TV Review: "How I Met Your Mother" Season 1 DVD (2005)
I’ve come to the realization, that if two characters on a TV show, destined to be together become together, the show must end. It’s really that simple. Therefore, various expedients must be used to keep these people apart, even after they get together. Now “How I Met Your Mother” is able to avoid this dilemma because, by the show's very premise, the natural end of the show would be when Ted Mosby, architect, finally meets his children’s mother.
For its first season, and with its pilot, creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays had to prove the validity of their premise of telling a “love story in reverse” with only one of the participants. And they handsomely succeed. I mention this because a lot of shows have major structural weaknesses. For example “Prison Break” by its very premise, should have ended when they got out of prison. So it’s a good thing to note that “How I Met Your Mother” isn’t groaning under a premise it can’t meet, or will do so in fairly short order.
Plot wise, the first season of “How I Met Your Mother” is dominated, but not to the exclusion of everything else, by Ted’s pursuit of Robin, in the general framework of future Ted telling his kids how he met their mother. Another major plot the gets picked up here and there, are Marshall and Lily’s upcoming nuptials which, along with the “pursuit of Robin”, go into overdrive with the final episodes of the first season. The season finale itself was well done, addressing the major issues of season 1, while nicely setting up season 2.
Another reason why “How I Met Your Mother” works so well is the cast. There is nothing better on television than a cast that seems to genuinely likes working together, playing characters that like being together. I have to single out every member of the cast for praise because they all make “How I Met Your Mother.”
I never really appreciated this when I first watched “How I Met Your Mother” as it aired on television but Josh Radnor, who plays Ted Mosby, really does a great job. He in fact probably has the most difficult job of playing the earnest romantic without coming across as creepy. When some of his escapades involve stealing a blue French horn, hiring a string quartet (in blue), and performing a rain dance, coming across as a stalker is not an idle thought.
Ted Mosby’s main paramour is Robin Sherbatsky, played by the gorgeous Cobie Smulders as the commitment phobic newscaster. Cobie Smulders also has a difficult job of playing Robin Sherbatsky as a woman Ted Mosby would want to go nuts over, while still being conflicted over whether she should get together with Ted.
Lilly and Marshall play the established couple on “How I Met Your Mother,” who in fact get engaged in the pilot, played by Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segal. Since Ted/Josh Radnor gets to play the straight guy which often means he gets to be tortured to Lilly and Marshall’s hilarity. They, along with Barney, provide Ted’s back-up for his various hijinks, some of which are precipitated by the three.
Of Ted’s friends however, Barney is the perpetual bachelor and cad, as well as the catchphrase artist. Played to perfection by Neil Patrick Harris Barney is always at hand for an inappropriate comment, and often enough an appropriate comment. He also got to be the centrepiece for one of the funniest episodes of the first season.
All told, these talented actors form one of the best casts on any sitcom on television. I cannot stress enough how much it helps a show to have a cast that seems to click together, with no one really overshadowing anyone else. Even on the actors’ commentaries with them all together there is still that camaraderie.
Other acting standouts I’d like to mention are Ashley Williams, Alexis Denisof, and Marshall Manesh. Ashley Williams had a fairly long run as Ted’s girlfriend, and she does a really good job of fitting in with the group, while being charming and funny herself. Alexis Denisof is great as the first rate newscaster on a last place new show, who is charmingly oblivious about everything around him. Marshall Manesh plays the cab and then limo driver. One of those actors who pop up a lot but no one recognizes. Here he is recognized.
Another few people who stand out as well when it comes to “How I Met Your Mother” are Craig Thomas, and Carter Bays as the creators and writers, as well as Pamela Fryman. Fryman is one of those executive producer someone and other, but is also the director of most (all?) of the episodes. This is fairly unusual as most television shows may have their distinct directing style, with director whomever filling in for the specific episodes. I give all three of these people a lot of the credit for giving “How I Met Your Mother” its distinctive style with the mostly omniscient, yet occasionally unreliable narrator, without the contortions and inanities that a show like “Scrubs” runs into with all of the narration in the character’s head.
This directorial style can be really useful as the action can freeze and Bob Saget pops in with “Oh by the way, Uncle Marshall just had root canal surgery this morning” so don’t be surprised when he keels over in pain when the action unfreezes. This style also means that while “How I Met Your Mother” looks like a multi-camera sitcom, laugh track included, it actually isn’t, with the laugh track recorded after the show is edited together. I mention this as the laugh track isn’t obnoxious, because it’s real people laughing (See early episodes of “Sports Night” to get an example of how not to include a laugh track) which becomes really obvious when some of the jokes go by too quickly, or if there is a cackler in the audience.
Other technical issues have to do with the DVD itself. Most of the extras are by the numbers affairs of gag reels and forgettable featurettes. The commentary, while few in number (I personally think they should do commentaries on all the episodes but that’s probably not feasible) included the people you want. The commentaries, in various permutations, included all of the actors, Bays, Thomas, and Fryman giving the commentaries the prime creative movers of the show. The biggest flaw with the season 1 DVD is that it was released in the 4:3 aspect ratio. I’m unclear if that is how they decided to release it on the ratio or if it was filmed in that ratio originally, though I am inclined to the latter. Other than that, I am unaware of any major technical problems with the season 1 release.
Overall “How I Met Your Mother” was the best comedy to be released in 2005, and a damned funny show. 4/4. I can’t wait till the second season is on DVD, in beautiful widescreen.
For its first season, and with its pilot, creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays had to prove the validity of their premise of telling a “love story in reverse” with only one of the participants. And they handsomely succeed. I mention this because a lot of shows have major structural weaknesses. For example “Prison Break” by its very premise, should have ended when they got out of prison. So it’s a good thing to note that “How I Met Your Mother” isn’t groaning under a premise it can’t meet, or will do so in fairly short order.
Plot wise, the first season of “How I Met Your Mother” is dominated, but not to the exclusion of everything else, by Ted’s pursuit of Robin, in the general framework of future Ted telling his kids how he met their mother. Another major plot the gets picked up here and there, are Marshall and Lily’s upcoming nuptials which, along with the “pursuit of Robin”, go into overdrive with the final episodes of the first season. The season finale itself was well done, addressing the major issues of season 1, while nicely setting up season 2.
Another reason why “How I Met Your Mother” works so well is the cast. There is nothing better on television than a cast that seems to genuinely likes working together, playing characters that like being together. I have to single out every member of the cast for praise because they all make “How I Met Your Mother.”
I never really appreciated this when I first watched “How I Met Your Mother” as it aired on television but Josh Radnor, who plays Ted Mosby, really does a great job. He in fact probably has the most difficult job of playing the earnest romantic without coming across as creepy. When some of his escapades involve stealing a blue French horn, hiring a string quartet (in blue), and performing a rain dance, coming across as a stalker is not an idle thought.
Ted Mosby’s main paramour is Robin Sherbatsky, played by the gorgeous Cobie Smulders as the commitment phobic newscaster. Cobie Smulders also has a difficult job of playing Robin Sherbatsky as a woman Ted Mosby would want to go nuts over, while still being conflicted over whether she should get together with Ted.
Lilly and Marshall play the established couple on “How I Met Your Mother,” who in fact get engaged in the pilot, played by Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segal. Since Ted/Josh Radnor gets to play the straight guy which often means he gets to be tortured to Lilly and Marshall’s hilarity. They, along with Barney, provide Ted’s back-up for his various hijinks, some of which are precipitated by the three.
Of Ted’s friends however, Barney is the perpetual bachelor and cad, as well as the catchphrase artist. Played to perfection by Neil Patrick Harris Barney is always at hand for an inappropriate comment, and often enough an appropriate comment. He also got to be the centrepiece for one of the funniest episodes of the first season.
All told, these talented actors form one of the best casts on any sitcom on television. I cannot stress enough how much it helps a show to have a cast that seems to click together, with no one really overshadowing anyone else. Even on the actors’ commentaries with them all together there is still that camaraderie.
Other acting standouts I’d like to mention are Ashley Williams, Alexis Denisof, and Marshall Manesh. Ashley Williams had a fairly long run as Ted’s girlfriend, and she does a really good job of fitting in with the group, while being charming and funny herself. Alexis Denisof is great as the first rate newscaster on a last place new show, who is charmingly oblivious about everything around him. Marshall Manesh plays the cab and then limo driver. One of those actors who pop up a lot but no one recognizes. Here he is recognized.
Another few people who stand out as well when it comes to “How I Met Your Mother” are Craig Thomas, and Carter Bays as the creators and writers, as well as Pamela Fryman. Fryman is one of those executive producer someone and other, but is also the director of most (all?) of the episodes. This is fairly unusual as most television shows may have their distinct directing style, with director whomever filling in for the specific episodes. I give all three of these people a lot of the credit for giving “How I Met Your Mother” its distinctive style with the mostly omniscient, yet occasionally unreliable narrator, without the contortions and inanities that a show like “Scrubs” runs into with all of the narration in the character’s head.
This directorial style can be really useful as the action can freeze and Bob Saget pops in with “Oh by the way, Uncle Marshall just had root canal surgery this morning” so don’t be surprised when he keels over in pain when the action unfreezes. This style also means that while “How I Met Your Mother” looks like a multi-camera sitcom, laugh track included, it actually isn’t, with the laugh track recorded after the show is edited together. I mention this as the laugh track isn’t obnoxious, because it’s real people laughing (See early episodes of “Sports Night” to get an example of how not to include a laugh track) which becomes really obvious when some of the jokes go by too quickly, or if there is a cackler in the audience.
Other technical issues have to do with the DVD itself. Most of the extras are by the numbers affairs of gag reels and forgettable featurettes. The commentary, while few in number (I personally think they should do commentaries on all the episodes but that’s probably not feasible) included the people you want. The commentaries, in various permutations, included all of the actors, Bays, Thomas, and Fryman giving the commentaries the prime creative movers of the show. The biggest flaw with the season 1 DVD is that it was released in the 4:3 aspect ratio. I’m unclear if that is how they decided to release it on the ratio or if it was filmed in that ratio originally, though I am inclined to the latter. Other than that, I am unaware of any major technical problems with the season 1 release.
Overall “How I Met Your Mother” was the best comedy to be released in 2005, and a damned funny show. 4/4. I can’t wait till the second season is on DVD, in beautiful widescreen.