Legendaddy
Encyclopedia
"Legendaddy" is the nineteenth 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.
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 the use tools, so he has called a repairman to fix the TV. However, instead of the repairman, Barney is greeted by Jerome Whittaker (John Lithgow
) at the door; he is Barney's father and 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 a actually a driving instructor with a normal suburban life. During the actual meeting with Barney, Jerry attempted to impress him but failed miserably.
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 disappointment 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 leaves with the basketball hoop and tells Ted that he should have it for his future kids, choking up as he says, "a kid needs a hoop."
Meanwhile, the gang begins to note all of the things that each of them never bothered to learn, noticing it when Barney mentions he doesn't know how to use a screwdriver. Robin
points out Ted's odd pronunciation of the word "chameleon
." Ted points out that Robin is unaware that the North Pole
is a real place (and later then she doesn't know that reindeer
are real 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
, and how he always misses one belt loop. Marshall thanks them, grateful to be treated like an equal again.
Zach Oat of Television Without Pity graded the episode at B+
A number of reviews also praised Harris' emotional scene with Lithgow.
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 131st episode overall. It aired on March 21, 2011.
Plot
The gang goes to the house that 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...
bought in "Home Wreckers
Home Wreckers
"Home Wreckers" is the 20th episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 108th episode overall. It aired on April 19, 2010.- Plot :...
". While Ted explains his plans for the house, 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...
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 the use tools, so he has called a repairman to fix the TV. However, instead of the repairman, Barney is greeted by Jerome Whittaker (John Lithgow
John Lithgow
John Arthur Lithgow is an American actor, musician, and author. Presently, he is involved with a wide range of media projects, including stage, television, film, and radio...
) at the door; he is Barney's father and 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 a actually a driving instructor with a normal suburban life. During the actual meeting with Barney, Jerry attempted to impress him but failed miserably.
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 disappointment 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 leaves with the basketball hoop and tells Ted that he should have it for his future kids, choking up as he says, "a kid needs a hoop."
Meanwhile, the gang begins to note all of the things that each of them never bothered to learn, noticing it when Barney mentions he doesn't know how to use a screwdriver. 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 :...
points out Ted's odd pronunciation of the word "chameleon
Chameleon
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, the possession by many of a...
." Ted points out that Robin is unaware that the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
is a real place (and later then she doesn't know that reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
are real or that Jack Kennedy and John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
are the same person). Ted also points out 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...
's bad throwing skills. 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...
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
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is ground oat groats , or a porridge made from oats . Oatmeal can also be ground oat, steel-cut oats, crushed oats, or rolled oats....
, and how he always misses one belt loop. Marshall thanks them, grateful to be treated like an equal again.
Continuity
- Ted bought the house for his future family in "Home WreckersHome Wreckers"Home Wreckers" is the 20th episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 108th episode overall. It aired on April 19, 2010.- Plot :...
". - Ted's habit of pronouncing words incorrectly is first referenced in "InterventionIntervention (How I Met Your Mother)"Intervention" is the fourth episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 68th overall. It originally aired on October 13, 2008.-Plot:...
" and "Spoiler Alert". - The episode completes Barney's search for his real father, which began with the season two episode "Showdown". In "Oh HoneyOh Honey"Oh Honey" is the fifteenth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 127th episode overall. It aired on February 7, 2011.-Plot:...
", Barney confesses to Honey that he wrote his father a letter, but hadn't gotten a response. In this episode's opening scene, Jerry is seen holding the same letter. Jerry also explains his disappearance, which Barney first notes in "Natural HistoryNatural History (How I Met Your Mother)"Natural History" is the eighth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 120th episode overall. It aired on November 8, 2010.- Plot :...
". - Marshall is driving his father’s station wagonFord Country Squire- Third generation :Prior to 1961, all Ford wagons used a two-piece tailgate assembly that required the operator to lift the rear window up and locking it into place via a mechanical support, and then drop the tail gate down to fully access the rear compartment.For the 1961 Ford adopted a tailgate...
that he and Ted used to return to New York in "Desperation DayDesperation Day"Desperation Day" is the sixteenth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 128th episode overall. It aired on February 14, 2011.-Plot:...
". - The group mentioned Marshall cannot wink but in "Columns" he winked at Lily when they extracted money from Barney.
Barney's blog
Barney discusses how a father and son can become wingmen, revealing a list of plays that they can do.Cultural references
- While breaking up with her boyfriend, Robin makes sarcastic references to The Chronicles of NarniaThe Chronicles of NarniaThe Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven fantasy novels for children by C. S. Lewis. It is considered a classic of children's literature and is the author's best-known work, having sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages...
, the board game Candyland and Harry PotterHarry PotterHarry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
by mentioning running through Narnia, travelling through Candyland and becoming the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at HogwartsHogwartsHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or simply Hogwarts is the primary setting for the first six books of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, with each book lasting the equivalent of one school year. It is a fictional boarding school of magic for witches and wizards between the ages of...
. - One of Marshall's attempts to get Ted and Barney to disagree with him is by calling The Phantom Menace "by far the best Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
movie"; the film in fact received unfavorable reviews. - One of the bands Barney lies about his father managing is Bon JoviBon JoviBon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
. He also claims Jerry accompanied the Rolling Stones during their West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
tour in 1983. - Barney asks his dad whether he slept with Stevie NicksStevie NicksStephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
. - Barney is given a picture of him, his father and ZZ TopZZ TopZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
. Barney says he remembers sitting on the lead guitarist's lap and telling him what he wanted for Christmas.
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.Reception
Donna Bowman of the AV Club gave the episode a B.Zach Oat of Television Without Pity graded the episode at B+
A number of reviews also praised Harris' emotional scene with Lithgow.