My biggest fear tonight, one week from the slap bet finale is that How I Met Your Mother would be phoning it in this week. They must have something huge planned for next week, and I was afraid that working out the finer points of the slap bet episode may have caused this one to suffer. It did not. Tonight's episode may not have been the funniest ever, but there was certainly enough to keep everyone entertained.

The entire episode focused on normal fears, worries, and annoyances, and magnified them in order to find the funny. It may be an old formula, but when the fears and annoyances are universal and the funny truly funny, it is a safe one.

The whole notion that there was something wrong with Cathy that Ted could not see is a wholly normal fear, people are often blinded by an initial infatuation with someone. Sometimes even the biggest flaws, ones that are initially hidden, only make themselves obvious later (two-timing hussy, a 32 year old that still lives with his mother, that sort of thing) are hidden.

One of the better moments tonight came when Ted hypothesized about what Cathy may have done to upset his friends when he went to the bathroom during dinner. His choices – sent a teacher to jail for statutory rape when the teacher did nothing wrong, volunteers at the pound in order to kill puppies, and used to be a man are all beyond the bounds of sanity, but that's exactly what made them funny. All of Ted's choices were infinitely worse than the real problem, but even though the reality paled in comparison to Ted's thoughts, it turned out to be insurmountable.

When the truth came out, that Cathy was, to use Seinfeld-esque parlance, an over-talker, it didn't, at first, seem like such a huge flaw. Then, when the show flashed-back to the dinner and we got to see Cathy flapping her lips at a mile a minute, it was clear that Ted had but one choice – he needed to dump her. For the audience's sake, the girl had to go.

Then there was Marshall and his Bar exam. The scene of the test itself was reminiscent of the SAT. People were terrified – one was throwing up, another was running around like a chicken with his head cut off, and Marshall was randomly filling in answers after time was called (just so you know, I did none of those things, I rocked the SAT). Then, after months of waiting, the poor guy couldn't remember his password to the website so he could get his score (does anyone know if that's true, does the Bar allow you to login to a website to get your scores?).

Forgetting a password to a website is one of those routine every day things that happens to all of us. Forgetting a password to a website where you can't get a new one e-mailed to you and the website holds the future of your life behind it's locked login screen is a truly terrifying prospect. Marshall may have been able to get the results of his test six weeks down the line, but, had he not figured out the password, those would have been the longest six weeks of his life. Could you have held out? I know that I couldn't.

If How I Met Your Mother taught us anything tonight it is that the world is a better place when nothing is hidden, not passwords, not loud chewing, literally nothing (well, almost nothing). Things may seem worse initially when the truth is out there, but at least then everyone knows where they stand.

Quotes and other observations:

• At the group dinner, Cathy suggested that Marshall and Lily get a Murphy bed for their new place. Do people still make Murphy beds? Didn't they go out with Charles in Charge? Does anyone out there have a Murphy bed?
• One of the truths Ted laid bare to Marshall was about Lily's loud chewing. I have no idea how that sort of thing slips by unnoticed. I get just as annoyed about such things as does Ted. But I digress, because two of the better quotes tonight came from Marshall talking to Lily about her chewing when she was eating her breakfast. The first being – "Hey, what's in that cereal besides dry twigs and small animal bones?" And the second – "Lily, I love you, but honest to God, when you eat it sounds like a garbage disposal full of drywall screws."
• During the scene in which each character's annoying habits were discussed, one of the knocks against Barney was that he uses lame catchphrases. That is so not true. Barney's catchphrases are awesome. They're legendary. They make one want to suit up and read his blog.
• The knocks against Barney tonight were things that he does on a regular basis. Is the same true of those against Ted, Marshall, and Robin? They certainly seem like they are, but I don't recall specific instances of Ted correcting people, Marshall singing, or Robin using the word "literally." Did you notice at the end of the episode that when Ted meets up with Cathy in 2010 that she asks if he is seeing anyone? Sadly for us, Ted never got the opportunity to answer the question because Cathy wouldn't stop talking long enough for Ted to tell us.

As we come to the close you do know what I'm going to tell you, right? That's right, I'm going to not so subtly suggest you come out and visit The TV and Film Guy's Reviews.

Comments

Snort out loud funny episode, LITERALLY! Even the Crapper Spaniel (or was it Pooper Spaniel?) and the Golden Reliever jokes! I cannot WAIT for the Slap Bet episode next week! So glad that one was in the can before the strike!

Big Joe | Nov 13, 2007 4:57:50 AM | #

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As someone who just took the Illinois Bar, they posted the results on a website only by registration numbers, so though it wasn't a password, there was some sort of number. And like Marshall, I lost mine. So I understand and found that whole part of the episode to be hilarious.

Dan | Nov 13, 2007 5:44:14 AM | #

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I submit, for your review, two instances of Marshall singing on the show, courtesy of "The Sweet Taste of Liberty.

Exhibit A: "Studying law-making a responsible choice for my future-on a Friday night-being a lawyer had better be awesome"

Exhibit B: G-g-g-going to Philly!

I have to be honest, with the exception of the Marshall singing callback, this felt like a recycled episode of Friends. Next week had better be awesome!

Alyx | Nov 13, 2007 6:27:30 AM | #

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It was Kaka Spaniel. Tee hee.

| Nov 13, 2007 6:32:06 AM | #

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The state of New York posts the names of each person who passed the bar exam in alphabetical order on a website. There are no passwords or registration numbers, you simply look at it and know one way or the other. At least that's how it was in 2004.

| Nov 13, 2007 6:38:43 AM | #

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In Texas they publish the pass list on the web. If your name is on it you passed. If not you will be getting disappointing results in the mail 3-5 days later. No password required. The months for the results in quite true. Get results from the July exam in November.

Barney does space out ... that was spot on. Good episode. But the best is still the "Swarley - where everybody knows your name" episode!

Lisa | Nov 13, 2007 6:38:55 AM | #

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Years ago, one of the managers I worked for took the bar, and he asked me to log onto the website to see if he passed. I don't remember if I needed a password then, but I wouldn't be surprised if they added that level of security these days.

Oh, and I can't believe no one mentioned the song they sang that helped Marshall remember his password. :)

And Marshall totally sings everything (the goodnight Lily tape, anyone?), but that's one of the reasons I love him.

Lyssa | Nov 13, 2007 6:44:28 AM | #

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Great episode. Although, it did give my sister another opportunity to claim that I'm a loud chewer. I'm not! But she is Miss Corrector. Like literally!

Lorrie | Nov 13, 2007 6:49:49 AM | #

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Great episode. Although, it did give my sister another opportunity to claim that I'm a loud chewer. I'm not! But she is Miss Corrector. Like literally!

Lorrie | Nov 13, 2007 6:49:52 AM | #

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This was like a Friends episode. I remember the episode specifically because it was the last one I watched regularly of that show. It seemed like a jump the shark moment in that series and was either the season premeire or one of the initial episodes of that season and it had all the Friends getting on each others nerves and fighting (Joey put on all of Chandlers clothes at one point). It seemed somewhat contrived and I didn't like the way the characters treated each other, the show seemed to lose some heart and I stopped watching after that episode.

I think HIMYM handle this was much better because it had the characters rally around each other in the end. it was like the anti-Friends version of the same show.

I don't think that this show is a Friends-knockoff but I think the writers were at the least fans of that show and borrow somewhat from it.

Fav comment of the night, Robin, "She's a keeper, just keep her away from here!"

SAC | Nov 13, 2007 7:28:39 AM | #

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Didn't Lily have a Murphy bed in her apartment next to the Svenskan?

pakopako | Nov 13, 2007 7:53:27 AM | #

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I've seen Murpy Beds in catalogues lately. They are new and updated! Usually in the space-saver sections.

Sue | Nov 13, 2007 8:08:06 AM | #

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I recognized Ted's constant correcting, but I never noticed Marshall's singing or Robin's "literally" obsession. But come on, Barney's are not faults! Barney wouldn't be Barney if he didn't do all that! And we would have missed out on alot of laughs.
The slap bet countdown is on!

Mandy | Nov 13, 2007 9:06:15 AM | #

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Did anyone notice the look between Robin and Barney? I can't remember exactly at what point it was in the show but it was when they were all at a table together.

jmh | Nov 13, 2007 10:19:34 AM | #

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Loved when Lilly was eating the cotton candy and i was crunching. Hi-larious! I noticed that ted was not wearing a ring on his finger at the end so he is not engaged in three years...

Caleb | Nov 13, 2007 11:00:31 AM | #

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Marshall does sing in a few episodes. Remember Lily's "night night" song and the time Marshall was singing about doing homework on a Friday in season one's "Sweet Taste of Liberty".

Mike | Nov 13, 2007 11:44:45 AM | #

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They mail the bar results out before the list is posted on the web. The MI bar mailed out the results on Halloween, I thought that was funny, and I got mine a couple days later.

Matt | Nov 13, 2007 1:37:59 PM | #

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They mail the bar results out before the list is posted on the web. The MI bar mailed out the results on Halloween, I thought that was funny, and I got mine a couple days later.

Matt | Nov 13, 2007 1:38:11 PM | #

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jmh!! Good eye! I totally noticed the look between Barney & Robin!(At the bar, early in the episode) I felt like it was a 'Lost' Easter egg or something--what WAS that all about?!

Ginny | Nov 13, 2007 2:31:51 PM | #

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The loud-chewing part was kind of annoying. Rather than actually have Lily chew loudly (chomp away at her food or whatnot), they just magnified the sound. And it didn't make that much sense.

And I guess I'm slow, cuz at one point I was wondering why we kept hearing glass breaking, which I found annoying. Then I figure it out, but it was still annoying.
Fav parts were Marshall singing, and the self-referential joke where future Ted says something about how talking too much was so annoying, and his kids stare at the camera.

Billiam | Nov 13, 2007 7:18:11 PM | #

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Ginny, if I remember correctly, I think "Aunt Robin" and "Uncle Barney" get married at some point. Can anyone else confirm?

jmh | Nov 13, 2007 7:30:20 PM | #

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It wouldn't seem out of character for Ted to be a corrector, Lily a loud eater or Robin a word misuser, literally. I thought this was an enjoyable episode.

Goph | Nov 13, 2007 7:56:07 PM | #

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I always thought there was something between Robin and Barney back when he used to have her do stupid stunts for money (?) on the late at night news to see if anyone would notice. And yes I have heard her referred to as Aunt Robin also.

Gem | Nov 13, 2007 11:14:55 PM | #

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Murohy beds are making a comeback! They a great way to save space in small places...check it out:

www.QualityWallBeds.com

jen | Nov 14, 2007 11:40:51 AM | #

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California requires a number that you enter online in order to find out if you passed. (You'll get an ambiguous message like "You're name appears on the pass list" if you passed). The number is really a type of password, specific to you. California does post online a public list of people who passed, but not until days after you are able to access it with your number. It could be that NY started implementing this, or that they just took liberty by using the CA-style bar result method. Luckily, I didn't lose my number (and I passed).

As for the exam itself, it's half multiple choice, half painful essay. Marshall was finishing up the essay portion--and could have easily been disqualified by writing after the time was up. But, hey, it was funny.

As for bar freakouts--I've taken bars in two states and never witnessed a freak-out. However, both times people ditched the exam after the first break on the first day, or didn't show up for the second or third day (3 days in CA). Considering how hard you have to study for the bar, that's such a waste.

Overall, hilarious episode.

Lisa | Nov 14, 2007 1:06:57 PM | #

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I have taken and passed the bar and I have a Murphy bed.

jawbone | Nov 14, 2007 3:14:55 PM | #

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what song was playing in the background at the end of the episode?

| Feb 25, 2008 5:49:13 PM | #

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