The Upright Citizens Brigade membershas landed the role of Todd on How I Met Your Dad, one of the main characters on the network's highly-anticipated How I Met Your Mother spinoff.
The sitcom will tell the story of Sally (Greta Gerwig), her friends in New York and how she ended up meeting the father of her kids.
According to Deadline, Tarver will portray Sally's best friend and brother in law, a character outlined as kind and outgoing and someone who doesn't mind when Sally moves in to the apartment he shares with her brother.
How I Met Your Mother is one of a number of shows planning a fall spinoff.
Here's a look at what else is on tap along these lines:
As Ted and the mother cemented their "Old Married Couple" status, we were treated to some great flashbacks. Ted recounted his list of worst winters and the mother introduced us to the legend of Dong Nose.
There was some concern, though, mixed in with the laughter, as the mother expressed her fear that Ted would become one of those men who lives in his stories. She emphasized the importance of continuing to move forward and live on.
Her words may have caught the attention of some, but the focus quickly switched to the story of broken lamps on the morning of Barney and Robin's wedding. A second set of memorable moments was referenced in The Wedding Bride Too.
Then Ted walked into Susan Tup's room. Susan Tup, Sue Tup, suit up! What a great way to start what would be Barney's, OMG-I'm-getting-married moment. He struggled to accept one last time that all his wild nights as a bachelor were behind him. Those conquests represented by all his suits.
Barney resisted the new suit he had custom made and even went as far as to say it would look better on Ted. The suit, of course, was a metaphor for Robin.
Ted: She walks down the aisle. You say your vows, you go to the reception, you have your first dance. Before you know it, just like magic, you realize, it's a perfect fit. Barney: You're right Ted, this is the one.
Robin's wedding day wake up came when she ran into her mother while going to get some ice. Her appearance surely surprised most viewers, but not the mother.
When Ted challenged her claim, she asked Ted what kind of mother would ever miss the wedding of her daughter. And as Ted choked up, so did I. It was at that moment I realized the mother was sick and is most likely dead when Ted sets in on his tale of how they met.
Ted collected himself better than I did and changed subjects back to something light. The quick shift in subject matter echoed the realization they made together earlier.
Ted: It's funny. In a moment like that, when what's really happening is too intense to deal with, sometimes it's best... The Mother: To leave it unspoken and just enjoy each others company instead.
Like the victims of Mt. Vesuvius, I was caught off guard by the scene. There I sat, mouth agape, frozen in time, as the realization hit me in the heart with the force of an erupting volcano.
This will be an episode I go back to watch a few times because so much of what was said early on echoes much louder now. If there was still any doubt in my mind about what I had just seen, it faded as I listened to the lyrics of Bob Dylan's song "If You See Her Say Hello," which closed out the episode.
In the end, it was one of my favorite episodes of How I Met Your Mother Season 9, as I chugged back some memories and choked back some tears.
Ted and the mother cemented their old married couple status on How I Met Your Mother this week, running out of stories to tell each other.
The former recalled one she hasn't heard and told her about the morning of Robin and Barney's wedding.
Elsewhere, Lily was upset at the bride to be's lack of excitement and set out to change her mind.
Also on How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Episode 19, Barney enlisted Ted's help to pick out a suit to wear on the big day, a task that calls to mind some of Barney's wildest nights.
The former Smash star has landed a major role on How I Met Your Dad, the planned How I Met Your Mother spinoff from Carter Bays and Craig Thomas that will flip genders and focus on Greta Gerwig as Sally.
Rodriguez has been cast as Juliet, Sally's best friend, who is described as “a sexy, flamboyant force of nature who runs the most successful fashion blog in the country.”
Not shabby.
In addition to portraying Ana Vargas Smash, Rodriguez has a long history on Broadway, having originated the role of Wednesday Addams in the 2009 musical The Addams Family.
How I Met Your Dad will screen its pilot for CBS executives this spring, but it seems impossible to believe that it won't be ordered to series.
It joins a long list of possible spinoffs this year, from NCIS to Supernatural, Breaking Bad to CSI:
With just four hours to go until the wedding, there was still time for plenty of drama.
Robin's surprise at her mother's arrival quickly gave way to panic on How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Episode 20, as she began to see several disturbing similarities between her dad and Barney.
No I'm not okay, because apparently I'm marrying my dad in a few hours.
Meanwhile, downstairs at the inn, Billy Zabka told Marshall and the guys how he had seen Lily after he had gotten some late night dirt biking in on the sand. (Yet another great Karate Kid reference.)
From there, the episode took a slight turn toward the absurd, as Marshall punched The Captain before hearing him out and then challenged him to a duel. Learning The Captain was engaged to Boats Boats Boats - who Ted of course knocked boots, boots, boots with - was a nice touch, though.
We learned Lily showed up and went directly into The Captain's powder room for some time. Truthfully, my first thought was that she was pregnant, but then Ted made a pretty compelling case of his own.
After milking the moment for all it was worth, he finally began to explain his theory about what happened over the last day and a half. It was there the writers humorously took a shot at themselves and the recent pace of the show.
What followed was a long day and a half for Lily, a really long day and a half. It's kind of insane how much happened in just a day and a half.
Lucky for fans, Ted was wrong and, along with Marshall, we discovered he and Lily were going to have another baby. Then the episode got back on track and picked up steam.
In what will be remembered as one of their best moments, Marshall found the perfect words to show Lily just how excited he was to learn about the secret she had been hiding.
Lily: We're not going to Italy. Marshall: Of course we are. Lily we have to do this. You're gonna live in Rome and you're gonna get your dream because you're giving me mine, again.
It was their moment, but seeing Barney overcome with emotion as well, and hug Robin's mother the way he did, made it that much more touching. Then, jumping forward two scenes, we caught up with Marshall and Lily in Italy and met Daisy Eriksen for the first time. That face.
Sandwiched in between the two scenes was one which may have hinted at a major development still to come, one which I myself had written off.
Robin's mother tried to reassure her that so long - as she had someone who she could depend on - she would be fine. As Robin answered that she did have someone like that, did anyone else get the feeling she may have been thinking of Ted?
Did they really reopen the possibility that Ted and Robin will end up together? I know many of you rolled your eyes, but something has been bothering me ever since last week's episode.
If the mother dies, like I thought was pretty apparent after How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Episode 19, why haven't the kids seemed more forlorn all these years as they listened to their father's story? Instead, they usually look bored or impatient.
So now I'm wondering if after the the mother passes away, does Ted end up getting together with Robin? She and Barney could have still been together in Argentina in 2016 and only later got together with Ted sometime after 2022.
That would mean at some point, she and Barney break up. Can it be that they do end up together? "Just when I thought I was out..."
Either way, bravo to the writers for not only tugging at my heart strings, but also causing me to scratch my head in the same episode.
And kudos to Marshall and Lily on their bella figlia Daisy. Let us know what you thought, and have mercy on my Italian if I made any mistakes.
When Marshall discovered The Captain was somehow involved, he goes to his home to confront him. As they are about to duel, Ted believes he has solved the mystery.
Robin catches up with her mother, who sends Robin into a panic when she shares stories about her own wedding to Robin's dad. Lily calls Barney to tell him to get back to the hotel, only to realize she is busted when Barney tells her where they are.
It turns out Lily is pregnant and Marshall tells her they are going to live in Italy after all. Barney meets Robin's mother for the first time and gives her a huge hug.
The episode ends in Italy a year later, where we see Marshall are Lily arguing over Funyons in Italian. Lily's dad pushes a stroller into the scene and we meet Daisy Eriksen for the first time. Hooray!
CBS has released photos from How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Episode 22 - and they give viewers their first look at Robin as a beautiful bride. And Barney as a seemingly nervous groom.
With just a half hour remaining until the wedding (i.e. the series finale), "The End of the Aisle" will feature both Impending Man and Wife having "panic attacks," according to the official network synopsis.
But it looks like they come out okay in the end, doesn't it? Click through a bunch of pictures from the cermony now:
It's taken nine seasons for Ted Mosby to tell his kids the story of How I Met Your Mother - and we've been there for every bad breakup, failed wedding and three minute date.
Check out these photos from "Last Forever Parts One and Two," the one-hour series finale set to air Monday, March 31 on CBS and get a look at the last high-fives, drinks and group hugs.
Only three episodes remain in the history of How I Met Your Mother.
With this depressing news in mind, TV Fanatic was on the red carpet of PlayFest last night to chat with cast members Josh Radnor, Alyson Hannigan and Cristin Milioti prior to the stars taking the stage for a panel discussion.
What was that final table read like? How will loyal fans react to the finale? How did they react filming it?
Good. Let's raise a glass to a Grey's Anatomy star, a How I Met Your Mother funny man and someone from whom you can buy a vowel any time you're in trouble.
Yes, folks, it's St. Patrick's Day, which means it's time to not merely wear green and maybe chug a few adult beverages... but also to celebrate those with this name that have made the television world a better place.
Starting with the McDreamiest of them all, toggle through some top TV Patricks now:
With just three episodes remaining, and the How I Met Your Mother wedding imminent, a late arrival threatened to bring the whole day to a halt.
Some may have been surprised to see such a random face from the past, especially given how little time we have left with the show's core characters.
But Gary Blauman, played by Cobie Smulders's real life spouse Taran Killam, was anything but a distraction. Instead, he was the impetus for the gang to recall some memorable moments from their pasts.
Marshall presided over the character hearing for Gary, but he also delivered the show's main theme, which Ted took to heart and relayed to his kids on How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Episode 21.
And that's how it goes kids. The friends, neighbors, drinking buddies and partners in crime you love so much when you're young, as the years go by, you just lose touch.
The date we saw Ted and the mother on was just days after the wedding, so it stood to reason that having just said his goodbyes to his friends at the wedding, Ted was as emotional as ever.
Yet he resisted the urge to make some romantic gesture at the door to the mother's apartment. Lucky for us, the mother saw something in Ted and stepped up to the mound on only a few days rest.
You will be shocked kids, when you discover how easy it is in life to part ways with people forever. That's why, when you find someone you want to keep around, you do something about it.
Amid glimpses of Ted's failed night of Scottish/Mexican Fusion, we were treated to a number of great scenes by the rest of the gang.
The Eriksens were back in peak form as Marshall pointed out Robin's bird nest looking bun and Lily shared the story of how Gary saved her from getting a rather terrible tattoo.
Marshall, Blauman saved you from a lifetime of looking at Sugar Ray every time we do it on your birthday.
Barney's reason for holding such a grudge against Gary at first may have seemed trivial, but then it was revealed that the last of the four fries Gary helped himself to was, in fact, an accidental curly.
You take a man's wife before you take his accidental curly.
Accidental curly or not, in addition to never seeing The Karate Kid, Gary also must have missed the 1990 classic Met at Work.
For if he had seen it, he would have learned that there are several sacred things in this world that you don't ever mess with. One of them happens to be another man's fries. Now, you remember that, and you will live a long and healthy life.
Amid all the regular cut fries of the world, Ted sure looked convinced he had found an accidental curly. Some of the looks he and the mother exchanged were more powerful and emotionally charged than any bit of dialog tonight. Ted's last line was a good one, though:
The Mother: What are you doing? Ted: Remembering this.
As for the update on how the likes of Jeanette and Scooter ended up, my favorite was seeing Ranjit kicking back as the owner of the limo service.
All in all I thought it was a great episode. Things are starting to wind down and get nostalgic, but there still is the wedding to look forward to along with much more.
Which character do you hope to get one last look at before HIMYM says goodbye?
Ted picks the mother up at her apartment for a date and tells her about Gary showing up on Robin's wedding day and the debate that ensued about whether or not he should be allowed to stay.
Feelings for Blauman are mixed among the friends. Marshall tells Robin he will find a space for him at the reception, while Barney shares his reason for hating Gary. Ted, Lily and others weight in on their take on the latecomer.
On the date, the mother spots her ex-boyfriend, which prompts her to tell Ted it might be too soon for her to be seeing someone new. Ted understands, but then she changes her mind.
It's finally here. Robin and Barney are ready to get married on How I Met Your Mother.
2.
Wedding Tears Flow
This is how many How I Met Your Mother viewers will feel on the big wedding day.
3.
Up Top, Lily!
Up top! Marshall and Lily share a high-five, much to Barney's chagrin, in this How I Met Your Mother scene.
4.
Barney, Lily and Marshall
Barney is all ready to get hitched! But Lily and Marshall suddenly have a lot to contemplate.
5.
Frightened Marshall
Barney is about to get married on How I Met Your Mother. So why does Marshall look so scared?
6.
Barney on His Wedding Day
Do not panic, Barney! You've totally got this wedding thing under control.
7.
Robin as a Bride
Here comes the bride, everyone! Take a look at Robin on her big day.
8.
Almost Wedding Time!
Doesn't everyone look beautiful? We're inching closer to the How I Met Your Mother wedding.
With just over a half hour to go, Ted found a panic stricken Robin full of doubt. If even the smallest part of Ted still wanted to end up with his former flame, the chance to steal her away was there... but he was adamant in his belief that she was marrying the right man.
He was not going to go down that path again.
I refuse to be a part of a third runaway bride situation.
Giving Barney the locket to give to Robin was symbolic of him letting go of those feelings for her, but he also found the words to explain why he no longer was the right man for her.
Robin, of course, still wasn't sure she could go through with the wedding and fled on her own, right smack dab into the mother.
The mother showed why she and Ted are such a match as she helped Robin collect herself when he couldn't. She also revealed how she, too, fancied herself a bit of a detective once, just like her future husband.
Barney, meanwhile, didn't have any doubts about Robin being the one, but he struggled to find the words to tell her how much he wanted her to be so. Enter Marshall and Lily.
There's no one I enjoy seeing deliver bad jokes more than Marshall, and Lily let him have his fun longer than most would have. Together they are a marital force to be reckoned with.
Barney's criticism of their wedding vows was spot on, though, yet it also helped him to see that more than anything else being honest with Robin was the best thing he could ever promise her.
Marshall and Lily were high-five happy, but realized Barney had a point. So before the guests began to arrive, they exchanged an updated list of vows and showed once again why they are the best married couple on television.
Barney delivered his one vow to Robin before the actual wedding, casting aside any fear of bad luck associated with seeing the bride before she walks down the aisle.
What he finally understood was that the wedding was just going to be one day in a long life together with Robin. This is why I was okay with the actually wedding ceremony taking up so little of the episode.
A wedding is in essence just a big party. You profess your love for someone in front of your friends and family, but when the cake is all eaten and the dance floor cleared, what remains is you and that one person. Getting to that moment of "I do" and the days, months and years that follow are what really matter.
Marshall and Lily showed us how things change and why vows need to be ever adjustable.
Like Ted said, it doesn't have to make sense to make sense, it just needs to be love.
Here's the secret kids. None of us can vow to be perfect. In the end all we can do is promise to love each other with everything we've got. Because love's the best thing we do.
Brief as the actual wedding was, it was not without its own highlights.
Robin walking down the aisle to "Sandcastles in the Sand," the adorable ring bear and seeing all the special people in the crowd who have been with Robin and Barney along the way, made for a great scene - and yes, it was legendary.
On How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Episode 22, Robin panics at the last minute before her wedding and voices her doubts about marrying Barney to Ted.
She admits she hoped Barney would somehow find her locket. Ted gives it to Barney to give to Robin, but she sees through his story. Barney struggles to write his vows and is hesitant to take and advice from Marshall and Lily.
He explains how they probably have broken many of their wedding day vows. Marshall and Lily decide to exchange new vows more in keeping with their current life together.
Robin thinks maybe she should have married Ted. When he refuses to run away with her, she flees alone, only to collide with the mother. The mother gives Robin some good advice. Barney finds Robin and tells her his one vow.
"I thought our story was epic. You and me. Spanning years and continents. Lives ruined and blood shed. Epic." - Logan Echolls, Veronica Mars
We thought so, too, Logan, and our hearts still race at the thought of some of the epic couples that have graced the small screen over the years.
Our list includes vampires and surgeons, castaways and cartoons, along with a double dose of Joshua Jackson!
These television twosomes had ups. They had downs. But they also had passion and intensity and laughter and moments that will live forever in TV history.
Did we forget your favorite couple? Possibly. But that's what makes these sort of countdowns so much fun, isn't it?
Click around, discuss and debate our choices for Most Epic TV Couple Ever now:
From The Max to a marriage, Zack and Kelly made the dreams of all Saved by the Bell dreams come true.
2.
Meredith & Derek
The only couple on this list who actually hooked up prior to the series ever starting, Grey's Anatomy kicked off the morning after Meredith and Derek went home from a bar together. Sure, he was married at the time - but that technicality was no match in the end for (sorry we have to say it...) the McDreamiest pairing on all of television.
3.
Cory and Topanga
How strong was the love between Cory and Topanga? Strong enough for a spinoff!
4.
Peter & Olivia
Fringe tried to keep Peter and Olivia apart by introducing Fauxlivia from another world, but absolutely nothing could tear these two apart, not even an alternate version of Olivia. Vulnerable Olivia and stolen Peter met as children and formed a bond that transcended time and space. They literally turned back time to save each other and their family. Can there be a greater love?
5.
Logan & Veronica
Veronica Mars reminds us that epic love never dies, even when a series ends. Veronica and Logan didn't make it the first time but no Piz was going to come between the steamy chemistry that nearly explodes every time these two are on screen. They get their happy ending.
6.
Jesse and Becky
It was a Full House full of love for Jesse and Becky for many years on this ABC sitcom.
7.
Sawyer & Juliet
Of Lost's couple Damon Lindelhof said, "Juliet will always be Sawyer's true love." That says a lot, but finding each other before a candy machine in what might have been purgatory was one of the most emotional scenes ever shown. No quips from Sawyer with Juliet, just love.
8.
Mulder & Scully
The original skeptic and believer duo to cross over and find love were Scully and Mulder on X-Files. Even being abducted by aliens didn't destroy the love that grew out of their ultimate trust as partners and friends.
9.
Mitchell and Cameron
One is flamboyant and one is all-business. But the couple cracks us up on Modern Family.
10.
Damon & Elena
Damon returned to Mystic Falls with the intent of bringing back Katherine, but instead he found Elena, the same beauty with all of the good qualities he sought in love. Their chemistry is smoking hot and they forgive each other above all else. Damon has humanity and Elena feels free when they're together. That's magical.
11.
Pam and Jim
Who says office relationships never work out? Jim and Pam proved that adage very much wrong.
12.
Buffy & Spike
For Buffy, vampire Spike transformed into a bad boy killing machine into a compassionate man with a soul. Their chemistry was out of this world and made Buffy's previous love look dull (Sorry Angel!).
13.
Pacey & Joey
Pacey and Joey showed more excitement and sizzle than Joey ever had with her initial choice, Dawson. Tis a pity the series was called Dawson's Creek because Pacey and Joey stole our hearts.
14.
Coach & Tami Taylor
Coach and Tami Taylor had, quite simply, the marriage everyone aspires to have -- full of love, affection, honesty and passion for each other with a willingness to compromise and support each other. Swoon!
15.
Marshall and Lily
They've made love very sweet and very hilarious. Maybe the funniest couple in TV history.
16.
Seth & Summer
She was the popular girl. He was the nerd. Their love seemed like a flower that would never blossom, until Summer learned what other OC fans discovered on Day One: Seth is The Man! Highlighted by a Spider-Man-like kiss in the rain, this relationship ended in a beautiful series finale marriage.
17.
Chuck and Blair
We call them Chair. And we'll never forget the ups and downs that led to their love.
18.
Carrie & Mr. Big
Sex and the City would have never been the same without Carrie's quest to land Mr. Big. They continually pushed and pulled each other until they realized denial was fruitless.
19.
David and Donna
David and Donna ended Beverly Hills, 90210 as a married couple. And the former nabbed the latter's V-Card prior to that.
20.
Lorelai & Luke
On Gilmore Girls Luke and Lorelai started out as friends and took a slow burn toward romance. They never lost their ability to push each others buttons to keep things fresh and we still don't know if they ended up together forever.
21.
Ross & Rachel
The ultimate back-and-forth couple... who we all knew would end up forth in the end. But it took a baby and many other boyfriends and girlfriends in between before Ross and Rachel arrived at that same conclusion on Friends. Just never use the word "break" around these two.
22.
Homer and Marge
Homer and Marge have raised three nearly normal kids on The Simpsons. We just won't count Bart.
23.
Angela & Jordan Catalano
My So Called Life was almost as brief as any time these two spent together. The show's cancellation forever scarred girls who, like Angela, set their sites on the cool guy just out of touch. Angela got close enough to kiss Jordan, but we'll never know what could have been. Epic.
Ted Mosby has finally found the titular mother of his future children and, as happy as we are for him, we hate to see the story end.
In honor of his tumultuous trek to find true love, we're listing Ted Mosby's 10 Most Memorable Almost-Mothers. From near hookups to altar bound, we rundown the girlfriends we'll never forget.
Let us know if you agree and if there's anyone else you think should make the list. And if you're already in mourning over the loss, you can always watch How I Met Your Mother online here at TV Fanatic...
Also known as Naomi and played by the adorable Katie Holmes, the Slutty Pumpkin haunted Ted for years. She was the girl who got away in season 1 after he lost her phone number and every Halloween, Ted would go to the same party dressed as a hanging chad in the hopes of finding her. It took until season 7 and the reality never quite lived up to the fantasy in his head.
Also known as Naomi and played by the adorable Katie Holmes, the Slutty Pumpkin haunted Ted for years. She was the girl who got away in season 1 after he lost her phone number and every Halloween, Ted would go to the same party dressed as a hanging chad in the hopes of finding her. It took until season 7 and the reality never quite lived up to the fantasy in his head.
2.
Crazy Karen
Played by Laura Prepon, Karen is Ted's annoying college girlfriend and we're not sure what was worse. That she constantly cheated on him or that Ted mimicked her pretentiousness. Despite Lily's best attempts to break them up, Ted and Karen reconciled over and over again until Karen asked for the one thing that Ted wouldn't do. Give up his friendship with Lily.
3.
Victoria, aka Buttercup, aka the Runaway Bride
Victoria and Ted's history was tumultuous. First he had to track down the mysterious Buttercup, then they broke up when Ted almost slept with Robin. Years later she was a runaway bride who asked Ted to deliver the Dear John letter but they called it quits for good when she told Ted he had to promise never to see Robin again. That's just wasn't going to happen.
4.
Stella Zinman (Sara Chalke)
Not only did Ted meet the beautiful dermatologist while getting his tramp stamp removed, they also had the brilliant "two-minute-date." On the down side, she did leave Ted at the altar at their wedding.
5.
Zoey Pierson
Played by Jennifer Morrison, there were plenty of sparks between Ted and Zoey and when her marriage to The Captain finally ended, we thought they had a shot. But when Ted had to decide between his dream of designing a skyscrapper or Zoey, his career won out.
6.
Natalie (Anne Dudek)
Ted broke up with Natalie on her birthday. Twice! First over her answering machine with her friends listening as they gathered for her party. Then after winning her back, he realizes it's not going to work and he broke up with her again, this time in person. However it was unfortunate that he failed to remember it was her birthday once again.
7.
Cathy (Lindsay Price)
Ted thought she was the perfect girl and was completely clueless as to why his friends hated her. But as soon as they told him, he couldn't drown out the sound. Cathy talked too much. He soon dumped her and when they met much later she's married to a man who's deaf.
8.
Blah Blah (Abigail Spencer)
Ted meets Blah Blah (real name Carol, but Ted can't remember it) while playing World of Warcraft but she ordered him to tell his friends they met in a cooking class instead. It didn't take long for Ted to figure out she was on the wrong end of the Hot Crazy Scale. Eventually Lily hears Blah Blah ended up at the psych ward at Bellevue.
9.
Cindy (Rachel Bilson)
Call her the "almost mother" as Cindy is the roommate of Ted's future wife whom she resents for stealing all of her boyfriend. When Cindy breaks up with Ted, he attempts to show her that there meant to be together by pointing out all of the things he loves in her apartment. Unfortunately, they all belong to her roommate proving that sometimes fate has other plans.
10.
Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders)
It's how it all began. Ted's on the hunt to find a wife and meets Robin but he almost ruins their first date when he tells her he loves her. He may not have found his future wife but he certainly found his best friend. Ironically, it's Barney, Robin's future husband who encouraged Ted to ask her out.
Before we're forced to deal with a future that does not include How I Met Your Mother, let's take a look into the past, shall we?
Courtesy of Entertainment Tonight, we have our first look at Monday's series finale, as Ted, Marshall and Lily think back to when they inducted Robin into their clique - and Lily came up with one golden rule for the guys.
What was it? And how did Barney actually end up heeding it? Watch and learn now:
In anticipation over the How I Met Your Mother Season 9 finale, and the completion of Ted's story, we're also delving into the past in the following photo gallery.
Also known as Naomi and played by the adorable Katie Holmes, the Slutty Pumpkin haunted Ted for years. She was the girl who got away in season 1 after he lost her phone number and every Halloween, Ted would go to the same party dressed as a hanging chad in the hopes of finding her. It took until season 7 and the reality never quite lived up to the fantasy in his head.
Also known as Naomi and played by the adorable Katie Holmes, the Slutty Pumpkin haunted Ted for years. She was the girl who got away in season 1 after he lost her phone number and every Halloween, Ted would go to the same party dressed as a hanging chad in the hopes of finding her. It took until season 7 and the reality never quite lived up to the fantasy in his head.
2.
Crazy Karen
Played by Laura Prepon, Karen is Ted's annoying college girlfriend and we're not sure what was worse. That she constantly cheated on him or that Ted mimicked her pretentiousness. Despite Lily's best attempts to break them up, Ted and Karen reconciled over and over again until Karen asked for the one thing that Ted wouldn't do. Give up his friendship with Lily.
3.
Victoria, aka Buttercup, aka the Runaway Bride
Victoria and Ted's history was tumultuous. First he had to track down the mysterious Buttercup, then they broke up when Ted almost slept with Robin. Years later she was a runaway bride who asked Ted to deliver the Dear John letter but they called it quits for good when she told Ted he had to promise never to see Robin again. That's just wasn't going to happen.
4.
Stella Zinman (Sara Chalke)
Not only did Ted meet the beautiful dermatologist while getting his tramp stamp removed, they also had the brilliant "two-minute-date." On the down side, she did leave Ted at the altar at their wedding.
5.
Zoey Pierson
Played by Jennifer Morrison, there were plenty of sparks between Ted and Zoey and when her marriage to The Captain finally ended, we thought they had a shot. But when Ted had to decide between his dream of designing a skyscrapper or Zoey, his career won out.
6.
Natalie (Anne Dudek)
Ted broke up with Natalie on her birthday. Twice! First over her answering machine with her friends listening as they gathered for her party. Then after winning her back, he realizes it's not going to work and he broke up with her again, this time in person. However it was unfortunate that he failed to remember it was her birthday once again.
7.
Cathy (Lindsay Price)
Ted thought she was the perfect girl and was completely clueless as to why his friends hated her. But as soon as they told him, he couldn't drown out the sound. Cathy talked too much. He soon dumped her and when they met much later she's married to a man who's deaf.
8.
Blah Blah (Abigail Spencer)
Ted meets Blah Blah (real name Carol, but Ted can't remember it) while playing World of Warcraft but she ordered him to tell his friends they met in a cooking class instead. It didn't take long for Ted to figure out she was on the wrong end of the Hot Crazy Scale. Eventually Lily hears Blah Blah ended up at the psych ward at Bellevue.
9.
Cindy (Rachel Bilson)
Call her the "almost mother" as Cindy is the roommate of Ted's future wife whom she resents for stealing all of her boyfriend. When Cindy breaks up with Ted, he attempts to show her that there meant to be together by pointing out all of the things he loves in her apartment. Unfortunately, they all belong to her roommate proving that sometimes fate has other plans.
10.
Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders)
It's how it all began. Ted's on the hunt to find a wife and meets Robin but he almost ruins their first date when he tells her he loves her. He may not have found his future wife but he certainly found his best friend. Ironically, it's Barney, Robin's future husband who encouraged Ted to ask her out.
But one thing that has separated this sitcom from almost all others has been its use of music, whether it's Robin Sparkles prancing around in a mall or the Mother beautifully playing the ukulele.
So, as we prepare to say goodbye forever tonight, we first take a look back at 11 How I Met Your Mother musical moments that will forever remain - yes, it has to be said - legendary...
Finally, Ted has found the woman he's searched for all his life. It's cuddle time.
2.
Sitting Alone
Why is Barney sitting alone with a drink and a cigar? We expect lots of surprises from the series finale of How I Met Your Mother.
3.
Last Call for Barney
We can't believe that this may be the last time we hang out at the bar with Barney Stinson.
4.
The Story of The Mother
It took nine seasons for Ted to tell the story of How I Met Your Mother. Watch the series finale on Monday, March 31st.
5.
Years Later
It looks like Robin and Ted meet up years later. We wonder what this is all about.
6.
Celebrate!
Is this Robin and Barney's idea of a honeymoon celebrations? We'll find out in "Last Forever Parts One and Two"
7.
Even Barney
Even Barney looks as though he might cry as the gang says goodbye in "Last Forever Parts One and Two"
8.
Special Friends
Saying goodbye to special friends won't be easy. Watch the How I Met Your Mother series finale Monday, March 31st on CBS.
9.
One Seriously Scary High Five
Ted and Barney share one seriously scary high five before it's all over on How I Met Your Mother.
10.
One Last Salute
Robin and Ted do their thing one last time. Is Ted really headed off to Chicago?
11.
One Last Group Hug
Could this be the last group hug. We're already in tears. "Last Forever Part One and Two" is the series finale of How I Met Your Mother"
12.
Ted with Tracy
Ted reads to Tracy in this scene from the How I Met Your Mother finale. She would not survive.
13.
Ted on the Finale
This callback to the How I Met Your Mother pilot was not how fans were hoping the finale would end.
There were plenty of surprises in "Last Forever," but most of all it taught us that almost nothing actually lasts forever. How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Episode 23 opened with Ted saying goodbye to his friends as he planned to leave for Chicago.
Robin and Ted did their goofy salute. Marshall made jokes. Lily cried and got an ET goodbye that was just a little creepy and Ted and Barney did a high-five to echo throughout eternity. All of it seemed a fitting end.
Until Ted showed up back at MacLaren's the very next day.
The old lady on the train platform pointing out the beautiful girl with the yellow umbrella holding the bass was the perfect foil for Ted. And I loved how Ted kept telling her…
Because Ted was anything but. The next day, Marshall worried about his friend. That Ted keeps doing this. He falls too hard too fast and scares off his potential love. But Lily could see it. This was different. This was destiny calling.
Just as I was riding the high of true love, things took a turn.
Big Shocker #1: After three years of marriage, Robin and Barney weren't happy. She was traveling around the world for her dream job but Barney was getting left in the dust. When Robin offered him an exit ramp from their marriage, I never expected that he'd take it.
When the two announced to their friends that they had divorced. I, like Lily was devastated.
I've been a huge fan of Barney and Robin since they got together the first time and although I never expected their marriage to be easy, I truly believed it would last.
So as How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Episode 24 opened, I was more than I little ticked off. We'd just spent an entire season leading up to Barney and Robin's wonderful wedding, only to have their entire relationship dismantled in the matter of minutes.
Lily made them all promise to always be there for the big moments but it would never be the same.
Lily and Marshall eventually had to move from their beloved apartment when their third child was on the way. After years of enduring a miserable existence in corporate law, Marshall finally became a judge and eventually ran for State Supreme Court. I expected nothing less.
Barney reverted back to chasing anything in a skirt. As he explained to Lily in this How I Met Your Mother quote…
If it wasn't going to happen with Robin, then it's not going to happen with anyone.
I found that heartbreaking. Barney truly loved Robin and as Lily pointed out, having a playbook at 40 was just sad. That's when we got to…
Big Shocker #2… As Barney lamented the loss of his "Clooney years" when #31 became pregnant, I couldn't help but smile. Somehow I always knew he'd make an amazing dad and if there was one female in the universe who was meant to capture his heart, it was baby Ella.
You are the love of my life. Everything I have and everything I am is yours. Forever.
After five years and two kids, the two finally decided to get married on a Thursday and they celebrated with their friends at MacLaren's instead of a castle in Europe.
One of the things I loved about this scene was that Tracy was the one to make sure that Robin was there. Where so many of Ted's previous girlfriends were intimidated by Ted's relationship with Robin, Tracy wasn't. She knew it was important for Ted to have his best friend present on their big day.
Big Shocker #4…As Ted finished telling his kids about he and their mother's romantic first meeting in the rain under the yellow umbrella, we find out that Tracy became ill and died six years earlier. I found that horribly sad. For as little screen time as they had together, they really did seem to make the perfect couple.
Finally, we got to…
Big Shocker #5…The kids push Ted to pursue "Aunt Robin." I had mixed feelings about this. I sort of hated that Robin was made out to be such a selfish loaner for much of the finale. Not that there wasn't precedent for it. It was certainly within character. Robin was always career driven but I hated that she let that passion for her work end her marriage and drive a wedge between her and her friends.
So, in the end I wasn't sold on a Ted and Robin pairing. I always believed that they were meant to be friends. The best of friends, but as a couple I'm still not sure they work. I suppose we'll really never know. But the reappearance of the French horn was a nice touch.
Either way, I look back on the nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother with lots of smiles. I'm only sad that the story is over.
What did you think, TV Fanatics. Should Ted and Robin have ended up as a couple?
