HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, a groundbreaking sitcom that ran for 208 episodes on CBS from 2005-2014, unfolds entirely as a flashback, using a time-bending narrative structure that spotlights the lives of five friends navigating love, friendship, dating, careers, failure, and success in New York City. The show has remained vibrantly alive in our collective pop culture memory, with fans around the world still sharing stories of how HIMYM is not just a hilarious comedy but also medicine for the soul in hard times. Now, JOSH RADNOR (who played “Ted Mosby”) has teamed up with series co-creator CRAIG THOMAS to explore, episode-by-episode, the mystery at the heart of what has made this show so durable and beloved. It’s time – much like the older, wiser narrator Ted does in the show – to look back on this adventure that occupied a pivotal decade of their lives: how the show changed them, how it changed its fans, and how it changed the culture. With plenty of special guests joining us along the way, this podcast will use HIMYM’s trenchant themes as jumping-off points for larger discussions about life, loss, and love. This is HOW WE MADE YOUR MOTHER: A flashback podcast for a flashback show.
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HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, a groundbreaking sitcom that ran for 208 episodes on CBS from 2005-2014, unfolds entirely as a flashback, using a time-bending narrative structure that spotlights the lives of five friends navigating love, friendship, dating, careers, failure, and success in New York City. The show has remained vibrantly alive in our collective pop culture memory, with fans around the world still sharing stories of how HIMYM is not just a hilarious comedy but also medicine for the soul in hard times. Now, JOSH RADNOR (who played “Ted Mosby”) has teamed up with series co-creator CRAIG THOMAS to explore, episode-by-episode, the mystery at the heart of what has made this show so durable and beloved. It’s time – much like the older, wiser narrator Ted does in the show – to look back on this adventure that occupied a pivotal decade of their lives: how the show changed them, how it changed its fans, and how it changed the culture. With plenty of special guests joining us along the way, this podcast will use HIMYM’s trenchant themes as jumping-off points for larger discussions about life, loss, and love. This is HOW WE MADE YOUR MOTHER: A flashback podcast for a flashback show.
General Questions | S1E3 "The Sweet Taste of Liberty"
How We Made Your Mother
40 minutes
1 month ago
General Questions | S1E3 "The Sweet Taste of Liberty"
In this bonus General Questions episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek dive deep into how How I Met Your Mother actually got made. They walk through the production week—from table reads to rewrites, from blocking to shooting—and share behind-the-scenes memories from the early days of the show. They also revisit the creation of the show’s opening credits, the music choices that almost happened, and the story behind Barney’s first big catchphrase. A true behind-the-scenes look at how television comes together—complete with New York Street, Liberty Bell licking, and Barney zipped in a suitcase.
Questions We Attempt to Answer in This Episode:
How far into filming did you create the opening sequence and bar photos?
Was the opening montage made just for this episode?
Is the basement in this episode the same as Stella’s house later in the series?
Did the studio or network have to approve the title sequence?
What was a typical production week like for Josh and Craig?
How did scripts get delivered to the cast?
Did actors ever feel responsible for jokes being cut after table reads?
What sets were permanent and which ones changed?
What was it like filming on New York Street?
Where did the idea of picking up girls at the airport come from?
Is Barney actually successful at picking up women in the early episodes?
How many takes did it take to film the police room scene with Neil?
Were there a lot of bloopers in season one?
Was Ted too bummed out in this episode?
Why do they keep hanging out with Barney?
Who came up with “legend—wait for it—dary”?
Did Chris Miller and Phil Lord invent some of Barney’s signature language?
How many HIMYM fans have actually tried to lick the Liberty Bell?
Why was there drink service on a flight from NYC to Philly?
CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:
Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages)
Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig)
Instagram
HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research
AND MORE:
Josh’s “Museletters” on Substack
Josh’s Official Website
Josh on Spotify
Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing)
Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack
Advertising inquiries:
hwmym@wearebv.com
AND IN CASE IT HELPS:
00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Episode
01:41 Behind the Scenes of Episode Production
06:45 The Table Read Experience
10:10 Script Revisions and Feedback Process
17:00 Shooting Schedule and Production Insights
21:32 The Writer's Room: Crafting Ideas and Characters
22:01 Barney's Character: The Comedic Genius
26:00 Memorable Scenes: Bloopers and Behind-the-Scenes Fun
30:08 The Evolution of Humor: Legendary Moments
34:21 Friendship Dynamics: Ted and Barney's Relationship
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How We Made Your Mother
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, a groundbreaking sitcom that ran for 208 episodes on CBS from 2005-2014, unfolds entirely as a flashback, using a time-bending narrative structure that spotlights the lives of five friends navigating love, friendship, dating, careers, failure, and success in New York City. The show has remained vibrantly alive in our collective pop culture memory, with fans around the world still sharing stories of how HIMYM is not just a hilarious comedy but also medicine for the soul in hard times. Now, JOSH RADNOR (who played “Ted Mosby”) has teamed up with series co-creator CRAIG THOMAS to explore, episode-by-episode, the mystery at the heart of what has made this show so durable and beloved. It’s time – much like the older, wiser narrator Ted does in the show – to look back on this adventure that occupied a pivotal decade of their lives: how the show changed them, how it changed its fans, and how it changed the culture. With plenty of special guests joining us along the way, this podcast will use HIMYM’s trenchant themes as jumping-off points for larger discussions about life, loss, and love. This is HOW WE MADE YOUR MOTHER: A flashback podcast for a flashback show.
