HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’s Barney Stinson – I’ll Stand By You!

Last night’s “Cleaning House” episode of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER once again had the gang back at Barney’s mom’s place. Frances Conroy reprised her role as Loretta and Wayne Brady was back as Barney’s brother, James.

At the core of the episode was the realization that Barney’s life had been built around a series of lies perpetrated by his mother in order to protect her son’s fragile feelings.

Barney wasn’t asked to leave the basketball team because he was too good. No one showed at his 8th birthday because little Barney didn’t have any friends, not because the Postmaster General lost all the invitations. And the biggest lie of them all – Bob Barker isn’t really Barney’s dad (gasp!).

Barney’s ego and his childlike naivete wouldn’t allow him to see the truth behind the tales he’s been told. Or perhaps he’s known all along that his mother was protecting him, but it was easier to buy into the lies than risk being exposed as anything short of awesome.

A never-sent letter, found among Loretta’s belongings, led Barney and James on a search to find Sam Gibbs, the father of one of Loretta’s sons. But which one? When Ben Vareen answered the door, we knew James has found his real dad. As for Barney, he briefly found the father figure he always wanted. And it’s a good thing because Barney has been struggling as a white man for too long. He was ready to embrace his black African American black roots.

This is going to be a bold statement, but I think last night was my favorite Neil Patrick Harris episode…ever!
I know, there’s a lot of great Barney eps to choose from, but “Cleaning House” allowed NPH to showcase his comedic chops, his sincerity and vulnerability and of course his mad singing voice.

Which brings me to the scene which I watched about 10 times last night and at least a few more times on YouTube this morning.

When Sam asked his newly-found son to join him at the piano in song, Barney couldn’t help but join in and sing along.

Tears were streaming down my face last night watching this. Pure brilliance on the part of NPH. Keep an eye on Cobie Smulders, Wayne Brady and Ben Vareen during the scene – they can hardly keep it together. And if your DVR cut off the end tag, you might have missed a reprise of Barney’s talents.

I have a day…I must stop watching this.

Hilarious, no?!