How I Met Your Mother - TV Sitcom

If you miss TV sitcom "Friends"...or have got to the point you can’t possibly watch another repeat on T4, try watching "How I Met Your Mother". It’s an American TV comedy, about a group of twenty-something friends and their life in New York. Sound familiar?

The show is about Ted (Josh Radnor), a single, 27-year-old architect and his search for true love. The series is narrated through flashbacks from the future with Ted addressing his teenage kids about - you guessed it - how he met their mother.

Josh Radnor, as Ted, is good, but he is the supporting role to much stronger and funnier characters. The Lily and Marshall are an adorably cute and cuddly couple, totally devoted to each other. The chemistry and affection between the actors is great and they hold some very funny scenes, really well. I love that they are in love (like Chandler and Monica) and most of us know a version of a couple like them. However...big drum roll...Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howzer!) steals every scene with his energetic acting, superb one liners and excellent comedic timing. I think the show is worth watching just for him, and know now what (well, who) Friends lacked. Just please TV Gods, don’t torture us with an awful spin off.

What doesn’t work for me is the long standing “on/off” relationship/ friendship with Ted that comes in the shape of Robin, a local and stunningly beautiful TV anchor, played by Cobie Smulders. When Ted meets Robin he's sure it's love at first sight, but destiny may have something else in store. Now, except for the atrocious guest appearance of Britney Spears (who managed to make Madonna’s acting look like Judi Dench), Robin is the only weak part of the show. Her character lacks warmth, charm and just isn’t convincing. The actress (who I suspect sailed in on the Model-Turned-Actress boat), throws away some great lines with a flat, dull delivery. She is not awful, but should have been a random guest appearance, not a lead character. Notably, in series four she is totally shown up by the talented comedian Sarah Chalke (Scrubs).

I think this was the secret to the huge success to Friends. Finding one actress who is very good looking (but not exceptionally beautiful), incredibly funny and talented who can create a character who is popular with men and women, is hard. To find three and put them all in the same show, is sheer genius! Robin is no Rachel, Monica or Phoebe ergo Smulders is no Aniston, Cox or Kudrow.


How I Met Your Mother is definitely worth watching (series 3 is the best). Anyway, isn’t there something adorable about a man who just wants to find his soul mate, get married and have kids?


How I Met Your Mother - clips