How I Met Your Mother panel at PaleyFest

Every year, the Paley Center does a series of panels for television shows. I have somehow never ever attended one, even though I love TV and also panels. Weird! For the past year or so, I have coerced my boyfriend into watching all 9 seasons of How I Met Your Mother, so when he saw tickets for their farewell panel go on sale, he snagged them for us!! <3

This particular panel was held at the Dolby Theater at Hollywood & Highland, the same place where they host the Oscars. This is the second time I've been to the Dolby. The last time, for the Hugh Jackman show, we were in the top balcony (there are 3 or 4 balcony tiers), so high up it gave you vertigo to look down. This time, our seats were basically where Brad and Angelina were sitting at the Oscars, that's how prime they were!

In attendance were Carter Bays & Craig Thomas (the showrunners), Pamela Fryman (director of most of the episodes), Alyson Hannigan (Lily), Cobie Smulders (Robin), Josh Radnor (Ted), and Cristin Miloti (the as-yet-unnamed Mother), plus Wayne Brady (James, Barney's bro) as moderator.

The event began with a screening of the entire next episode, the whole thing! Every time it faded to black I was sure that was going to be it, but then they went and showed the whole episode! 

Neil Patrick Harris (Barney) couldn't be there (he's in NY, playing Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway), but he showed up on Skype for a bit at the beginning, knocking back shots of tequila and red bulls between answers. He talked about how Alyson is the heart of the show, Josh the soul, and that there's no no other woman he'd rather be married to than Colbie!

Bays and Thomas said they originally had 2 shows that they pitched; the other one was a show about teachers; it was what they thought a sitcom should be. HIMYM was more about their own lives and experiences, for example, Carter from Ohio, so Ted is from Ohio. Craig has been with his wife since freshman year of college, just like Lily and Marshall.

Cristin loved singing La Vie en Rose because it's been a part of her family for a long time. She said she didn't tell anyone she would be singing it in the episode until they watched it when it aired.

When asked how do you relate to your character, Josh said he thinks of Ted as a younger brother who is often annoying, but sometimes he looks up to his optimism.

They took a few questions from the audience, as well. One young girl asked for advice for young aspiring actors. Alyson replied it's SO hard, but it's worth it, and hopefully you have a good therapist later on. Cristin said she tried to be Blake Lively, but only you can do what you do, so be you. That's actually good life advice as well!

It was a really cool night, and I'm looking forward to attending more PaleyFest panels in the future!!