So many superstars and acting heavyweights got their big breaks on the Disney Channel — Miley Cyrus, Zendaya, Jenna Ortega. And, of course, Selena Gomez, who was causing magic-related hijinks on Wizards of Waverly Place long before she was solving crimes with Steve Martin and whispering into Taylor Swift’s ear.

Someone who’s been less of a regular face on our screens since the hit Disney sitcom ended in 2012, however, is Gomez’s on-screen brother, David Henrie. While he may not have hit the same level of fame as Selena, Henrie also earned TV immortality through playing Ted Moseby’s son in How I Met Your Mother, even if only stock footage was used of his character after season 2.

Since 2014, however, Henrie’s stepped out of the limelight somewhat, although that’s all about to change thanks to a return to his most beloved role. But what’s he been up to in the meantime?

David Henrie’s arrest, marriage, kids, and other projects

Post-Wizards and HIMYM, Henrie has maintained a steady career appearing in ing roles in a variety of comedy projects — notably, Grown Ups 2, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, and an episode of Arrested Development. Henrie also made his directorial debut with 2020 teen comedy This is the Year, on which Selena Gomez served as an executive producer. Henrie’s most notable project of this period has unfortunately never been seen — he was due to play a young Ronald Reagan in biopic Reagan, starring Dennis Quaid. However, though it was completed in 2021, the film is still waiting on a release.

Away from the industry, Henrie has become a husband and a father. On April 21, 2017, Henrie married former Miss Delaware 2011 Maria Cahill, following their engagement in October 2016 — Henrie went all out with his proposal, which included the use of a helicopter. After three miscarriages, the couple welcomed their first child, Pia Philomena sca, on March 19, 2019. The couple’s second child, James Thomas Augustine, followed on Christmas Day 2020 before their youngest, Gemma Clare, arrived on July 17, 2022.

In other words, Henrie is not one of those child stars who has suffered from dark turns in his life or bad press. That said, he did have one incident with the law in 2018. On Sep. 10, the actor found himself arrested and charged at LAX due to carrying a loaded gun into the airport. He later shared on Twitter that he had “unintentionally brought my legally owned gun which is ed in my name to the airport.” Although he did appear in court, Henrie avoided jail time and instead had to complete 20 hours of community service and faced a probation period of two years.

“I am so sorry for any trouble it caused but I am appreciative of TSA’s efforts in implementing the safety laws that are in place to protect our beautiful country,” Henrie said in a statement to the press, following the incident. “More than anything I am humiliated and embarrassed that this even happened.”

As of 2024, Henrie has been thrust back into the limelight with the news that Disney has greenlit Wizards, a revival of Wizards of Waverly Place in which he will produce and star once again as Justin Russo. He will reunite with guest star Gomez in the first episode. According to the show’s tagline, “Justin must embrace his past to ensure the future of the Wizard World.”

So what happened to David Henrie? He’s doing pretty great, thanks for asking.

The holidays hold a special place in the hearts of sitcom fans, many of whom flock to their favorites each year to rewatch those rare seasonal episodes. Fans of CBS’ How I Met Your Mother largely see the show’s Thanksgiving episodes as its peak offerings, but its Christmas episodes are just as enjoyable.

Sure, they don’t contain the famous slap saga, nor do they typically boast any original HIMYM songs, but over the course of nine seasons, the popular sitcom released five festive episodes that absolutely ooze Christmas spirit. Each one offers up a completely unique take on the mega-popular holiday, delivering heaps of holiday cheer for fans to soak up.

“How Lily Stole Christmas” (Season 2, Episode 11)

The first How I Met Your Mother Christmas episode falls midway through its second season. By this point, Lily and Marshall have broken up and gotten back together, and things are generally looking up for the whole gang. After Lily accidentally stumbles upon an old voicemail from Ted, however, the two get into a tiff that nearly ruins the holiday.

Unlike some sitcom Christmas episodes, this holiday entry is entirely focused on Christmas. It sees Lily and Ted work to sort out their differences before Marshall returns from an all-day study marathon, and pokes fun at the exhausting familial choices we are all forced to make during the holiday season.

“Little Minnesota” (Season 4, Episode 11)

Two seasons after its first Christmas episode aired, How I Met Your Mother graced viewers with its second Christmas offering. The season 4 episode “Little Minnesota” is less Christmas-centric than “How Lily Stole Christmas,” but still packs plenty of holiday cheer into its runtime.

This episode sees Marshall introduce Robin to his favorite bar, a tiny slice of Minnesota nestled in the midst of bustling New York City. The down-home vibes of the bar connect perfectly with Robin, who is somewhat morosely headed toward another holiday far from her home in Canada.

“False Positive” (Season 6, Episode 12)

Once again skipping a season between festive episodes, the third Christmas episode of How I Met Your Mother doesn’t arrive until its sixth season. In an episode that splits its focus between Christmas and regular storytelling, the gang is now older and working toward paving their way forward in their various career and life pursuits.

When Lily and Marshall discover that they are expecting their first child, it sends a wave of panic through the friend group. Worried they aren’t doing enough with their lives, each member sets their sights on a specific goal, only to immediately abandon them when they discover that Lily and Marshall aren’t actually pregnant.

“Symphony of Illumination” (Season 7, Episode 12)

Season 7’s Christmas episode is one of the series’ most heartfelt. It tells a particularly emotional and interesting story, and delivers one of the show’s most impressive light shows near the episode’s end.

“Symphony of Illumination” follows Robin as she learns of, and reacts to, news that she is medically unable to bear children. Mixed in with a few jokes to keep the mood light, Robin deals with some very real emotions throughout the episode. Ted’s ultimate act to try and improve her mood is one of his better moments in the entire series, and will tug at the heartstrings of even the most cynical viewer.

“The Final Page Part 2” (Season 8, Episode 12)

The final holiday episode in How I Met Your Mother‘s nine-season run came about during its eighth season’s 12th episode. In the second half of a dual-part episode, Barney’s massive proposal effort finally comes to a head. The episode is one of the highest rated of the entire series on IMDb—with a rating of 9.4 out of 10—due to its surprising and elaborate climax.

“The Final Page Part 2” allows Christmas to be a steady theme in the background of a massively important plot episode. It sets up the remainder of the eighth season, as well as the ninth, all while giving the audience regular doses of Christmas spirit.

Where to watch How I Met Your Mother

If you’re looking to binge these festive episodes of How I Met Your Mother, the show is currently available to stream on Hulu. It is no longer available on Netflix or Prime Video — at least, not without purchasing the series first. If you’re looking to enjoy the show year over year, it might be worth shelling out right around $10 a season to own it outright on Prime.

Unfortunately, no Christmas-themed episode ever aired during the run of the show’s spin-off series, How I Met Your Father. The series, starring Hilary Duff, only held out for two seasons, and neither sport any Yuletide episodes to add to our round-up. If you’re looking for some HIMYM-themed Christmas cheer, you’ll have to stick to the original series.

There’s just something so lovable about John Lithgow. Maybe it’s his absolutely charming accent, or the fact that he’s never not smiling. Nonetheless, he’s one of Hollywood’s most adored legends, and always a delight to see on screen. 

 Besides his signature charm and wit, John Lithgow is a seriously strong actor. With a criminally underrated body of work, the man is an icon both on screen and on the stage. No matter what roles he undertakes, you’re sure of a stellar showcase. However, as far as amazing acting goes, you’d find that his performance in these 10 projects are a testament to his abilities.

10. How I Met Your Mother 

Lithgow took on the role of Jerry, the long-lost father of Barney in How I Met Your Mother. The sitcom follows Ted Mosby, a man in New York City who recounts the ups and downs of his life to his children. The series revolves around his search for true love and the antics of his close-knit group of friends, including the legendary ladies’ man Barney Stinson. Lithgow only appeared in four episodes, but he’s definitely a standout of all the show’s guest actors.

9. The Crown

In this critically acclaimed historical series, Lithgow starred as Winston Churchill, with his performance earning him a Primetime Emmy Award. The series chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and offers a compelling and intricate look at the British Monarchy and its impact on the world. The Crown is a favorite for a reason, as it provides a personal and political view of the challenges faced by the Queen, her family, and her country. As far as Lithgow’s performance as the former U.K. Prime Minister, let’s just say he was scarily believable in the role.

8. Footloose

Footloose is an iconic 80’s film that tells the story of Ren McCormack, a city teenager who moves to a small town where dancing and rock music have been banned. Unable to live without both, Ren kickstarts a rebellion against the town’s rules, finding love along the way. Here, Lithgow plays Reverend Shaw Moore, a preacher who opposes dancing in his town. 

7. of Endearment 

In the iconic of Endearment, Lithgow portrays Sam Burns, a gentle, kind, and pure-hearted banker named Sam. The story chronicles the complex relationship between a mother and daughter, Aurora and Emma. It explores the ups and downs, tragedies and triumphs, and the unbreakable bond that holds the two together throughout decades.

6. Love Is Strange 

In this independent tearjerker, Lithgow plays Ben, a character who tries to navigate the complexities of a homosexual relationship alongside his partner. The heartfelt film tells the story of longtime same-sex couple Ben and George (Alfred Molina), who face unexpected financial difficulties after finally getting married. The two are subsequently forced to live apart and face the challenges of separation.

5. Rise of the Planet of Apes 

Rise of the Planet of Apes centers around a brilliant scientist, Dr. Will Rodman, who experiments on apes and inadvertently leads to their enhanced intelligence. As the apes become more intelligent, they revolt against human oppression. Here, John Lithgow plays Charles Rodman, the father of Will Rodman and adoptive grandfather of Caesar. The actor brought on a deep emotional weight to the story, earning great praise for his performance.

4. The Old Man

Lithgow took on a much darker role in the thriller series, The Old Man. He stars alongside Jeff Bridges in a story about a former CIA operative who has been on the run for three decades. With impeccable acting from the cast, particularly Bridges and Lithgow, The Old Man is a masterclass in acting from two powerhouse veterans. 

3. Shrek 

The Shrek franchise is one of the most beloved animated films. In stark contrast to his sweet personality, Lithgow humorously lent his voice to the villainous character Lord Farquaad. Shrek is a fairy tale that follows the journey of an ogre named Shrek who, alongside his humorous sidekick Donkey, sets out to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded tower. Along the way, Shrek and Fiona discover the true meaning of love and friendship.

2. The World According to Garp

The World According to Garp is an adaptation of John Irving’s novel and tells the story of T. S. Garp, a writer and the son of a feminist icon. As Garp navigates life, love, and family, he encounters the dark and unconventional aspects of life. Lithgow takes on the role of Roberta Muldoon, a transgender ex-football player, and his performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best ing Actor. 

1. 3rd Rock from The Sun 

In this popular TV sitcom, John Lithgow plays Dr. Dick Solomon, an alien posing as a human professor. Garnering significant acclaim for his acting, Lithgow’s performance earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards. The series follows a group of extraterrestrial beings who assume human identities and pose as a family in a typical American town. Their initial mission is to observe human behavior, but this leads to a series of comical mishaps, particularly as they try to navigate life on Earth.

With the year’s biggest spookfest just around the corner, we thought to give a shoutout to How I Met Your Mother and its memorable Halloween episodes, whether they involve a certain Slutty Pumpkin or chief troublemaker Zoey.

For a show that regularly dedicated episodes to different Holidays (seven Christmas outings, five to Thanksgiving, and even three to Valentine’s Day — or, as Barney would refer to it, “Desperation Day”) it’s strange to realize that the gang celebrated Halloween on only three occasions out of the story’s 10-year history.

Still, these three episodes have been etched into our brains due to the festive shenanigans accompanying them. And perhaps because two of them were serialized and tied heavily into Ted’s love life (as if the rest of the show isn’t). At any rate, here’s our ranking for How I Met Your Mother‘s Pumpkin Night episodes.

3. “The Slutty Pumpkin Returns” – Season 7, Episode 8

Ted finally discovers where the girl of her dreams (well, sort of) lives, so he asks her out on a date, only to learn that the two are anything but a match made in heaven. Ted and the so-called Slutty Pumpkin have no chemistry, so they call it quits after just a short while. Meanwhile, Barney learns that he’s part Canadian, much to his dismay, as Lily struggles with the onset of her “pregnancy brain.”

2. “Canning Randy” – Season 6, Episode 7

Ted dresses up as a hog dog and teaches his class about bridges. Zoey is still hell-bent on turning his life into a living hell. Marshall has to fire one of his subordinates but finds that he lacks the strength to do so. This is the perfect How I Met Your Mother holiday outing, full of interesting developments, sagacious life lessons from older Ted, and of course, amazing costumes for the cast all around. I mean, even barring Ted, Barney dresses as Johnny Lawrence from The Karate Kid, while Lily and Marshall cosplay as a matador and a bull, respectively.

1. “The Slutty Pumpkin” – Season 1, Episode 6

There’s something incredibly nostalgic about this episode all the way back in the first season. We were only getting to know the cast, but they appeared in their roles as if they’d been doing it for years. Barney suits up as a Top Gun pilot, while Lily and Marshall get complementary costumes as a pirate and his parrot. Robin isn’t into the whole Holiday spirit, because of course she wouldn’t be, so she ends up fighting with the person she’s currently dating. And yes, this is the episode that marks the beginning of Ted’s search for the “Slutty Pumpkin,” a girl he saw at a Halloween party years ago.

The face of an institution and a television personality beloved to all, Bob Barker, has died at 99 years old. The host of The Price Is Right, Barker appeared in over 3,000 episodes as one of the longest-running game show hosts in television history. Roger Neal, Barker’s publicist, released a statement via NBC News about the ing of the well-known celebrity.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker has left us.”

Barker is ed not just for the longevity of his career but for how he gave life back to the game show when it was in trouble. Initially hired in the early ‘70s, he became the host for The Price Is Right after its popularity had declined decades previously. After appearing in an impressive number of episodes, his legacy helped the show thrive even after the famed personality’s retirement. Known for his affable personality and delightful interactions with contestants, he was truly the lingering bastion of a bygone era.

The host first started his prolific run on the ’50s game show Truth and Consequences for almost two decades. The success of the trivia show made him a prime candidate to take over The Price Is Right years down the line. His hosting became so notable and appreciated during his reign that it carried him into the world of acting as well. 

In his heyday, Barker also had the habit of playing himself in several humorous roles. The television host appears in Adam Sandler’s classic Billy Madison in an unforgettable scene. Though not even the first choice for the role, The Price Is Right host was agreeable to duking it out with Sandler in the golf comedy. Sandler noted in That Scene With Dan Patrick that Barker’s only stipulation for appearing in the film was that he win the fight.

And who could forget his legendary guest appearance in How I Met Your Mother as Barney’s (Neil Patrick Harris) fake father? Living his entire life believing the lie his mother told him that the celebrity was his birth father, Barney finally gets the opportunity to meet him when he appears on the show. Barney ultimately understands that Bob Barker is not his father, but still receives the hug from a father figure he always needed. Barker’s willingness to appear in such silly fare has confirmed his sense of humor and cemented him in the entertainment zeitgeist as an American icon. In a world where streaming has taken over and daytime shows are a thing of the past, Barker will be ed fondly. 

In honor of International Friendship Day, we will be ing television at its very best. Instead of torrid romances and drama that typically saturates the airwaves and streaming platforms, we are gathering a list of television’s best friendships that make viewers believe the best in people. This is a tall order and surprisingly enough, not as easy as it seems.

Despite the aptly named NBC series, Friends actually doesn’t have healthy depictions of friendships at all. Much of the humor comes at the expense of their alleged friendly dynamic. Everyone thinks Pheobe (Lisa Kudrow) is weird. No one accepts Ross’ (David Schwimmer) interests. Monica (Courteney Cox) is jealous of Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). Chandler (Matthew Perry) makes fun of Joey’s (Matt LeBlanc) intelligence – or lack thereof. There is no room for friendship dynamics in name only here. Instead, this list will contain the truest and most ive forms of friendship, from the obscure ones we may have forgotten to duos we just can’t get enough of.

1. Kirk and Spock — Star Trek: The Original Series

Starting out strong, the ultimate friendship that comes to mind is one of television’s most iconic duos. A friendship repeated throughout film and television in many variations, the relationship between Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) was one of television’s first friendships that remains in the pop culture zeitgeist. Beginning in the first run of Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, Kirk and Spock began the archetype for opposites attract. The captain of the Enterprise is accustomed to rule-breaking and never believes in a no-win scenario. His first science officer is the opposite, always looking for a logical answer. Together it seems that two could not be any different, but their affection spans the stars and decades of storytelling.

When it counts, Kirk and Spock will do anything for the other. In one of the most moving story arcs, Spock sacrifices himself because the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. He submits to radiation poisoning to save the crew and his best friend in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. This exact scenario is reversed in Star Trek: Into Darkness, proving that in any timeline, Kirk and Spock will always choose to die for each other. The friendship has outlasted Shatner and Nimoy’s depictions many times over. The most recent actors playing Kirk and Spock belong to Paul Wesley and Ethan Peck respectively in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Though the two are just beginning their iconic friendship, there is no doubt that a new generation of Trek fans will fall in love with these two.

2. Meredith and Cristina — Grey’s Anatomy

For a series that has been on the air for almost two decades, Grey’s Anatomy is somehow still going strong. Turnover of the series’ original cast is high so that even the series’ titular character is taking her leave (at least for the time being). But don’t let that erase the original value of the series. Following the trials and tribulations of a group of doctors interning at Seattle Grace, Grey’s Anatomy has always been about Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Cristina (Sandra Oh). Though the two lead characters very quickly embark on romantic relationships with their bosses, the dynamic of the series has always revolved around their friendship. The surgical interns initially bond because of their shared ambition and wariness about opening up emotionally. As soon as the ice breaks, it’s pretty much confirmed that these two characters are soulmates. Both go through husbands and paramours, but their friendship is always constant.

So much so that one of the saddest moments of the show isn’t even necessarily Meredith losing Derek (Patrick Dempsey), but having to say goodbye to her best friend. At the end of season 10, Cristina officially says goodbye to run a medical research facility in Zurich. This marked the end of an era for the show as Meredith would have to continue without her rock. But as Meredith promises Cristina in one of their final moments together, this isn’t the end. Their love for each other has spanned a decade and will continue to do so, even with Oh leaving the series. They are each other’s person, and friendships like that last a lifetime.

3. Robin and Lily — How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother may be from Ted’s (Josh Radnor) romantic and desperate perspective of trying to find a wife like a protagonist from some Jane Austen novel, but he is not a great friend at the end of the day. Even though Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) has been accepted into his circle of friends, Ted wastes no time making him feel like a second-class citizen. Ted prioritizes his romantic pursuits above all else, even when it hurts people around him. With that in mind, the honor of best friendship doesn’t go to any of the men in the series, but the women. Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) have an infinitely better relationship, particularly because it doesn’t involve Ted or his insistence that Robin is the love of his life.

Before Robin shows up, Lily is lost in a sea of her fiancé, Marshall’s (Jason Segel) friends. Though she counts Ted as one of her closest confidantes, she never had the benefit of female camaraderie. Ted’s pursuit of Robin allows Lily to finally have a female friend, and even when the relationship takes a turn for the worst, Robin is allowed to stay in the circle. When the men aren’t around, Lily and Robin have a close friendship full of and antics that could not exist otherwise. They never have falling outs, and even when they make unpopular decisions like Lily leaving Marshall at the end of season 1, they still each other implicitly.

4. Veronica and Wallace — Veronica Mars

The little show that could on UPN may not have seemed like much when it premiered in 2004, but it helped catapult Kristen Bell into household stardom. She sold the series as the titular teen striving to solve the murder of her best friend. Armed with a tazer and an arsenal of quips, Veronica works at her father Keith’s (Enrico Colantoni) P.I. office where she cultivates her crime-solving skills. But that doesn’t stop her from encountering the same coming of age as any other teenager. In the seaside community of Neptune, California, Veronica has been an outcast ever since her father accused the Kane family of killing their daughter.

Veronica makes peace with being the town pariah until new kid Wallace Fennel (Percy Dags III) is accosted by the local teen biker gang. Though Veronica wants to keep out of the drama at first, she finds that she has more in common with Wallace than one might think. Both are outcasts in their own way with no one else to hang out with. Neither of them is in the tax bracket of most of the kids at Neptune High, and there is no friendship like one formed in the trenches of high school warfare. The two never even consider broaching romance and are there for each other platonically for the rest of their lives. Wallace has been there to defend Veronica’s honor and help her solve crimes ever since she cut him down from a flagpole the first day that they met. Through boyfriends and murder, Wallace is the one constant that Veronica has throughout her life.

5. J.D. and Turk — Scrubs

A sitcom that had as many heartwrenching moments as laughs, Scrubs was the pinnacle of medical shows at the time. Though outlandish with many meta jokes and fantasy sequences, the medical aspects of the series were extremely close to reality. But the cherry on top of the Scrubs cake is the friendship between J.D. (Zach Braff) and Turk (Donald Faison). Starting as interns in the medical and surgical practices respectively, the series follows the two as they move up the ranks at Sacred Heart Hospital through relationships, professional pitfalls, and of course, the antagonism of Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley).

The friendship between J.D. and Turk is the foundation that the series is based on, and even though the two may (on the briefest of occasions) have minimal conflict, they are the one constant in each other’s lives. Their co-dependency is largely played for laughs, but also demonstrates the mark of real friendship: always being there to run in slow motion toward each other.

6. Seth and Ryan — The O.C.

The teen drama that all other shows in the genre measure themselves against, The O.C. was a pop culture phenomenon for a reason. On the surface, it may seem just the typical trappings of rich teens in the throes of unrelatable problems, but the series has heart at its gilded center. With a beautifully cultivated soundtrack of the early ’00s indie scene, The O.C. hones in on feelings of loneliness and being an outsider. Juvenile Ryan (Ben McKenzie) finds himself in a bad situation after his brother steals a car. His mother abandons him, and he has no one in the world but his public defender (Peter Gallagher). But Sandy has a heart of gold and brings him home for the weekend. What starts as a temporary situation turns into a moving story about family. Ryan meets Sandy’s intelligent but solitary son Seth (Adam Brody), who finds no one among his rich classmates to connect with.

He and Ryan bond and become brothers. The Cohens eventually adopt Ryan, which helps him reject the cycle of violence and crime in his hometown of Chino. The O.C. isn’t just about the wild antics of rich teenagers, but two characters who find each other when they need it most. Both become better for their relationship and can’t imagine their lives without each other. So much so that when Ryan has to move back to Chino, Seth is so distraught he runs away from home. Seth and Summer may be the ship heard around the world, but Seth and Ryan are the heartfelt glue that keeps fans coming back again and again.

7. Keeley and Rebecca — Ted Lasso

The heartbreak of Keeley Jones (Juno Temple) not ending up with Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) is still fresh, but we at least have the assurance that Keeley and Rebecca will never cut ties. Where Ted Lasso fails at romance plots, they make up for it in the solitary female friendship of the series. Keeley starts off simply as the girlfriend of hotshot footballer Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), but through that relationship she comes to befriend the owner of AFC Richmond, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham). As with most of the characters in the series, they all have growing up to do. Rebecca has to learn to move past her vengeance against her ex-husband, Rupert Mannion (Anthony Head), while Keeley learns what it’s like to stand on her own two feet.

In the male-dominated industry of English football, their relationship is one of the most important. The two not only hold each other up, but also keep each other able. When they make mistakes, they move past them and encourage each other to be their best selves. In the world of television, this is not a common dynamic, and showing it in a silly comedy about a fish out of water makes it that much more important.

8. Shauna and Taissa — Yellowjackets

A series almost exclusively revolving around female characters is rare, and Yellowjackets has discovered how to explore the gritty depths of female friendship. There are many characters that have interesting dynamics in the show, but Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) and Taissa (Tawny Cypress) have a connection that spans decades, and are the least traumatized of the bunch. Not necessarily the closest when the plane carrying their high school soccer team goes down in the ‘90s, Shauna and Taissa bond through their shared grief and experience. Taissa is the first to learn that Shauna is pregnant when trapped in the Canadian wilderness and is her main system.

This continues into their adulthood, even when they are trying to keep a low profile about what happened in the woods. Because of crimes committed to ensure their survival, the Yellowjackets characters try to keep their ties under wraps. But as a blackmailer tries to manipulate the team, viewers see that bonds formed in high school still remain, especially when cannibalism is involved. Shauna and Taissa are the closest in adulthood, sharing details of their personal lives when it’s not necessary. And though these dynamics will never be completely without tension, they are the closest in the show to having a normal friendship dynamic.

9. Rick and Daryl — The Walking Dead

Trauma bonding is a common theme in television and no more so than in The Walking Dead. The decade-long show has seen the death of many characters, but throughout it all, there is a core dynamic that has kept many of them sane. When Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) first meet, they could not be more opposed. Daryl blames Rick for the disappearance and presumed death of his brother Merle (Michael Rooker), while the sheriff is just trying to keep their small group together during the zombie apocalypse.

But as things get worse for the group, the characters start to change. Rick becomes a more hardened version of himself, doing what is necessary to keep the people he loves alive. And without the toxic influence of his brother, Daryl realizes he can be a good person. He dispenses with the racist rhetoric that Merle taught him and becomes one of the most valued of the group. Rick and Daryl grow closer and come to understand each other implicitly. As Rick says, they’re brothers, which becomes especially difficult to accept when Lincoln leaves the show. Rick is presumed dead after an explosion on the bridge, and no one blames himself more than Daryl. He becomes emotionally isolated as the leadership of the group falls to a council, and he never stops looking for his friend. We can only hope that with the incoming spin-offs from The Walking Dead, the two will see each other again.

10. Jon and Sam — Game of Thrones

In a show as bleak as Game of Thrones, levity is practically a requirement. Families are bound together through blood and vengeance, but the one corner of the show that is free from this is The Night’s Watch. After taking the black, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) retires from his former life and accepts a new band of brothers. The most significant of whom is Samwell Tarly (John Bradley), the most unlikely of recruits new to The Wall. Sam is weak where Jon is strong, and a coward where Jon is brave. But the two have the strongest friendship in the entire series.

Jon takes it upon himself to protect Sam and in turn, teach him what it takes to survive in this world. Throughout their time in The Night’s Watch, the two characters become as close as brothers. Jon shows an aptitude for leadership, and Sam finally finds a way to apply his book learning for good in the real world. He trains as a Maester and never gives up on Jon, even when it seems that the Northern bastard has left this plane of existence. Jon reaches his true potential after his assassination and returns from the dead. Through decisions good and bad, Sam is there for him, and Jon s him just as much.

Cobie Smulders is making headlines for her longtime MCU role as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill, which she reprises in Marvel’s latest spy thriller series Secret Invasion.

Although there has only been one episode released so far, fans have already seen a significant storyline for Maria, and they are eagerly awaiting to learn what will become of her. Smulders became a beloved member of the MCU after playing Agent Hill in the The Avengers in 2012, but has starred in a plethora of other projects.

The 41-year-old actress made her professional acting debut two decades ago in 2002 at the age of 20. and thanks to her most noteworthy performance in How I Met Your Mother, she has cemented her place in the annals of popular culture. Smulders’ first credited performance was as a guest star in the science fiction comedies Special Unit 2 on UPN and Jeremiah on Showtime.

Since then, the extraordinary actress has achieved enormous heights and made an enduring impression on both small and big screen entertainment. With a long list of accomplishments to her name, Smulders’ well-known characters have been permanently imprinted in the minds of generations. Here are her top 10 films and television shows to watch right now!

Movies

Starting off with trivia: Cobie Smulders appeared in Dwayne Johnson’s 2004 film Walking Tall as an exotic beauty. However, her first recognizable film role was in the Canadian film The Long Weekend in 2005, where she played a character named Ellen. Since then, Smulders has been a part of more than 25 films. Here are the best 5 among them:

5. Delivery Man (2013)

Smulders was tapped to play the part of Emma in Delivery Man, a remake of the 2011 Canadian film, Starbuck. The comedy-drama film centers around David Wozniak, a deliveryman for his family’s butcher shop who gave 693 donations to a sperm bank under the alias “Starbuck'” and fathered 533 children as a result. Wozniak is now stuck in a class action lawsuit by 142 of his children, forcing the fertility clinic to reveal his identity.

Smulders plays his girlfriend, Emma, an NYPD officer who is pregnant with his child and decides to raise it by herself. Though the film mostly revolves around Vince Vaughn and Chris Pratt, it’s refreshing to watch her play a sensitive role in a comedy.

4. Unexpected (2015)

Unexpected stars Smulders as a high school teacher in an inner-city Chicago neighborhood. She accidentally gets pregnant and discovers that Jasmine, one of her most promising students, has also become pregnant unexpectedly. While coping with their unexpected shared dilemma and bonding over future plans, the two forge an odd relationship.

The audience was drawn in by the movie’s provocative topics and the revelation that Smulders was truly pregnant when the 2014 production was underway. The actress excels in a poignant, composed, and sensitive role in the film, in contrast to her recent action-packed flicks.

3. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)

In the 2016 Jack Reacher sequel, Smulders played Major Susan Turner in an action-packed role alongside Tom Cruise. The story revolves around Cruise’s title hero and Smulders’ Major Turner, who is wanted for espionage and on the run as they uncover a sinister conspiracy. Smulders is stunning in the army get-up and maintains authenticity in her role.

Even though the plot was not well-received by the critics, Smulders left a lasting impression with her action and she performed all of her stunts in the film. Though she already debuted as Agent Maria Hill in MCU before Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, the film realized and fully explored her action capacity.

2. The Intervention (2016)

The Intervention puts Smulders at the center of the plot with Vincent Piazza as her husband. The film follows a weekend getaway for four couples of old friends that takes a sharp turn when Ruby and Peter (Smulders and Piazza) learn the entire trip was planned to serve as a venue for an intervention in their marriage.

Ruby, the patient spouse of the career-driven, workaholic businessman Peter, is portrayed by Smulders. It is a lighthearted take on issues in married life that at times reads as sorrowful and relatable. The star broke her leg the day before filming while playing with her children, but director Clea DuVall decided to include it in the narrative rather than replace her or use camera angles that would cover the injury.

1. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Smulders began her Marvel Cinematic Universe journey in 2012 with The Avengers before starring in its follow-up, Avengers: Age of Ultron. In the movie, the Avengers battle the titular villain, an artificial intelligence that wants to wipe out humanity in order to bring about world peace.

Smulders reprises the role of Maria Hill, a former high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who now works for Tony Stark. She is a sophisticated and tenacious character who ensures that operations at the Avengers’ headquarters operate as smoothly as possible. The film was well-received and gave Hill more room to grow within the MCU. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019) came out as sequels to Age of Ultron, owing to the film’s worldwide success.

TV Shows

Smulders started her career in television before she took on movies. She has been a part of over 25 TV shows, with her first series regular role coming in just after one year of doing small gigs. To close up the list, here are her top five TV shows:

5. High School (2022)

Starring in another one of director Clea DuVall’s projects, Smulders earned the role of Simone Bates in High School, a series based on the 2019 memoir by Tegan and Sara Quin. It premiered on Freevee on October 14, 2022. The series is set in a backdrop of 90s grunge and rave culture, starring twins who struggle to find their own identities.

They strongly resemble each other as they navigate identity, love, and music on their individual self-discovery journeys while their family and friends play their part in the background. Smulders plays the mother of the twins, alongside Kyle Bornheimer as her husband. She makes for an engaging watch as she deftly conveys the family dynamics.

4. Friends from College (2017–2019)

Friends from College is a Netflix original series that premiered on July 14, 2017. The first season consists of eight half-hour episodes, followed by another eight-episode second season that debuted on Jan. 11, 2019. The show irreverently depicts the tragicomic misadventures of a close-knit group of Harvard alums in their 40s as they navigate their ambitious but bumbling and romantically-entwined lives in New York City.

Smulders stars as Lisa Turner a.k.a. Froshy, a hedgefund lawyer who is married to respected but financially-struggling writer Ethan Turner. The comedy series is easy to follow and refreshing on its right, and while critics did not fancy the series very much, audiences loved Friends from College for its brilliant comedy and relatable characters.

3. Veritas: The Quest (2003)

Veritas: The Quest was the first television program where Smulders had a regular role. The show centers around Nikko Zond, a disobedient but smart youngster, who embarks on an Indiana Jones-style quest with his archaeologist father and his colleagues in an effort to follow in his mother’s footsteps in uncovering mysterious artifacts.

One of the key relic seekers Nikko follows throughout the movie is Juliet Droil, who is portrayed by Smulders. Even though she plays an older tutor in the series, she is only one year older than Ryan Merriman, the actor portraying Nikko. The series gained much popularity among viewers, who also criticized ABC’s decision to cancel it after only four episodes.

2. Stumptown (2019–2020)

One of Smulders’ most lauded acting performances came in the 2019 ABC crime thriller Stumptown, which was based on the comic book series of the same name. Due to delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, ABC decided to discontinue the show after one season of 18 episodes. However, it still left a lasting impact on her career.

She portrays a military veteran Dex Parios, who struggles to take care of her younger brother and has incurred PTSD from her time as a Marine in Afghanistan. To make ends meet and pay off her massive gambling debts, she decides to become a private investigator. Both critics and viewers praised the series for its believable action, and Smulders’ star-making performance.

1. How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014)

The ten-time Primetime Emmy Award-winning series How I Met Your Mother is the highlight of Smulders’ career. She gained enormous prominence as a result of her nine-year stint as Robin Scherbatsky in the CBS sitcom produced by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays. The series uses the framing device of the main character Ted Mosby in 2030 recounting to his children the events from September 2005 to May 2013, that led him to meet their mother.

Smulders plays the Canadian news reporter, who is the wife of Ted in the present. Her independent, career-driven persona paired with a sarcastic sense of humor won over everyone. She gave Robin a special mix of charm, wit, and vulnerability that made the character distinctive and relatable to viewers.

In case you weren’t made aware, Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was held on Sept. 19. But what you probably weren’t aware of is the incredible list of strange pop culture anniversaries it coincided with.

The world looked on at the funeral as history as one of the most culturally important moments of the 21st century, but how exactly does it stack up with other major events of the 21st century, namely bizarre moments in internet history? Very, very humorously, is the answer. Kicking it off large with a big one, the funeral shares the same date as the creation of none other than Bowsette.

Yes, the internet’s favorite Rule 34 character for a solid few weeks in 2018. Voted one of the best video game memes of 2018 by Newsweek, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more famous fan creation.

It doesn’t end there, with a now-ancient meme also sharing the day with destiny just a decade before Bowsette. One fateful September day in 2008, Troll Face was born out of the creative hands of Carlos Ramirez, an 18 year-old student. There may not be a meme quite as impactful on modern culture than Troll Face.

If you’re in more of a sitcom mood, you’ll be pleased to know the pilot for How I Met Your Mother aired on Sept. 19, 2005. Now an icon of pop culture, even if its finale pulled an elaborate troll face on its entire viewership in 2014. Perhaps the biggest one is next, though, with the first recorded Steamboat Willie screening happening on the date in 1928. You simply cannot escape Disney.

Whether or not people will Her Majesty as fondly as they do Bowsette or the Troll Face remains to be seen. Oh, and we didn’t even mention the funeral lining up on National Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day, either.

There are many parallels to be drawn between Friends and How I Met Your Mother – the character dynamics, the love interests, and the primary setting of New York City. So it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to envision a plane of existence in which these two worlds collide.

One fan theory on Reddit, however, takes the overall jovial tone of both shows and flips it on its head to create something quite grim. The author of the thread took an existing fan theory around Friends being a figment of Phoebe’s imagination, based on a group of people she saw in Central Perk, and took it a step further.

Rather than Phoebe peering into Central Perk, instead, we’re working with a homeless Ursula peering into MacLaren’s Pub. Ursula, for the uninitiated, is Phoebe’s twin sister. The author contextualizes the theory by establishing Ursula as having lived a rough life following a failed music career and being subjected to sex work and alcohol abuse. 

This might not be too much of a stretch, considering we know Ursula and Phoebe had a rough upbringing, and at one point Ursula was even working in the adult film industry masquerading as her sister.

So Ursula frequents the front of MacLaren’s Pub, and the HIMYM gang frequents the pub itself. She doesn’t know them, and they don’t know her, so she comes up with imaginary names for this group of strangers she seems pulled towards.

Ted becomes Ross, and his best friend Marshall becomes Chandler. The womanizer, Barney, becomes Joey, and the new arrival, Robin, becomes Rachel. 

The one outlier in this theory is Lily as Monica, as she and Chandler don’t get together until around halfway through Friends’ run, but her sisterly relationship with Ross does somewhat parallel Lily and Ted.

It doesn’t sit well with Ursula that this lovely group of strangers spend so much time at a bar, so instead, in her mind’s eye, she places them in a coffee shop and s them in these fantasies as a plucky vegetarian and creative with a rough upbringing. Oof.

How I Met Your Mother was recently a point of discussion around some of the worst TV series finales of all time, while Kenan Thompson took a bit of a dig at Friends during the opening of the 2022 Emmys. 

In the wake of Game of Thrones re-entering the public zeitgeist, battlegrounds of the internet are filled with digital blood as fans go all-out discussing a list of worst TV series endings of all time, and almost nothing is sacred.

Initially published by Variety, the list has sparked massive debate as fans go in to bat for their favorite shows: and conduct smear campaigns on the ones they despised. The obvious entries were there, such as Game of Thrones, How I Met Your Mother, Dexter, and Lost, but a few others were perhaps very hard done by.

Starting it off, it’s fair to say there’s nobody out there defending the ending of How I Met Your Mother. After several seasons, almost any other ending would’ve been well-received in comparison. Even finding out it was all a dream would’ve been better, surely.

Seinfeld is quite possibly the greatest live-action comedy series to come out of the United States, but its finale left much to be desired for many fans. In true Seinfeld fashion, the whole two-part finale involves the horrible gang of four finally being outed as doing mostly terrible things to people before they ended up in prison. However, sitting at #2 on this list has many fans unhappy.

Then there’s Game of Thrones. Never before has a show had so many well-received seasons with audiences so widely engaged, all to fall utterly flat on its face. Perhaps House of the Dragon will help salvage the reputation of Westeros, but nothing can get these fans to defend the Game of Thrones finale.

In fact, many were surprised it didn’t earn number one on this list, how many other shows in the social media era got this much vitriol? Again, House of the Dragon, the bar is ridiculously low for you to do a better job.

What did finish as number one, though? Surprisingly, The Sopranos. How any show managed to pip the likes of Lost and Game of Thrones for that coveted “worst in first” spot is beyond us.

Many also defended The Sopranos‘ ending, because, well, Game of Thrones season 8 existed.

Who knows if there’ll ever be a new show that could enter the top 10 in the years to come, maybe there’ll be another truly awful ending in something like the The Rings of Power series or even Amazon Prime’s Fallout.

Fans are excited for the new Marvel series, She-Hulk, once it drops on Disney Plus. But fans believed that this show could use a crossover event with the TV series, How I Met Your Mother, believing that it would be the best way to utilize the “breaking the fourth wall” trope.

Twitter @Diokintos posted a photo of Jason Segel, with a caption that suggests that he should appear in She-Hulk as Marshall Eriksen from How I Met Your Mother. They believe that the lawyer-turned-judge should fight with Jennifer Walters (aka She-Hulk) in the courtroom. The tweet received nearly 4k likes and made its way onto Reddit.

Fans felt mixed about the concept but also believed that it could work. On one hand, fans thought that this is a good idea, especially since the multiverse is a thing in the MCU. Others called on Ms. Marvel star Iman Vellani who may be lurking using her hundreds of anonymous s to tell Kevin Feige to have Eriksen in the MCU.

She-Hulk vs Big Fudge the lawyer battle we need

— Dex! (@Diokintos) August 3, 2022

This is my Multiverse of Madness

— Cal (@SplinterCal) August 3, 2022

However, having Marshal Eriksen in the MCU may have problems. For one, he became a judge by the end of How I Met Your Mother, so he’s no longer a lawyer. However, one suggested that in the ‘MCU version’ of How I Met Your Mother, Eriksen might have been affected by the snap, which prevents him from becoming a judge.

Another problem is the former Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Maria Hill as she’s played by Cobie Smulders. Fans argued that Smulders played as Robin Scherbatsky in How I Met Your Mother, meaning that Eriksen would get confused if the two meet. However, people could argue that they’re just look-a-likes since that was a thing in the show. One also suggested that “Robin” from HIMYM could just be an undercover alias.

While a crossover event between the MCU and How I Met Your Mother could be interesting, it is unlikely due to multiple plot holes and clashes in of timeline. But if he does appear by surprise, I bet fans would lose their minds.

She-Hulk comes out on Disney Plus on Aug. 18.

How I Met Your Father reached its first season finale today and, in doing so, treated viewers to a major cameo from a How I Met Your Mother favorite. Previous episodes had reintroduced Kyle MacLachlan’s Captain and Laura Bell Bundy’s Becky, but none of the main characters from the beloved CBS sitcom had made it onto the Hulu spinoff. That’s changed now, though, as the finale saw Hilary Duff’s Sophie unite with a very familiar face, much to the delight of fans.

Spoilers incoming!

After running out on Jesse (Chris Lowell) after he tells her he loves her, Sophie goes to MacLaren’s and bumps into Robin Scherbatsky, marking Cobie Smulders’ first time playing the role since HIMYM ended in 2014. The two women bond as Sophie opens up about her relationship woes, which leads her to receive some inspiring advice from Robin. “Do not waste your time being scared, Sophie,” she tells her. “Fear can make you run away from things that could be good — great, even. Things that are supposed to be part of your story.”

In an interview with Deadline, showrunners Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker addressed how this surprise comeback came about. Berger explained that they actually had Robin’s return figured out pretty earlier on as it felt “organic” to the story to have her impart some wisdom to Sophie, especially given everything Robin went through over HIMYM’s nine seasons. As Berger put it:

“It was an idea that we kind of locked into very early on in the season. We just loved the idea of Sophie getting to talk to Robin and Robin getting to impart some wisdom to her about love and about life and about timing. Obviously, in the original, we got to see Robin go through so many chapters of her own and so many ups and downs and it felt really organic to the story we were telling to bring her back and have her speak on those things. It’s also so satisfying to How I Met Your Mother fans to see her in that role. It just felt like the perfect way to utilize her and we were so excited that we actually got to do it.”

With HIMYF having been renewed for a second season, Deadline inquired whether Smulders could return for further appearances. The interviewer even pitched the idea of her sharing the screen with Kim Cattrall, who plays Old Sophie. “Oh, that would be awesome!” Aptaker responded, going on to it that Cattrall has made clear that she wants to get an opportunity to interact with the other regulars. While that might be hard to engineer, Aptaker said that the writers are “starting to brainstorm if there’s any fantasy that could get Kim together with some of the cast.”

The complete first season of How I Met Your Father is now streaming on Hulu.