(S04E15) We've waited about three weeks to see this episode, since President Obama decided to inconvenience HIMYM fans by holding his first primetime press conference on the night this was originally supposed to air. Was "The Stinsons" worth the wait? Definitely. And not just because we met Barney's mom.

It was just plain ol' laugh-out-loud funny. And Bays and Thomas were able to explore how Barn's ability to deceive could be used for sentimental reasons as well as self-serving ones. It also gave us a chance to see Ted overact, Marshall call himself the runt of the family, and Lily and Robin hide under coats and loose tops.

I know that the show's season finale is either already in the can or soon will be, just to avoid the sticky issue of Alyson Hannigan's and Cobie Smulders' baby bumps. But, with eight episodes left, avoidance measures are already being used. How big are they going to get by the finale? Or will both be going on long trips somewhere far away and just leave the three guys to carry the show? I guess that's something we'll find out as the season goes on.

Of course, the Best Barneyism is the theater lingo he uses to talk about the actors who are playing his wife and son. The woman who plays Betty Stinson "likes to go off book." The kid who plays son Tyler gets berated by Barney into eating an ice cream sundae even though he's lactose intolerant. Even if you knew after the cold open that this family of Barney's wasn't real, the way the story played out was creative enough to make it entertaining. And who can not love NPH saying that "child actors were way better back in the '80s"? For some reason, I never tire of the Doogie references.

Oh, but we can't go into the bullet points without mentioning the close second-place Barneyism: the fact that he roots for the villain in every '80s movie he sees. The blond guy from Karate Kid (anyone who reads Bill Simmons at ESPN.com knows he was played by the immortal William Zabka); Hans Gruber, who died hard in Die Hard; the teacher in The Breakfast Club; the Terminator in ... well, you know. All are movie heroes to Barney. Seems to fit in well with his character, doesn't it?

More fun stuff:

• Lily hates Marshall's "saint" of a mom. So we see more cracks in the armor of the "perfect" marriage. Nice to see Fake Mrs. Stinson coach Lil over the phone as she pretended to make peace with her mom-in-law. Hopefully, we'll see more of this story soon.
• "I told you, you can't have a catchphrase!"
• Seems very appropriate that Ted likes Brecht. I think he's even mentioned his love of the playwright in the past. At least it got him to second base with Fake Mrs. Stinson.
• You knew that Fake Tyler was going to lean in and try to kiss Robin. "I totally misread that," was his response. Maybe he's used to getting some young actress tail and felt some confidence...?
• When did Robin get that job on the morning news show? It really seemed that we got glossed-over big moments from the other members of the gang while Barney was sorting this whole thing out.
• We knew that Barn's mom was a whore, and she admitted as much to M&L, but we didn't know that she spent three weeks with Grand Funk Railroad "getting passed around like a bong." Like mother like son, I guess.
• Frances Conroy did a good job playing Loretta. Sweet and slutty all at once. Hope we get to see more of her.
• Did you notice the little look Barney gave Robin in the cab on the way home? When is that finally going to come to a head?
• So now both Marshall and Ted have slapped Barney silly. I guess he's used to it, given all the times he's gotten slapped by women over the years.
• Barn still thinks Bob Barker is his dad, huh?



How I Met Your Mother' Photos

Actor Neil Patrick Harris arrives in an Audi to the Entertainment Tonight Emmy Party at the Disney Concert Hall on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles.

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Presenters Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris on stage at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the NOKIA Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

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Presenters Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris on stage at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the NOKIA Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Presenters Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris speak onstage during the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kristin Chenoweth;Neil Patrick Harris

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Actor Neil Patrick Harris (R) and David Burtka arrive at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Burtka;Neil Patrick Harris

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Actor Jason Segel attends CBS Comedies

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Actress Cobie Smulders attends CBS Comedies

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Actress Cobie Smulders attends CBS Comedies

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Actor Neil Patrick Harris attends CBS Comedies

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Actress Alyson Hannigan (R) and her husband, actor Alexis Denisof attend CBS Comedies

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