Top 10 Of The Year: #7- How I Met Your Mother

Previously:
The Honorable Mentions
#10- Gossip Girl
#9- South Park
#8- Chuck

So, it’s been a while, I know. Other things, like my laziness, came up. But I vow to continue and complete this top 10 list before the end of the month, in case anyone cares. But, back to the matter at hand.


How I Met Your Mother has a laugh track. Stay with me here folks. How I Met Your Mother has a laugh track and it completely doesn’t need one. Because it’s seriously, seriously funny. I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t one of the rules of television the fact that a laugh track means less funny. Well, that’s what I thought. But How I Met Your Mother breaks that rule.

I will admit, this season was not as good as last season was. There were a bunch of filler episodes. But the show still managed to make my top 10. That’s saying something. But, even if this season had filler episodes, it also had a bunch of amazing ones. “Sandcastles In The Sand” stands out to me, since I love the Robin Sparkles storyline (One of the main characters was a teenage one hit wonder in Canada under the name Robin Sparkles. For more information, go HERE). The episode where Barney puts all the women he’s wronged into a NCAA bracket is amazing. Slapsgiving, the continuation of the Slap Bet joke, was also filled to the brim with funny. Also, the two minute date that the main character engineers (From the Britney Spears episode), is an amazing bit of writing.

I don’t really know how to say it in another way: The show is just really, really funny.

I tried introducing a co-worker to it earlier this summer, and he wasn’t blown away. Maybe it’s a show that you have to follow to love. But, knowing the characters (every single one of whom is funny, a rare feat for a sitcom), I always laugh a few times an episode. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but, between the awesome running jokes, my ever-growing man-crush on Neil Patrick Harris, and the loads of funny that the show has, I feel confident placing How I Met Your Mother in the seven spot on the countdown.

Thanks and No Thanks

Well, I’m a day late and more than a few dollars short, but I’ve compiled a list of things to be thankful for and things to lament this TV year:

I’m Thankful For:

Slap Bets: Not only was the original episode my favorite episode of television of the past year, but every subsequent payoff has been pitch perfect, including this most recent Slapsgiving episode.

The Writer’s Strike: I know this is surprising to see here, but as a writer who is hoping to break into TV, this strike will be key in getting fair wages for any future work I do.

Pushing Daisies: For bringing fairy tale and whimsy and quality back to primetime television. Also, for finally bringing Bryan Fuller the success he so deserves.

Alec Baldwin and “30 Rock”: For making “The Office” more than a fluke for NBC.

Rock of Love: If only for teaching me that it’s never a good idea to threaten a person with a good time. Especially if they’re a drunken stripper.

Imaginationland: For violating everything my childhood held dear, and making me love that violation.

My Readers: It makes me feel really good about myself when people read my blog. So, sentimental “aw” moment: Thanks for reading guys. “Awwwwwww”


I’m NOT Thankful For:

The Writer’s Strike: While I support what they’re doing, there’s a good chance that it’ll seriously hurt a bunch of good freshman shows.

Meredith Not Dying on Grey's Anatomy: I hate her. I hate her so much. I want to punch her anytime I’m reminded of her “Choose Me. Pick Me. Love Me” speech.

I Love New York Season 2: Because it’s nowhere near as good as season one.

The Cancellation of Studio 60: Because it had such good potential, but still couldn’t find viewers.

The Way Veronica Mars Ended: I seriously wanted to punch my TV. That’s the way they ended my favorite show?

Lorena on The Amazing Race: It takes a special something to become one of my most hated reality competitors three episodes into a season. Kudos, Lorena. Kudos.

Most Reality Shows on the CW: Beauty and the Geek and America’s Next Top Model, those I can live with. But, seriously, “The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll”? The Upcoming “Crowned: The Ultimate Mother Daughter Beauty Pageant”? The Upcoming “Farmer Wants A Wife”? Someone sold their soul to the devil for development deals…


Overall though, I’m a lot more thankful for this past year than I am sad about it. While we lost some great shows, we gained some other great ones. Good times, people. Good times.

Monday Premieres

Tonight brings new episodes of two comedies on the CW:

Everybody Hates Chris: I’m still a fan of this show, even if it can be a tad repetitive in its general premise and stuff. But tonight brings Chris Rock finally guesting on the show, so that should be a good time.

Aliens In America: I started to watch the pilot of this a while ago but stopped at about the 10-minute mark because I just really wasn’t feeling it. They’ve done a bunch of recasting and its getting really good reviews.

If you’re still boycotting the CW for canceling Veronica Mars, you could watch Weeds, Prison Break, How I Met Your Mother, Heroes, Chuck, or Journeyman instead. Really, what is TV but a provider of a wide variety of entertainments? Enjoy your experience…

Monday Premieres

Hey, so I know this is kind of late for today, but I thought I'd run down to you readers, however few you may be, the shows premiering tonight that are maybe worth watching.

How I Met Your Mother: Tonight's premiere of the show that I thought produced the single best episode of last year (Slap Bet, there's a whole post about it), features the resolution of the comedic cliffhanger from Barney, Ted getting back out into the dating world, and Mandy Moore. Three pluses in my book. Also, for anyone who cares, Enrique Iglesias will be there too.

Chuck: My second favorite pilot so far (Pushing Daisies is number one) premieres tonight. It's pretty good, and features draws for all, both nerd and not nerd. Read the original review here

Heroes: Last season's biggest hit returns tonight with the cheerleader, the emo nurse, the chick with multiple personalities (Since when is Schizophrenia a superpower?), the guy who eats peoples brains, and the time-traveling Hiro all doing heroic things. While you may not be able to tell, I actually do dig the show alot. Yeah, Hiro's trapped in medieval Japan and Peter may or may not have killed his brother. We'll find out tonight, and look for my beloved Kristen Bell popping up later in the season.

Journeyman: Finally, if you're not already tired out by TV for the night, I'd recommend checking out, or at least DVRing Journeyman. It's not spectacular, but it's worth a watch. Read the original review Here

So yeah, that's what starts tonight. Also on are good standbys Prison Break and Weeds, if this TV doesn't float your boat. I promise to try to get this done earlier for tomorrows premieres. Happy viewing on this most awesome week.

And my favorite is....

With the first real season premiere coming with Monday’s premiere of Prison Break (Sorry The Biggest Loser, you don’t really count), I find myself thinking about last season. It was, arguably, a decent season of television. Sure, you had some definite stinkers, like The Class, Vanished, Runaway, Help Me Help You, Standoff, 20 Good Years, Six Degrees, and Happy Hour, but last season brought some pretty darn good new shows, like Heroes, Ugly Betty, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, Brothers and Sisters, and the dearly departed Studio 60. But this post is not about what shows I thought were good and bad last season. No, the real post is because I was trying to figure out what I thought the single best episode of television was last season. And I think I’ve figured it out.

There were a bunch of strong contenders. In the drama category, “Company Man” from Heroes is a standout, as well as the magnificent 3 parter “K & R" from Studio 60. There was the marvelous “Pilot” to Friday Night Lights, and, even though they only recently aired here in the states, the ridiculously good “Human Nature/Family of Blood” two-parter from Doctor Who. But, while all amazing episodes, none of them are my pick. Yes, my pick, comes from a comedy. Nope, it’s neither the absolutely hilarious “The Rural Juror” nor the equally hilarious “Black Tie” from 30 Rock. Nor is it the amazing season opener of The Office, “Gay Witch Hunt”. As much as I loved the Scrubs musical, it’s not “My Musical” either. Nope, my single favorite episode of last season comes from, of all places, a traditional four-camera sitcom. That’s right, How I Met Your Mother’s “Slap Bet”, you’re my favorite.

Wanna know why? Because you not only showed me that a traditional sitcom can still make me laugh, but because you actually had me laughing for the entire episode. That’s right, there is not a single moment in this episode that lags. The episode deals with something completely innocuous, one character not wanting to go to a mall, and builds it into this comedic gold. So Robin, the female lead, refuses to go to a mall, which makes everyone question why she’s keeping it such a secret. And thus, the slap bet ensues. One side believes that she was married in a mall in Canada; the other thinks she did porn in Canada. But the secret is so much better than that. I’m not even considering these spoilers, because it’s still just as funny if you know what’s going on. See, Robin used to be Robin Sparkles, a teenage one hit wonder who’s single “Let’s Go To The Mall” became a hit in Canada, forcing her to tour across the malls of Canada, making her live for a year on “Orange Julius and Wetzel’s Pretzels”. But not only do we get the ridiculous title for the song, we get the music video. And it’s oh so glorious.



How can you find a song with lines like “He’s got hair like Gretzky and he does jumps on his skateboard.”, “It’ll be just him and me but don’t forget the robot”, and, my personal favorite “I’m gonna rock your body till Canada day.” not funny? But not only is the video hilarious, the rest of the episode is. Even the throwaway lines are great, plus, it’s spawned a great running joke on the show as to when the slap bet will be collected.

So yeah, call me an idiot if you like, but I think this was the single best episode of primetime television last year. Do you agree, or do you have your own favorites? Feel free to comment.