Fall TV Central

Oct 23 2009 05:27 PM ET

First Look exclusive: Neil Patrick Harris grows into his 'How I Met Your Mother' role

met-your-mother-harris_lSo how are Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) faring as a couple on How I Met Your Mother? Well, if the upcoming Nov. 9 episode of the CBS comedy is any indication, maybe not so great. Barney, it seems, has packed on some pounds. “It’s a phenomenon that a lot of people can relate to, certainly more than a few people on our writing staff. It’s relationship gut,” says HIMYM exec producer and co-creator Carter Bays. Bays says Harris was more than game to don a fat suit for the episode. “He was loving it. He was like, ‘Give me the biggest fat suit you’ve got.’”

Photo Credit: Monty Brinton/ABC

Comments (1-26) of 26 Add your comment

  • sarahp

    Two NPH posts in a row?? I don’t even mind that one of them involves him in a fat suit, just keep ‘em coming!

  • Baby Buster

    They really have a hard time spelling NPH’s name. I’m waiting for the day they call him “Kneel.”

  • Kristal

    wow! Wouldn’t have recognized him, just because I’d never expect to see Barney like that. This totally a relatable topic! Every experiences relationship weight gain.

    http://toointerestingfortwitter.blogspot.com

  • kim in kentucky

    OMG – when I first scrolled down – I thought it was Roger Ebert!!

    • spencer

      Thats the first thing I thought as well! Hilarious.

  • ann from saugerties,n.y.

    I LOVED HIM AS DOUGIE HOUSER STILL LOVE NO MATTER HOW HE LOOKS HE HAS TALENT NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM HIM GO NIEL GO

  • Jenn

    Awesome! Love any Neil/HIMYM news!!!

  • DawninDenver

    I love this show but why does Hollywood insist on falling back on fat jokes when they run out of ideas? Yucky.

  • bree

    When is this fat abuse going to end?
    It’s not funny. It’s not creative.
    It’s not helpful. I thought Harris was
    a compassionate bright guy.
    My mistake.

    • Robin

      Seriously, he’s just doing his job. Gawd, he even makes gay jokes!

      And for all we know, this picture could even be *not* offensive at all depending on the plot.

    • John

      Fat abuse will end when people who work their asses off to stay in shape / eat right gain sympathy for people who just don’t want to work that hard. AKA never.

  • Gregg

    Neal Patrick is a really good actor & a cool dude with a sharp sense of humor.Barney’s gonna rock the fat suit wait for it legenddarily

  • Cliff

    I have to agree with Bree – how come this is OK while blackface for example would be considered unacceptable?

    • Jack

      Because, blacking up would be racist. Wearing a fat suit, is only offensive to fat morons.

  • Robin

    You haven’t even *seen* this episode. How do you know they are making fun of fat people, just because he’s wearing a fat suit? For all we know, he might still be happy. Seriously, get over yourself!

    In the episode with Barney’s black gay brother, they didn’t even play a race or gay card *once*. That’s the beauty of HIMYM.

  • Cliff

    So for instance if NPH was wearing minstrel make-up you would suggest we wait to see the context?

    • Robin

      No, because that’s something completely different. Barney could gain weight in the course of a plot without it being offensive in any way to chubby people. He could never be wearing “minstrel” unless for some dubious reasons.
      If the mere display of fat people is offensive to you, well, double standards much? Overweight people can be pretty happy just the way they are. And this picture is nothing but the display of him having gained weight. We don’t know in what context, no matter what the producers said. (They are mostly lying anyway to keep things exciting.)

  • Vicky Ann

    Was it offensive to tall people when Marshall called Robin “freakishly tall”? Was it offensive to old people when Robin’s older boyfriend (played by Orson Bean) was cast to play a 41-year-old and characters made fun of his age? Heck, yes. Was it funny anyway? Heck, yes. Will a fat Barney be funny? Heck, yes.

  • Jps

    Knowing the show, this is probably some glimpse into a possible future reality.

  • JoJo

    Give me a brake, I thought that Fat people were suppose to be jolly, thin may be in But Fat is where it’s AT…

  • Xander

    Yeah I’m overweight and I say hold judgment until the episode airs. Besides, I’ve gotten love handles in relationship and things were going good so just because he’s gaining weight doesn’t mean it’s because things are bad and that’s to the broader issue, not just this show, it’s not always so black and white (pun only slightly intended).

  • sherryndaniel

    Your entry reminded me alot about this entry: http://tinyurl.com/yjn47zg

  • Audra

    Race, age, homosexuality etc…are all traits that aren’t a choice. That’s why making fun of those things are more frowned upon. Fat is completely a choice, and something you can change. Same as lame clothes, a crap job or a bad haircut.

    Don’t eat so much, even without exercise, you will slim down. Don’t feel like doing that? That’s a choice. Fat is a glaringly bad (and to those who aren’t fat, a) confusing choice. That’s why fat is still funny. The show has a no holds barred type of humor. This upcoming joke is no different.

  • Bev

    Whoa! Audra, you might want to rethink that “fat is a choice” mentality. People are “fat” for a variety of reasons, many of which aren’t the result of eating too much or exercising too little. My Aunt went into hospital at 437 pounds. She lost 280 pounds of fluid in less than three months on heavy doses of diuretics. As soon as she stopped the diuretics the weight started coming back, even before she left the hospital.

  • D

    Audra – “a glaringly bad..confusing choice”? Really. So clearly you don’t know anyone who’s gained weight through various health issues, which is far too common. At the end of the day, weight is number – HEALTH is the most important aspect of a person’s life. I think being rude and disrespectful is also a choice, and clearly, that’s what you’ve chosen.
    And yup, I’m plus sized, but I also work out, walk everyday and eat well. I’ll reserve judgement on the episode until I see it. NPH is great, and who knows where they’ll take it!

  • donna

    Fat people need to stop with the ‘medical’ excuses. I was overweight with all the classic things wrong with me that cause weight gain. I got off the couch and exercised and ate RIGHT (not necessarily less) and amazingly I lost the weight AND the medical conditions. The very few that have a medical problem as a legitimate excuse find the rest of you fatties who use it quite offensive.

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