Britney's Return Solves a Mother of a Mystery

Neil Patrick Harris and Britney Spears in How I Met Your Mother by Cliff Lipson/CBS

How I Met Your Mother co-creator Craig Thomas says that not only is Britney Spears "better" in tonight's encore than she was in her first cameo on the CBS sitcom, but her latest appearance will actually advance storyline. "[Her] return answers a larger mystery set up earlier in the series," Thomas tells the Reporter. "So there's a good plot reason why she's there."

And yes, should Mother get picked up for another season (as expected), Ms. Spears could swing by again. Says Thomas, "When people watch Britney's second appearance on the show they'll see that the door is still open for her to come back." — MWM

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TV Guide News

May 12, 2008 9:02 AM

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Good for the writers for turning this bit of casting into plot-propelling stuff. That's a very smart move on their part. I'm trying to think about what mystery they are referring to; the only thing I can think of is the umbrella, and the goat, and neither of those make sense. Or maybe she's the reason Marshall and Lily's floor is crooked!

Since I thought Britney was charming and funny during her first appearance, I can't wait to see what "better" is.

Posted by Dianora

May 12, 2008 9:30 AM

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Dianora, do you think "Abby" hands a yellow umbrella to her boss, Stella? A la "Don't forget this, it's raining out"? - MWM
Posted by TV Guide News May 12, 2008 9:38 AM Report Abuse

MWM - maybe...which in turn would tell us Stella is the mother, right? (Which is the show's largest mystery, but I have a hard time believing they're going to answer that one yet) I keep trying to remember just how we know that the yellow umbrella belongs to the mother, but my memory is failing me.
Posted by Dianora May 12, 2008 9:47 AM Report Abuse

In the first episode of this season, Future Ted said the kids knew the short version of how he met their mother, which involved their mother's yellow umbrella.

Everyone should consider that Craig says it answers a larger mystery set up earlier in the series, not in the season.

Maybe Abby is the Slutty Pumpkin or the Perfect Match for Ted, which we never saw. I'm trying to think of other mysteries from Season 1.

Posted by EDR37

May 12, 2008 10:26 AM

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My guess is that she is the one that has been going around telling people not to sleep with barney, as seen in the episode of the bracket.
Posted by kchill12 May 12, 2008 10:45 AM Report Abuse

Abby is clearly the one that is going around telling women not to sleep with Barney. I believe The Bracket was the episode after Barney met up with Abby and she wanted to have sex. So I am sure he had sex with her and let before she woke up a la Barney. So she tells women not to date him, that is easy to guess.
Posted by sillyd May 12, 2008 11:03 AM Report Abuse

I forgot about the bracket...but that doesn't really mesh with her and Barney pretending to date to rub it in Ted's face, which is what's been reported as the plot for tonight's episode. Unless they reach a truce for some reason.
Posted by Dianora May 12, 2008 11:10 AM Report Abuse

A mystery set up earlier in the series? OMFG, she's the goat in the bathroom!!!!!! I don't want to see her next season. She's a poor actress.
Posted by Donnie87 May 12, 2008 11:17 AM Report Abuse

I seriously doubt stella is the mother. If she was, it would have been obvious to the kids when ted mentioned she already has a daughter. I just don't think it's her. The kids look too close in age to me. And they've never mentioned a step-daughter/sister.
Posted by Leah May 12, 2008 11:29 AM Report Abuse

well from the last episode and the looks of this episode it looks as though she is just using barney to try to get to ted. Seems like abby is obsessed with ted so guessing she is just using barney just like he used her for sex.
Posted by kchill12 May 12, 2008 11:33 AM Report Abuse

I think she must be the girl who tells people about Barney, basically because the thing that the writers can do with this show that only really Lost can do, is other than this is sometime in Ted's thirtieth year of life we don't necessarily know when any of this is taking place or if future Ted is actually telling his kids the story in order or just particular episodes that serve the story, but as what happens with most stories, you are telling it and you realize, doh, this next part will only make sense if they know this first, I should refer to that in the story so I can tell that or reach back and tell that first, though it is out of time.

Posted by Kate2777

May 12, 2008 12:52 PM

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maybe she dropped the 1939 penny that ended up causing ted to stay in NY and not get the job in chicago
Posted by sharkey28 May 12, 2008 1:05 PM Report Abuse

I'm glad she's back on tonight's show. It's nice to see her doing something good! She's got a great voice, and the trashy behavoir and messed up stuff that has made all of the tabloids shows this is a gal that needs help and maybe this can be a comeback of sorts for her even though I doubt she even knows she's been "gone".
Posted by Dorjean May 12, 2008 1:08 PM Report Abuse

Spears showing is an exercise for the fast-forward button... and we still don't know if the "mother" Ted refers to in opening is his wife doesn't have to be
Posted by Babylicious May 12, 2008 1:42 PM Report Abuse

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