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« How I Met Your Mother
January 22, 2007: Paint Me
Any Mother episode with Bryan Cranston is all right by this blogger, so let’s hope that heart attack wasn’t fatal. I do so love me that Hammie D.
This week joked around with two story lines, New Dart and Ted’s thwarted attempts to fire his former boss. The second story line was funny, the first was high-larious. Naked Marshall is Marshall’s humiliating secret from his past: a collegiate, male version of Robin Sparkles, if you will. The gang’s joy at discovering the painting — Marshall’s one foray into posing as a nude model for Lily — was terrific, but when they hung the portrait behind the bar downstairs, well, that was utter delight. Best of all was Carl the bartender’s “I doubt it” dialogue. I’ll be darned if that guy (played by Joe Nieves) isn’t the best bartender on television today. Naturally, all this talk of nakedness puts Barney in mind of… himself. He insists that Lily paint him en buff, and when she resists he offers her five grand as a bribe. Lily and Marshall decide that this proposed project would fund a honeymoon in Scotland instead of the previously planned trip to Howe Caverns (how — heh-heh, heh-heh — perfect is it that they would plan a honeymoon there?), and thus the naked games begin. I loved the look of unrepentant disgust on Lily’s face as Barney began to strip. And Marshall’s full-body wince when he barged in on a mooning Barney had me chuckling in remembrance for a full hour afterward.
Meanwhile, back at the firm, Ted is trying to figure out how to fire his evil, “The Devil Wears Boxers” boss without making everyone in the whole office hate him. Bryan Cranston is always great as Hammond Druthers, “a legend in the architecture community… back in the ‘80s,” because he’s just so stinking snide and self-involved. I loved it when he backslapped Ted’s atrium model, and I’m always impressed when he slides so effortlessly between callous jerk and blubbering, needy man-child. The guy is great. Ted, of course, fails miserably in his attempt to be an effective hard-ass.... Although his margarita Fridays are an excellent idea. Is my boss Angel Cohn reading this? Margarita Fridays are an excellent idea.
I’ll continue to risk the ire of thousands of Mother fans by sticking by my distaste for this show’s occasional hokey, overly sitcom-y moments (like Robin’s angry on-air clown makeup, for example), but there is always so much that does make me laugh that I tend to disregard the clumsy stuff. By way of the funny, we’ve got:
— "In my body, where the shame gland should be, there is a second awesome gland.”
— “She’s quite mannish; she gives me what I need…. If we were in the wilderness, she could provide for me.” “Well, that’s the dream.”
— “Dance for me, puppets, dance.”
— “It’s from Ancient Greece; they want their basic architectural elements back.”
— “Goofy and unburdened, with wit.”
— “You gave me the Ken doll…. She left out Little Barney, Barnacle Junior, My Barnana, Barnito Supreme.”
The closing, pre-credits Barney bits are always the show’s funniest, don’t you find?
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Jan 22, 2007 10:36 PM
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barney should know to never pay cash upfront LOL That last bit was the best of the show though.
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Jan 22, 2007 10:50 PM
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While this won't go down as a classic HIMYM episode, it had my sides hurting from laughing so much. I'm so glad I caught up with season one while watching season two. This show paired with The Class really make my Monday's a lot more bearable! 
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Jan 23, 2007 1:34 AM
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Actually I thought the idea of Robin trying to express sympathy while in full clown face was very funny. I guess she learned a lesson about timing!
It would have been funny to see Alexis Denisof as Sandy Rivers at her side for that bit. Please, producers, bring him back!
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Jan 23, 2007 8:13 AM
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You risk my ire more by misspelling "hokey." Overpraising one of the show's weaker episodes, not so much.
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Jan 23, 2007 10:14 AM
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What I love about this show is that even as its supposed weakest, it still makes me laugh really, really hard. kudos HIMYM.
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Jan 23, 2007 10:22 AM
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This is a great show. I really doesn't get enough credit, but this episode wasn't a classic. Largely due to the abrasive character of Ted's boss. I hope he doesn't stick around much longer. The characters have such a chemistry together so don't seperate them too much.
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Jan 23, 2007 10:23 AM
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"Overpraising"? Just can't win with you guys, can I!
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Jan 23, 2007 10:32 AM
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The painting behind the bar remindeed me of an episode of Three's Company... so funny!!!
I am still laughing at the "my barnana" line this morning!
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Jan 23, 2007 10:47 AM
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I love the "Who's the Boss" shout-out !! And I have to agree with Barney, Mona was the boss !
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Jan 23, 2007 11:06 AM
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I love this show, but I felt that the reason that this episode wasn't great was because there weren't enough group scenes, with the five of them just hanging out. I do like Bryan Cranston, but his character was taking Ted away from his friends, where I think he is funniest.
I loved the whole "new dart" thing, though. And Marshall outwitting Barney, with Barney being so oblivious was hilarious.
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Jan 23, 2007 11:25 AM
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Michelle, I thought your review was 'spot on'. This continues to be one of my favorite shows. Love, love the Barnacle. Such a clever character. Loved Bryan Cranston guest spot. I actually liked seeing Robin in clown makeup...you saw it coming, but still it was funny. I hope CBS keeps this show. It is proving to be one of their stronger comedy offerings.
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Jan 23, 2007 1:15 PM
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Paint me.
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Jan 23, 2007 1:24 PM
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I really expected Marshall to deliver one of his "slaps" to Barney during this episode. Wouldn't that have been fitting?
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Jan 23, 2007 2:46 PM
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Angel's someone's boss? Who knew? Angel, margarita Fridays would only enhance the creativity of your already outstanding reviewers! Get on it! 
HIMYM is funniest when Ted is not the focal point of the show. This episode reinforced that notion. I'd much rather have more Barney and less Ted. Still a funny episode, but not among the best.
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Jan 23, 2007 2:57 PM
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