tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post6563414718024088194..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: HIMYM, "The Goat": Bros before goats?Alan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-8679216638476612432008-05-02T15:26:00.000-04:002008-05-02T15:26:00.000-04:00"Pete said... You don't think having a goat as a r..."Pete said... <BR/>You don't think having a goat as a recurring character qualifies as a stunt?"<BR/><BR/>Aww, Britney wasn't that bad...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-26463958056073258282008-05-01T12:47:00.000-04:002008-05-01T12:47:00.000-04:00It's a little disturbing to have a show reference ...It's a little disturbing to have a show reference things happening to the water in Portugal three days after you return home with food poisoning from Lisbon. True story.hmn10134https://www.blogger.com/profile/00120466848394888178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-22284688374246359532008-04-30T23:10:00.000-04:002008-04-30T23:10:00.000-04:00Personally, I found the whole confusion over the g...Personally, I found the whole confusion over the goat to be a bit strained. I find it difficult to believe that Ted could get what happened on what birthday confused - especially since one was a milestone 30th, and what else happened on that day (wouldn't he remember it as an "all that other stuff, and now I have to deal with this goat as well" situation?) Although I do find Brad's whole second-30th-party idea quite appealing.<BR/><BR/>In any case, I quite like the idea, simply because it firmly establishes SagetTed as an unreliable narrator. Which allows a bit of leeway for some of the contradictions (for instance, could Barney's fear of driving actually have taken place in seas on1's timeline, and SagetTed just got confused? Then Barney gets lessons, and overcomes his fear by the time we see him driving in other episodes?)<BR/><BR/>In any case, an excellent episode. The whole episode was weighed with real emotion (I rewatched season 1 on DVD last week, and the special features talked about trying to create a comedy with heart - this episode really showed that), yet they didn't forget the comedy. Barney throwing the football at Marshall. Lily asking about the Barney experience, especially "Did he have toys?" The Devils' Threesome rule (especially with the flashbacks to George Washington). In fact, any scene about the Bro Code, both the rules themselves, and Ted's following of the rules - "Da." More non-revelations about Barney's work, and his need for a super-shredder. "X-Box". The whole pushing-the-barrier jokes felt strained to me, until Lily mentioned she wanted clowns, and that just made it funny. And Ranjit has never not been funny - "Hit him Ted!"<BR/><BR/>It's been years since I saw The Graduate, and I can't even remember the context of the scene where the toast pops up unexpectedly, but the hot dogs popping up right after Barney reveals events to Marshall really reminded me of The Graduate. Anyone else? (Especially anyone who can remember what that scene was about?)<BR/><BR/><I>My only complaint regarding Stella isn't that we don't see her...it's that we are supposed to take a leap of faith with them that somehow Stella went from being 100% unavailable (I only have two minutes for lunch) to finding all this time to be in a serious relationship...hopefully they will get back to explaining that at some point, and knowing this show, they will.</I><BR/><BR/>That bothered me initially, but I don't think it's that mysterious. She is busy, certainly, and the daughter does complicate dating, but it wasn't impossible. I think the truth is she was probably using it as an excuse to avoid dating - it's a hassle,an inconvenience, and not worth it for something that probably won't go anywhere. Ted's 2-minute date broke down her defences and made it worth taking the effort.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08196372589248892579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-59228411578364432272008-04-30T19:35:00.000-04:002008-04-30T19:35:00.000-04:00It will certainly bring in some viewers... I am su...It will certainly bring in some viewers... I am sure the beastialiy blogs are all atwitter (not that I would know), but they are a surprisingly disenfranchised demographic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-5587051495140838972008-04-30T19:11:00.000-04:002008-04-30T19:11:00.000-04:00You don't think having a goat as a recurring chara...You don't think having a goat as a recurring character qualifies as a stunt?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-21391652800940614832008-04-30T17:06:00.000-04:002008-04-30T17:06:00.000-04:00Why is this such a point of contention? Lily boug...Why is this such a point of contention? Lily bought the goat just before Ted's 30th birthday. on his 31st birthday, it ate one of Robin's towels. They will keep it in the apartment as a pet for the next year at least, during which time Robin will become a roommate. Whether Lily and Marshall are still there or in Dowistrepla remains to be seen, but Bays and Thomas have never given us such an incongruous question before, and there is no reason to believe they would get so obtuse now.<BR/><BR/>The kids know their mother's name. They will know it is her as soon as future ted says it. It is not a question of what clues he gives, or hints as to her identity. it is not a mystery for the kids to figure out like that awful-looking Ryan Reynolds/Abigail Breslin movie.<BR/><BR/>The phrase "jump the shark" needs to be banned. Anytime someone doesn't like an episode, they say it had its JTS moment. Thats not what the phrase even means. Jumping the Shark was originally coined to refer to the moment in the show where the writers/producers were creatively exhausted and had to rely on stunts, like having babies, getting married, a charachter dying, or casting Paula Marshall/Rena Sofer. Jump the Shark Moments are very specific points in a show's history, where they are clearly trying to shore up a sinking ship with scotch tape.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-38930502440926941602008-04-30T15:04:00.000-04:002008-04-30T15:04:00.000-04:00Great episode! I love Barney, and thought his offi...Great episode! I love Barney, and thought his office was great - especially the posters. <BR/><BR/>Stella can't be the mother, right? Since she already has a daughter, wouldn't Future Ted's kids know if she's their mom based on whether or not they have an older half-sister? So they'd either be able to eliminate her as their mom (if they don't have an older half-sibling) or keep her in the running (if they do have an older half-sibling).Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13118456103730955756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66251279009412277242008-04-30T09:20:00.000-04:002008-04-30T09:20:00.000-04:00I assumed that Ted getting the year wrong on the g...I assumed that Ted getting the year wrong on the goat story means that Lily didn't get it from the farmer either yet. She will get it from the farmer, just in another year.Tosy And Coshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11466315384515717261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-16178047989213736452008-04-30T08:58:00.000-04:002008-04-30T08:58:00.000-04:00The fundamental hook of this show -- even more so ...The fundamental hook of this show -- even more so than who the mother is -- is story construction. It's so much fun to see how they intricately construct their stories (and in fact, a lot of good TV today, like Lost, is as much about how the story is told as what the story is). And so when something doesn't seem to quite lock into place, it stands out as problematic. So yes, if Ted is trying to remember what he ate for lunch 20 years ago or Marshall's exact comments about something, he'll likely run into confusion. But remembering the major events immediately surrounding a defining moment in his life shouldn't be quite as hard. That said, this certainly isn't a shark-jumping moment, and I agree that that phrase needs to go away yesterday. But we can't love a show for the experience of its continuity details and then simply not notice or care when one of them seems a little hinky, right? They've trained us to do this. They've brought this on themselves!! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-85341371810558360762008-04-30T05:32:00.000-04:002008-04-30T05:32:00.000-04:00I didn't have a problem with Year 2030 Ted getting...I didn't have a problem with Year 2030 Ted getting confused about whether the goat was there on his 30th or 31st birthday -- it actually seemed fairly realistic in the context of "2030 Ted tells his kids about stuff that happened 20 years ago." No one else has ever gotten a few details wrong or mixed up some dates when telling a story?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-79586751414346298982008-04-30T02:50:00.000-04:002008-04-30T02:50:00.000-04:00cinemaniac: dude! You scuffed my shoe when you ste...<B>cinemaniac</B>: dude! You scuffed my shoe when you stepped up on the soapbox with me. And P. Diddy wears these.R.A. Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14851961356321735388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-71797860814380697162008-04-30T02:40:00.000-04:002008-04-30T02:40:00.000-04:00r.a porter - (Steps up on Soapbox) the entire ter...r.a porter - (Steps up on Soapbox) the entire term "Jump the Shark" has been taken and turned into the single most awful phrase in the human language. (It makes me angry, and you wouldn't like me when I'm angry!)<BR/>People need to quit using it. Every week someone says some show has jumped the shark. Just enjoy the tv and see where it goes, it's not the end of the world if a tv series makes one misstep, and it's not jumping the shark.<BR/>I'm pretty sure if you look back at Happy Days the series took a series of missteps which cumulated in the Jump the Shark episode. <BR/>It's not like it was a great show for years week in and week out and then one episodes Fonzie jumped a shark and the show was suddenly bad. It took time to get to that moment.<BR/>So for the love of all that is holy, will people STOP using this God Forsaken phrase?!?!?!?<BR/>(Steps down off soapbox)<BR/>Alan I'm sorry for hijacking your post, good day.<BR/>Also I loved the episode even if the goat left me a bit confused. But my faith in The boys at HIMYM does not waiver.The CineManiachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05597232547026898685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-70363106374174254732008-04-29T20:25:00.000-04:002008-04-29T20:25:00.000-04:00I generally get frustrated by people trying to det...I generally get frustrated by people trying to determine in real-time whether a show has "jumped the shark" because if you're watching it live you can't even tell by seeing a guy in a leather jacket water skiing; however, I'm finding myself more confused than annoyed by where some people have taken this thread.<BR/><BR/>Am I to understand that if B&T can't find a way to <BR/>a) tell the greatest goat story ever and/or<BR/>b) explain the 30th vs. 31st/goat there vs. not-there situation<BR/>that many of you will consider HIMYM to have jumped the shark? Even though this was a hilarious and emotionally satisfying episode?<BR/><BR/>Have we come to expect so much continuity wanking from B&T that they can't even play around with it <I>as a joke</I>???<BR/><BR/>And is it just HIMYM, or would everyone be as upset with any great sitcom ignoring/twisting its history like that? Did <I>Frasier</I> jump the shark during its pilot when we found out Martin was not dead?<BR/><BR/>Sorry for being snarky about this, but I'm really not clear what people are complaining about. If someone didn't like the episode, I could understand that (vehemently disagree, but understand,) but it seems to me more like many people are just trying to be the first to pick the moment of this show's demise rather than enjoying it while we've still got it. It seems the equivalent of "I liked their early, experimental stuff, before they got super-popular" or being first to comment on a thread.R.A. Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14851961356321735388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-65486606918604893762008-04-29T19:40:00.000-04:002008-04-29T19:40:00.000-04:00Okay. Just like many others, I may be reading way ...Okay. Just like many others, I may be reading way too much into all of this or over-predicting, but the goat mistake could be explained away next year as "Since 'Uncle Barney' and I weren't bro's anymore for my 30th birthday, Lilly and everyone wanted to 're-celebrate' my birthday the way it was originally planned for what was now my 31st birthday...Yada Yada Yada." I know...It's reaching, but otherwise it does kinda have a jump the shark type moment. One of the best episodes of season 3 though. Right up there with Slap-Bet, and Game-Night for me.Mr.Akanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14658175974739640183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-35207552826220981502008-04-29T18:34:00.000-04:002008-04-29T18:34:00.000-04:00It looks like you took a widescreen screen shot an...It looks like you took a widescreen screen shot and stretched it upwards and downwards.<BR/><BR/>The X-box joke had me laughing for a good 2 minutes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66839749896896303702008-04-29T18:22:00.000-04:002008-04-29T18:22:00.000-04:00For instance, if Lilly got the goat before Ted's 3...<I>For instance, if Lilly got the goat before Ted's 31st and did not live in that apt anymore, why would she bring the goat there in the first place? </I><BR/><BR/>I had the same thought for a moment, but I dismissed it. After all, if you ended up with a goat, wouldn't you rather keep it in your friend's apartment than yours? Or perhaps take it with you instead of leaving it at home -- to eat all of your husband's wash cloths in the bathroom -- when you went over to your friend's for his surprise 31st birthday party.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-81006927954029065842008-04-29T18:15:00.000-04:002008-04-29T18:15:00.000-04:00Pretty sure there were two boats in AD...first was...Pretty sure there were two boats in AD...first was the "Seaward" which Gob blew up or sunk during his Spring Break magic show. Then the boat at the end of the series was the "C-word".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-14557291578157310162008-04-29T17:23:00.000-04:002008-04-29T17:23:00.000-04:00I believe in a later AD episode it was revealed th...I believe in a later AD episode it was revealed that the boat was actually named "The C-Word"... I'm sure Alan would know for sure.<BR/><BR/>As for HIMYM, I loved it and I think they've really stepped it up post strike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-40485772944590916892008-04-29T17:17:00.000-04:002008-04-29T17:17:00.000-04:00telling Gob to get rid of The C-Word,Michael told ...<I>telling Gob to get rid of The C-Word,</I><BR/><BR/>Michael told Gob to get rid of "the <I>Seaward</I>," the boat he bought. The joke was Lucille hearing it as "the C-word," and giving the classic response.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-86448863705104008522008-04-29T13:55:00.000-04:002008-04-29T13:55:00.000-04:00It was indeed Ian Abercrombie as Ben Franklin. Abe...It was indeed Ian Abercrombie as Ben Franklin. Abercrombie is one of the great "Hey It's That Guy"s of American TV.<BR/><BR/>AnonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-75913278149172751532008-04-29T13:33:00.000-04:002008-04-29T13:33:00.000-04:00I am sure Robin will be there as a roommate, not a...<I>I am sure Robin will be there as a roommate, not a GF but it does raise the problem of all the dogs....</I><BR/><BR/>No, it doesn't, Amy. All five of Robin's dogs were sent up north in "Stuff" (the ep where Ted's lamp, pillow, etc. turned into his exes and her dogs turned into hers).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-59916050937516128652008-04-29T12:33:00.000-04:002008-04-29T12:33:00.000-04:00I hate to say it but the reveal at the end may be ...<I>I hate to say it but the reveal at the end may be the jump the shark moment for HIMYM.</I><BR/><BR/>Don't worry about it so much: HIMYM has been doing this kind of "how can they possibly make <I>that</I> work?" twist at the end of episodes since their very one.barefootjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02619403344304134318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88101570168645646622008-04-29T12:11:00.001-04:002008-04-29T12:11:00.001-04:00I am not sure what to think. I hate to say it but ...I am not sure what to think. I hate to say it but the reveal at the end may be the jump the shark moment for HIMYM. It depends so much on a timeline and callbacks that blowing up the timeline like that leaves scars. For instance, if Lilly got the goat before Ted's 31st and did not live in that apt anymore, why would she bring the goat there in the first place? Does this mean that Lilly and Marshall now have a pet goat? So Ross' monkey can have a someone to hang out with in Lame Random Sitcom Pet Land? I also have a hard time giving Ted the "Stella could be serious if it was before his 31st" while completely ignoring that he said that he and Robin had dated a year ago in the same conversation. <BR/><BR/>Yeah the "wow I did not see that coming" was awesome but now that I have sat down to consider the implications it could very easily suck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17741584607571587982008-04-29T12:11:00.000-04:002008-04-29T12:11:00.000-04:00I'll agree with the overall assessment of the awes...I'll agree with the overall assessment of the awesomeness of this episode, but one thing bothers me: didn't anybody else hang out with a huge group of friends in their 20s where -- how can I put this delicately -- everybody slept with each other? And as long as it wasn't cheating at the time and/or the friend were the very next person to sleep with the ex, it was basically OK?<BR/><BR/>I know that HIMYM skirts this issue with the married couple in the middle of the group (just as Friends did with a brother/sister pairing), but Ted's anger, funny as it was, felt a little false.barefootjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02619403344304134318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-20097957076631506512008-04-29T11:01:00.000-04:002008-04-29T11:01:00.000-04:00Maybe I'm just being hopelessly optimistic, but I ...Maybe I'm just being hopelessly optimistic, but I took the postponement of the goat story as a sign that they got picked up for another season. They know this is a story that everyone is waiting for, and so by not telling it now, maybe they are saying they'll be around to tell it next year. <BR/><BR/>But I did have the same questions about how much the goat is tied into the story, and how Stella could have all this time to date now if just a few episodes ago she only had 2 minutes for lunch. I know a lot of people hope that Sarah Chalke is the mother, but it seems like the way they've woven in that relationship would make her being the mother totally anti-climactic.Nicole Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04614303467784537814noreply@blogger.com