Legendaddy
| "Legendaddy" | |
|---|---|
| How I Met Your Mother episode | |
| Episode no. |
Season 6 Episode 19 |
| Directed by | Pamela Fryman |
| Written by | Dan Gregor & Doug Mand |
| Production code | 6ALH18 |
| Original air date | March 21, 2011 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
|
John Lithgow (Jerry Whittaker) | |
| Season 6 episodes | |
"Legendaddy" is the 19th episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 131st episode overall. It aired on March 21, 2011.
Plot
The gang goes to the house that Ted bought in "Home Wreckers". While Ted explains his plans for the house, Barney attempts to persuade Ted to add erotic and sensual objects. It is then revealed that the trip is an intervention. Barney believes it is for Ted, but it is actually for him.
A few days before the intervention, the gang attempted to watch TV in Barney's apartment and they learn that Barney does not know how to use tools, so he has called a repairman to fix the TV. However, instead of the repairman, Barney is greeted at the door by Jerome Whittaker (John Lithgow), Barney's father and stated he has received his letter. Later, Barney related to the gang his meeting with Jerry, telling them how he is a tour manager who loves Scotch, suits, and loose women as much as he does. Though the gang is happy for Barney, they worry that Jerry will hurt him again, which Barney brushes off. However, the gang is later approached by Jerome, who reveals that he is actually a driving instructor with a normal suburban life. During the actual meeting with Barney, Jerry attempted to impress him but failed miserably.
Meanwhile, the gang begins to note all of the things that each of them never learned, noticing it when Barney mentions he doesn't know how to use a screwdriver. Robin points that, until his class pointed it out, Ted used to think that the word "chameleon" was pronounced "Chama-lee-on." Ted points out that Robin is unaware that the North Pole is a real place. Later, it is revealed how she does not know that reindeer are real (despite being Canadian, where reindeer are found practically everywhere) or that Jack Kennedy and John F. Kennedy are the same person. Ted also points out Lily's bad throwing skills. Marshall is the only one whom the gang does not mention, and he eventually asks the gang to pick on him. He reveals that he is aware that the gang has been careful around him ever since his father died, and says that he just wants to feel normal again. The group does resume picking on Marshall, mocking his inability to wink or swallow pills, his tendency to add too much water to his oatmeal, how he always misses one belt loop and how he is too old to ask to see the cockpit on planes. Marshall thanks them, grateful to be treated like an equal again.
The gang reveals that Barney's intervention is about seeing his father, who lives nearby Ted's house. Barney reluctantly agrees to have dinner with Jerome's family and meets Jerry's wife, Cheryl, and his son JJ. Barney acts antagonistically toward JJ, but stops when he learns that JJ stands for Jerome Junior. Upset, Barney abruptly leaves and Jerome follows him to the garage, where Barney is attempting to steal the basketball hoop attached to it. When Barney expresses his resentment that Jerry is nothing more than a "lame suburban dad" and that JJ got to have a normal childhood while he did not, Jerry apologizes for abandoning Barney and helps him remove the hoop while teaching him how to use a screwdriver. Barney and the rest of the group go back to Ted's house and takes basketball hoop with him. Barney tells Ted that he should have it for his future kids, choking up as he says, "a kid needs a hoop," as his friends comfort him.
Production
Co-executive producer Craig Thomas said the issue about the identity of Barney's real father was already a plot point in the initial conceptualization of the series. John Lithgow was the first choice to play Jerome Whittaker and the producers gave him a collection of specific episodes detailing Barney's father issues (including "Showdown") to help him get acquainted with the role. Thomas said Lithgow will still appear in future episodes, as the role would complicate Barney's connection with Nora.[1]
Reception
Donna Bowman of the AV Club gave the episode a B.[2]
Zach Oat of Television Without Pity graded the episode at B+[3]
Robert Canning of IGN gave the episode a rating of 8 out of 10.[4]
A number of reviews also praised Harris' emotional scene with Lithgow.[5][6][7]
References
- ↑ "'How I Met Your Mother': Executive producer Craig Thomas previews Barney's father". Los Angeles Times. March 21, 2011.
- ↑ Bowman, Donna. ""Legendaddy" · How I Met Your Mother · TV Review How I Met Your Mother: "Legendaddy" · TV Club · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
- ↑ Archived March 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Robert Canning (2011-03-22). "How I Met Your Mother: "Legendaddy" Review". IGN. News Corporation.
- ↑ Tucker, Ken (March 21, 2011). "'How I Met Your Mother' review: Was John Lithgow truly a 'Legendaddy'?". Entertainment Weekly.
- ↑ Archived March 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Archived September 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.