‘How I Met Your Mother’: John Lithgow to play Barney’s father

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Call it “How I Met My Father.” John Lithgow will guest star as Barney’s (Neil Patrick Harris) father in an upcoming episode of “How I Met Your Mother,” CBS confirms.

Lithgow will appear in an episode airing around the end of February. Barney made the decision that he was ready to meet his father in an episode earlier this month. While it’s not the fantasy casting of “Mad Men’s” John Slattery that Showtracker discussed with executive producer Craig Thomas last October, the former “3rd Rock From the Sun” star’s comedy chops should fit right in on “HIMYM.” He also had quite the killer streak on ‘Dexter,’ which caused “HIMYM” co-star Cobie Smulders to joke about being terrified of Lithgow on TV Guide Network’s “Hollywood 411.”

“It’s really exciting and different for our show,” she said. “He’s such a pioneer.’

It’s been a big week for Barney. Earlier this week, he also got a new love interest.

Readers, are you pleased with the casting of Lithgow as Barney’s father?

— Vlada Gelman (follow my TV musings on Twitter at @stayingin)

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