If you were watching the Superbowl last night, you will have seen Barney Stinson inviting you to call him. If you called the number during the Superbowl, you’ll have heard Neil’s voice and this recorded message:

“That, Lebron, is how you shoot a free throw. Hey, Barney Stinson speaking. A recording? No, this is really me! Anyway, glad you called ’cause you sound really special. Let’s get to know each other. What are your hobbies? Oh my god, I like that too! Wow, I’m really feeling a connection here. You know, I never do this but what the heck. Let’s meet up at MacLaren’s Bar at oh, say, 3:45 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 12, 2016. I can’t wait to meet you. I love you.”

It has been pointed out by a few people that there are some inaccuracies in the message – Lebron James & free throw is a basketball term, and Monday October 12th 2016 is a Wednesday. Based on Barney’s previous history – his “dear resident” letter from Ted Mosby, Architect for one – I’d say both of these things are on purpose, and I’d guess it’s not the first time Barney has used this message! Expect a reference to this in tonight’s last new episode of HIMYM before the Winter Olympics. ETA: People have mentioned that everybody who called got a different random date. So it was probably incorrect on purpose because it was randomized.

You can listen to a recording of the message here.

Posted by: Rach at 9:59 am | · Filed under: HIMYM | Comment
Tags: CBS, cross-promotion, Super Bowl, TV: HIMYM |

Now for the news roundup I promised:

• Michael Ausiello from Entertainment Weekly reports that CBS has signed off on Neil’s guest appearance on FOX’s Glee. The only remaining hurdle is making sure that it can fit into Neil’s already hectic schedule!
• Popeater is reporting that Neil is being lined up to star in a new revival of “Barnum” on Broadway. Neil has talked many times about his interest in that role, though he has stated that he’s still too young for it. This new report reveals that Neil is the producer’s “only choice” – what isn’t clear, however, is the timescale in question. It’s likely this won’t be taking place imminently, but simply that whenever it does, Neil is a shoe-in for the part.
• The Superbowl is on CBS this year (this coming Sunday, Feb 7) and there’s some HIMYM related cross-promotion happening on Twitter. Craig and Carter go into a little more detail in this interview from the time of the 100th episode promotion.
• The Best and the Brightest, which Neil shot this summer, is now on Twitter and you can become a fan on Facebook. They’re calling it a “social media explosion” and they’ve been posting pictures and holding contests so far, so check them out!

Finally, there’s a lot of talk in the media that Neil should replace Simon Cowell as a full time judge on American Idol when he leaves at the end of this season. His guest stint was loved by the critics, but what do you think about him taking on the role full time? I think that without Simon, and knowing that Neil is good friends with both Ellen and Kara, there might not be enough differences of opinion to keep it interesting. And that’s before you even think about working it into his schedule, especially now with the news that HIMYM has been renewed for season 6.

Posted by: Rach at 7:58 am | · Filed under: HIMYM, TV Appearances | Comment
Tags: Barnum, Broadway, CBS, Rumours, Superbowl, The Best and the Brightest, TV Appearances, TV: American Idol, TV: Glee, TV: HIMYM, Twitter |

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Neil will voice a character in the CBS Christmas animated telling of “Yes, Virginia”, along with Jennifer Love Hewitt and Alfred Molina. The story is “animated telling of the story of an 8-year-old girl in late 19th century New York seeking the truth about whether Santa Claus exists”, and will air on CBS on December 11th.

Posted by: Rach at 10:46 am | · Filed under: Cartoons & Animation | Comment
Tags: Animation, CBS, Voiceover & Narration |

Once again there are various Neil focus pieces floating around: Time Magazine, the Hollywood Reporter, and Entertainment Weekly’s Popwatch previews the piece in this week’s print issue (which you can see scans of here).

“If I don’t win, it’ll be fantastic,” he says. “I’ve got tons of jokes ready for that. If I do win, I think I have to go do the press gauntlet midshow, and then they’ll cut to me back there saying, ‘Our next two presenters are…’ I thought about calling [Malcolm in the Middle’s] Chris Masterson and seeing if he would sub in for me, as me, while I went to the gauntlet, and not even make a reference to the fact that he’s not me. Just have him keep going. Because I get told I was wonderful on Malcolm in the Middle almost as much as I get told I was wonderful on Doogie Howser.“

His appearance on Ellen yesterday is now on YouTube, you can listen to him chatting on On Air With Ryan Seacrest, and you can also watch another red carpet video from the Pepsi Max CBS Premiere Party here.

And if you have time to kill, AfterElton.com has a Neil Patrick Harris online jigsaw puzzle, and RightCelebrity presents the argument for Neil being The Sexiest Man Alive.

Posted by: Rach at 4:19 pm | · Filed under: Hosting | Comment
Tags: CBS, Emmy Awards, Events, Hosting, Interviews: Online, Interviews: Print, Interviews: Radio, Interviews: TV, Public Appearances, TV Appearances, TV: HIMYM |

According to PRNewswire, Neil is one of many celebrities participating in Beyond All Boundaries when it opens in November at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans in November.

When it premieres November 6, Beyond All Boundaries, the 4-D cinematic experience at The National World War II Museum, will feature the voices of Hollywood’s biggest names portraying everyday soldiers and servicemen as they fought to preserve our country’s freedom, and the journalists who covered it in their own words.

The exclusive production features an all-star cast including Tom Hanks joined by Kevin Bacon, Corbin Bleu, Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Connolly, James Cromwell, Blythe Danner, Viola Davis, Jessie Eisenberg, John Goodman, Neil Patrick Harris, Kevin Jonas, Justin Long, Tobey Maguire, Daran Norris, Wendell Pierce, Chris Pine, Brad Pitt, Bill Sadler, Gary Sinise and Elijah Wood, among others.

For more information, visit www.nationalww2museum.org.

Finally, CBS are airing a commercial promoting the Emmys, which you can catch here our YouTube channel.

Posted by: Rach at 5:13 pm | · Filed under: News | Comment
Tags: CBS, Emmy Awards, Interviews: Online, Video, Voiceover & Narration |

The CBS fall preview show, hosted by the cast of HIMYM, airs tonight on CBS at 8.30pm. Neil, Jason, Josh, Aly and Cobie will “exchange humorous banter throughout the special”, and “utilize comical means to drive home the point that HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER is moving to 8:00 PM on Mondays”. That’s surely something you don’t want to miss!

Posted by: Rach at 9:20 pm | · Filed under: HIMYM | 3 Comments
Tags: CBS, TV: HIMYM |

We’re back! Sorry for the extended hiatus, catching up after holidays is always hard work!

Many thanks to Vanessa for getting in touch about this – Neil’s episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold (“Mayhem of the Music Meister”) is set to air in Australia this Saturday (August 8th) on Channel 9 at 8.35am/9.35am depending on your time zone. The episode is listed on both yourtv.com.au and Channel Nine’s website, so it seems pretty accurate. The episode has so far only aired at Comic Con and isn’t set to air in the US until “sometime in the fall” so if it’s correct, Australia are getting a treat!

There’s been some controversy over the last day or so about the announcement of the decision to present some of the awards at this year’s Emmys before the ceremony airs on TV. The LA Times reports on what Neil and executive producer Don Mischer had to say about that at this year’s TCA Press Tour. Neil is currently still in Montreal shooting “Beastly” and so appeared at the Press Tour via Satellite – EW.com’s Michael Ausiello reports on what went on during the Emmy segment.

And we’ve finally had some confirmation on Neil’s part in “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”. Cinematical.com talks to the people behind the movie here – How I Met Your Mother writers Chris Miller and Phil Lord. He will indeed be voiceing Steve the Monkey, “Flint’s monkey who has been hardwired with a speech device. However, he usually only runs around saying his own name.”

Posted by: Rach at 8:51 pm | · Filed under: Cartoons & Animation | Comment
Tags: Australia, Batman: the Brave and the Bold, CBS, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Emmy Awards, Hosting, Musicals |

Neil is on the cover of this month’s CBS Watch Magazine. It features a lengthy interview with Neil and David as they travelled around Europe earlier this year, and a lovely photoshoot to go with it. Thanks to entwashian from LiveJournal for allowing us to use her lovely scans in the gallery – you can see them here.

CBS Watch Magazine is available as a free subscription from the CBS Watch Magazine website if you live in the United States. If you don’t (like us!) then you’re (officially) out of luck, though there are a number of copies available on eBay.

Posted by: Rach at 2:33 pm | · Filed under: Interviews | 3 Comments
Tags: CBS, David Burtka, Gallery Update, Interviews: Print, Magazines |