How We Met That Grinch | S2E11 "How Lily Stole Christmas"

Summary

Podcast Summary: How We Met That Grinch | S2E11 "How Lily Stole Christmas"

Podcast: How We Made Your Mother
Hosts: Josh Radnor, Craig Thomas
Release Date: January 12, 2026
Episode Timing: Focus on main content (skip ads/outros) — Summary covers ~01:02–54:12
Episode Theme: Revisiting "How Lily Stole Christmas," HIMYM’s first Christmas episode, exploring its writing, enduring appeal, creative process, cultural impact, comedic devices, and the show’s resonance for fans around the world.

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into HIMYM Season 2, Episode 11: "How Lily Stole Christmas." The hosts dissect the creative genesis, plot intricacies, character dynamics, and behind-the-scenes choices that made this a pivotal and beloved holiday installment. Alongside, they reflect on how the show resonates with viewers—especially as a comfort or language-learning tool—and field questions from listeners about production details and legacy. With warmth and humor, Josh, Craig, and producer Alec Lev revisit the emotional depths and comic highlights of their holiday classic.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Impact of HIMYM on Language Learners (03:06–04:20)

• Listener story: A fan shares how HIMYM helped them learn English, watching episodes repeatedly to master vocabulary and grammar.
  • Josh Radnor (03:19): “A big hug to all the people around the world that How I Met Your Mother helped them learn English. It’s one of the most delightful things I hear from people.”
  • Craig Thomas (03:31): “It is the best sort of weird side effect of this show’s success.”

2. Genesis & Purpose of the Christmas Episode (04:43–06:29)

• Background: This was HIMYM’s first Christmas episode, written by Brenda Shea, aired December 11, 2006.
• Narrative focus: Designed to explore the aftermath of Marshall and Lily’s breakup, the emotional complexities of friendship, and what best friends owe each other during tough emotional periods.
  • Craig Thomas (05:29): “This episode came from that very universal place of what is a best friend’s duty in a breakup…we felt like we still had more to explore about Marshall and Lily’s breakup.”
  • Plot point: Everything hinges on Ted leaving an "answering machine" message using a very bad word about Lily, sparking the central conflict.

3. Outdated Technology as a Story Engine (07:09–08:39)

• The episode’s drama is made possible by the now-retro answering machine—something unworkable in today’s tech landscape.
  • Josh Radnor (07:40): “You can’t recreate this episode today.”
  • Craig Thomas (08:19): “That’s just a little flashback with the idea of how much worse it was made by hearing Ted’s voice breaking up with her on the answering machine.”

4. Friendship Dynamics & Emotional Truths (09:02–11:02)

• Explores the real hurt felt when Lily left, not just for Marshall but also Ted, upending the "chosen family" dynamic.
  • Josh Radnor (09:13): “He wasn’t just being a partisan on behalf of his friend. He also felt like he got left.”
  • Craig Thomas (09:46): “That piece late in the episode where Ted, for the first time in the episode, says what it’s really about...‘You left me too.’”

5. The Infamous “Grinch” Line—Censoring & Writing for Standards (10:05–11:57)

• Discussion of substituting “Grinch” for a more offensive word to skirt broadcast standards.
  • Josh Radnor (10:38): “Can we say that it started with a C? … The word you will not forgive your friend for calling you.”
  • Fun behind-the-scenes: The table draft directly referenced the "C-word," but standards required a softer, imaginative euphemism.

6. Pop Culture Inspirations & Holiday References (13:50–16:50)

• Homage to "A Christmas Story"—getting Bob Saget to narrate a fudge scene; and nods to "Love Actually," especially in the carol-singing sequence.
  • Craig Thomas (14:22): “That was gold for us because that movie was so influential on How I Met Your Mother for Carter and I.”

7. The Psychology of Breakups for the Whole Group (17:21–19:06)

• Breakups ripple beyond the couple—they alter friend groups and emotional ecosystems.
  • Josh Radnor (17:21): “A breakup is not just between two people. Especially if the social fabric is just so woven…they’re a gang.”
  • Craig Thomas (18:01): “They were like kids in a divorce. Ted was like a kid in a divorce.”

8. The Paradox of a Comfort Show About Discomfort (19:45–20:07)

• HIMYM serves as “medicine for the soul” even though it depicts emotional pain.
  • Josh Radnor (19:57): “How many people find comfort in this show while watching the characters go through deep discomfort.”
  • Craig Thomas (20:01): “It’s people’s comfort show, and it mostly depicts suffering.”

9. Acting Choices & Raw Emotion (20:23–23:18)

• Josh describes the pleasure and challenge of filming emotionally charged scenes with Alyson Hannigan, emphasizing how such moments fuel actors.
  • Josh Radnor (21:43): “The stuff that looks hard to do emotionally is what actors delight in doing… You’re just skipping to work. You’re just happy.”
  • Alec Lev credits Josh for subtle acting: “We’re watching you… and I just had—I was like, oh my God, Ted’s got something going on.” (20:49)

10. Ted and Lily’s Role as Group’s Emotional Core (23:34–24:34)

• Ted and Lily often serve as the group’s “moral compass.” Their friction shakes the whole “family.”
  • Craig Thomas (23:34): “The two people who are supposed to be steering the ship are fighting. So who’s steering the ship?”

11. Comedy Highlights—Shit-talking Lily, Barney’s Cold, Running Gags (24:34–29:17)

• The group finally vents about Lily post-breakup, played for laughs (“She doesn’t even wear a beret!”).
• Barney’s sick subplot: Neil Patrick Harris elevates a simple gag—Barney refusing to admit illness—to comic gold. Robin tending to him hints at early Barney/Robin chemistry.
  • Josh Radnor (27:02): “He can’t admit vulnerability or fallibility on any level…he has to deny that this is happening to his body.”
  • Craig Thomas (28:23): “He’s in Ted’s bed. It’s so intimate. Was Ted consulted before Barney got in that bed with the leaking flu?”

12. Holiday Details & Cultural References (30:07–33:43)

• The arrival of Ted's relatives prompts gags about faith, Judaism, and holiday traditions. Debut of recurring characters like Clint.
• Music details: “Back Door Santa” by Clarence Carter, and the “mind hole” and “sandwich” euphemisms for adult themes.
  • Josh Radnor (30:13): “I liked Christ Mas more Christ for to our Spanish friends.”
  • Craig Thomas (32:24): “We just committed really early on in the series—at least half his family celebrates Christmas.”

13. Flashbacks & Inside Jokes (33:43–35:12)

• Flashback to Ted and Lily in college, sharing a “sandwich” (premiere of that stoned wig?), reinforcing their deep friendship.
• Charity gag: “Not you, Charity!” (joke landing with Moon Zappa appearance).
  • Craig Thomas (34:29): “That’s the sweetest part of this episode. That Ted knows Lily that well… he remembers this stoned night in college where she revealed this thing.”

14. Miscellaneous Comedy & Tribute to Jason Segel (cookie dough, legal catchphrases) (37:09–40:24)

• The running bit of Marshall longing to eat holiday cookie dough, and Jason Segel’s struggle with such beats—but always committing to the performance.
  • Craig Thomas (38:29): “He’s so funny with whatever it is. God bless you, Jason Siegel.”
  • Josh Radnor (39:37): “The hero move is to do it anyway… there’s no way to enjoy everything you’re asked to do across 200 episodes.”

15. Streaming Rights & Availability FAQs (43:13–45:29)

• HIMYM’s move from Netflix to Hulu discussed.
  • Craig Thomas (43:32): “It’s not on Netflix… it is still on Hulu. Internationally, it’s on Disney+. You can also buy the entire series.”
  • Assures fans: Not their choice, but Hulu is now the U.S. home.

16. Listener Questions & Set/Character Details (46:44–50:47)

• Set Design: The apartment hallway was sometimes a “swing set”—brought in for specific shots.
• Barney’s physical comedy: Neil Patrick Harris’s unmatched commitment and physicality, already evident in his audition.
• Ted’s jazz fandom: Not writer-driven; grew organically from wardrobe/set dressing, then occasionally referenced in scripts.

17. Listener Letter: The Show as Comfort & Hope (50:59–53:42)

• Letter from Sarah (UK): Describes HIMYM as “comfort food” yearly, relates to Ted’s hopeful/cynical romanticism, and always starts with “How Lily Stole Christmas.”
  • Sarah (read by Josh, 51:59): “...every time I bawl my eyes out nearly every episode of the last season. Because the romantic in me… still has a glimmer of hope that whoever it is I’m supposed to meet is just around the corner.”
  • Hosts express profound gratitude for such impacts.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On teaching English:
  “If we could get in a time machine and go back, Josh, to 2005 us…people are going to learn English by watching this show. It would have been…we weren’t thinking in 2005.” – Craig Thomas (03:31)

• On “Grinch” euphemism:
  “The word…starts with a C…It’s the word your friend will not forgive you for calling them.” – Josh Radnor (10:05)

• On Christmas episode inspiration:
  “A Christmas Story…was so influential on How I Met Your Mother for Carter and I. I’m currently touching the leg lamp from A Christmas Story.” – Craig Thomas (14:22)

• On comfort from discomfort:
  “How many people find comfort in this show while watching the characters go through deep discomfort.” – Josh Radnor (19:57) “It’s people’s comfort show, and it mostly depicts suffering.” – Craig Thomas (20:01)

• On acting the tough scenes:
  “The stuff that looks hard to do emotionally is what actors delight in doing… you’re just happy. You know, it’s juicy.” – Josh Radnor (21:43)

• On Jason Segel embracing weird gags:
  “The stuff you knew he didn’t like, he leaned into it. His way of coping was—he leaned into it more. Which is kind of a virtue as an actor.” – Josh Radnor (38:19)

• On fan letters and universal relatability:
  “Sara, may you meet your plonker.” – Craig Thomas (53:15) “We started this episode with learning English and we ended the episode in England. I think it’s really interesting.” – Craig Thomas (53:42)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Learning English / Global impact: 03:06–04:20
• Origins of Christmas episode: 04:43–06:29
• Old technology/Answering machine: 07:09–08:39
• Breakup/Group dynamics: 09:02–11:02
• "Grinch" word origins: 10:05–11:57
• Pop culture/lamp reference: 13:50–16:50
• Paradox of comfort shows: 19:45–20:07
• Ted-Lily confrontation (acting): 20:23–23:18
• Cookie dough/Jason Segel: 37:09–40:24
• Streaming availability/FAQs: 43:13–45:29
• Listener letter/comfort: 50:59–53:42

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Final Thoughts

This episode masterfully blends comedic nostalgia, deep emotional reflection, and the behind-the-scenes craft that made “How Lily Stole Christmas” a standout holiday story. The hosts are candid, affectionate, and honest about regrets and delights in the process, while celebrating the show's global legacy. Fan stories and questions add personal resonance, echoing how HIMYM continues to comfort, entertain, and connect generations.

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“To all you plonkers out there, thank you for joining us...We loved being with you and we’ll see you next time.”
– Josh Radnor (53:56)

Transcript

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[Craig Thomas]

So yeah, we've been asked a lot over the years, what was the word? What did Ted say? It's created a lot of debate over the years. You know what? After all this time, 19 years later, to hell with it. I'm just going to say it. I'm just going to officially say what the word was. The word that Ted said was.

[Josh Radnor]

How I Met your Mother means a lot to me because it represents my journey of learning English back then. And I had just started studying English as a foreign language and the show.

[Alec Lev]

Really helped me get used to the.

[Josh Radnor]

Sound of the language, learn new vocabulary and practice grammar. I remember I used to watch the same episode several times and it actually helped me pass my exams, university. And for me, it's a show that I discovered completely by accident.

[Craig Thomas]

I once borrowed a random DVD from.

[Josh Radnor]

The library and it happened to be How I Met yout Matter. And it was the only DVD show that was available in English. So it started watching it and that's how I fell in love with it. I'm alone. What a pity I won't be soon in New York when I see you. Please permit me to tell you everything in New York City. Well, hello. Welcome to another episode of How We Made youe Mother. I'm your co host, Josh Radner and I am here with my other co host, Craig Thomas. Hey Craig.

[Craig Thomas]

Hey Josh.

[Josh Radnor]

Hey. We're talking about How I Met yout Mother. That's a show that I starred on from 2005 to 2014. I played Ted Mosby on that show. Craig co created the show with Carter Bay and we're sifting back through all of them we're in season two. Which episode is this? Episode 11. 11. Alec is nodding vigorously.

[Craig Thomas]

Exactly halfway.

[Josh Radnor]

Exactly. We're halfway through the second season. Just a shout out to that wonderful voice note from our friend who learned English from watching How I Met yout Mother. Shout.

[Craig Thomas]

Just a. Just a.

[Alec Lev]

Just a.

[Josh Radnor]

Whatever. A hello, A big hug to all the people around the world that How I Met yout Mother helped them learn English. It's one of the most delightful things I hear from people.

[Craig Thomas]

It's one of the coolest things that we hear. If we could get in a time machine and go back, Josh, to 2005 us and be like, people are going to learn English by watching this show. It's just. It would have been talk about something.

[Josh Radnor]

We weren't thinking in 2005.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. You're not planning that. You're like, I wonder if this will help teach grammar. Is the grammar good enough?

[Josh Radnor]

In this one, ESL teachers around the world will be using this.

[Craig Thomas]

That's really why we're doing this. What a public service. Public service. It is the best sort of weird side effect of this show's success. To hear a story like that is such an honor. It's so cool. And we hear it all the time. But I don't think, Alec, we've ever had a message directly, someone saying that. So to have that on the record, on the pod, that was great. Thank you for that message.

[Alec Lev]

Yeah.

[Josh Radnor]

Thank you. So today we're discussing How Lily stole Christmas, episode 11 of season two, this was written, I believe, by Brenda Shea. Is that right, Alex? Yeah. And when did this air?

[Alec Lev]

On December 11th of 2006.

[Josh Radnor]

Pause to contemplate our mortality.

[Craig Thomas]

Contemplate our mortality. And we're back.

[Josh Radnor]

Craig, tell us where this episode sprang from. And also just give us a little summary of what this episode's about and if you remember what the genesis for this episode was.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, all of those things. Well, first of all, I think it's technically our first Christmas episode. I think this began from we need to do a Christmas episode. We had a Halloween episode in season one, also written by Brenda Shea, slutty pumpkin. We had a Thanksgiving episode. We had a New Year's episode in the limo. We didn't really do a Christmas episode. I think we just didn't have an idea we were excited enough about.

[Josh Radnor]

I think we technically started the war on Christmas. That's where this political dust up came. They're like, they're trying to erase Christmas.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. A lot of historians peg it on us.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

Briefly contemplating my mortality again. And we're back again. No, but it's this. This is. This episode came from that very universal place of what is a best friend's duty in a breakup Is a best friend beholden to say bad things about the person that has dumped said other best friend. And we. I. This ide. We felt like we still had more to explore about Marshall and Lilly's breakup. Right. They were broken up for the first however many episodes. Right? Seven or eight episodes of this season. Now, this is episode 11. And I remember we thought, there's a little more to get out of this. This dramatic situation. There's a little more. How could something from that breakup in the summer come back around at Christmas time? And the plot of this episode is there's a recording where Ted says a very bad word about Lily, and that sets off a series of events that leads to Lily stealing Christmas a la the Grinch. Hence, how Lily stole Christmas.

[Josh Radnor]

Okay, so my memory is the breakup lasts until episode seven, but I had forgotten that the reverberations of this go up until almost they walk down the aisle. It's a much longer kind of tremor or aftershock than I had remembered. But I'm glad to see that because it does feel like one thing I admire about you and Carter and the writers, like, you are always, I think, pausing to go, what is the real thing happening? Like, what would be the real. The most real thing that we could then spin into comedy gold? But, like, let's. It just feels like you're really giving this, like, its proper due and its breath.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. Yeah. We really wanted to let things echo out. We didn't like that sitcom convention where every week's a new week and the Etch A Sketch has been shaken up and it's just a tabula rasa. It's like, no, people hold onto things. Shit comes back around. There's nothing is neat. There's no. Things aren't in neat containers. And that's what this episode comes from. It's very funny. How much old technology, namely an answering machine. The entire plot of this episode is hinged on an answering machine message that can be played out loud and heard by anyone.

[Josh Radnor]

You can't recreate this episode today like, this is not.

[Craig Thomas]

Why do they have that?

[Josh Radnor]

That's.

[Craig Thomas]

I technically still have an answering machine. I have a landline with an answering machine, and people make fun of me.

[Josh Radnor]

Do you know what's so funny? When. When everyone went on to phones, I remember screenwriters saying, man, the answering machine. The public, you know, the answering machine where you Press it and the voice goes into the room. Was such a useful platform, like a useful device for screenwriters, and it went away.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. Remember Ted breaking up with in season one?

[Josh Radnor]

Oh, yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

Return of the shirt he's breaking up with. Is it. Forgive me, Natalie, I'm breaking on her name.

[Josh Radnor]

Nanny Dudek.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. That's another big answering machine plot point. I mean, that's just a little flashback with the idea of how much worse it was made by hearing Ted's voice breaking up with her on the answering machine. And a whole surprise party of all her friends are hearing it. We have a few of those really hinging ideas on answering machines. It doesn't make us look super young at this point.

[Josh Radnor]

You know what? I was actually just weirdly discussing this with some this weekend. That weird what it. That kind of space between. When your friend breaks up with someone, how long do you wait to talk shit about them? Is it your. Is it your duty to immediately say they were hor. You actually don't want to because there's a window when they still might get back together?

[Craig Thomas]

They might get back together really quickly.

[Josh Radnor]

So you can't talk too much shit about them. Right. Like you have to be like.

[Craig Thomas]

That would have been a great observation to put in this episode, what you just said. Overcome with regret that we don't have that observation in the episode.

[Josh Radnor]

Well, but what I love. One of my favorite of this episode was that it was revealed it was Ted's anger at Lily that was fueling it. He wasn't just being a partisan on behalf of his friend. He also felt like he got left.

[Craig Thomas]

You broke up with me. You broke up with me as well.

[Josh Radnor]

You didn't call me. You know that one episode where he. Lily calls him his Ted, her best friend. You know, there's like a wounding and a rupture that Ted also felt. And Ted was left with this baby, with this crying baby in the form of broken up Marshall.

[Craig Thomas]

I think that's what unlocks the episode. That piece late in the episode where Ted, for the first time in the episode, says what it's really about for him. You left me too. And I was also hurt and angry. And that's the moment that gets slowly to understand what it was all about. I forgot that that is the key to the whole episode. That one line.

[Josh Radnor]

Right, right, right. Yeah. You think it's one thing, and it turns out it's actually deeper and more layered and it's more about friendship than it is about a break. I mean, y. So the word that. So the word that the kids hear is Grinch. Right. It's almost like sandwiches for pot. Like it's a. It's a subbed in word that is less offensive, less inflammatory, all that. When you've told me this, the word was. Can we say that it started with a C? Can we say that? I mean, it's the word. It's the word you will. That your friend will not forgive you for calling them.

[Craig Thomas]

Right, right. So we figured it had to be like a nuclear powered one rather than like a word that starts with a B or something. But we, we, you know, it's up to the imagination, right? If people want to, if it's too far for people, they can imagine it one way or the other. But to be this nuclear, you figure it had to be worse than a B.

[Josh Radnor]

But was the subword always Grinch, like from draft one?

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, I think so. I think so.

[Josh Radnor]

But why? I remember it was so much clearer in the table draft that the word he called her was a C word. I think there was even a joke about the rhyme of the word that got cut by the, by the standards and practices. Do you remember this?

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah.

[Alec Lev]

This is a perfect time for our new segment. Craig looks through his old email.

[Craig Thomas]

I want to try to look up standards and practice now. I'm not finding anything. Yeah, okay, I'll work on this. Hang on a second. But yeah, I think we had a. I think you're right, Josh. I think we had something in there that pointed at. It had to have been the nuclear powered word. And they were like, you can't do that. And I can't remember. It would be such a better story if I could remember what it was. I think if you had to bet on what, what word it was, you'd have to go for the nuclear powered one. I think that's only right. That only makes sense.

[Josh Radnor]

And I wrote you this little ditty to sing to you in New York City. We'll be right back.

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[Craig Thomas]

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[Josh Radnor]

And now back to the show.

[Craig Thomas]

It's a fun exploration of what's a best friend's role in this situation. And Ted's in a very tough place because they're both his best friend. But he was the one scraping Marshall off the floor when Lily left. I'm really pleased that by doing that we were able to reference one of my favorite films, A Christmas Story. Yeah, the fudge of it all. But I didn't say fudge. We got to have Bob Saget do Gene shepherd saying, but I didn't say fudge.

[Josh Radnor]

Right.

[Craig Thomas]

That was gold for us because that movie was so influential on how much a mother for Carter and I. As we speak, I'm sitting right next to the leg lamp from A Christmas Story. I could reach out. I'm currently touching the leg, the light up leg lamp from A Christmas Story, which Carter gave me as a Christmas gift one year and was in our how much Mother Office, My writer's office, and how much of others for years and years. I remember that that movie's a huge influence playing with memory and like the narrator remembering and using the narrator as this tool to sort of embellish memory and play with that. And it was so satisfying to get to do that. And there's also a very overt love actually reference where they have to pretend to be carol singers at the door when they're when they're at Ted's cousin's door in Staten island and they're singing. They decide to sing to cover what's happening that is. That's love, actually. So we got to name check. We had to, you know, we didn't get the Christmas episode in, in year one, but by the time we got there, we're like, we're gonna reference you.

[Josh Radnor]

Do you know what else is funny to me is like they're like, okay, just start singing. And it's like just perfect four part.

[Craig Thomas]

It's gorgeous. Yeah. That was like an extra.

[Josh Radnor]

Bring a tear to your eye.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. I think Neil and Neil and Jason went into a studio and recorded it really beautifully. And then we played it back them lip syncing to it because we like that subtle joke which is also kind of a love actually joke. I don't remember that moment of love actually where it turns out like the prime minister's like security guy has this incredible singing voice and Hugh Grant plays this moment where he looks at him like, holy shit. How are you this good of a singer? King Wenceslas or whatever. Yeah, yeah. So it's. We were. We had to wait for the Christmas episode, but we got to have a lot of fun with it. And it is. Yeah, it's a real. Again, I don't think we did it in year one because we just didn't have a great idea. This is a juicy idea, right? What Lily missed that whole summer and she missed what her essentially her best friend was saying about her to Marshall. And I love it was important was because we figured people would interpret this as the nuclear powered, worst version of what Ted could have said. You're right. It only makes sense. Everyone's reaction in hearing the word in the bar, little kids. Only makes sense. We felt we had to justify it and earn it. So going back to the summer and seeing. Reminding the audience how miserable Marshall was and how much Ted had to parent him through that and that Ted actually, it was actually healthy for Ted to milk a little bit of anger out of Marshall at that moment and say, say one bad thing about her. If you glorify her, you'll be stuck in this forever.

[Josh Radnor]

She left you and went to San Francisco. What do you call that? I love. He says, fiercely independent.

[Craig Thomas]

Say one bad thing about her. There's only one of her. He was so stuck. And you actually, I would argue you have to go through that. Right. You have to go through that time where you get to be angry.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

He needed to do that. And Ted was a good friend to him, I think by doing what he did. And he was a bad friend to Lily at that moment by doing that. And I love the conundrum of that. How do you be everything? Everyone? It's impossible.

[Josh Radnor]

But also, I think he. One thing that I think that you guys do really well here is a breakup is not just between two people. Especially if the social fabric is just so woven. You know, the three of them were like. They're salt, pepper, and cumin. You know what I mean? Like, they're a gang. Right.

[Craig Thomas]

One of my favorite jokes.

[Josh Radnor]

I think that Lily's leaving. Yes. Obviously, it annihilates Marshall, but it also pulls the rug out from under all their lives. It's not just that he has to take care of Marshall. It's that she changed the whole dynamic of their. They're in a totally different ecosystem after that. And she.

[Craig Thomas]

They were like kids in a divorce. Ted was like a kid in a divorce. And it's like, oops, I sided with Dad a little more than mom because mom went away. Sorry.

[Josh Radnor]

But it's also. There's something healthy about him getting to say to mom, this really hurt me. You know?

[Craig Thomas]

This really hurt. Yeah. And it hurt me because it hurt our relationship. I actually thought my memory was in that speech near the end when Ted actually gets to say that to Lily in her tiny apartment there with all the decorations, which is amazing. I thought Ted said more about. And I was really left picking Marshall up. I was trying to put a broken man. I was putting Humpty Dumpty back together again all summer. And you were not there. But he actually doesn't say much of that. He really prioritizes. You hurt my feelings. Which I felt was the more surprising and interesting take. And I had forgotten. Forgotten how much. That's the point of that scene.

[Josh Radnor]

Well, I think we'd covered their. I think we covered that. He had to. You know what I'm saying? It was like. It was another beat that was, like, true.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah.

[Josh Radnor]

That hadn't been covered. Yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

And gave justice to Ted. The depth of Ted's friendship with Lily. It's not just Marshall's girlfriend came back around. It's my best friend.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah. My colleague gifted me for three months. Yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

And now she's back. And the idea that. I like the idea in this. That. And it's actually sort of similar to Atlantic City. That idea of, you have to fully face things right. In Atlantic City. They're like, we're gonna run away and get married real quick. We're gonna elope. To avoid the family frowning at Lily. The Minnesota family frowning at Lily for having run off. And then they realize, we have to face it. This is, like, one of the last Pieces of the puzzle to put back together. Ted and Lily never faced off about the worst fucking summer that Ted just had, other than being in love with Robin. He had a horrible summer with his best friend in a coma, basically.

[Josh Radnor]

Well, it also speaks to that thing we're saying, like, the kind of strange paradox of how many people find comfort in this show while watching the characters go through deep discomfort.

[Craig Thomas]

Absolutely.

[Josh Radnor]

This is very uncomfortable.

[Craig Thomas]

That's the paradox of this show. It's people's comfort show, and it mostly depicts suffering.

[Alec Lev]

I want to say, Josh, something lovely. I thought about your acting in this, and you had mentioned episodes and episodes maybe a whole season ago that you had spoken with Al Pacino on the set of your show about. And I think he was one that said to you, the camera loves to see people thinking.

[Josh Radnor]

Right. That was what you had on Hunters.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah.

[Alec Lev]

Right. So right before you blow up at Lily, right before you sort of tell the truth.

[Josh Radnor]

No, you.

[Alec Lev]

You hurt me. I. I did not remember this episode at all. And I was not ahead of the story at all. I did not know where it was going. But right before it, we. We see you. We're watching you, and I just had. I. I was like, oh, my God. Ted's a. Something's happening in Ted right now.

[Josh Radnor]

He's.

[Alec Lev]

He's holding something back, and it's about to come out. And I didn't. I could not predict it. I did not know what it was, but it was a love, like, ooh, what's Ted got going on? And Josh, I just thought that was lovely.

[Josh Radnor]

Oh, that's so nice. Feel free to compliment me anytime, Alec, on the show.

[Alec Lev]

But I.

[Josh Radnor]

It's so funny, Jordana, when we were watching it this morning, she was also, like, really startled by that moment and pretty delighted, I think, just, like, the psychology of it, she really appreciated, like, oh, there's something about the reveal that it wasn't just. He wasn't just being a partisan on behalf. He wasn't just defending his friend. He was angry. He was angry at her. He felt betrayed. He felt left. You know, I think there. You know, there's something about that chosen family where you want. You want it to stick together, especially if you come from a certain amount of brokenness, which, you know, Lily does and Ted does. Both of them, you know, they're trying to. Yeah.

[Alec Lev]

Let me ask you this. Actually a question right on this scene here from G. Vanner, who, by the way, sends in lots of great questions. Who says, josh, the fight between Ted and Lily in her apartment is one of the most raw and honest confrontations between friends in the show's early seasons. How did you and Allyson prepare for that scene? Was it a challenge to tap into that level of anger and hurt within what is usually a very warm and supportive friendship? I mean, it's just a script. It's just acting.

[Josh Radnor]

But, yeah, tell us about that. I don't think. I don't. You know, Ally and I would never talk about. Everyone had their own process. But I sometimes think that the. The stuff that looks hard to do emotionally is what actors delight in doing. It's like, it's like to have a raw confrontation with Alyson Hannigan in the middle of an episode. Like, yeah, hand me, throw me the ball, put me in. You know, like, it's delightful. And Ally was always never, not surprising and truthful. And so it was very easy. It was like. Some of my favorite Ted scenes are with Lily. Weirdly, as we're watching this back. There's some even. We'll get to it. But like the shot of them being stoned together, like. But they had a lot of. I think when. When both of them need either real truth talking to or can't say something to anyone else but each other, those are some of the best scenes. It's not like you wake up in the morning and go, ooh, I got that hard scene with Ally today. You're just skipping to work. You're just happy. You know, it's juicy. I always loved the more serious stuff because I felt like that was one of the things I was hired for, was like, for the earnest part. And I was like, okay, this is why I'm hired. And this is good. This is fun. I never found it to be like a high level of difficulty. It was more like, this is what I'm here for. You know?

[Craig Thomas]

Ted and Lily on the show are often the moral compass. One or the other of them in an episode is often the moral compass or the kind of emotional, grown up through line in a lot of ways. And then when the two of them would turn on each other, would have to fight and be at odds. I leaned forward in those scenes. As a viewer, I'm like, this is really interesting. The two people who are supposed to be steering the ship are fighting. So who's steering the ship?

[Josh Radnor]

Right.

[Craig Thomas]

Right.

[Josh Radnor]

It rocks. The whole. The whole family gets rocke. You know, they are kind of the mom and dad in certain ways. It's not Marshall and Lily. It's actually Ted and Lily are the mom and dad.

[Craig Thomas]

It really is. And that's why this fight takes. If I have a regret of, you know, every now and again I'll hit upon. I wish we'd had even more scenes between just Ted and Lily. Because you guys were great together. Although you could say it impacts because we didn't do it all the time. And then when it would happen and that tension would happen, it was really surprising and interesting. And maybe that's part of what made it work. But I love you guys. When you guys are in a real emotional context. Conversation.

[Josh Radnor]

There's a moment when the dam breaks and friends are allowed to shit talk.

[Craig Thomas]

Yes.

[Josh Radnor]

The ex.

[Craig Thomas]

Yes.

[Josh Radnor]

And the scene in the bar of the three guys shit talking Lily is hilarious to me.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. Because they're digging so deep to come up with bad shit. Because she is a really good person.

[Josh Radnor]

It's like, but I love Neil. I'm an artist. She doesn't even wear a beret.

[Craig Thomas]

She doesn't wear a beret. What's his conception like?

[Josh Radnor]

Barney's idea of an artist is so funny.

[Craig Thomas]

It's really funny.

[Josh Radnor]

I love just watching the dam break and them just. There's something that is also very pleasing. There's just these little moves that the show makes. I love when Ted, Marshall and Barney are all on the same page. There's something very pleasing about just being dudes. Just being dudes.

[Craig Thomas]

That was a good moment. And just to pause for a second. I think everybody's been either on one side or both sides of that equation at different times in their life. So I think that's why this episode works. People love this episode. But I have seen debates from fans of. Should Ted not have said that? You don't say that. Lily's also Ted's friend. I feel like there was some debate. Was it right or wrong for Ted to say that. I would argue it's just human.

[Josh Radnor]

It's just human nature. Right.

[Craig Thomas]

Like, there's no.

[Josh Radnor]

I don't lose any respect or affection for Ted that he did that.

[Craig Thomas]

Right.

[Josh Radnor]

Like, I just don't. You know? But maybe. Yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

I think he makes his case pretty well as to why he's doing it.

[Josh Radnor]

And she in some ways comes around. Like, she. She in a way comes around. And. And. And I just got a text from my wife who's listening in. She says, this is hard. Not just for friends, but this is hard as a therapist, too. Like, at what point do you. If there's a breakup.

[Craig Thomas]

Yes.

[Josh Radnor]

You know what I mean? Like, how do you play that as a therapist? Also interesting question. We'll have to have her. I'M sure more direct questions.

[Craig Thomas]

At some point, you just bust out the C word again, right?

[Josh Radnor]

Oh, I've heard her. I've heard her. That door is only soundproofed so much. I've heard her say that constantly.

[Craig Thomas]

But you have to wait till the right moment. Professionally, I would imagine. Jordan.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah, they cover that in grad school.

[Craig Thomas]

Oh, my God. It's a dilemma. It's a very. It's a real dilemma. I think Ted was being such a good friend to Marshall and. Yeah, you know, there was shit to work out. There was shit left to work out that they worked out before they could have a lovely Christmas together. That's what this is. And it's just real. It was.

[Josh Radnor]

I do think, just shout out to Neil, like, the. The C story of Barney not admitting he's sick. Like, he's so funny.

[Craig Thomas]

That's just a simple little thing that he elevated that could have sucked. That's just basically, like, the. The littlest thing we could have handed him. And he elevated it into, like, a real master masterclass.

[Josh Radnor]

But also it speaks to his disgust with mortality and humanity. Like. Like, he can't admit vulnerability or fallibility on any level. So, like, again, it's kind of like the getting Ted to wear a suit kind of thing in the first. Like, there's always something subterranean going on with Barney that's beyond just the surface comedy. Like, he really genuinely is like, I'm fine. Like, he can't not be awesome. So he has to deny that this is happening to his body.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. And Robin has to become a caretaker, which isn't the most natural speed for Robin. You got to see sort of these new, vulnerable speeds in these two characters who are very strong.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah. You know, it occurred to me, I actually thought, but if you were really mapping out Robin and Barney, her serving him soup and tending to him while he's sick might be the first moment where Barney starts to feel like, oh, I. Like, I feel safe with this woman. Or I feel like I can be myself with this woman in a way that's different. You know, he would never let any of these other women see him in this state. I also loved seeing him wear Ted's clothes. I think they just literally put him in my.

[Craig Thomas]

Oh, yeah, definitely. Stuff Ted has worn on the show before. And he's in Ted's bed. It's so intimate. He's just in Ted's bed. This snotty mess. Like, was Ted consulted before Barney got in that bed with the leaking flu out of his body.

[Josh Radnor]

He hates, like, Sartorially he hates what he's wearing, but he also has to admit it's very comfortable.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, it's comfortable. And he's such a baby. I hate you. He just snaps at Robin. He devolves into babyhood. It's funny. It fit the story well. I don't remember if we were clever enough to have thought this, but Barney not admitting he's sick, but the sickness winning in the end is kind of like the whole episode in a way. There's something lingering. There's a sickness in Ted and Lily's dynamic and Marshall's dynamic. There's some part of this breakup that didn't get fully flushed out with the toxins of it, and it catches back up with them. Just like sickness catches up with Barney. There's something that kind of links up.

[Josh Radnor]

There that I. Yeah, yeah. There's a nice moment of additional moment of old tech when it's clearly new on Ted's phone that he can say the name and call the person.

[Craig Thomas]

Right. And it doesn't really hold up because no one does that anymore. It was new technology at the moment. That seems very dated now. I feel like. Do you guys do that? Do you do call ba Ba.

[Josh Radnor]

Ba. No, I never do that.

[Craig Thomas]

I never do that. Maybe I guess some people do, but.

[Josh Radnor]

I feel like Ted would be kind of an early adopter. Like he'd try to do it. But also it's character revealing because Ted is ultimately like a good guy. And his friends in distress, obviously person he like a third tier friend, clearly like someone he doesn't talk to all that much. And he suddenly is in. Has dinner plans and he's just like, oh, God, What a nightmare.

[Craig Thomas]

20 minutes, 20 minutes later with Billy, right before Christmas.

[Josh Radnor]

I liked Christ Mas more Christ for to our Spanish friends.

[Craig Thomas]

That was a good one.

[Josh Radnor]

It's a great line. And what is this? The debut. I love how Lily tells Ted's mom. She tells on Ted that he used.

[Craig Thomas]

That moment, that little scene. And that's where we meet Clint, who becomes more like Ted's mom's new boyfriend, Clint, who we heard about.

[Josh Radnor]

That's the debut of Clint. Right?

[Craig Thomas]

That's the debut of Clint. And yeah, all I'll say is he's a little bit based on some people that I've encountered in life. Not still in the picture, but definitely Clint brings things up for me in.

[Josh Radnor]

His debut of Ted's middle name is Evelyn. Is this the.

[Craig Thomas]

No, I think it's been. I think it was hinted at before. I think it's been hinted at before. In the season and a half, I. Boy, this.

[Josh Radnor]

Well, I think it's great how Barney calls him Ted Vivian.

[Craig Thomas]

He has it a little bit wrong.

[Josh Radnor]

But it's also like, those are, like. You could swap those names out. Like, it's.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, totally. Yeah. Yeah. And Ted. It's also funny. Like, Ted has these super religious relatives in Staten island who you never hear from again.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah. What about the cousins? Cousin was Moon Zappa.

[Craig Thomas]

Right. I forgot about that entirely until the credits came up. Did you taunt her? Did you get to know her at all?

[Josh Radnor]

Oh, yeah. I don't know if you remember, but.

[Craig Thomas]

I like Frank Zappa so much, I'm surprised I didn't dork out into her.

[Josh Radnor]

But maybe I had the still photographer take a picture of me wearing the red sweater with her and all the kids. And for a holiday card that year, I said, happy holidays, Love the Radners. And it was me with, like, not my wife and not my children. But it was like, I still. When I was cleaning out my house in LA this summer, I found a bunch of those cards that I still have.

[Craig Thomas]

That's so funny.

[Josh Radnor]

That was the card for the year.

[Craig Thomas]

You just stepped right into that photo shoot where the husband was. And it was.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

And it was. Yeah, that was hilarious. She was really funny. Moon Zappa. So cool. I know that's a cool bit of.

[Josh Radnor]

Casting, but also funny that, like, Ted goes to dinner and they're like, well, put on this red sweater. Like, you have.

[Craig Thomas]

You have to wear the red sweater.

[Josh Radnor]

The red sweater, yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

It's so funny. And you were always like, is Ted Jewish? Is Ted half Jewish?

[Josh Radnor]

It was revealed he was half Jewish later. Much later.

[Craig Thomas]

Later. Right. Which is. Which feels right. But we so wanted to do all these bits about Christmas that we just committed really early on in the series. Like. Well, we'll just say he's at least partially. That's. At least half of his family celebrates Christmas.

[Josh Radnor]

Well, that's like you taking. I do crossword puzzles. And you're like, now Ted does crossword puzzles. Like, I'm Jewish. You're like, ted's half Jewish. It's like tailoring the suit. We talked around.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah.

[Josh Radnor]

What was. The Backdoor Santa song is really good. That's used.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. Yeah, that's. You know. That song was later sampled to become Christmas Time in Hollis, Queens by Run dmc. But it is a fantastic. It's by Clarence Carter, and it is on this album, Soul Christmas. There's this compilation, Soul Christmas, that I decorate the Christmas tree. Our family plays that Album every year when we decorate the Christmas Tree, which has just all soul. Soul versions of Christmas songs. That one's. That's a banger. That song. That was. We were. Carter and I were. Because Carter and I, you know, met and started working together essentially in life in college, playing in a soul band together. We played covers of soul songs. We never played this one. I wish we'd like done a.

[Josh Radnor]

It's a great song and it really works.

[Craig Thomas]

It's just a great soul song.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah, it's a great. It really worked. I also think this the second time Ted. Well, Ted doesn't say it first, but blow her mind hole. Mind hole became. That was a. That was a Phil and Chris thing, right?

[Craig Thomas]

That's in Chris. That's definitely like Lord Miller speak from Chris and Phil. Planted in season one. Brought it back in season two.

[Josh Radnor]

Also another question for you. Is the college flashback of Lily and Ted having a sandwich? Which I don't think we'd established sandwich as the euphemism yet, had we? For possibly. I don't think so. But is this the debut of college Ted's wig?

[Craig Thomas]

No, I think.

[Josh Radnor]

Ah, shit.

[Craig Thomas]

We flashback. We saw Marshall and Lily meeting in college. Did we ever see Ted in college? This might be the debut of the wig. I love the purpose that flashback serves. That is the sweetest part of this episode. That Ted knows Lily that well. They go back that far. It so makes the sale that they are also best friends and that he.

[Josh Radnor]

Remembers this stoned night in college where she revealed this thing.

[Craig Thomas]

It was so high, but he remembered it. Marshall couldn't find the outside. I couldn't find the outside to get to the concert. He's been gone for long enough that they think he's already gone to a whole concert. That means he's.

[Josh Radnor]

But he's just wandering around the door.

[Craig Thomas]

And that's how high they are. And yet Ted remembers this crucial, like, childhood wish of Lily that he helps fulfill for her. And the fact that that unlocks it and brings them back together is a delight. I thought that was a really. For our first Christmas episode. That was a good, like, heartwarming Christmas payoff.

[Josh Radnor]

I love. We'll give it. We'll give the. Donate the presents to Charity. And the girl gets excited. Not you, Charity.

[Craig Thomas]

Not you, Charity. Moon Zappa nailing that one.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah. So, okay, so this really made me laugh when they ask him, you know, Ted, what's your favorite Bible verse? And he starts hedging on it. It's almost verbatim of when Trump is asked, what is your favorite Bible verse.

[Craig Thomas]

So many good ones.

[Josh Radnor]

So many good ones. I couldn't even pick. I couldn't pick a favorite.

[Craig Thomas]

Like. Like Ted does that exact speech. It's so funny. It is. The dog ate my homework response. It really is. Yeah. But I love the Pulp Fiction reference. Yet another Pulp Fiction reference. What he says, well, you know, that one in Pulp Fiction's pretty cool. Like the one that Sam Jackson does before he shoots people. The one in Pulp's fiction's pretty cool. Like that. That was great. I mean, we have many different Tarantino references and many to Pulp Fiction. And that is another one that delighted me. I'd forgotten completely about that one.

[Josh Radnor]

And it's right before Samuel Jackson opened fires.

[Craig Thomas]

Quentin, please come on the podcast.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah. Quentin Tarantino sending out.

[Craig Thomas]

We're trying desperately to reach you. I've tried agencies. I've DMed your podcast.

[Josh Radnor]

We know you love this show. We love you. We'd love to talk to you. Anyone out there who knows Quentin?

[Craig Thomas]

Haven't.

[Josh Radnor]

Come on.

[Craig Thomas]

If anybody can put us in touch with Quentin Tarantino, that'd be cool.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah, I love. I told you, by the way, that I was at a party with Quentin Tarantino, and he came up to me and just.

[Craig Thomas]

You've got the closest of anyone, Josh.

[Josh Radnor]

It's true.

[Craig Thomas]

All eyes are turning to you.

[Josh Radnor]

He gave me his number, but it's a home phone number that I don't think works anymore.

[Craig Thomas]

Anymore.

[Josh Radnor]

Wait, I haven't tried it. Should I call it? Let's call him right now.

[Craig Thomas]

Answering machine. Call him up. Leave a message. Call him. A bad word.

[Josh Radnor]

I'll call afterwards.

[Craig Thomas]

We. Yeah, we love him.

[Josh Radnor]

Ted's nephew was very cute. I remember thinking, that kid was very cute.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, very.

[Josh Radnor]

Probably 30 now. Yeah.

[Alec Lev]

Well, hold on. Are we talking about Ted's young cousin Grant, I guess, is the.

[Josh Radnor]

The.

[Alec Lev]

The name. Was it Ryan Reynolds, played by Zachary Adam Gordon?

[Craig Thomas]

I think that would. Yeah. Why?

[Alec Lev]

The Internet points out, and I believe it is confirmed, he also played Barney's fake son in the Yips.

[Josh Radnor]

Oh, so he was like, just part of the How I Met yout Mother family players. Like, we just gave him. It was like the acting troupe. You're like, this week you're gonna be Barney's.

[Craig Thomas]

By the way, that. That's also very Tarantino. It's like, here's our actors.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

There's only so many of them. We're gonna reuse a lot of him.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah, it's just Tim Roth. Tim Roth, Week three.

[Craig Thomas]

He's the Tim Roth of our verse of him Verse that kid. Hilarious. I forgot that.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah. Do you think on the tag with Jason and the cookie dough. Here's my feeling. I think he disliked having to be the guy who eats the cookie dough, but probably enjoyed the cookie dough.

[Craig Thomas]

I said, yeah, we watched the tag. I said this. I said to Rebecca, watching last night, I was like, this is Jason Segel's greatest nightmare that we made him. There's so many great sides to Marshall, and Jason embraced them and played so many of them beautifully. Whenever he had to be the guy who wanted to eat the cookie dough, it was not his favorite thing.

[Josh Radnor]

But I'll tell you this. He still. He almost. The stuff you knew he didn't like. He leaned into it. His way of coping was. He leaned into it more.

[Craig Thomas]

He did.

[Josh Radnor]

Which is kind of a virtue as an actor. Like, he was like, I was hired to do this, and I'm gonna do it almost, like, too much. Like, I'm just gonna lean into it a little hard. Too hard.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah. I'm gonna give you more than you want because you're making me do this, but I'm gonna do it a little bit. And he's. He's so funny with whatever it is. God bless you, Jason Siegel.

[Josh Radnor]

You guys offset it by letting him say you. You would say, here's seven legal phrases. Set them to music.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, exactly. And he would just come up with amazing stuff.

[Josh Radnor]

He would love it.

[Craig Thomas]

You know, he would love it.

[Josh Radnor]

And he.

[Craig Thomas]

He got to be the Christmas hero. He's basically Santa in this episode. He had hero moments. He was great. And then we made him eat cookie dough at the end, which.

[Josh Radnor]

I like the montage of him helping out the UPS guy.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, it was really sweet.

[Josh Radnor]

You know how we started this episode by talking about all the people that How I Met yout Mother Taught English to.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah.

[Josh Radnor]

I mean, Jason Siegel gave generations of law students being a lawyer had better be awesome while they're studying.

[Craig Thomas]

And lawyer is a catchphrase.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

No, he got. We. He had. He had a lot of good stuff to do. And, like, every once in a while, he's like, all right, I guess I'm the cookie.

[Josh Radnor]

But, you know, all right, let's do this. Now, there were all. I. I mean, quiz any of the five of us or anyone on any show. And it's like, there's certain notes you just are delighted to hit that you're like this. And. And certain ones that are new and fresh, and other ones, you're like, okay, this is them going to that. Well, where I have to do the thing which is fair that you're like, I'm getting paid a pretty good amount of money to do this. I'm not going to complain, just going to do it.

[Craig Thomas]

There's no way to enjoy everything you're asked to do across 200 episodes, but the hero move is to do it anyway. There was probably a better tag here than that. But the sheer Christmas, the Christmas tradition, joy of looking forward to that stupid thing every year. I think a lot of people can relate to that. That actually feels very real to me. There's definitely shit like that in my life.

[Josh Radnor]

I thought his. There is a little runner of people who, I mean, there's that super bowl episode where everyone tries to not know the score. I mean, he's trying. He doesn't want to have it spoiled. He's trying to get out of it.

[Craig Thomas]

It was very like that.

[Josh Radnor]

It was funny to watch him try to get out of the apartment without looking.

[Craig Thomas]

Is that a reindeer? I don't even want to know. Don't tell me. Yeah, it's a fun one. It's a great. It's our first Christmas episode. It ends with everybody, the gang coming out to get Ted and Lily having that flashback and their reconciliation at the.

[Josh Radnor]

End is really moving.

[Craig Thomas]

It's really sweet. I'm really proud of our, of this as our first Christmas episode. We hit all those, checked all those other holiday boxes but we hadn't done a Christmas one and it had to happen. And I think it's a good one.

[Josh Radnor]

And this old man, he must admit he fell in love with you in New York City.

[Craig Thomas]

And now commercials.

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[Craig Thomas]

End of Commercials Back to Show Greg Yes, Alec.

[Alec Lev]

We got a post from Haley from the Facebook group who says simply this is so sad. And she is of course referring to the fact that How I Met yout Mother is no longer going to be on Netflix. Can you help out Hailey and the legion of fans who are asking what is going on here?

[Craig Thomas]

Yes, Hailey is not alone. We're hearing a lot from people who are not thrilled that Himyim is back off of Netflix. Yeah, we just wanted to talk about it to acknowledge the bajillion questions we're getting about it. Yeah, we've been on and off of Netflix over the years. How much yout Mother it was very helpful and we were on the air in the middle of the run. We got on Netflix for the first time. It really helped the show. We will remain the himmers, eternally grateful to Netflix for that. But it is a business. We were off for a while and then recently we were back on for a couple of years and the business is changing so fast. There's so much going on with all of these streamers and all these companies, all the corporations that own the streamers. Basically the term deal was up and Netflix and the owner of How I Met yout Mother Disney parted ways. You know, they didn't renew the deal. Disney owns Hulu and How much yout Mother continues to be on Hulu. There's a lot of that. There's a lot of the company that owns it, puts it on their streamer. It's not as not as much around multiple other streamers besides the owner of the show. It's been great to be on more than one, which we have been on and off for years and years. We'll see if it happens again. But right now we just wanted to clear it's not on Netflix we're sorry, it's not our decision. But it is still on Hulu internationally. It's on Disney plus. As I said, Disney owns all of that. Anyway, you can also buy the entire series, I believe, on Amazon, on Google Play, on Apple. You can just buy the series and own the whole series if you want. But if you want to stream it in America, it's Hulu now. And we will certainly update if there's anything else that comes about on that or anything changes. But for the time being, we will acknowledge and own that. Yes, it's off of Netflix. We're bummed out. Great to be on there. But Hulu is also an awesome partner and an awesome home for How Much yout Mother, Please go find us there.

[Josh Radnor]

All right. Welcome back. We are at that perilous moment where we introduce a section called General Questions.

[Craig Thomas]

General Questions. We had, we had the yips on that, though. We were all afraid to do it too soon.

[Josh Radnor]

That's why it's perilous. That's why it's.

[Craig Thomas]

That's why it's perilous.

[Josh Radnor]

You weren't lying. Yeah, I blame Alec most of the time, but so we're going to take some questions from you, our listeners, fans of the show. If you would like to write in a question, if you would like to give us an audio or written testimony testimonial of your love of the show when you started watching it, why it means something to you, so much to you. Any other wonderful facts or disclosures you'd.

[Craig Thomas]

Like to Anybody else learned English?

[Josh Radnor]

Anyone else learned English language, just let us know. It's one or our favorite parts of doing this podcast is to hear from people about how the show has affected them and how the show has changed for them as the years have gone by. Just go to how we made your mother.comh ym wm.com either one, go to contact and just follow the instructions. Should be pretty clear. Alec, what do you have for us today?

[Alec Lev]

I think you said H y m w I get it wrong every time.

[Craig Thomas]

Hard after him. Yeah, it's hard because your brain goes to him and you get the. It's another yips. We have a lot of yips.

[Alec Lev]

All right, so we have questions of all types. Of course, that gets to the core of what this show is, but we also have a lot of literal behind the scenes. Jessica, our friend Jessica Wallace Xox asks, is the hallway into the apartment a set that was taken apart after each time it was used, or was it always attached to the main apartment?

[Josh Radnor]

That's such a good question. But, Craig, help me remember. I think it was kind of floating in and out. I think it floated in and out. Yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

That bigger hallway that we're like track because we're tracking them down a hallway that's bigger, that's built out more than what's usually there. There has to be a little something there because you see out it when the door opens.

[Josh Radnor]

When the door opens.

[Craig Thomas]

But I think it was designed in a way where the little bit that you see when the door opens is just there. And then when you're actually going to shoot a scene in a hallway that we had to add that that was like a swing set.

[Josh Radnor]

I always liked hallway scenes for some reason. I always found them to be, like, fun and intimate, weird. I did want to give Neil another. Another shout out. His kind of descent into sickness and madness in the hallway where he ends up on the ground is really funny.

[Craig Thomas]

Him coughing his way out of frame, falling to the ground. He really looked like he got physically hurt doing that.

[Josh Radnor]

I know.

[Craig Thomas]

And like, the thud. That's a real thud.

[Josh Radnor]

He would thrust his body in ways that were like. I mean, I just. I really. To this day, I still think one of the funniest bits of physical comedy I've ever seen is after the marathon.

[Craig Thomas]

On the subway, him on the subway.

[Josh Radnor]

Of him trying to stand and realize he doesn't have his legs. Unbelievable. Unbelievable.

[Craig Thomas]

He falls out of frame face first. In a way I don't know how. He didn't die. He was so committed. That was it. Right away. He came in and auditioned for the role of Barney with that laser tag scene and did, like a crazy shoulder roll flip. Slammed into our wall in our offices. The pictures shook on the wall. Like, the framed pictures on the wall shook. I can remember it to this day.

[Josh Radnor]

That was. He was like, I'm getting this job.

[Craig Thomas]

And he just never stopped. He never stopped. That level of commitment. Commitment.

[Alec Lev]

Hey, it's Kombi asks. As time goes on, but especially in this episode, we see Ted is clearly a massive jazz fan. He has a lot of posters in his room, thanks to the wide shots of Barney sick in bed. He starts wearing more and more jazz graphic T shirts. And in season four's Best Burger in New York, Regis Philbin even calls him Satchel Mouth. Who inspired that part of Ted's personality? And why did it remain just a subtlety?

[Craig Thomas]

I'm still stuck on Satchelmouth. I'm still stuck on the meaning of that. Is he going for great Satchmo? Is he going for, like, Louis Armstrong. Is that what Satchel is?

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah, that's what he's saying.

[Craig Thomas]

I think there's some confusion happening. I think there's a glitch.

[Josh Radnor]

But I thought he was talking about the Utah Jazz at first, and I was like, that's not what Ted. That wasn't his team.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah.

[Josh Radnor]

You know, I think in a weird. Well, was that a Carterism, like a kind of like a whiskey, cigar, jazz kind of affectation?

[Craig Thomas]

Maybe it's Ted's kind of overall sort of effete side of town. He's like, great culture. He likes classical music, too, and classical literature too. But I can't say that any one of us was a huge jazz guy. And that's why we put it in. I feel it's more in the decor.

[Josh Radnor]

Than it might have been one of those reverse engineered things, because I think they started putting me in, like, jazz T shirts. Like, do you know what I'm saying? I think then you were like, I.

[Craig Thomas]

Don'T think we were writing it that way as much as, like, wardrobe and set deck were like this. Ted would like this. I think that might have been like, a little bit. And maybe then we decided to reference it a little bit. It's a very interesting ecosystem wherein all parts of the ecosystem kind of feed each other in some kind of cycle. Like the, you know, wardrobe and set deck will do something and we'll go like, oh, yeah, maybe. Maybe we'll. Maybe we'll talk about that.

[Josh Radnor]

Well, they're reading the script like, they're reading it through the lens of, like, what clothes would these people be wearing, what's on the walls? But they're also paying attention to the characters because. Because all that stuff is character revealing.

[Craig Thomas]

Yeah, exactly.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah.

[Craig Thomas]

And that's. Yeah, I would give. I would give them the credit there. I think that's much more from, like, the art design perspective of Ted than from the writing side.

[Alec Lev]

If you have questions, just check us on Instagram. It's a great way to send in your questions as well as through the website, as Josh had mentioned. And another great thing to send in through the website are these letters that we read. And we have a lovely one today, Josh.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah. So this one is from Sarah. Hi, guys. I'm one of those millennials now in my 30s, who saw this on TV when I was really young, then during uni, watched it as it blew up with my friends. My partner at the time spoke so highly of this show because in his words, it was realistic. As in, so great to see a show where people hung out at bars and not coffee places, lived in tiny flats and struggled with life rather than pretending to struggle single. Years on, I remain perpetually single. And I watch him yim every year. Not intentionally. It's just comfort food for me. For some reason, I always start with the Christmas episode where Lily is a grinch every time I watch for fun, every time I get drawn in, and every time I bawl my eyes out nearly every episode of the last season. Because the romantic in me, who at this point is very cynical about life, still has a glimmer of hope that whoever it is I'm supposed to meet is just around the corner. Corner. I am very much a Ted, like a lot of people are saying. Hsp, Highly sensitive person, hard on sleep. And at this point in my life, I super relate to the single fatigue Ted has towards the end of the show. That'd be a good episode title, single fatigue.

[Craig Thomas]

I know.

[Josh Radnor]

But enough of that misery. Genuinely, I always end up bawling. Not out of sadness, but hope and also just gratefulness that I am who I am and that I can feel this way and therefore experience life to its very fullest.

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List.

[Josh Radnor]

I really get a lot of lessons out of the show every time I watch. And I'm really grateful for the reminder that there's always an older me who will see things differently. In retrospect, when I'm feeling particularly blue about my bad luck in love, I often think about how there's some plunker out there who hasn't met anyone like me yet, and I've not met anyone like them yet, and that makes me go giddy in the moment.

[Craig Thomas]

How are we spelled? I'm sorry, how are you spelling plunker? Can you be talking about that?

[Josh Radnor]

O, N, K, E, R. I love.

[Craig Thomas]

This word so much. Plunker. And that's her dream. I want to meet a plunker.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah. Some plonker out there who hasn't met anyone like me yet. And I've never met anyone like them yet. And that makes me go giddy in the moment. Thank you entirely for this. With love, Sarah.

[Craig Thomas]

Sara.

[Josh Radnor]

Sara, may you meet your plonker.

[Craig Thomas]

How I met my plonker in just the right time.

[Josh Radnor]

I also. We've talked about this, but when I hear from women who relate to Ted so much, I always find it.

[Craig Thomas]

It comes up a lot. A lot. I was thinking the exact same thing. We hear that a lot. I think that's great.

[Josh Radnor]

Yeah. Well, Sarah, thanks for that lovely letter. We're wishing you all the best and we're glad we can accompany you through this strange journey called life.

[Craig Thomas]

I love that the show has made it around the world in the way it has and we're hearing we started this episode with learning English and we ended the episode in England. I think it's really interesting.

[Alec Lev]

And we learned some English and we learned some English.

[Craig Thomas]

We learned some real. Some plonkerisms.

[Josh Radnor]

Well, to all you plonkers out there, thank you for joining us. We loved being with you and we'll see you next time. I am guilty. Please acquit me. All sins are forgiven in New York City.

[Alec Lev]

How We Made youe Mother is hosted and executive produced by Josh Radner and Craig Thomas and is presented and distributed by the Office Ladies Network and Odyssey. This episode is also executive produced by Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey. The show is produced and edited by me, Alec Lev and our co producer is Doug Matica. Our audio producer and mixer is Alex Reeves at Point of Blue Studios. 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 New York City by our own Josh Radner, with additional music by Craig Thomas and Andrew Majewski. Special thanks to Lola Kennedy and Elliot Connors. Visit how we madeyourmother.com to learn more and 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. Subscribe to Josh Radner's Muse Letters on Substack and check out his music and everything [e-mail]. order Craig Thomas's debut novel, that's Not How It Happened, wherever books are sold, and check out his other published [e-mail] and you can subscribe to My own Dead Fathers Society, also on Substack to learn more about how you make a difference. This show's ongoing campaign to raise money for congenital pediatric heart disease research. Check out the Make a Difference tab at the top of our website. People will in fact dance.

[Josh Radnor]

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