How I Met Your Mother

[Warduke]

The good and the bad.

The good...great to see Aly on TV again. Cute as ever.

The bad...everything else about the show. I didn't find it funny at all. The laugh track annoyed the hell out of me. As did 'Doogie's' character.

I really hope it gets better, real fast.

[SySnootles]

I'm with you about 100%, Warduke. If Alyson wasn't in it, there's no way I'd be watching it. In fact, there's a good chance that, if this next episode doesn't show any promise, that I won't be watching it at all. I'm an Aly fan, but I can only take so much.

[urnofosiris]

Alright, agreed, that laugh track really is annoying. I did not need to hear the exact same laughter every other sentence. It was not that funny. If not for Aly I would not be making an effort to watch it again.
I think she did a superb job, I also like the reporter woman, she had better stick around. Surprising though it was, I did not like the ending, though I guess I can say she was too good for him anyway. Not the most exciting guy to ever cross the screen (nothing against the actor btw). Ah well, I should not overanalyze anything after only one episode. Aly was good, that was the most important part for me. The taxi drivers were funny as well, they could be great as recurring characters.

[aceivan]

I wasn't all that taken by the program, but I loved Aly and her role. What I noticed was that whenever she was on screen, that is who I watched, and in talking with friends (some of whom who are not Buffyholics and don't really know Aly) they thought the same- the only real stand-out on the program was Aly.

I seem to know more people who know Aly as Michelle from the American Pie movies than as Willow these days and based on what I've been hearing here it sounds as if, like American Pie, HIMYM is much better when Aly's on screen. I love sitcoms so hopefully it won't take too long before it reaches the UK.

Len

[sacinema]

Just watched the pilot and liked it very much. Normally I'm not a fan of this type of shows. Didn't like Friends or Sex and the city kind of shows. What I liked about HIMYM is that it shows the male view of getting engaged. The laugther enoied me, too, but I thought that's how american comedy shows are produced. Even the Golden girls had that sort of fake auditorium.

Most of all I surely liked Aly. She is a great comedian. That's what she does best and she is so cute by doing it. But also the rest of the cast wasn't that bad - most of all this Barney type.

[DaddyCatALSO]

I read in the TV column of one of the papers I look at it in the library that the laugh track is making a generalized comeback.
Beyond, not having a chance to see the show myself, can't comment.
________________________________________________________

"everyone stay out of Storage Room 12! A can of laughter just burst open!"

[Rocktoddy]

Wow, can't believe I actually liked this episode despite its flaws. I found Marshall to be quite "tolerable" as Lily's future-hub-to-be, seeing as he's a bit of a goof, but in a good way (not at all like Jim on AP). I didn't think the show was as laugh-out-loud funny as say... Reba (is it bad that I like that show?), but I really like Ted's story beside the fact that it's supposed to be a sitcom and would watch this one even if Aly wasn't in it. But she does, and boy does she rock! I sooo envy the kid who got to second base with her...

[dorksrcool]

This show was horrible. The two main actors are so boring and stiff. The plot is ridiculous. Of course, the only light in all the darkness that is this show is the extremely sexy Ms. Hannigan. She is so funny, but she's just not on screen enough to justify me watching. I have a feeling it's going to get cancelled anyway.

[Warduke]

I agree. Another episode and another huge disappointment.

[molsongrrrl]

i kinda like the show (yeah it's lightweight but that's not necessarily a bad thing) - though i'm not sure the framing scenes are necessary ... and really how long are these kids going to sit there and listen to this tale? aly is definately the best part of it ... poor doogie - his part is horrid.

[FineyMcFine]

I liked it. I'm glad to be watching a sitcom and not yet another reality TV show. Some of the jokes seemed a little forced, but I'm hoping they ease up and start to flow soon.

I cracked up when Ted said "Ain't no thang but a chicken wang, mamacita!" My wife sometimes uses the chicken wing line and I've never heard it from anyone else. And certainly not with the mamacita.

Did anyone else connect the "going up to the roof" with Morgan and Tara going up to the roof in Neverland, or am I reading too much into this?

[Dana5140]

I thought the second episode went a little better, but I also felt that it was prime example of the "idiot plot." You know, a plot that requires the people to act like idiots, because if they just did the right thing there would be no story? In this case, he is so dumb as to think he should treat the women he is interested in like she does not matter, instead of just saying, hey, can we go out? If he did, no story.

Anyway, Aly shines, though her timing is still a bit off and her voice a bit bright- she'll get better as time goes on. And I just know that all of you watching went to a very not so scary place when she said she was not wearing any underwear. :-) Which led to the one real laugh of the show- when she and her fiance were interupted when she said that.

And did you see that they toned the laugh track way way down? They must have read all the websites from last week.

[xita]

The biggest problem for me is Ted, the lead. He is not likeable at all. The gimmick is also really pushing it. Like how come he remembers all the things his friends did that day like having sex. And would he be telling that to his children? I am not sure the gimmick is necessary and it will grow old really quickly. Overall, the show is just not funny, they should have kept the cab driver from last week.

What's an Aly-lovin' kitten to do? Even with Amber Benson, I've only managed to watch Don's Plum once.

[FineyMcFine]

xita, where did you get a copy of Don's Plum? I thought it was unavailable in the USA and I've given up trying to find one.

(PS, I feel your pain - I watched Taboo. Maybe I should be posting in the "I can't believe I watched this movie" thread.)

[helpfulinformationperhaps]

it did rather well in the ratings its second week out, with no major drop off in viewers from last week

from media week
CBS kicked off the evening with sitcoms The King of Queens (Overnights: #1, 7.6/11; Viewers: #1, 10.57 million; A18-49: #2, 3.5/10) and How I Met Your Mother (Overnights: 7.7/11; Viewers: #2, 10.16 million; A18-49: #2, 3.5/ 9) at levels similar to year-ago occupants Still Standing and Listen Up. Week two of How I Met Your Mother was close to debut levels.

[molsongrrrl]

personally i hope ted isn't telling the kids the parts about sex! and xita you did better than me with don's plum ... i watched amber and ignored the rest. anyway with so few sitcoms out there i'm willing to stick with this show for now ... aly at least made me laugh a few times.

[taralicious]

For the second episode of Aly's show, I couldn't hrlp but think it was wrong to see Aly snuggled up in bed with someone other than Tara, and a guy no less.
Aly is giving a masterclass in how to convey emotions with non-verbal cues and body language perfectly timed with her recital of the spicy talk.
She's not wearing underwear and her eyes just were lit with a lusty fire as she said that.
I wouldn't have told her that it was my thigh she was running her foot up instead of her fiance's though.

[dorksrcool]

Um, taralicious, I have to agree with that. And my what an image you've created for me. Thanks.

[FineyMcFine]

The more I watch this show the more I like it. I especially love how both Marshall and Barney say totally funny and dorky things, I crack the heck up at those two. I'm not finding Ted to be all that compelling of a character but the other two and of course Lily are great.

I thought that this week's episode was the best so far of all three of them. The situations are contrived but the dialogue is funny.

[LesbianJedi87]

God watching Aly last night made me have a dream about her hehe
I dont care too much for the show it'self but I do love everything that come's outta Ay's mouth...and those facial expressions! God love it!! Now there's something to look forward to on those lonely monday nights!

[taralicious]

I've already expounded upon Aly's facial expressions and non-verbal communication and now let's talk about her perched on that bar stool with her legs crossed in that skirt.
I would have been the first guy to offer to buy her a if only to see a glimpse of those legs of hers and carry with me dreams of hands in nice places.
The show itself is uneven in pacing and tends to be centered around the Doogie Howser guy as a sort of Stifler wanna-be when it needs to focus more on the Michelle-like character of Lily as essayed by the wonderful Aly.
They should change the direction of the show and have the main character say to his kids "you know, who cares how I met your mother? Let's talk about Lily in a schoolgirl uniform."

[xita]

I think I am done with this show. THe lead is intolerable. He's despicable. He's so self-involved I hope he never finds a mother for the darn kids and they're actually adopted.

Today's episode was just blurgh, the beating up he got was not enough to make up for the kind of jerk he is. It's really hard to concentrate and just watch Aly because all those characters exist only to be about him. The concept of this show is flawed and it's written itself into a corner. I don't know why the kids need to know about Robin and her TV career. I would have walked on "dad" and told him, I don't really care how you met mom.

[taralicious]

Xita,
I second your notion that the kids serve dad a tall heaping glass of "Shut the hell up" about mom and force him to make all of his stories center around Aly's character of Lilly.
Preferably stories with more gratuitous shots of Aly's cleavage.
Robin is hot, though

[Dana5140]

I've actually been watching Surface instead of HIMYM, but I tried to switch over and watch them both- I get upset that the show waste's AH's talents- I don't think she has found her voice yet, and of course, what happens is that whenever she is on screen, that is who everyone watches. The male leads are sort of stupid, as young male leads are often portrayed. I do credit Cobie Smulders for coming out of nowhere and at least making a game effort.

But hey, if the first episode said that meeting Robin was how he met his kids' aunt, wouldn't that imply that he married her sister?

And doesn't this sort of make you think of Friends, since most of the series is shot in one of two locations- bar or living room. Cheap sets! And oh, I never actually watched Friends.

[Hemiola]

I have to disagree, as I see the show improving somewhat from week to week.

Besides, Aly got the funniest line in last night's episode:

Lily: "Say what you will about the porn industry, they're hard workers."

[helpfulinformationperhaps]

I finally saw a whole episode of HIMYM last night and Aly is the ONLY reason I would watch another. IF this is suppose to be the next Friends then Hollywood is bankrupt.

There is way too much of Patrick Harris's character !!! The women need to smarten up and they need to even out the characters and make it a true ensemble like Friends. Otherwise, people are going to get really tired of hearing about the loser dude who can't find his "one" and his pathetic crew

[FineyMcFine]

The thing about this show is that I think the premise can't stand up by itself for long, being entirely about how Ted meets the kids' mother. So I agree, it needs to become more of a real ensemble cast like Friends was. I'd like to see some Marshall-centered eps, some Lily-centered eps, as well as "This week, Ted does this stupid thing to meet a girl." I think that will get pretty boring after a while. Not enough people are going to identify with Ted to keep viewers interested.

Having said all that, I'm still enjoying the show and finding it funny.

However, I did think a double standard was in effect, or sexism, or whatever. When Natalie beat the crap out of Ted in the restaurant, from all appearances she really hurt him, and people had minimal sympathy or said he deserved it, or laughed at him getting beat up by a girl. If a man had beat up a woman like that he'd be in jail. I just don't find violence all that funny.

[Warduke]

I have to disagree, as I see the show improving somewhat from week to week.

And I have to disagree with that. If anything, it's getting worse every week. As others have mentioned, instead of being a true ensemble, it's all about Ted, and, like doogie, that sucks the life out of this show.

[helpfulinformationperhaps]

media week puts this show "on the fence" for renewal

[s82 v]

I really like the show. It seems like each week, there's about 3 reeeeally funny lines that just make me love the show.

There was one reeeally funny line this week, that I was thinking I'd have to post on here, but I've forgotten it already. I'll just tell you that it was funny. And that I love Alyson on it. : )