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« Roush Dispatch
Monday Night Bromances
Robert Sean Leonard and Hugh Laurie in House by Chris Haston/NBC Universal/Fox
House sharing custody of Wilson with Amber? Ted and Barney on the outs after Horndog Stinson admits he broke the “bro code” by trysting with Robin? Maybe I was just in a good mood with so much great TV to choose from on Monday, but I got a kick last night out of the twists and turns of these legendary TV bromances on an eventful How I Met Your Mother and the first new House in ages. (On a similar guy theme, watching the geek geniuses of CBS’s The Big Bang Theory—which I’m reviewing in the new issue of TV Guide this week—fight over the actual time machine from the 1960 The Time Machine movie cracked me up as well.)
But seriously. With all due respect to Jeremy Piven on Entourage (which did not have its best season last summer), but how does Neil Patrick Harris not win the supporting-actor comedy Emmy after last night’s sensational episode? The drama of the Ted-Barney fight was about as powerful as that punch to the groin, and his pain (also emotional) was evident, but he was flat-out hilarious in the opening reel as he squirmed in guilty discomfort at the bar, flinching and twitching while Robin stayed cool in her denial that they’d just slept together.
Ted on getting rid of stuff he no longer needs: “Barney, you want my Xbox?” Barney: “Ted! She has a name!”
It's hardly a surprise that Barney’s Revolutionary War-era ancestor Barnabus wrote the original “bro code”—Jefferson and Franklin being too busy with that other document—but is there a forgiveness clause hidden away in some appendix? Let’s hope so. Because Ted’s outrage and sense of betrayal was real. Barney is a “no limits” kind of guy, for sure, but Ted had a point when he said, “I always thought I was the limit.” Ouch.
Other favorite moment belonged to Lily, grilling Robin for deets on the night with Barney: “Is he all smooth down there?” You goat, you!
And ah yes, the goat. That old thing. A device to ultimately tease the bombshell that Robin is living in Ted’s apartment a year from now, when he turns 31. Guess we’ll have to wait until next season—and yes, there will be a next season—to figure that one out. Until then: Robin, Schmobin. What Mother-lovers like me want to know is when and how the Barney-Ted relationship can be saved.
Weirdly, I probably laughed as often during House (which I watched first) as I did during Mother (which I played back after playing back Dancing With the Stars: poor Cristian). First I laughed as House skeptically observed a patient so nice he took all of the indignities of the ER in stride. Someone that pleasant must be sick. (True, that.) I laughed as House, missing Wilson, bowled by default with Chase (the tragically underused Jesse Spencer). I laughed as House squared off with Amber to get quality time with Wilson on a schedule signed off on by Cuddy. (Of course the boys find ways to cheat.) I laughed as Wilson sheepishly rationalized the situation: “I’m going to p--- off one of them, and they both scare me.” (Again, so true.) I laughed (then felt ashamed) as the nice patient had some sort of stroke while crooning Bread to his wife. “Not a moment too soon,” growled House. Manipulating Foreman with the performance reviews, manipulating his new team with the false vial of syphilitic blood? All funny. Returning Wilson to Amber drunk? Amber spilling the syphilis scam to the newbies (what a blabbermouth, that Wilson) to get back at House? Also funny.
This may not have been the greatest House episode ever—I’m already getting e-mails and have seen other comments from folks who take this show way too seriously—but it was awfully entertaining. Loved how they foreshadowed next week’s Jason Lewis episode by showing House glued to his favorite medical soap. Wonder what he thinks of Grey’s Anatomy?
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Apr 29, 2008 12:09 PM
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All 3 show were very good.. worth the time. I really enjoyed the CTB House sparring over Wilson.. too funny.
As far as the Big Bang guys.. I feel like those boys are my peeps! I get every reference..
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Apr 29, 2008 12:55 PM
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I thought How I Met Your Mother was awesome last night. I'd even go so far as to say one of the best ever. I enjoyed it so much more than last week, probably because I didn't know the plot beforehand. I think I'm gonna have to try to stop reading spoilers for some shows.
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Apr 29, 2008 1:03 PM
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I agreed with most of what you said (I found the House episode a bit lacking) but I had to comment on one thing you left out in regards to HIMYM.
I honestly think the “guess who nailed the chick from Metro News last night?” moment was one of the greatest in TV history. Made that much better by the fact that Robin had no choice but to reluctantly give Barney the Hi-Five. I replayed that moment at least 5 times before I could even go on with the rest of the episode.
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Apr 29, 2008 2:05 PM
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I had to skip over the HIMYM parts of your comments; I haven't watched it yet because I was watching Bones (but I sort of already know what happens), but I agree with your take on the Wilson/House "bromance".
Some of the storylines have been uneven on House this season, but the writing has gotten funnier and funnier. I laughed more at House/Wilson/Amber/Cuddy last night than I do at most comedies on TV right now.
I also loved the House and Chase bowling scene (Jesse Spencer was so great in it; I hope they find ways to make better use of him on the show). There have been countless scenes of House watching his favorite soap opera (I believe they even used to call it General Hospital), but inserting Jason Lewis into last night's clip was simply inspired. I can't wait for next week.
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Apr 29, 2008 2:41 PM
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I laughed a lot during House myself, Matt. The whole Amber vs House storyline was just hilarious, always Wilson who sat in the background, amused and telling them to work it out. Also I really love when House forces Cuddy to get involved in the whole situation, and she mediates everything.
Also I loved how the writers interwove House's soap and Jason Lewis into this episode, and setting things up for next week when Jason is guest starring!
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Apr 29, 2008 3:24 PM
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I totally agree with you RE House. There were some great moments in this episode; actually, a lot of them. And yes, I think often we House fans do take the show WAY too seriously. These days, though, I'm pretty content to let the creative team do their thing and surprise me, for better or worse, because "worse" just means a development I'm not comfortable with... and really, when has watching House ever been completely "comfortable?" Isn't that part of its hook?
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Apr 29, 2008 6:09 PM
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"Tragically underused."
Truer words could not be spoken about Jesse Spencer. I really hope this is the beginning of bringing Chase back into a more signigicant role in House. He's been terribly missed this season. If they decide to strengthen the relationship between House and Chase, Chase could wind up being a wonderful partner-in-crime for House. He always got House's thinking better than the rest of them.
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Apr 29, 2008 9:08 PM
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"Guess we’ll have to wait until next season—and yes, there will be a next season—to figure that one out. Until then: Robin, Schmobin. What Mother-lovers like me want to know is when and how the Barney-Ted relationship can be saved."
First off, right on! Robin, Schmobin is right, who cares about the mother right now. WHAT ABOUT BARNEY AND TED!
Second, it is definately being renewed? SERIOUSLY!?
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Apr 30, 2008 9:27 AM
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Thanks for the great Dispatch, Matt. I also enjoyed all of these shows. One comment though. It was Franklin and Washington -- not Jefferson. Did you not catch Washington's line about going to "Me" D.C.?
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May 2, 2008 4:57 PM
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Loved all the House/Wilson stuff and of course Wilson and Amber.
I'm not a fan of Chase and if the show ever makes him House's partner in-crime, I'll definitel stop watching.
Little short flat-faced blond guys with peach fuzz turn me off.
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May 2, 2008 8:51 PM
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