I Heart NJ
Encyclopedia
"I Heart NJ" is the third episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother
and 67th overall. It originally aired on October 6, 2008.
is complaining about having to travel so far to see Stella in New Jersey
, as she is often asleep by the time he gets there. It also means he misses some key events with the group, like Barney
trying to pick up a lesbian
by dressing in feminine clothing, and Robin
getting promoted. When he tells Stella about this, she suggests the group comes to New Jersey for a night out. At first, the group reject this idea, making fun of New Jersey, and also reminding him of how much he hates the place himself. He talks them into accepting, and says that soon he will not have to go back again, as Stella and her daughter will move in with him after they are married.
Robin is sick of her job, as she often reports stupid stories and has to make bad, and sometimes insensitive puns. After being offered a major anchor job, she immediately accepted, and makes her farewell broadcast, with a terrible speech (written by Ted).
On Saturday, Ted, Marshall
, Lily
and Barney head to New Jersey for a night out, but instead find that Stella's babysitter canceled, and they have to stay in. Ted reminds them that being together is what's important, but Marshall, Barney and Lily are desperate to get back home. Stella overhears their complaining, and takes them into the basement, saying it's 'the coolest bar in New Jersey', with some board games and half a ping-pong table. Barney, after making a bad joke, asks someone to give him a fist bump, but no one agrees. He declares that he will not lower his arm until someone gives him a fist pound, but is still ignored.
Robin arrives, and says she has to go back to her old job. Lily and Barney manage to stop her, reminding her of how humiliating it was there, and Robin relents. Ted is shocked to find Stella expects him to move to New Jersey, and did not want to move in with him, thinking he was joking, as Manhattan is not a safe place to raise her daughter. She asks Ted to go to the local store to get some beer, where he continues to worry about living in New Jersey, as he feels he will never go back to the city. Marshall seems to love the idea of living out in New Jersey. Barney continues to make jokes, hoping for some 'respect', as he seems to be in some pain.
Robin manages to sneak a call to her old studio, and asks for her job back. Since her replacement is terrified of going on air, her producer agrees, but only if she can make it to the studio in time for the broadcast in half an hour. She steals Stella's daughter's bike, and sets off.
When Ted and Marshall get back, Ted confronts Stella about moving to New Jersey, and she responds that she does not want to uproot her daughter. She also states New Jersey is better than New York, a statement that upsets both Ted and Lily. They begin to argue over which is better, while Barney desperately asks someone to bump him.
Robin, meanwhile, is seen performing incredible stunts in order to make it to the studio in time, even backflipping on her stolen bike over a cab that has crashed in the road.
Lily suggests that Stella will grow to love New York, as Marshall did. Marshall reveals he hates New York, as the city is designed for people who are smaller than him, and actually loves New Jersey, with its big stores, lawns and cupholders on everything. Ted refuses to relent, and Stella storms out.
Ted goes to find her, but instead finds Stella's daughter Lucy, who was woken up by the argument. He reads her a bedtime story to get her back to sleep, then finds Stella, and agrees to move in with her, saying New Jersey wins.
Robin arrives at the studio just in time, pushing her nervous replacement out of the way, and immediately going on air. After her first story again contains a bad pun, she decides she was right to quit, and leaves. Barney and Lily watch, and Lily says they helped her do that, giving him the fist bump he desired. Despite this, he quickly makes another bad joke, and asks for a high five, which he does not receive, and is still asking later at the bar. Robin reveals she did not get the job she auditioned for, but was offered another, and is going to move to Japan. Barney, shocked, lowers his hand.
gave the episode 7.8 out of 10. Cindy McLennan of Television Without Pity rated the episode with a grade C+. Alan Sepinwall of the The Star-Ledger
was rather critical of the episode stating: "What bothered me about "I Heart NJ" was that it took Ted's simplistic view of Jersey and seemed to apply such broad, black-and-white thinking to everything." Joel Keller, who hails from New Jersey, also expressed disgust at the episode.
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 67th overall. It originally aired on October 6, 2008.
Plot
TedTed 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 complaining about having to travel so far to see Stella in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, as she is often asleep by the time he gets there. It also means he misses some key events with the group, like 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...
trying to pick up a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
by dressing in feminine clothing, and 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 :...
getting promoted. When he tells Stella about this, she suggests the group comes to New Jersey for a night out. At first, the group reject this idea, making fun of New Jersey, and also reminding him of how much he hates the place himself. He talks them into accepting, and says that soon he will not have to go back again, as Stella and her daughter will move in with him after they are married.
Robin is sick of her job, as she often reports stupid stories and has to make bad, and sometimes insensitive puns. After being offered a major anchor job, she immediately accepted, and makes her farewell broadcast, with a terrible speech (written by Ted).
On Saturday, Ted, 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...
, 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...
and Barney head to New Jersey for a night out, but instead find that Stella's babysitter canceled, and they have to stay in. Ted reminds them that being together is what's important, but Marshall, Barney and Lily are desperate to get back home. Stella overhears their complaining, and takes them into the basement, saying it's 'the coolest bar in New Jersey', with some board games and half a ping-pong table. Barney, after making a bad joke, asks someone to give him a fist bump, but no one agrees. He declares that he will not lower his arm until someone gives him a fist pound, but is still ignored.
Robin arrives, and says she has to go back to her old job. Lily and Barney manage to stop her, reminding her of how humiliating it was there, and Robin relents. Ted is shocked to find Stella expects him to move to New Jersey, and did not want to move in with him, thinking he was joking, as Manhattan is not a safe place to raise her daughter. She asks Ted to go to the local store to get some beer, where he continues to worry about living in New Jersey, as he feels he will never go back to the city. Marshall seems to love the idea of living out in New Jersey. Barney continues to make jokes, hoping for some 'respect', as he seems to be in some pain.
Robin manages to sneak a call to her old studio, and asks for her job back. Since her replacement is terrified of going on air, her producer agrees, but only if she can make it to the studio in time for the broadcast in half an hour. She steals Stella's daughter's bike, and sets off.
When Ted and Marshall get back, Ted confronts Stella about moving to New Jersey, and she responds that she does not want to uproot her daughter. She also states New Jersey is better than New York, a statement that upsets both Ted and Lily. They begin to argue over which is better, while Barney desperately asks someone to bump him.
Robin, meanwhile, is seen performing incredible stunts in order to make it to the studio in time, even backflipping on her stolen bike over a cab that has crashed in the road.
Lily suggests that Stella will grow to love New York, as Marshall did. Marshall reveals he hates New York, as the city is designed for people who are smaller than him, and actually loves New Jersey, with its big stores, lawns and cupholders on everything. Ted refuses to relent, and Stella storms out.
Ted goes to find her, but instead finds Stella's daughter Lucy, who was woken up by the argument. He reads her a bedtime story to get her back to sleep, then finds Stella, and agrees to move in with her, saying New Jersey wins.
Robin arrives at the studio just in time, pushing her nervous replacement out of the way, and immediately going on air. After her first story again contains a bad pun, she decides she was right to quit, and leaves. Barney and Lily watch, and Lily says they helped her do that, giving him the fist bump he desired. Despite this, he quickly makes another bad joke, and asks for a high five, which he does not receive, and is still asking later at the bar. Robin reveals she did not get the job she auditioned for, but was offered another, and is going to move to Japan. Barney, shocked, lowers his hand.
Music
- Bruce SpringsteenBruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
- "Jersey GirlJersey Girl (song)"Jersey Girl" is a song composed and originally sung by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits from his 1980 album Heartattack and Vine.-Waits original:Waits wrote the song with his future wife Kathleen Brennan, who had been living in New Jersey...
" (live) - Robert SchumannRobert SchumannRobert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
- Träumerei "Dreaming" Op. 15/1838
Continuity
- Future Ted stated in the Season 2 finale that Robin would eventually live in Japan.
- Robin wears the same butterfly necklace that Lily wore in World's Greatest CoupleWorld's Greatest Couple"World's Greatest Couple" is the 5th episode in the second season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 16, 2006.- Plot :...
, which was ironically worn during Robin's speech (poorly written by Ted) and was about Robin's metamorphosis into a metaphorical butterfly. That necklace is also worn by Abby (Britney SpearsBritney SpearsBritney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
) in Everything Must GoEverything Must GoEverything Must Go may refer to:* Everything Must Go ** "Everything Must Go" , the title song* Everything Must Go * "Everything Must Go!", a song by The Weakerthans from Left and Leaving...
and Robin once again in InterventionInterventionIntervention may refer to:* Interventionism ** Humanitarian intervention, an attempt to reduce suffering within a state through armed conflict** Entente intervention in the Russian Civil War at 1918-1925** Invasion or military offensive...
. - Ted's disgust of New Jersey was first revealed in the season 3 episode We're Not from HereWe're Not from Here"We're Not From Here" is the 2nd episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 46th overall. It originally aired on October 1, 2007.- Plot :...
. - In the "PilotTelevision pilotA "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
" Marshall confesses that he likes olives. In this episode he can be seen hugging a jar of olives in Stella's basement.
Cultural references
- When Robin steals the bike, a ticking digital clock is shown, in reference to the television series 2424 (TV series)24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
. - When Lily reminds Robin reporting about a "Furricane" (a hurricane raining cats and dogs), Marshall says: "Rock me like a furricane" which refers to ScorpionsScorpions (band)Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
rock song "Rock You Like a HurricaneRock You Like a Hurricane"Rock You Like a Hurricane" a song by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. The song was released as the second track of their 1984 album Love at First Sting.-Description:...
". - In this episode, Ted misses out on Barney trying to pick up a lesbianLesbianLesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
. Marshall later comments on said event by saying, "no snakes on that plane", referencing the film Snakes on a PlaneSnakes on a PlaneSnakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
starring Samuel L. JacksonSamuel L. JacksonSamuel Leroy Jackson is an American film and television actor and film producer. After becoming involved with the Civil Rights Movement, he moved on to acting in theater at Morehouse College, and then films. He had several small roles such as in the film Goodfellas before meeting his mentor,...
. - This episode makes a reference to Brian CollinsBrian Collins (reporter)Boom goes the dynamite is the nickname given to a college sportscast at Ball State University in March of 2005 that became an internet sensation...
, famously known on the internet for his catchphrase "Boom, Goes the Dynamite" (used by Stella) and it also depicts a nervous newsreader taking Robin's place at Metro News 1. - By looking at the price cards, it is evident that the scene inside "PriceCo Superstore" was shot inside a CostcoCostcoCostco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
. Other obvious references are made, such as the necessity to have a photo taken for the membership card, and that Ted purchased a 144-pack of beer (Costco sells most items in incredible bulk packages.)
Critical response
Donna Bowman of The AV Club rated the episode B+. IGNIGN
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 7.8 out of 10. Cindy McLennan of Television Without Pity rated the episode with a grade C+. Alan Sepinwall of the The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times of Trenton and the Staten Island Advance, all of which are owned by Advance Publications.The Newark Star-Ledgers daily...
was rather critical of the episode stating: "What bothered me about "I Heart NJ" was that it took Ted's simplistic view of Jersey and seemed to apply such broad, black-and-white thinking to everything." Joel Keller, who hails from New Jersey, also expressed disgust at the episode.