How We Met NPH [with Neil Patrick Harris] | S2E20 "Showdown"

About this episode

Josh and Craig are joined by Neil Patrick Harris to discuss the cultural impact of Barney Stinson and the creative process behind How I Met Your Mother.

Josh and Craig are joined by Neil Patrick Harris to revisit How I Met Your Mother Season 2’s “Showdown,” the episode where Barney appears on The Price Is Right believing that host Bob Barker might be his father. Neil reflects on the lasting cultural impact of Barney Stinson, the freedom the show’s unusual hybrid format gave actors to experiment with comedy, and the physical-comedy influences—from Buster Keaton to Cirque du Soleil—that shaped his performance. The conversation dives into Barney’s mix of bravado and vulnerability, how the writers gradually revealed the emotional core beneath the suit, and why the character’s deep loyalty to his friends often drove the story more than his playboy antics. They also share memories of filming on the real Price Is Right set, discuss how the show’s early “on the bubble” years kept everyone creatively hungry, and explore the idea that the heightened moments of the series may represent Ted’s exaggerated memories rather than literal reality. And we end on HWMYM’s first… cliffhanger! CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE. CRAIG’S BOOK IS…

People in this episode

Hosts: Josh Radnor, Craig Thomas

Guest: Neil Patrick Harris

Topics covered

• How I Met Your Mother
• Barney Stinson
• comedy
• character development
• cultural impact
• filming experiences
• memory and reality

Keywords

• Barney Stinson
• Neil Patrick Harris
• How I Met Your Mother
• The Price Is Right
• comedy influences
• character loyalty
• emotional core
• filming memories
• Ted's memories
• cliffhanger

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cirque du Soleil

Books & works: How I Met Your Mother, The Price Is Right

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