Top 10 Dark Truths About How I Met Your Mother
#10: The Mosby Kids Always Knew How the Show Would End
Have you ever wondered how Luke and Penny Mosby never seemed to age for nine seasons? Since the creators had no idea how long the show would run, they filmed the kids’ scenes early on and made the actors sign contracts to keep the ending a secret. Can you imagine having to carry a secret like that for nine years? David Henrie, who played Ted and Tracy’s son, shared that his friends would try and wrangle an answer out of him when they’d go out drinking, but he stayed schtum. He didn’t even tell his own mother! Now that’s next-level secret keeping if you ask us!
#9: Three Failed Spin-Offs
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The creators, and CBS, tried to recapture the show's magic with a 2014 spin-off called "How I Met Your Dad." This version would see Greta Gerwig in the Ted Mosby role, with Meg Ryan rumored to play her older counterpart. However, the pilot wasn't picked up. There was a screenwriting attempt in 2016 creatively titled "How I Met Your Father," but it never even got off the ground. The following year whispers of another potential spin-off arose, with Alison Bennett slated to pen the script, but it didn't make it past early development. Just as we thought lighting couldn't possibly strike twice though, we finally got our spin-off in 2022.
#8: “How I Met Your Mother” Did Not Film in Front of a Live Studio Audience
These days, many multi-cam sitcoms are filmed in one day in front of live audiences. But not many sitcoms feature flashbacks and flashforwards as prominently as “HIMYIM.” An episode was filmed in a silent studio over about three days to accommodate all these time jumps. This gave them more freedom to create dynamic stories without worrying if their studio audience could keep up with a narrative filmed out of sequence. Audiences were then shown the finished episode during screenings, and their laughter was edited in later. As fun as it would’ve been to watch a live recording, we have to admit that their methods definitely complement the storytelling.
#7: Josh Radnor’s Dog Allergy
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If you recall, when we first met Robin, she had five adorable dogs. But when she starts dating Ted, he makes her give them all up since they were gifts from ex-boyfriends. What a jerk, right? Well, the truth is that actor Josh Radnor is allergic to dogs, so with Ted and Robin sharing more screen time as a couple, this became a problem. The show even had to keep paramedics on set just in case he suffered a strong allergic reaction. Reportedly, Radnor managed to get through most scenes with his canine costars, thanks to “some Claritin and some thorough vacuuming.” Talk about a ruff day at work!
#6: Alyson Hannigan & Jason Segel’s Finale Reactions
Fewer sitcom finales have been more divisive than “How I Met Your Mother”’s. And it wasn’t just the fans who felt slighted. Alyson Hannigan believes that the last episode was too rushed and divulged several poignant scenes that were ultimately cut could’ve given audiences the closure they deserved. Meanwhile, Jason Segel confessed that he never even watched the finale, saying, “There is something for me about leaving that show with an ellipsis. I like that in my own mind, it’s still alive.” We wonder if they would have reacted differently if the creators decided to run with the alternative ending that stops on a much more hopeful note.
#5: Alyson Hannigan’s Daughter Was Fired from Playing Daisy
As many fans know, some of the main gang’s significant others had the occasional guest spot on the show. Well, Alyson Hannigan was hoping to turn it into a whole family affair when she advocated for her daughter to play Lily and Marshall’s second kid, Daisy. If you recall, the baby only briefly appears in the flashforward Italy scene. However, when co-creator and executive producer Carter Bays saw the infant, he decided that she was too old and replaced her with a smaller tot. Hannigan jokingly expressed outrage at the blatant ageism, humorously pointing out that they can’t fire her for being “too old.” Well, that’s showbiz for ya!
#4: Alyson Hannigan Hated Kissing Her On-Screen Smoker Husband
Marshmallow and Lilypad shared smokin’ chemistry throughout the show’s run. However, Hannigan revealed that she hated kissing actor Jason Segel because he was a smoker. According to the actress, Segel tried things like gum or mints to conceal the stench, but they didn’t help. So, in true “How I Met Your Mother” fashion, the duo waged a bet to help him kick the habit. For every cigarette he smoked, he would have to pay her $10, but after just one day, he racked up $200. Realizing it would be less costly to quit, he decided to go cold turkey. However, about a year later, stress reportedly drove him back to his vice.
#3: Neil Patrick Harris Opposed Britney Spears’ Guest Appearance
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“How I Met Your Mother” boasted a slew of notable guest stars, including the Pop Princess. Spears played Stella’s sweet receptionist, Abby, who later teams up with Barney to teach Ted a lesson. However, if it was up to Neil Patrick Harris, Spears wouldn’t have landed the gig. The actor wasn’t in favor of the show's so-called selling out by relying on stunt casting to boost ratings. Still, Spears’ episode reportedly brought in an additional one million viewers, and “Oops [She] Did It Again” returned for a second episode. Alicia Silverstone, who was initially slated to play Stella, also seemingly wasn’t thrilled by the casting and allegedly dropped out to not be overshadowed by Spears.
#2: The “Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra” Scandal
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The show’s final season drew a lot of ire from the fanbase. However, arguably no episode ignited more backlash than the one that saw Marshall deliver the “Slap of a Million Exploding Suns” to Barney. The premise follows Marshall as he meets three Masters, all played by his friends in offensively appropriated costumes, makeup, and even accents. Fans were outraged by the disrespect to the Asian community and blamed the lack of diversity on set and among the writers. In response to the controversy, co-creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas explained that they were trying to pay homage to Kung Fu movies, but apologized for their error in judgment.
#1: Cobie Smulders’ Cancer Battle
During an interview with Women’s Health Magazine in 2015, the Robin actress revealed that she battled Ovarian Cancer during the show’s third season when she was just 25 years old. She shared that she was terrified that it would leave her unable to reproduce and resorted to “crazy Google searches” to better understand the disease and regain control over her body. Ultimately, the tumors were removed after a series of surgeries, and enough of her ovaries were saved. Today, she shares two daughters with SNL alum Taran Killam. For years, she opted to keep her battle private but eventually decided to speak out, saying, “If I can create more awareness, I’ll do it.”
