Podcast Summary: "Flashback: How That Wasn't Moby"

Podcast: How We Made Your Mother
Episode: S1E11 "The Limo" (Re-release)
Air Date: December 29, 2025
Hosts: Josh Radnor & Craig Thomas

Episode Overview

This episode is a special re-release focusing on the iconic "The Limo" episode from How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) Season 1. Josh Radnor (Ted Mosby) and co-creator Craig Thomas revisit the making of the episode, digging into its production challenges, storytelling beats, and its enduring popularity—especially as a New Year’s tradition for fans. The conversation reflects on the deeper resonance of HIMYM, the power of storytelling, technical behind-the-scenes tidbits, and the “Not Moby” subplot that became a fan-favorite meme.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Enduring Legacy of "The Limo"

• Fan Testimony: The episode opens with a heartfelt letter from Andrea in Mexico, who watches "The Limo" every New Year's. She highlights how the episode teaches the importance of cherishing loved ones over seeking a perfect party.
  • Notable Quote [03:41, Andrea via Josh]: "It's not about what party you go to or gifts, but about the people you actually spend it with... that's just one of the things I love most about the show."
• Thematic Resonance: Both Josh and Craig discuss how fan stories reaffirm the show’s emotional reach—even years later.

2. Reflections on Watching & Creating HIMYM

• Midpoint in Rewatch: The podcast episode marks the midpoint of Season 1, causing the hosts to reflect on their changed perspectives over time.

  • Craig [05:49]: "I have not watched a lot of these episodes in years... I feel like a different person watching it."
  • Josh [08:03]: "I watch with so much more forgiveness... I was involved in this charming show that continues to delight people."

• The Importance of Storytelling:

  • Josh [07:39]: "There’s this human ache for stories. We need them... this show changed my life, it taught me how to talk with my dad, got me through my divorce."

• The Memory Album Effect:

  • Josh [08:25]: "Most people don’t have their jobs filmed and then teamed out to the rest of the world."

3. Behind-the-Scenes: Shooting "The Limo"

• Production Nightmares:

  • The episode, intended as a "simple" bottle episode to save time and money, turned out to be a logistical challenge.
  • Craig [15:12]: "By the end of shooting this episode, everyone was like, fuck you guys. This was the hardest one to shoot."

• Technical Triumphs & Emmy Win:

  • Cinematographer Chris LaFontaine won an Emmy for this episode’s crafty shooting under tight conditions ([14:20]).
  • Josh [14:44]: "It’s hard to get cameras into a limo and it’s hard to light a limo... technical challenges that were kind of triumphant."

• The Sunroof "Balcony":

  • Josh [10:25]: "The sunroof becomes this other playing space, like stepping out onto the balcony."

4. The Episode’s Plot and Emotional Beats

• Brief Recap [15:00]:

  • Ted rents a limo to give his friends a perfect New Year's. Hijinks ensue—relationship dramas, party-hopping gone awry, and the famous "Not Moby" sequence.
  • Key Dynamic: The push/pull between Ted's Type A planning (the night’s printed schedule) vs. his willingness to break the script for Robin ([18:12]).
    • Josh: "The one person he’ll deviate for... is Robin."

• The "Not Moby" Gag ([20:00]):

  • Cultural Afterlife: “Not Moby” became a running joke both on the show and among fans—in real life, Radnor even became Moby’s neighbor.
  • Craig [21:29]: "We needed someone you could plausibly get wrong... Moby was the platonic ideal."

• Music Licensing Battles:

  • Iconic Use of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name”: Debated in the writers’ room vs. Journey’s "Any Way You Want It".
    • Craig [24:44]: “Probably the closest we came to actually having discord in our relationship... I might have made the final call.”
    • Josh [25:00]: “It’s funny every time, and it gets funnier... when Cobie starts singing it, it’s hilarious.”

5. Character Moments and Guest Stars

• Ranjit’s Return ([26:56]):

  • Only his second appearance, yet a character who “looms large” in the show’s psyche.

• Kathleen Perkins as Mary Beth:

  • Nailed the sweet-yet-insightful guest role ([19:09]).

• Iconic Bits:

  • The “circuit’s are jammed” phone line joke—now intentionally retro ([35:02]).
  • Marshall’s “hell of a woman, let’s get some hot dogs” ([32:34]).

6. Realism and Magic in Storytelling

• Magical Realism:

  • The show’s relationship with plausibility vs. fun—e.g., Marshall hearing Lily through city noise, or Marshall miraculously retrieving the CD.
    • Josh [44:29]: “New York is this intensely small village, and it’s one of the biggest cities in the world.”
    • Craig [46:08]: “There is magic... NotMoby’s at the same party, Marshall finds Lily, the show trusts the audience to have fun.”

• Ted’s Emotional Arc:

  • Realizes "the party" is being with friends, not chasing the next best thing ([51:34]):
    • Josh: “Your 20s are about chasing experiences... maturity is realizing it’s about what’s inside you and what’s right in front of you.”

7. Deeper Themes and Series Meta-Commentary

• Spiritual/Moral Lesson (Jordana, psychologist and Josh’s wife) ([55:34]):

  • “We make plans, the unexpected happens… but [it’s] all important. It’s all leading you somewhere... and that somewhere is where you belong.”

• The Series as Honest Memoir ([57:45]):

  • Josh: "Never trust a memoir that doesn’t have scandal... We trust a narrator who leads with vulnerability."

Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• Andrea (Letter):
  [03:41] “It’s not about the party or gifts... it’s about the people you spend it with.”

• Craig Thomas (Production Woes):
  [15:12] “We thought [a bottle episode] would be a gift. By the end... everyone was like, fuck you guys!”

• Josh Radnor (Sunroof memory):
  [10:25] “The sunroof becomes this other playing space, like stepping out onto the balcony.”

• Josh (On Show’s Impact):
  [05:53] “Now I watch it with so much more forgiveness... I continue to be moved to have been a part of something that affected people this way.”

• Craig (On the Emmy-winning Cinematography):
  [14:20] “Chris LaFontaine won an Emmy for this episode... When you watch this one, it really looks beautiful.”

• Craig (On Bon Jovi Song Debates):
  [24:44] “It was a death match between those two songs [Bon Jovi vs. Journey]... I might have made the final call.”

• Craig (On “Circuit’s Are Jammed” Joke):
  [35:16] “Are we radar from MAS*H? What’s happening... I got it. That made my skin crawl so much! Is it 1874?”

• Jordana (Psychologist Observation):
  [55:34] “All of it is important. All of it’s leading somewhere. For a sitcom, this is a truly metaphysical, spiritual lesson.”

Important Timestamps (Selected Highlights)

• [03:41] – Fan Letter opening: Emotional impact of “The Limo” as a New Year’s tradition.
• [05:49] – Personal reflections on the HIMYM rewatch.
• [15:12] – Behind-the-scenes: the production headache of the limo episode.
• [14:20] – Cinematography and Emmy win for the episode.
• [20:00] – Origin and cultural legacy of the "Not Moby" gag.
• [24:44] – Writers’ room debates over the “Get Psyched Mix” song.
• [35:02] – The retro “circuit’s are jammed” joke: comic self-roasting.
• [46:08] – The show’s playful magical realism.
• [51:34] – The episode’s deeper lesson: valuing the present over the chase.
• [55:34] – Jordana’s philosophical summary of the episode’s spiritual theme.

Closing Reflections

The episode ends on a philosophical note: the characters’ growth is mirrored by the show’s creators, who recognize both the timelessness and specificity of HIMYM. Listeners are reminded that “The Limo”—claustrophobic shoot and all—is a perfect encapsulation of HIMYM themes: love, friendship, plans going awry, and the small magic of ordinary moments. As Andrea’s letter and Jordana’s observation underscore, more than chase the ideal night (or life), the show invites fans to notice what’s already in the limo—a message that’s become a New Year’s comfort for viewers worldwide.

Additional Listener Question

A letter from Jessica in Canada closes the episode ([61:33]), asking if there are shows or movies that mean as much to Josh and Craig as HIMYM does to its fans. Their answers reinforce the theme of story-as-campfire:

• Craig: Star Wars, Harry Potter, Cheers, Buffy, and Conan O’Brien.
• Josh: Sing Street, the before trilogy, Cheers, Family Ties, and author Nick Cave’s Red Hand Files.

Recommended for:
HIMYM fans, TV production buffs, anyone reflecting on the unpredictability and sweetness of life’s journey, or those seeking pop culture comfort during the New Year.

Memorable Sign-off Quote:

"It’s all important… it’s not all good, it’s not all bad. It’s important. It’s your story." — Craig Thomas [57:10]