The Stinsons
Encyclopedia
"The Stinsons" is the 15th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother
and 79th overall. It originally aired on March 2, 2009.
Ted and Betty begin to develop a connection, since they're both fascinated by theatre. After dinner, Ted is caught kissing Betty, and Barney is forced to confront him in front of his mother, but the tables are turned when Ted starts using Betty's acting tips to improvise a story that Barney long ago stole his fiancée. Barney then finally tells his mother the truth, and she is relieved because she admits she hates Betty and Tyler. She really hates Tyler because he keeps saying, "Tyler no likey!," (the child actor's attempt to create a catchphrase for his character). After that moment, they share a hug and she tells him to make sure to go for it when he does meet the right girl. At that moment, Robin walks in and Barney looks at her as he tells his Mom he will try. On the ride home, Ted and Betty are in one cab while Barney, Robin, Marshall and Lily are in another. Lily then fakes a conversation on her cell phone with Betty pretending to be Marshall's mother in order to make him think she's on good terms with his mother.
Cindy McLennan of Television Without Pity rated the episode with a grade B.
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 79th overall. It originally aired on March 2, 2009.
Plot
At the beginning of the episode, Barney is seen skipping out hitting on some hot girl because he tells everyone he has to go somewhere, but he is secretive about where. The gang becomes suspicious that Barney might have a secret girlfriend, so they follow him to what turns out to be the house of his mother, Loretta. Barney then reveals that he has a wife, Betty, and a son, Tyler. Barney then tells the gang that they are both actors he hired because his mom was dying and he thought it would make her happy to think he was married. When his mother recovered, Barney was stuck with the fake family. Marshall at first argues that Barney should tell his mother the truth because there shouldn't be secrets within families. After he discovers that Lily hates his mother, Marshall starts to think that some things are better left unsaid.Ted and Betty begin to develop a connection, since they're both fascinated by theatre. After dinner, Ted is caught kissing Betty, and Barney is forced to confront him in front of his mother, but the tables are turned when Ted starts using Betty's acting tips to improvise a story that Barney long ago stole his fiancée. Barney then finally tells his mother the truth, and she is relieved because she admits she hates Betty and Tyler. She really hates Tyler because he keeps saying, "Tyler no likey!," (the child actor's attempt to create a catchphrase for his character). After that moment, they share a hug and she tells him to make sure to go for it when he does meet the right girl. At that moment, Robin walks in and Barney looks at her as he tells his Mom he will try. On the ride home, Ted and Betty are in one cab while Barney, Robin, Marshall and Lily are in another. Lily then fakes a conversation on her cell phone with Betty pretending to be Marshall's mother in order to make him think she's on good terms with his mother.
Music
- "Vertigo" by Anya MarinaAnya MarinaAnya Marina is a singer-songwriter based in San Diego, California. Her music has primarily gained notice after being on a variety of television sitcoms and has been featured on prime time dramas.the ABC television drama Grey's Anatomy as well as CBS's How I Met Your Mother, MTV's The Real World,...
(played when Barney comes clean to his mother about not being married)
Continuity
- Barney once again claims Bob BarkerBob BarkerRobert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
is his father. - In this episode Barney's Mom name is Loretta. In "The Yips", Rhonda French calls her Patty.
- Betty talks about Doctor Grosbard, Barney's shrink in "Intervention"Intervention (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:...
, however in this instance Dr. Grosbard is Barney's physician. - Barney expresses dislike for New Jersey in discussing The Karate Kid. This sentiment was openly expressed by Ted and the others in "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 :...
", "I Heart NJI Heart NJ"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.- Plot :...
", and "Happily Ever AfterHappily Ever After (How I Met Your Mother)"Happily Ever After" is the sixth episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 70th overall. It originally aired on November 3, 2008.- Plot :The day after Stella ran out on their wedding, Ted is unusually happy...
". - Robin appears to form a real bond with Barney's fake son, however it is known that Robin hates kids.
- The entire group attended Barney's brother and Loretta's son James' weddingSingle Stamina"Single Stamina" is the 10th episode in the second season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on November 27, 2006.- Plot :...
last year, yet Loretta appears to have never met any of Barney's friends until this episode. - Barney once again uses the expression "get your head out of your ass", which he has often said to Lily. This marks the fifth use of the phrase - the next occurs in season five's "Girls Versus SuitsGirls Versus Suits"Girls Versus Suits" is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 100th episode overall. It originally aired on January 11, 2010....
".
Cultural references
- Ted recalls having seen Betty act in Brecht'sBertolt BrechtBertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
Die Heilige Johanna der SchlachthöfeSaint Joan of the StockyardsSaint Joan of the Stockyards is a play written by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht between 1929 and 1931, after the success of his musical The Threepenny Opera and during the period of his radical experimental work with the Lehrstücke. It is based on the musical that he co-authored...
(he refers to the play by its original German title). - Barney's line "Call me crazy but child actors were better in the 80s", is a reference to the actor Neil Patrick HarrisNeil Patrick HarrisNeil Patrick Harris is an American actor, singer, director, and magician.Prominent roles of his career include the title role in Doogie Howser, M.D., Colonel Carl Jenkins in Starship Troopers, the womanizing Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, a fictionalized version of himself in the Harold...
, who plays Barney. Harris himself was a child actor in the 1980s playing the title role in Doogie Howser, M.D.Doogie Howser, M.D.Doogie Howser, M.D. is an American television comedy-drama starring Neil Patrick Harris as a 16-year-old doctor who also faces the problems of being a normal teenager. Created by Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley, ABC aired the show from 1989 to 1993 for four seasons totaling 97 episodes.-Plot:Dr....
. - Barney's fictitious wife's name Betty is a reference to Barney and Betty Rubble from The FlintstonesThe FlintstonesThe Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
. - Robin says that Barney's supposed girlfriend must have come from 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...
to manage to make him a committed man. - After Loretta states that she had been a "whore" back in the day, Marshall calls her "Barney's mom", in reference to the movie "American Pie", also starring Alyson HanniganAlyson HanniganAlyson Lee Hannigan is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Willow Rosenberg in the cult classic television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Michelle Flaherty in three American Pie films, and Lily Aldrin on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother.-Early life:Hannigan was born in...
, where Paul Finch calls Steve Stifler's mother "Stifler's mom". - Loretta mentions sleeping with the members of Grand Funk Railroad, where she spent three weeks being passed around like a bong.
- Barney's childhood home is the same set as the full house set (needs verification)
Critical response
The AV Club rated the episode A-.Cindy McLennan of Television Without Pity rated the episode with a grade B.