any such involvement, it refers chiefly to various related social dynamics observable on the Internet, and is seldom used outside of that context.
Shipping can involve virtually any kind of relationship — from the well-known and established, to the ambiguous or those undergoing development, and even to the highly improbable and the blatantly impossible. People involved in shipping (or shippers) assert that the relationship does exist, will exist, or simply that they would like it to exist."

So basically, it's the term that those of us who religiously watch TV have for our favorite couples, who may or may not actually be a couple on the show.

If you've read my recent posts, you know that I have recently developed a love for CBS's long running show, How I Met Your Mother. This brings me to my current favorite ship, Lily and Marshall. One reason I usually hate "ships" is because directors keep the couple everyone is routing for apart until the last couple of moments of the show (see Luke and Lorelai in "Gilmore Girls", Summer and Seth from "The OC", and Meredith and Derek from "Grey's Anatomy"). Why do they do this? Probably because they fear the couple will get boring. I think that almost all TV revolves around couples (hence why so many of us love "shipping".)

What I like most about Lily and Marshall is that they were together from the first episode (during which they got engaged), and except for a brief episode arc where Lily ran away to San Fransisco (HIMYM writers, I forgive for this brief lapse in judgement), they've been together for virtually the whole series. Although I love all three of the "ships" I previously mentioned, I can't help but admire how the writers make Lily and Marshall work without all the crazy drama.

So what's your favorite television ship?

HIMYM

The other night, I was up to 2 a.m. thanks to my normal college routine and flipping through the channels. To my surprise, I stopped on Lifetime (a channel I normally hate) and started watching How I Met Your Mother. It was hilarious, and thanks to its stars including Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Segel and Alyson Hannigan, I am now addicted. I rushed out to Target and purchased Season 1 of How I Met Your Mother. From the very first episode, I loved it. Bob Saget does an awesome job at narrating to his children how the main character, Ted, met their mother.

The best part of the series is the comic relief that is NPH's character Barney, as Ted's forever bachelor friend. He makes the show.

You dumped a hooker? Friendship over!

Do yourself a favor and go pick up the DVD box sets of How I Met Your Mother now. Seasons 1-3 are on sale at Best Buy for $13.99, and at that price, they're a steal.