General Questions | S1E15 "Game Night"

Summary

How We Made Your Mother
Episode: General Questions | S1E15 "Game Night"
Release Date: July 17, 2025

In this special bonus episode of How We Made Your Mother, hosts Josh Radner and Craig Thomas sit down with guest Chris Harris to delve into the intricacies of crafting one of the show’s most memorable episodes, "Game Night." This episode offers fans an in-depth look at the writing process, character development, and the collaborative dynamics that made the sitcom a cultural staple.

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1. Welcome and Introduction

The episode kicks off with Josh and Craig introducing the format of "General Questions," a segment dedicated to answering fan inquiries about the show. They warmly welcome Chris Harris, the writer behind "Game Night," highlighting his contributions and setting the stage for an engaging discussion.

Notable Quote:
Craig Thomas [00:25]: "It's me."

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2. Exploring "Game Night"

Alec Lev initiates the conversation by presenting a heartfelt message from a fan, Swirly Memes, praising the episode's balance of humor and emotional depth. The central question revolves around balancing the scope of an episode with character development.

Notable Quote:
Alec Lev [01:31]: "Chris, can you just... talk about putting together the scope versus the character?"

Chris Harris [02:15]:
"I don't know if I think of it as, you know, it's always How I Met Your Mother was always great about. These are the big moments in this person's life."

Josh echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the show's ability to highlight significant life events through Ted Mosby's nostalgic narration.

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3. Writing Big Events vs. Character Moments

The trio discusses the philosophy that every episode serves as a pivotal event in the characters' lives, effectively making each a "big event" worth remembering. This approach aligns with the show's overarching narrative style, where major life moments are given prominence.

Notable Quote:
Craig Thomas [03:40]: "It's also like, there are big events in How I Met Your Mother, but you could make the argument that every episode is a big event."

Josh Radner [03:48]:
"It feels like if it's worthy, if he's telling it, it landed on. It lingered for him, and it also shaped him."

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4. Planning Ahead vs. Organic Storytelling

A significant portion of the discussion centers on whether the writers planned long-term story arcs or allowed the narrative to evolve organically. The conversation references the initial goal of creating "the hundred best stories of your 20s and 30s," which eventually expanded to 208 episodes.

Notable Quote:
Chris Harris [04:03]: "When we pitched the show, we pitched like, it's the hundred best stories of your 20s and 30s, hoping that we'd hit 100 episodes and then to 208."

Josh admits uncertainty about the extent of pre-planning, suggesting a blend of intentional storytelling and spontaneous creativity.

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5. Character Development: Marshall’s Love for Board Games

Addressing fan questions, the hosts explore Marshall Eriksen’s passion for board games—a trait that adds depth to his character. They discuss whether this was a deliberate character trait from the onset or an organic development during the show's progression.

Notable Quote:
Alec Lev [13:07]: "Was this knowingly the beginning of Marshall's love of making board games throughout the series?"

Chris Harris [13:29]:
"I think that was semi intentional."

Josh reflects on the challenges and satisfaction of writing for a character with such a specific interest, highlighting the importance of consistency and growth.

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6. Writers' Room Dynamics and Collaboration

The episode delves into the collaborative nature of the writers' room, comparing it to a "Lennon and McCartney" partnership. Chris and Craig discuss how they shared responsibilities, with each taking the lead on different episodes while maintaining a cohesive voice throughout the series.

Notable Quote:
Craig Thomas [06:23]: "It's really like a Lennon and McCartney situation. Right. Like McCartney wrote Blackbird, but it's a Lennon McCartney song."

Chris Harris [06:39]:
"Except like a much worse Lennon and McCartney. Like them, but nowhere near as talented. Right."

The conversation underscores the importance of mutual support and creative input, with anecdotes showcasing impromptu contributions that enriched the show's dialogue and scenarios.

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7. Anecdotes and Behind-the-Scenes Insights

The hosts share amusing behind-the-scenes stories, including Craig Thomas’s tour as a musician and the humorous dynamic between the writers and actors. They recount moments where improvised lines and character quirks found their way into the episodes, enhancing authenticity and humor.

Notable Quote:
Craig Thomas [09:30]: "And Craig Thomas debut novel [e-mail] novel and you can subscribe to My Dead Fathers Society, also on Substack, to learn about how you make a difference."

Josh Radner [19:35]:
"It was like an extra twist. And we're like, no, now it's just. All, it's a hat on a hat. It's perverted."

These stories highlight the organic growth of the show's universe, where spontaneity often led to memorable plot points and character moments.

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8. Reflections on Storytelling Techniques

The discussion culminates with reflections on the storytelling techniques that made How I Met Your Mother resonate with audiences. The hosts emphasize the show's ability to blend humor with heartfelt moments, creating a relatable and enduring narrative.

Notable Quote:
Chris Harris [18:43]: "That moment of resolution is important. We had to reconnect Ted and Victoria to like, deepen them in the next couple of episodes."

Josh Radner [18:05]:
"Yeah. Because the last we saw is that awkwardness. And then it's like, okay, it seems like they're getting past."

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9. Closing Remarks

While the episode contains a segment of closing credits and acknowledgments, as per the summary guidelines, these sections are omitted to focus on the substantive content of the discussion.

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Conclusion

This episode of How We Made Your Mother offers a compelling glimpse into the creative process behind "Game Night," showcasing the delicate balance between expansive storytelling and intimate character development. Through engaging dialogue and insightful anecdotes, Josh Radner, Craig Thomas, and Chris Harris illuminate the artistry and collaboration that contributed to the show's lasting legacy in pop culture.

Key Takeaways:

• Big Events as Narrative Drivers: Each episode serves as a significant moment in the characters' lives, shaping their development and the overall storyline.
• Collaborative Writing Process: A symbiotic relationship between writers and actors fosters authentic dialogue and dynamic storytelling.
• Organic vs. Planned Story Arcs: While there's an element of planning, much of the storytelling evolves organically, allowing characters to grow naturally.
• Character Depth Through Interests: Specific character traits, such as Marshall’s love for board games, add layers and relatability to the ensemble cast.

Notable Quotes for Reference:

• Craig Thomas [03:40]: "It's also like, there are big events in How I Met Your Mother, but you could make the argument that every episode is a big event."
• Chris Harris [04:19]: "We all do. Like, we all do."
• Josh Radner [14:05]: "I bet I can get inside the head of someone who likes games and puzzles."

This comprehensive exploration not only enhances fans' appreciation for the show's craftsmanship but also serves as an inspiring case study for aspiring writers and creators.

Transcript

[Josh Radner]

Foreign.

[Craig Thomas]

Hello, and welcome to a special bonus episode of How We Made youe Mother. We like to call these General questions. General questions. General questions. Chris.

[Chris Harris]

Oh, I heard an extra voice on there. I heard an extra voice. Who was that?

[Craig Thomas]

It's me.

[Josh Radner]

I decided not to leave.

[Chris Harris]

We can't get rid of it. We keep saying, just click off, shut the laptop.

[Craig Thomas]

This is our first ever guest on the General Questions. General questions.

[Chris Harris]

General questions. Very exciting.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, Chris, thanks for being here. Chris wrote game night episode 15, which we did a great discussion on that a couple days ago. And Chris is back to answer all your questions and dispel. Why is he wearing.

[Chris Harris]

He's wearing the same shirt. We're all wearing the same clothes as a few days ago.

[Craig Thomas]

We've been on a three day bender. It's a three day bender.

[Chris Harris]

We had so much to catch up on. We haven't looked at computer since Monday.

[Craig Thomas]

All right, here we go. All right, so, Alec, what do we got?

[Alec Lev]

Here we go. So one of our. One of our biggest supporters. Not our biggest or the show's biggest supporters, Swirly Memes, has a lot to say. And so. Swirly memes. I'm sure you're listening to this. I hope that currently this is being clipped. Like right now I'm in a swirly meme. That would be incredibly exciting. And Swirly memes says Chris Harris. That's the mini cherry on top of the regular cherry on top of the Sunday of awesomeness that is this podcast.

[Josh Radner]

And then.

[Chris Harris]

Oh, yes.

[Alec Lev]

And I'm just gonna read this lovely note to Chris with a question at the end. Chris, what I love about your episodes is how we always find ourselves in silly situations like game night, club night, award night, concert night, removing tattoo, fixing a car, hippie wedding venue, effed up house or subway. But they still have so much heart and force the characters to reveal their true selves or grow into a better person. Because in the end, it's not those silly moments with the people we love dearly that we remember. Not the big weddings and whatnot. So to turn that into a bit of a question, Chris, can you just. Because you do these larger episodes, often going all the way up to Subway wars and that size. Can you talk about putting together the scope versus the character?

[Josh Radner]

Yeah. I'm torn between such a lovely compliment and also being exposed for having a very simple formula for everything I've ever written. I don't know. I don't know if I think of it as, you know, it's always How I Met yout Mother was always great about. These are the big moments in this person's life. And that's the virtue of the perspective of the dad talking to his kids years later is like, we have an excuse to skip over the small things and talk about, like, this is when I started dating this person. This is when these two broke up. This is when this person returned. And so I think the big events go along with that. And they're always. They're always fun to put people in, to put characters in a new situation, obviously, just to see how. To see how they'll react. But, no, I feel lucky that I got to write a lot of these, especially in these early seasons. You know, Carter and Craig came in with the idea about the club. They came in with Barney and Game Night. So it was a lot of fun to play with those worlds that the characters got to jump into.

[Craig Thomas]

It's also like, there are big events in How I Met yout Mother, but you could make the argument that every episode is a big event, or he wouldn't be telling the story.

[Josh Radner]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

It feels like if it's wor. If he's telling it, it landed on. It lingered for him, and it also shaped him.

[Chris Harris]

Yeah. When we pitched the show, we pitched like, it's the hundred best stories of your 20s and 30s, hoping that we'd hit 100 episodes and then to 208, so that back 108, we're just more like B minus C plus.

[Craig Thomas]

But. But it's also like the.

[Chris Harris]

Is it.

[Craig Thomas]

Is it Jean Shepard, who you keep referring to the Christmas.

[Chris Harris]

Yeah. Jean Shepherd.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah.

[Chris Harris]

Yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

You know, the. The. The pineapple incident, you know, that we talk a lot about, like, Ted is mythologizing his life. You know, he's.

[Chris Harris]

He's like, we all do. Yeah. Like, we all do. Right. We're all the main characters in our stories. And what.

[Alec Lev]

What.

[Chris Harris]

What. What are the things you'll remember 25 years from 2005? And that was the test of season one of the show. And I think Game Night was a good one because it is so eventful. It raises the bar on how eventful and memorable you have to try to make things in this show because he has to remember it in the future.

[Josh Radner]

And I love that notion, Josh, of Ted's mythologizing his own. Cause I do feel like that's such a part of it. Is even the RE Return giving these names to the RE Returns.

[Chris Harris]

Very Teen shepherd naming the events. It's like his. It's a historical document. Right. It's like the Battle of Valley Forge.

[Craig Thomas]

And also the kind of coded language that friend groups develop. You know, you have this kind of patois.

[Alec Lev]

Craig, this. My. My wife Sarah had this question for you a couple weeks ago, and it fits nicely now of like, you know, the. The. In the. In the Supreme Court, if the Chief justice is. Is. Is in the majority, they get to choose who writes the opinion. You and Carter obviously got to choose who writes each episode. Was Kris, at a certain point, chosen for a certain scope, a certain kind of episode? And in general, how did you decide how many you guys would write and how many you would give away?

[Chris Harris]

Boy, I mean, in season one, I can't say there was much of a formula. It was more just like keeping our head above water and stuff. And I think, you know, Chris, I think you were three of them in season one. Is that right?

[Josh Radner]

I did, yeah.

[Chris Harris]

And I'd say that that's because we knew Chris would kill it. You know, you. You're excited to give a guy like Chris an episode because you know it's gonna come in really good and, you know, you're gonna not need to have late nights on that one. At that point, we had never run a TV show before, so at that point, I can't say it was anything more than this was a big one. We're learning who Barney was. It had to advance the story in the present while showing us who Barney was in the past. High degree of difficulty. Give it to Chris. I think that was part. That was part of the. So it was a compliment to Chris for sure.

[Craig Thomas]

But it also felt to me like in the. The arc of who was writing what, it always felt like the first episode was a Ewan Carter. The finales were Ewan Carter, and one or two in the middle were Ewan Carter, Right?

[Chris Harris]

Yeah. More than one or two. We usually did. Cause there were two of us, and we could. One guy could still be running the day to day of the show, and the other guy could peel off and write one. And it was sort of like, that's how we do it. One of us would sort of mostly do one episode and then the other, but both our names were on it.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, it's really like a Lennon and McCartney situation. Right. Like. Like McCartney wrote Blackbird, but it's a Lennon McCartney song.

[Chris Harris]

Yeah. Except like a much worse Lennon and McCartney. Like them, but nowhere near as talented. Right. So that kind of gives you the scope.

[Josh Radner]

And every once in a while, I come in with my octopus's garden.

[Craig Thomas]

It's great to have you here, Ringo.

[Chris Harris]

Oh, my God. Here Comes the sun, motherfucker. Here comes the sun. That's Chris Harris. Come on. Don't. But by the way, Octopus's Garden's fucking great, too, so no one's losing out here. Yeah, we love you, Ringo, but no, but, yeah, Carter and I, yeah, we would sort of mostly take one or the other, but it would always kind of go through the other guy first. You'd say, hey, hey, add some awesomeness, you know, or sometimes help dig me out of a problem on this. So we would each weigh in on each other's episodes. But over time, it became more like, Carter ran a room, I ran a room, and then we sort of trained. So it was like that. But Chris. We would have given Chris this episode with great glee, knowing it was a really important big one.

[Alec Lev]

Okay, so a lot of questions, Chris, from fans. We were talking about the fact that fans, especially ones who came to it later or binging it, they get the whole series as a book that they just read all at once. Whereas you're making it as a newspaper, right? You're just sort of making one every day and hoping that if you see a fire truck in one episode and seven years later there's another fire truck, were you planning on there being two fire trucks? Right. They kind of see all of that. So there's a couple of questions on that. I just want to talk about in the large. This notion of big. How much you were looking at big picture, planning ahead, or that you were just treading water. For example, in. Drumroll, please. Season one, episode 13, Barney picks up a bridesmaid saying he's going to be away for two years with the Peace Corps. Was that foreshadowing of this episode, or did you just think about it as a callback, or are you not noting it till I literally am saying it to you right now based on your thoughts.

[Josh Radner]

Can I. Can I recover and say it was all planned? I have no recollection of that, but they were pretty close together, so I wonder.

[Chris Harris]

I think we owned it. I think we thought. We thought that Barney had some. Like, the ingredients for that lie were based on some part of who he used to be. I think we did own it. Or we liked that that sort of echoed that. I think that was semi intentional.

[Craig Thomas]

It's also funny to consider, like, if she quizzed him on the Peace Corps, he'd be able to ace it, right?

[Chris Harris]

He knows how to talk about it.

[Craig Thomas]

He would know how to answer those questions. Yeah, Ye.

[Chris Harris]

I think that was intentional.

[Craig Thomas]

And I wrote you this little ditty to Sing to you in New York City.

[Chris Harris]

Josh Radner, you were out on the road on tour, playing amazing music in various places around America. We have not heard much about it. Could you lay. Could you just paint us a little word picture of what the tour was like?

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. I started in Seattle, and the people there were lovely because I showed up with a terrible sinus infection that turned into a respiratory infection. So I really had to recruit this crowd in Seattle to be on my side, which I did. And they were amazing. And it was, you know, the joy of live performance. Like, look, I'm lowering everything half step. I'm going to do the best I can. My opener, Ari Tibby, is a great friend of mine, and she has the most extraordinary Linda Ronstadt effortless voice. And I said. When I opened, I said, you know that. That phase of the evening, that effortless, beautiful voice. That time's over. That time's over now.

[Chris Harris]

You're gonna hear a real strain after.

[Craig Thomas]

I just. I said, tonight's gonna be like Steve Earl meets Leonard Cohen meets Kermit the Frog. And I realized, like, that's a cool voice. That's a soul.

[Chris Harris]

I'd pay for that show.

[Josh Radner]

Right?

[Chris Harris]

You sold me. I want to see that.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. So I was down there. My second show in Portland, my voice was, like, almost mostly back. San Francisco, it felt fully back. And then we had great shows in. They were all great in their own way. In Sacramento, in Los Angeles, at the Troubadour, where Doug and Alec came and saw me. And then San Diego, we were at the House of Blues, the Voodoo Room. That was a huge, awesome show. And then I ended up at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, which I don't know if you've ever been, but if you are in Phoenix, please go to the Musical Instrument Museum. It's about. It's like the greatest.

[Chris Harris]

Did you go to it? You went. You performed at that museum?

[Craig Thomas]

And you got to tell you, Elliot would freak out of this museum.

[Chris Harris]

My son Elliot. That would be. That's Field of Dreams. That is Field of Dreams.

[Craig Thomas]

And I also, you know, because you go on the road and, you know, some people I like. I realize some people are coming there because they love how I met your mother and they're wearing ducky ties. Right? And. But then by the end, you're like, I think I converted them into fans of music of mine. You know what I mean? Like, I don't care how people come in, but I think they leave feeling that they've spent a nice evening with me. And, you know, it Was great to meet people from just all of, you know, people came in, people said, I flew in from Fiji, I flew in from the Philippines, I flew in from Mexico to see you. I mean, it was really extraordinary. So a lot of How I Met yout Mother tattoos, a lot of people, you know, hand you art, you know, bracelets they've made and all kinds of stuff. I mean, it was really. It was quite moving. It was really sweet.

[Chris Harris]

So you're feeling. I'm getting the vibe like you're feeling pretty content, pretty satisfied, pretty involved, pretty good about yourself. Yeah. Feeling pretty good about yourself.

[Craig Thomas]

I don't know, Craig. I mean, I had a good, meaningful time that was also hard. But most things that are meaningful have some struggle in them, don't you think?

[Chris Harris]

Yeah, I definitely think that. And I'm about to add a little more struggle as I blow your mind.

[Craig Thomas]

What? What is it?

[Chris Harris]

While you were on this tour, you could have been making some extra cash by hosting your place on Airbnb.

[Craig Thomas]

Boom.

[Chris Harris]

I've just destroyed the entire tour. You'll never think about it the same way again because now it's a missed opportunity.

[Craig Thomas]

I'll never leave home without, you know, hosting my home on Airbnb.

[Chris Harris]

I mean, that would be the smart move. In fact, your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how [e-mail] host.

[Alec Lev]

We talked about this a little bit on the. On the main episode, but just to go over it again, because a lot of people, a lot of people talked about the board games. A lot of people talked about the board game and the.

[Josh Radner]

And.

[Alec Lev]

And Lily's father, Terry OD O2. Oh, by the way, I want to give to that previous question. That was Gab Burn Gabrin 15. This is Terry OD02. Was this knowingly the beginning of Marshall's love of making board games throughout the series? And if so, who or what was the inspiration of this character trait? Where did this come from?

[Chris Harris]

Yeah, well, I mean, we talked about in the main episode of the main podcast episode. I think it was a lot of Chris. There was a lot of Chris in there. Chris loves stuff like that, right? I mean, that was you.

[Josh Radner]

Yeah. I don't know if I had the original notion that Marshall is great at games and makes up his own games. I think that might have just been a room thing, but I definitely jumped on that in terms of like, oh, I can write this. You love this world. I know this character.

[Chris Harris]

I know this is very intricate.

[Josh Radner]

I bet I can get it. It sounds toug. But I bet I can get inside the head of someone who likes games and puzzles. It's going to be really difficult.

[Chris Harris]

Well, you really made that stretch, Chris. I really. It was really a brave leap.

[Craig Thomas]

Isn't it funny to consider, though, in the first season of something if you think, okay, one of these characters is obsessive about board games, you could kind of make the case that any of them could be. Yeah. Or conversely, any of them hated board games. Like, you were still assigning things to people.

[Josh Radner]

Oh, totally. Yeah. Robin's super competitive, so she's super into games.

[Craig Thomas]

Or Robin hates board games. She can't stand. She had an incident in high school with board games. She'd scarred her. You know, Ted, you could very clearly see being in board games.

[Chris Harris]

You know, it does echo. It echoes with Basque Ice Ball a little bit. Like the idea of the Ericssons invent weird games. It echoes with that. I don't remember if that was intentional or not, but it does a little bit.

[Josh Radner]

That's a great point. But yeah, to Josh's point, like at the beginning of a season of a show, that's both the exciting thing. You can assign anything to anyone, but it's also the scary thing because you don't know, you know, like later on, oh, Marshall, you know, who wants to be a godparent? We know that Marshall loves games. This makes sense. And so we have this information about these characters that we can extrapolate and build further stories from. But there's a lot of blank slate at the beginning of a show.

[Craig Thomas]

So it's now in the writer's room. Is it just like a collective hive mind memory? Are the writers assistants like the gatekeepers of like, no, you can't do that because you have this. How does that work?

[Chris Harris]

Writer assistants are very helpful in that regard. We had really good ones on our show and they go, wait a second. No, you said this earlier. What was great is anyone on staff could do that, though. Like hair and makeup could say that Dave Baker and props could say that everyone cared for the intricacy of this universe. We were creating the kind of world building component that I think we got those notes and those good catches and sometimes those clever pitches, Sometimes you go down to the set and either set deck or Dave or whoever had added things in based on character traits from earlier episodes, seasons, years before. And you come and you go, you remembered this.

[Craig Thomas]

There's a Loch Ness monster thing in a room that is just like a really funny subtle joke. You know, that's props, that's set dressing.

[Chris Harris]

That's like, a lot of the time the writing had nothing to do with those touches, and it was just how genius the larger creative team was on this show.

[Alec Lev]

So I have a good conversation. Started to end us in the next question. But the penultimate question here is definitely the one that had the most questions on Instagram. And again, it goes to how much you know. I think it's like the George Lucas version of it that he knew a lot of this. He had this plan, but, oh, did he really have that plan? And this and that. And then there's the.

[Chris Harris]

I know.

[Alec Lev]

The Vince Gilligan version of writing where he really always talked about. We had no idea. We just kept writing ourselves in the corners. We knew nothing that was going next. We'd write a cold open to something. We didn't know what we're going to pay off. We only have so much, you know. So the question is, okay, says strawberry smoothie.jpg and so many other people. I've been waiting for this. Who gave Robin the mat? Is it Ted or Barney? This question has plagued me for years. Oh, so interesting.

[Chris Harris]

That's an interesting take. I don't take it as a question.

[Josh Radner]

It's interesting because it never crossed my mind that it could have been someone other than Ted.

[Craig Thomas]

Oh, we're talking about the Shcherbatsky welcome method. I didn't think. I thought it was Ted.

[Alec Lev]

I forgot something.

[Chris Harris]

100% Ted.

[Craig Thomas]

100% said Ted.

[Chris Harris]

This was Ted making a nice gesture that actually plants an interesting seed of what's going to happen with Ted and Victoria moving forward. I think I really liked that moment, but it was for sure Ted.

[Craig Thomas]

But I also thought that it could have been Robin until it was the reveal of Victoria that gave Ted the plastic vomit. Right, Right. You know what I'm saying? That could have been her. But it's also a nice, you know, Detente. Is that the word?

[Chris Harris]

Like, it's a piece off their weirdness?

[Josh Radner]

Yeah. Because the last we saw was that awkwardness. And then it's like, okay, it seems like they're getting past.

[Chris Harris]

I really liked how awkward that moment was, by the way. And Barney's like, you were right, Ted. You really shouldn't have told that story.

[Josh Radner]

That was a good, like, literally just swimming in that awkwardness, and it doesn't really get resolved. Except for that. That moment in the montage.

[Chris Harris]

But that moment of resolution is important. We had to reconnect Ted and Victoria to like, deepen them in the next couple of episodes. And that little moment between them is really important. It's a great song, too. That My Morning Jacket song.

[Craig Thomas]

Off the record.

[Chris Harris]

Great indie rock needle drop. And that is important because we need to care about and invest in Victoria, because what's to come between them is going to be the main narrative in the next couple of episodes. I really liked that little moment between.

[Josh Radner]

That and I remembered one little breaking story thing that I could throw in really fast, which was at one point in the room when Carter and Craig were not away, there was this extra twist that was added where it was like, oh, Barney. Actually, this actually was an audition tape, and Barney faked being part of the, you know, this whole story just to get Ted to tell the re return. And it was so smart to like, no, of course not. That's too much. You know, it breaks the story.

[Craig Thomas]

The snake ate its tail. Yeah.

[Chris Harris]

Yeah.

[Josh Radner]

And it's like, it's too much. And I feel like that was a learning experience for me, which, like, no, let's live in this. This is the real of how Barney was. And I don't know, I just remember thinking, oh, wow, that was such the right call.

[Chris Harris]

I completely forgot about that.

[Josh Radner]

It was like an extra twist. And we're like, no, now it's just.

[Chris Harris]

All, it's a hat on a hat. It's perverted.

[Craig Thomas]

When you guys think, it must be fun to watch these episodes because in your mind, you might actually think, no, that did happen because it happened in the writer's room and you forget where it landed. Chris, I'm just now remembering that you and I had a bit that lasted almost all nine seasons. Wasn't the bit that I thought you were lying about having gone to Stanford?

[Josh Radner]

Yes, you had a. In fact, I had. Hold on. I wondered if you were gonna bring that up. So I said, when will Josh use the phrase back when I was at Stanford.

[Craig Thomas]

Back when I was at Stanford.

[Josh Radner]

Which was. But I guessed 1326 in on the original.

[Chris Harris]

Oh, my God, 1925.

[Josh Radner]

And then.

[Craig Thomas]

No, that was the bit. It was the bit that I said that you were always saying starting sentences back when I was at Stanford. And then it evolved into, I don't think you actually went to Stanford.

[Josh Radner]

Yeah. Then it then became, yeah, come on. It was something like, you don't need to say this to me. I'm not. You know, don't try to impress me.

[Craig Thomas]

And I remember you kept going like, no, I really did go there.

[Alec Lev]

I did.

[Josh Radner]

I went there.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, I know, because you say back when I was at Stanford all the time.

[Chris Harris]

But the idea that Chris had the guest pre written on like, sort of like a Newlywed Game.

[Craig Thomas]

It's like Johnny Carson's envelope.

[Chris Harris]

Like, it's. Yeah, it's the Great Karnak. Like, but the fact that Chris just did that. Chris was just Marshall in this episode. Chris was just the game master. He held up. He had a guess of the time that was full. Like, that was Marshall.

[Craig Thomas]

And it didn't even occur to me until right now. We've been talking for a long time.

[Josh Radner]

I know. I'm flattered. I'm flattered it didn't come up earlier.

[Craig Thomas]

There's a. There's a deeper thing at play, which is the writers and the actors got to know each other and were friends and really, like, symbiotic. It was a symbiotic relationship, you know?

[Josh Radner]

Absolutely. Yeah. And we then stories went back and forth and things that actors, you know, that stories came out of things that happen on stage. It was. It was awesome.

[Chris Harris]

And just to say, not to sound too back in my day or too, like, pro union guy, this is what the Writers Guild was striking for, in part, right? The idea that writers should be on shoots. Writers shouldn't pre write things and then disappear. And then it's shot and they're separate, the actors and the writers. Getting to know each other actually impacts the finals.

[Craig Thomas]

And when Chris was on set for his own episodes, he would come up with alt lines that were hilarious and made it into the episodes. I remember I would accuse you. I would say. You would say, back when I was at Stanford, do you think Ted has to cross on that line or should he cross? I was like, chris, you didn't need to say back when I was at Stanford.

[Josh Radner]

I really don't think I said that. Josh. I can't believe we're having this argument again.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. Well, Chris, we're delighted. The door is open. Please come back.

[Chris Harris]

And you're coming back.

[Craig Thomas]

Talk About How I Met yout Mother Once again, when I think about How I Met yout Mother, your face is on the Mount Rushmore. So thanks for being here.

[Chris Harris]

And despite the Stamford lie.

[Craig Thomas]

I am guilty. Please acquit me. All sins are forgiven in New York City.

[Alec Lev]

How we made your Mother is hosted and executive produced by Josh Radner and Craig Thomas. The show was produced by me, Alec Lev, and our co producer is Doug Matica. Our audio producer and mixer is Alex Reeves at Point of Blue Studios, and our digital content producer, AKA Gen Z Master, is Emily Blumberg. Artwork by John Morrow. Please follow rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or your podcast player of choice. It really does help the show. Our theme song is NYC by our own Josh Radner, with additional music by Craig Thomas and Andrew Majewski. Special thanks to Lola Kennedy and Elliot Kahn. Visit how we madeyourmother.com to sign up for our Substack mailing list and for links to our social media. You can also click on the contact page to send us an email or a voice message. Your stories and questions are an important part of the show. Want some merch? Click on the store link or go to howyougetyourmerch.com subscribe to Josh Radner's Muse Letters on Substack. Order Craig Thomas debut novel [e-mail] novel and you can subscribe to My Dead Fathers Society, also on Substack, to learn about how you make a difference. This show's ongoing campaign to raise money for congenital heart disease research. Check out the Make a Difference tab at the top of our website. This episode was made possible by the support of Backyard Ventures. People will, in fact dance.

[Craig Thomas]

The real question it just hit me. Am I in love with you or just New York City.