Not to knock on How I Met Your Mother, because I love it, but we sure are reading about it a lot lately, huh? It's sort of like being one of those people that liked a band before it got popular. I was big supporter of HIMYM in the BBS (Before Britney Spears) era, and now "the little sitcom that could" is all anyone is writing about.

While the show has enjoyed up and down ratings over the course of its 2 1/2 season run, the return from the WGA Strike saw it post its biggest numbers ever with a guest appearance from that chick who used to be married to K-Fed. The same ep featured Scrubs' Sarah Chalke as a dermatologist who removed Ted's butterfly tattoo. Now comes word from Ausiello that Chalke may be coming back.

Much like Neil Patrick Harris' objections to Brit Brit having another shot, I'm against the return of Chalke 100%.

In Chalke's first appearance as Stella, we found out that she was in attendance at the same St. Patrick's Day party that Ted and Barney went to. She had to leave early, perhaps in a rush, and that led to speculation that she could very well be the owner of the yellow umbrella that got left behind and Ted found. So of course the big question is, could she be the mother? The Mrs. Ted Mosby?

I really hope not.

The way I see it, the second we find out who the mother is, the show begins to suffer. While HIMYM has arguably gone on a tangent where guest stars are now common fodder (James Van Der Beek is the next on the list), I will admit that I don't immediately think of Chalke and "huge star" in the same sentence. Other than Scrubs, Roseanne, and those annoying Hanes commercials where she keeps getting a wedgie, I don't really associate her with anything else. So that's one thing in her favor. The casting doesn't feel like a stunt to me.

Now, I remember reading somewhere that there had been some gentle nudging from CBS execs for Bays and Thomas to start shedding some light on the show's big maternal mystery, but here's what I'm hoping. If Chalke does return and hints are dropped, I pray that she's just a red herring. If she isn't, then I think the show really loses a key dynamic; mainly, Ted as we know him. If Ted couples up this early in the game with his future wife, and HIMYM goes on for another two or three seasons, they simply won't be as good. The schemes with Barney, the camaraderie at McLaren's, and that yearning feeling we feel for Ted, are all lost.

There have been numerous comparisons, pitting this show as the "new" Friends. If we find out who the mother is now, HIMYM won't be like Friends. It will be Friends - a pretty decent and usually funny sitcom where you know who's in love with who and the big payoff is a happy finale with babies and weddings.

Now I realize that you can argue that is the payoff for this show, Ted getting married and what not; that can still be achieved. I'm just trying to outline the clear distinction about finding out who his wife is now versus in another season or two. If it is Chalke, it just feels too convenient; too easy, to me. I said she isn't a huge star, and with Scrubs ending next season - she's a perfect fit. As an experienced sitcom actress, she fits the role and could guest star a few more times this season, then slide into a series regular spot mid-season four. See what I mean though? Easy. I guest I just want more mystery. "Your mom was my dermatologist back in the day" just doesn't sound like something we'd hear from Future Ted's mouth.