How I Met Your Mother
Family histories

// The skinny: A father tells stories to his kids about his relationship with their mother before they got married and the wacky hijinks their group of friends experienced together.

// Review: I'm getting my man card punched for this one. My friend recommended this to me and for the longest time when I saw it on the Tivo listing I thought it was a reality show or something. It turns out that this is just a situational comedy about relationships.

/ The premise is that the main character is long since married with teenage kids and the disembodied voice of Bob Saget is relaying stories about life in his 30's leading up to his meeting their mom. I know, sounds unremarkable. But Neil Patrick Harris is great, proving his cameo in Harold and Kumar go to White Castle was not a comedic fluke. He really deserves his Emmy nod. Every scene he is in becomes infinitely better and he really carries this show. He's basically an over-sexed, narcissistic misogynist. So obviously I have a man-crush on him, which is a little awkward because NPH is gay in real life.

/ After watching a few episodes I began to have suspicions that were verified when I started paying attention to the credits. It's produced by women, it's written by women, and it's directed by women. So unsurprisingly it's not very funny. Well unless you thought the last season of Friends was funny. But here is my redemption for watching this chick show: the fantastically good looking Cobie Smulders in high def (I know, totally un-hot name).

/ When it focuses on the guy's sexual exploits it's actually pretty good. But when it delves too mcuh into the relational aspects, I usually just become bored.

// Wrap up: If you're a chick I think you'd like it. If you're a dude you'll probably be turned off by the p-whipped males, except for Barney who brings balance to the force. Combined with the glory of Cobie Smulders, it beats re-runs of the 2005 World Series of Poker (I know because I watch them too).

Entertainment rating: 3