Neil Patrick Harris & Barney Stinson – Why We Love ThisThese Guys!

In honor of Neil Patrick Harris’ birthday, it’s only fitting that Alix, the newest member of Team GMMR, pay homage to one of our favorite TV actor’s and one of his most legen…(nah there’s plenty of that coming) characters to date.

I think you all now my love for all things NPH. I think he’s the bees knees. So Happy 36th Birthday, Neil. One day. It will happen. Yes, we will meet. (And when we do I hope I don’t sound as creepy as I did just then.)

So please join me in welcoming Alix to the team. Anyone that loves NPH as much as we do is certainly a welcome addition.

-Kath

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I know I am preaching to the choir here, but I am one of the many on the Neil Patrick Harris bandwagon (or NPH as he is so fondly called). I had the opportunity to work on the red carpet for the Tony Awards, and everyone went nuts when he arrived. One cheer in particular of “Neil, we think you are legendary” made me laugh. Avid HIMYM fans would know the saying goes a little diff—wait for it—erently, but it was amusing nonetheless.

Most of us first remember Neil from his younger years. His role as Doogie Howser, MD. made him a star at an early age, but luckily he didn’t follow the unfortunate path of many child actors. Although Neil was active in the theater for many years, he reemerged into the mainstream playing (ironically enough), himself in “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”. From that time on we’ve had Neil Patrick Harris back…and in a big way.

From womanizer Barney Stinson in “How I Met Your Mother” to the wannabe evil Dr. Horrible in “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog”, to his much lauded hosting gig on “Saturday Night Live”, and most recently as host of The Tonys, Neil Patrick Harris is everywhere. He is the man. And it’s about time.

And let’s talk about his recent hosting stint on the Tony Awards. Bravo! Neil humbly admitted at the beginning of the show that the Tony Awards were so meaningful to him as a kid growing up because it gave him the exposure to Broadway he would have never had coming from a small town. Neil is a theater guy, but one that seamlessly moves from stage, to screen, to television flawlessly. And that voice?! Wow.

I will admit, I didn’t start watching HIMYM when it first aired, but I am all caught up now. And I think that NPH is absolutely brilliant. (I also think the rest of the ensemble cast is pretty great too, but I digress). His portrayal of the suited up, awesome womanizer Barney Stinson never fails to make me laugh. But it’s more than that. He is able to make Barney feel human, like a best friend you really care about, despite his sometimes despicable behavior. His recent storyline in which Barney falls in love with Robin, could be implausible and damaging to the character but instead Neil plays him with grace, and their maybe-to-be relationship plays off as nothing but sweet (and hilarious).

So in honor of NPH’s birthday, I will leave you with my top 10 favorite Barney moments. (Please feel free to add in your own in the comments because it’s almost sinful to nail it down to ten.)

10. Hot/Crazy Graph

9. “I have to lie perfectly still so I don’t wrinkle my suitjamasstrong>”

8. “Haaaaaaaaaave you met Ted?”
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