'HIMYM's Jason Segel crashes L.A. Swell Season concert, offers himself up for a date

Anyone who happened to be at the Swell Season's first of two concerts at the Wiltern this week lucked into an extra treat on Wednesday night. Toward the end of performance, Jason Segel of "How I Met Your Mother" joined "Once's" Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová on stage and sang a hilarious original number about using his celebrity status to hook up with a Swell Season fan. The song wittily referenced Segel's "Freaks and Geeks" stint as well as his, um, other assets, and the refrain called out the digits of a phone number, 1-315-329-6673 ("call it if you need me"). And in case those in the audience missed it, the number was also written on a homemade sign that Irglová herself gamely held up on the stage. Here's a clip of how it went down:

The phone number, it turns out, is an actual number (with a Syracuse, N.Y., area code) which quickly gives way a voicemail message issued by Segel himself, entreating callers to send an e-mail to an address that sounds a lot like healthtronics@gmail.com. 

Those familiar with the "How I Met Your Mother" star are aware of Segel's considerable piano and songwriting skills. (Some of his other tunes include the catchy "You Just Got Slapped" song from the CBS sitcom's Slapsgiving Day episode, as well as "Dracula's Lament" from the 2008 film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall.") And while the 1-315-329-6673 song seems to be a new number in Segel's repertoire, this was not the first time the actor has performed it: A quick Internet search revealed it was sung earlier this month at a concert with Maroon 5 as well (and with lyrics slightly altered to reflect the audience).

Did anyone else catch the Wiltern performance? What's more, did anyone get a date with the actor? While Segel croons that this hook-up opportunity is "a one-time offer," Swell Season is performing at the Wiltern again tonight, which may give fans another chance to get lucky.

—Allyssa Lee

Stacy Keibler guest stars in "How I Met Your Mother's" 100th episode

“How I Met Your Mother” has added another guest star to its 100th-episode roster.

WWE wrestler and actress Stacy Keibler will appear in the milestone episode, “Girls vs. Suits,” CBS confirmed. Keibler will play a hot bartender and conquest for Neil Patrick Harris' Barney. Harris shared details about the storyline with IGN.

"Barney needs to nail the hot bartender that works at MacLaren's," Harris told the site. "Oddly, he's never banged a hot bartender before. He has a lot of conquests, but never a hot bartender."

Things get complicated when Barney learns that Keibler's character is not a fan of guys in suits, leading to a big musical number. Barney “has to choose between giving up suits to bang her or leaving her and keeping his suits – and he sings about it!” Harris said.

“Girls vs. Suits,” airing Jan. 11, will also feature guest spots from Rachel Bilson (“The O.C.”) and “Project Runway's” Tim Gunn. Bilson will play a love interest for Ted (Josh Radnor), while Gunn serves as Barney's personal tailor/fashion consultant. Keibler has appeared on “What About Brian,” “October Road” and “Samurai Girl.”

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

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'How I Met Your Mother': Going to the smoon

'How I Met Your Mother': It started with a tape

Complete 'How I Met Your Mother' coverage on Showtracker

Photo credit: Béatrice de Géa / Los Angeles Times

'How I Met Your Mother': Going to the smoon

After a somewhat disappointing and heavy breakup episode last week, “How I Met Your Mother” went back to basics for “The Playbook.” It was a fun, mostly stand-alone episode showcasing Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) womanizer ways. The episode did have much in the way of plot advancement. It was mostly a series of edited together vignettes, but the show is always funniest when it's presenting a set of rules for dating or life – Lemon Law, anyone? – made up by Barney.

Rebounding from their breakup last week, Robin (Cobie Smulders) throws herself into work, while Barney throws himself into “every woman in New York City,” including miltswancas (Mothers I'd Like to Sleep With and Never Call Again). I found it a little odd and hurtful that Barney reverted back to his old ways so quickly and intensely even though he and Robin had just broken up. I don't expect him to be a monk, but he was flaunting it right in front of her. Robin seemed to be constantly getting up and leaving.

The episode introduced Barney's “Playbook,” a book of cons, hoodwinks, gambits and hustles for tricking women into sleeping with him. How much you want to bet this book will be on bookshelves next year? Maybe they could even rush it in time for men to prey on those lonely, vulnerable hearts on Valentine's Day.

'How I Met Your Mother': It started with a tape

Things got off to an auspiciously good start for Ted (Josh Radnor) when he became the heir of Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) porn collection. Lily (Alyson Hannigan) marveled at the titles, such as “Horny Coed Surprise Party 23,” before trying to steal one for her and Marshall (Jason Segal). Any readers also fans of the British comedy series “Coupling”? If you are, then you know why I want to rewatch “Inferno” now.

Ted “attempted” to throw away the tapes, but one magically landed in the VCR player, pressing the play button all on its own. Unfortunately for Ted, Barney has taped a message over “Archisexture.” If Ted is watching the message, it means one of two things: Barney is dead, in which case he wants Ted to take his body to the Hamptons to re-create the classic “Weekend at Bernie's,” or he's in a committed relationship, in which case, “Get me out!” he begs.

Normally, I'd be pretty upset at the idea of breaking up Barney and Robin, but the writers seem to have lost who they are. The couple are so unhappy, they've completely let themselves go. For Barney, that means eating everything in sight to the point where Barney will have to buy his suits at the Big and Moderately Tall store. For Robin, it means ceasing to wash her hair and developing a case of acne face. They now resemble Marshall's favorite '70s detective show, “The Fat Guy and the Old Lady.” Yet both are too stubborn to break up with the other. Sigh. I really wish it hadn't come to this. Robin and Barney have enough emotional problems to cause a breakup without resorting to a game of relationship chicken with decidedly unkempt side effects. I think they're both smart enough and assertive enough to know when to end things. And I don't quite buy that either party would let themselves go like that.

'How I Met Your Mother': The art of fighting

One of this season's strongest episodes, “Bagpipes,” was all about different types of couples and how they deal with conflict.

Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) thinks he and Robin (Cobie Smulders) are the best couple. They've had sex in 83 and a half beds (the half was a 19th century ottoman in an antique shop). They never fight, except about who's more awesome, which is understandable. I'm in a deadlock over that one too. As Ted (Josh Radnor) calls it, they have new-relationship smugness of the honeymoon state condition. Except Robin and Barney are in a fight that won't get started because whenever they feel they're about to have one, they find a way to avoid the conflict. Barney leaves the room. Robin starts undressing. As far as avoidance tactics go, Robin's seems more fun.

Smug over his seemingly perfect relationship, Barney tells Marshall (Jason Segal) what he would do if he were married to Lily (Alyson Hannigan). It involves lots of making out and definitely no dishwashing. The Barney and Lily fantasy sequence was a great callback to the underrated episode “World's Greatest Couple,” in which Lily moves in with Barney. Those two don't get enough scenes of their own. For that matter, neither do Marshall and Robin.

Marshall takes Barney's advice – danger, Will Robinson! – leading to a huge fight with Lily and one of my favorite scenes as multiple Lilys and Marshalls have it out over different arguments. One pair argues over Lily bringing up “The Shining” at night. Lily retaliates by doing a “Shining” impression, freaking out all the Marshalls, who simultaneously beg her not to do that.

JoAnna Garcia to guest on 'How I Met Your Mother'

“How I Met Your Mother” is about to get privileged with JoAnna Garcia's presence. The actress, who starred in the CW's “Privileged” last season, will guest star on “How I Met Your Mother,” CBS confirmed.

In the episode “The Window,” Garcia will play Maggie, Ted's college friend and the perfect girl next door who's always in a relationship. Ted has been waiting forever for Maggie to be single and when he learns that she finally is, he rushes to her. But will he get there before the “window of opportunity” has closed?

Garcia, who recently wrapped up an arc on the CW's “Gossip Girl,” is signed on for one episode. “The Window” is tentatively scheduled to air Dec. 7.

– Vlada Gelman (Follow my TV musings on Twitter at @stayingin)

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Photo credit: Getty Images

'Drop Dead Diva's' Bowlby back on 'How I Met Your Mother'

“How I Met Your Mother” is welcoming back another familiar face in November.

Alan Thicke has been getting most of the attention for his return in the Nov 9. episode, “The Rough Patch,” but eagle-eyed “Mother” fans will notice another returning character in the picture above.

April Bowlby, who plays Jane's hilariously ditzy friend Stacy on Lifetime's “Drop Dead Diva,” is back as Meg. The actress, who costars alongside “Mother” star Cobie Smulders in the Broken Lizard crew's upcoming film “The Slammin' Salmon,” previously appeared in the Season 3 episodes “Dowisetrepla” and “The Bracket.”

Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) lured to her an apartment that wasn't his with the promise of commitment and then left her there in “Dowisetrepla.” Bowlby's second appearance featured Meg as one of Barney's final four bracket picks for the mysterious woman sabotaging his hookup attempts. When Barney tried to apologize, Meg didn't seem too upset and said she came on too strong.

This time around, Meg is coming between Barney and Robin (Smulders). A show spokesperson confirms that Alan Thicke is not the only one Lily (Alyson Hannigan) calls upon in her attempt to break up Barney and Robin after they hit a relationship rough patch.

That rough patch seems to have taken quite a toll on Barney. The episode finds Harris donning a fat suit when Barney gains a relationship gut, Entertainment Weekly reports.

– Vlada Gelman

Follow my TV musings on Twitter at @stayingin

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Photo: Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), Alan Thicke as himself, Meg (April Bowlby) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) in “The Rough Patch.” Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS.

'How I Met Your Mother': To be a Canadian or an American

Disclaimer: I love Canadians. I love their country, or at least the one part that I've visited. I'm even addicted to one or two of their shows.

But I also love when “How I Met Your Mother” makes fun of Canada, so I went into “Dual Citizenship” hoping that resident Canuck Robin (Cobie Smulders) wouldn't lose her Canadisms. Barney agrees with me.

“It's provided us with a lot of laughs,” he said.

According to the show, Canadisms are wearing summer clothes in winter, undecipherable Canadian lingo and hanging out in Canadian bars. It's the last one that gets Robin in trouble. After breaking a guy's nose with a chair at the bar – go Robin! -- he files assault charges, which could get her deported. The only way to avoid deportation is to become an American citizen. Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) quickly jumps at the chance to help her study. But underneath it all, I totally saw Barney for the softie that he is. He doesn't want to lose Robin to Canada.

Alan Thicke returns to 'How I Met Your Mother'

Alan Thicke will again appear as himself on “How I Met Your Mother,” CBS confirmed.

The Canadian actor, best known for starring in “Growing Pains,” will appear in an episode titled “The Rough Patch,” BuddyTV reports. Thicke previously appeared as himself in the Season 3 episode “Sandcastles in the Sand,” playing Robin's (Cobie Smulders) father in the music video for her pop star alter ego Robin Sparkles.

In “The Rough Patch,” tentatively scheduled to air Nov. 9, Lily (Alyson Hannigan) will reach out to Thicke for help in breaking up Robin and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) after they hit a rough patch in their relationship.

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

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'How I Met Your Mother': How to lose a couple in 10 seconds

“The Sexless Innkeeper” was less about sex, or a lack thereof, than it was about how to turn one of television's most adorable couples into one of its most annoying.

With her constant meddling and “Aldrin Justice” and his penchant for song (we'll get to that later), there's no doubt Lily and Marshall have their annoying quirks. But they're still an endearing couple, one so in love that they couldn't go one night without each other before their wedding despite being together for more than 10 years. That's love, folks. Plus, who could forget the marching band airport welcome in “Three Days of Snow”?

Unfortunately, Lily and Marshall left all their cute behind in their quest to woo Robin and Barney over to the land of double dating. They'd been trying for years to find the perfect best couple friends to no avail. I had a hard time believing that they never tried to double-date with Ted and one of his girlfriends. Not even when he was with Robin? But they tried it with cab driver Ranjit and his wife, who gave them the “we're just not that into you” excuse?

Watching Lily and Marshall overeagerly prep for their first double date with Robin and Barney, I was reminded of poor Josie Geller in “Never Been Kissed,” getting ready for her big prom night out with the school stud. I just knew it was going to end badly.