Blitzgiving
Encyclopedia
"Blitzgiving" is the tenth episode of the sixth season of the CBS
sitcom How I Met Your Mother
, and the 122nd episode overall. It aired on November 22, 2010.
, and Ted
is hosting his first Thanksgiving for the group, and tries his best to make it memorable. He makes a special turkey by stuffing it with a smaller turkey, calling it a "turturkeykey". Just as he is about to call it an early night, the group tells him not to leave the bar, or he will get the curse of "The Blitz". Future Ted explains how an old college friend, Steve Henry (Jorge Garcia
), had the curse of The Blitz; whenever he would leave the room with a group, something amazing would happen, leaving Steve saddened that he had missed out on it. The curse of The Blitz originally began with Matt Blitz in the 1960s and was passed on through other people over the years to Steve. Ted scoffs at the curse and leaves.
The next morning, Ted awakens to find his apartment a wreck. The gang are all present (even Steve Henry) and Ted discovers Zoey sleeping in the bathtub, who leaves soon afterward. Ted is furious that the group spent time with his mortal enemy. Lily
explains that Zoey entered MacLaren's after Ted left. The group originally schemed to get back at her for everything she did to Ted, but end up having a great night with her and Steve. Ted realizes he truly has been cursed with The Blitz. The rest tell him about the night: Marshall
sent a photo of his genitals to a complete stranger (nicknamed "Wang Guy"), Robin
danced on the door of Ted's oven (breaking it off in the process), Lily had glided on the floor using Ted's butter, and a game called "The Gentleman" was played, which involved flipping a top hat onto someone's head. Since Ted's oven is broken, the gang and Steve seek a place where they could cook the "turturkeykey", but rule out Barney
's place because he doesn't really have a stove (just a cardboard display), Marshall and Lily's place because of the foul stench from the sewage plant, and Steve's house because cats crowd the stove. Lily then remembers that Zoey invited them all to her place for Thanksgiving, as her husband (The Captain) is spending Thanksgiving with his daughter. Ted is reluctant, but agrees to go to her place. Meanwhile, Barney hitches a separate cab to Zoey's, as he was tired of being stuck in the crowded cab, but then realizes he may have been cursed with The Blitz by being away from the group. Barney meets the group outside Zoey's apartment and he realizes that he has become The Blitz, as the group says they had ran into a Thanksgiving Day parade (Steve tests this later by having Barney leave the room temporarily; he flips a coin which lands perfectly on its end, but by the time Barney returns, the coin falls flat). At Zoey's, Marshall exclaims that Wang Guy sent him a picture of his genitals back.
Ted is not ready to hang out with Zoey, but Lily says that enemies can become friends. Ted decides to see if this can happen and heads back to the kitchen, only to run into Zoey, spilling cranberry sauce and ruining her sweater. Zoey & Ted start fighting, which only results in Zoey ordering everybody to leave. While heading back, Ted sees Lily stole a present from Zoey's apartment, which Zoey was planning to give to someone named Hannah. Ted surmises that Hannah is Zoey's step-daughter, and realizes Zoey is saddened by the fact that Hannah avoids spending time with her on the holidays (which also leaves Zoey alone every time, as the Captain chooses to spend those days with his daughter). Ted and the group head back to the apartment. Barney is too busy sulking about the curse to see they had left, and then doesn't even notice that Zoey had been walking around half-naked. Ted asks for Zoey's forgiveness, saying that he understands her feelings for Hannah, and as the group enjoys a Thanksgiving meal, Future Ted says it's how he and Zoey finally became friends. Marshall takes a picture of the group to send to Wang Guy, with Robin showing some interest in the unknown person after seeing the picture of his genitals. The curse of The Blitz strikes Barney again, even with him in the room, in which a chain reaction of toppling objects causes a top hat to fly through the air and land on Ted's "turturkeykey" (creating "The Gentleman"), with Barney missing it all as he was momentarily distracted (Future Ted also points out that the "turturkeykey" tasted "wrong").
After the dinner, Barney & Steve head towards the elevator. Steve remembers that he forgot his jacket and turns to retrieve it. Just then, a girl from the neighboring apartment darts into the elevator, with Barney inside. As the door closes, the dress gets stuck between the doors, and rips apart. Steve just hears her scream, Barney saying "Thank You God!!", and realizes that he has been "Blitzed" again.
Donna Bowman of the A.V. Club
graded the episode at A-, praising the story development and the various ideas put in that actually worked together. She also noted Garcia's appearance as a continuance of his story after the Lost finale and Barney's desperation not to miss out on various events.
Angel Cohn of Television Without Pity also put the episode at A-, saying the writers did well to insert Lost references and help Garcia discover more comedic skills.
Robert Canning of IGN
gave the episode a rating of 8 out of 10.
Chris O'Hara of TVFanatic.com gave the episode a rating of 2.8 out of 5.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
, and the 122nd episode overall. It aired on November 22, 2010.
Plot
It's the day before ThanksgivingThanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
, and Ted
Ted Mosby
Theodore Evelyn "Ted" Mosby is the titular fictional character of the U.S. television sitcom How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Josh Radnor...
is hosting his first Thanksgiving for the group, and tries his best to make it memorable. He makes a special turkey by stuffing it with a smaller turkey, calling it a "turturkeykey". Just as he is about to call it an early night, the group tells him not to leave the bar, or he will get the curse of "The Blitz". Future Ted explains how an old college friend, Steve Henry (Jorge Garcia
Jorge Garcia
Jorge García is a U.S. actor and comedian. He first came to public attention with his performance as Hector Lopez on the television show Becker and later for his portrayal of Hugo "Hurley" Reyes in the television series Lost. Garcia also performs as a stand-up comedian.-Early life:García was born...
), had the curse of The Blitz; whenever he would leave the room with a group, something amazing would happen, leaving Steve saddened that he had missed out on it. The curse of The Blitz originally began with Matt Blitz in the 1960s and was passed on through other people over the years to Steve. Ted scoffs at the curse and leaves.
The next morning, Ted awakens to find his apartment a wreck. The gang are all present (even Steve Henry) and Ted discovers Zoey sleeping in the bathtub, who leaves soon afterward. Ted is furious that the group spent time with his mortal enemy. Lily
Lily Aldrin
Lillian "Lily" Aldrin is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by American actress Alyson Hannigan. She is the wife of Marshall Eriksen and the best friend of Robin Scherbatsky...
explains that Zoey entered MacLaren's after Ted left. The group originally schemed to get back at her for everything she did to Ted, but end up having a great night with her and Steve. Ted realizes he truly has been cursed with The Blitz. The rest tell him about the night: Marshall
Marshall Eriksen
Marshall Eriksen is a fictional character in the American sitcom How I Met Your Mother, created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas and portrayed by Jason Segel.-Character profile:Marshall is an easy-going, naive optimist from St. Cloud, Minnesota...
sent a photo of his genitals to a complete stranger (nicknamed "Wang Guy"), Robin
Robin Scherbatsky
Robin Charles Scherbatsky, Jr. is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Canadian actress Cobie Smulders.- Early life :...
danced on the door of Ted's oven (breaking it off in the process), Lily had glided on the floor using Ted's butter, and a game called "The Gentleman" was played, which involved flipping a top hat onto someone's head. Since Ted's oven is broken, the gang and Steve seek a place where they could cook the "turturkeykey", but rule out Barney
Barney Stinson
Barnabas "Barney" Stinson is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris. The character has been extremely well received by critics and has been credited for much of the show's success...
's place because he doesn't really have a stove (just a cardboard display), Marshall and Lily's place because of the foul stench from the sewage plant, and Steve's house because cats crowd the stove. Lily then remembers that Zoey invited them all to her place for Thanksgiving, as her husband (The Captain) is spending Thanksgiving with his daughter. Ted is reluctant, but agrees to go to her place. Meanwhile, Barney hitches a separate cab to Zoey's, as he was tired of being stuck in the crowded cab, but then realizes he may have been cursed with The Blitz by being away from the group. Barney meets the group outside Zoey's apartment and he realizes that he has become The Blitz, as the group says they had ran into a Thanksgiving Day parade (Steve tests this later by having Barney leave the room temporarily; he flips a coin which lands perfectly on its end, but by the time Barney returns, the coin falls flat). At Zoey's, Marshall exclaims that Wang Guy sent him a picture of his genitals back.
Ted is not ready to hang out with Zoey, but Lily says that enemies can become friends. Ted decides to see if this can happen and heads back to the kitchen, only to run into Zoey, spilling cranberry sauce and ruining her sweater. Zoey & Ted start fighting, which only results in Zoey ordering everybody to leave. While heading back, Ted sees Lily stole a present from Zoey's apartment, which Zoey was planning to give to someone named Hannah. Ted surmises that Hannah is Zoey's step-daughter, and realizes Zoey is saddened by the fact that Hannah avoids spending time with her on the holidays (which also leaves Zoey alone every time, as the Captain chooses to spend those days with his daughter). Ted and the group head back to the apartment. Barney is too busy sulking about the curse to see they had left, and then doesn't even notice that Zoey had been walking around half-naked. Ted asks for Zoey's forgiveness, saying that he understands her feelings for Hannah, and as the group enjoys a Thanksgiving meal, Future Ted says it's how he and Zoey finally became friends. Marshall takes a picture of the group to send to Wang Guy, with Robin showing some interest in the unknown person after seeing the picture of his genitals. The curse of The Blitz strikes Barney again, even with him in the room, in which a chain reaction of toppling objects causes a top hat to fly through the air and land on Ted's "turturkeykey" (creating "The Gentleman"), with Barney missing it all as he was momentarily distracted (Future Ted also points out that the "turturkeykey" tasted "wrong").
After the dinner, Barney & Steve head towards the elevator. Steve remembers that he forgot his jacket and turns to retrieve it. Just then, a girl from the neighboring apartment darts into the elevator, with Barney inside. As the door closes, the dress gets stuck between the doors, and rips apart. Steve just hears her scream, Barney saying "Thank You God!!", and realizes that he has been "Blitzed" again.
Continuity
- Ted calls Lily "Red", a nickname referring to her hair color, previously used in "Purple GiraffePurple Giraffe"Purple Giraffe" is the second episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on September 26, 2005.- Plot :...
". - When the gang takes a group photo, Barney poses by holding his hand to his tie, and Marshall squints at the last moment, as previously shown in "Say CheeseSay Cheese (How I Met Your Mother)"Say Cheese" is the eighteenth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 106th episode overall. It originally aired on March 22, 2010.- Plot :...
". - Zoey bought many of Lily's paintings over the Internet. Marshall created a special website for Lily's artwork in the season 3 episode "Everything Must Go".
- Ted and Marshall are eating a sandwich in a flashback to college. This is Future Ted's euphemism for smoking marijuana, first shown in "How I Met Everyone ElseHow I Met Everyone Else"How I Met Everyone Else" is the fifth episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 49th overall. It originally aired on October 22, 2007.- Plot :...
". - The first "Blitz", Matt Blitz, has the same name as a GNB accountant in the episode "The PlaybookThe Playbook (How I Met Your Mother)"The Playbook" is the eighth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 96th episode overall . It originally aired November 16, 2009...
", although it is not indicated whether or not they are the same person. - Lily tries to steal Zoey's scarf and successfully steals her stuffed turkey toy. Lily's habit of stealing things was first addressed in the episode "Aldrin JusticeAldrin Justice"Aldrin Justice" is the 6th episode in the second season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 23, 2006.- Plot :...
". - Ted works out why Zoey is upset by pieceing together different comments she makes throughout the episode. Ted's talent for deduction is seen in multiple episodes, one of them being "DowisetreplaDowisetrepla"Dowisetrepla" is the 7th episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 51st overall. It originally aired on November 5, 2007.-Plot:...
". - The group is unable to use Marshall and Lily's home for thanksgiving because of an excessively bad smell coming from the sewage treatment plant. Marshall and Lily's neighborhood was first used in the episode "DowisetreplaDowisetrepla"Dowisetrepla" is the 7th episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 51st overall. It originally aired on November 5, 2007.-Plot:...
" in which the episode title refers to the neighborhood's nickname, shorthand for "Down wind of the sewage treatment plant."
Cultural references
- Jorge Garcia makes numerous references to the series LostLost (TV series)Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
, like making up a phone number with the numbers 481-516-2342 and telling his friends he feels like "the Blitz curse" was like living on an island for eternity and that he's happy to now be on the other sideThe End (Lost)"The End" is the series finale of the ABC television series Lost, consisting of the 17th and 18th episodes of season 6. It is also the 120th and 121st episodes overall...
. On the show, Garcia's character, Hugo "Hurley" Reyes, believed himself to be cursed after winning the lottery with those numbers. - Additionally, the music played when the Blitz curse gets transferred to Ted is similar to some of the orchestral music from Lost. The Blitz curse is also transferred in the form of smokeMan in Black (Lost)The entity referred to most frequently as the Man in Black is a fictional character on the American ABC television series Lost, and is the main antagonist of the...
, a common LostLost (TV series)Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
element. - Marshall and Ted talk about a time when they listened to Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's The Dark Side of the MoonThe Dark Side of the MoonThe Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure...
while watching The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz (1939 film)The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
over "sandwiches". The event is a reference to Dark Side of the RainbowDark Side of the RainbowDark Side of the Rainbow – also known as Dark Side of Oz or The Wizard of Floyd – refers to the pairing of the 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon with the visual portion of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. This produces moments where the film and the album appear to...
. They did it again by playing "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" YankovicAlfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
's Greatest Hits and watching Apocalypse NowApocalypse NowApocalypse Now is a 1979 American war film set during the Vietnam War, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The central character is US Army special operations officer Captain Benjamin L. Willard , of MACV-SOG, an assassin sent to kill the renegade and presumed insane Special Forces...
. - The gang makes reference to the film Ferris Bueller's Day OffFerris Bueller's Day OffFerris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American teen coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes.The film follows high school senior Ferris Bueller , who decides to skip school and spend the day in downtown Chicago...
when describing their participation in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeMacy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeThe Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...
. - While being the Blitz, Steve Henry played old video games such as Tomb RaiderTomb RaiderTomb Raider is an action-adventure video game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive. It was originally released in 1996 for the Sega Saturn, with MS-DOS and PlayStation versions following shortly thereafter...
, Madden 2K1, and Grand Theft AutoGrand Theft Auto (video game)Grand Theft Auto is a 1997 action-adventure video game created by British games developer DMA Design and published by BMG Interactive. The game allows the player to take on the role of a criminal who can roam freely around a big city. Various missions are set for completion, such as bank...
. - Steve Henry makes a comment about missing Double RainbowsDouble Rainbow (viral video)Double Rainbow refers to a viral video posted by Paul "Bear" Vasquez. The clip, filmed in his front yard just outside Yosemite National Park, in the U.S. state of California, chronicles his sighting of and Stendhal syndrome-like reaction to a double rainbow...
when he was the "Blitz", a reference to the viral videoViral videoA viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
about such an incident. - Steve also makes a comment about Led ZeppelinLed ZeppelinLed Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
re-uniting at his cousin's bar mitzvah. - Barney and Marshall parody a duet to the tune of the ScottishScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
folk song "My Bonnie Lies Over the OceanMy Bonnie Lies over the Ocean"My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean" is a traditional Scottish folk songwhich remains popular in Western culture.-History:The origin of the song is unknown, though it is often suggested that the subject of the song may be...
," which the a capella group Shag-a-rats sang in the Season 1How I Met Your Mother (season 1)The first season of the American television comedy series How I Met Your Mother premiered on September 19, 2005 and concluded on May 15, 2006. It consisted of 22 episodes, each running approximately 22 minutes in length. CBS broadcast the first season on Monday nights at 8:30 pm in the United...
episode "Slutty PumpkinSlutty Pumpkin"Slutty Pumpkin" is the 6th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 24, 2005.- Plot :...
". - "Turturkeykey" is a play on the actual culinary creation TurduckenTurduckenA turducken is a dish consisting of a de-boned chicken stuffed into a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed into a de-boned turkey. The word turducken is a portmanteau of turkey, duck, and chicken or hen....
. - Lily and Ted make references to hating Renee ZellwegerRenée ZellwegerRenée Kathleen Zellweger is an American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire , and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones's Diary ...
, Reese WitherspoonReese WitherspoonLaura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon , better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower...
, and Kate HudsonKate HudsonKate Garry Hudson is an American actress. She came to prominence in 2001 after winning a Golden Globe and receiving several nominations, including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Almost Famous. She then starred in the hit film How to Lose a Guy in 10...
. Lily also wants her money back for You, Me and DupreeYou, Me and DupreeYou, Me and Dupree is a 2006 romantic comedy film directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, written by Mike LeSieur, and produced by Mary Parent, Scott Stuber, and Owen Wilson....
. - Zoey paints Robin's face like Paul StanleyPaul StanleyStanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
from KissKISS (band)Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
. - Ted compares Zoey to the Evil Stepmother from the classic fairy tale CinderellaCinderella"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
. - Lily references classic cartoon character rivalries such as Wile E. Coyote and Road RunnerWile E. Coyote and Road RunnerWile E. Coyote and The Road Runner are a duo of cartoon characters from a series of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. The characters were created by animation director Chuck Jones in 1948 for Warner Bros., while the template for their adventures was the work of writer Michael Maltese...
and Tom and JerryTom and JerryTom and Jerry are the cat and mouse cartoon characters that were evolved starting in 1939.Tom and Jerry also may refer to:Cartoon works featuring the cat and mouse so named:* The Tom and Jerry Show...
in describing Ted and Zoey.
Critical response
Reviews for the episode were positive.Donna Bowman of the A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
graded the episode at A-, praising the story development and the various ideas put in that actually worked together. She also noted Garcia's appearance as a continuance of his story after the Lost finale and Barney's desperation not to miss out on various events.
Angel Cohn of Television Without Pity also put the episode at A-, saying the writers did well to insert Lost references and help Garcia discover more comedic skills.
Robert Canning of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the episode a rating of 8 out of 10.
Chris O'Hara of TVFanatic.com gave the episode a rating of 2.8 out of 5.