TV Tidbits 94: HIMYM's "Bad News"

I think only Mel and Biji will appreciate this post but if you haven't watched last night's episode (or read any of the ensuing spoilers) STOP NOW!

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I watched the ep this afternoon after school and was surprised by the ending but now crazily so. I guess I am a heartless schlub. Dang. Still, I hopped on to IMDb and found an article about the episode. That, in turn, led me to EW.com where I found another take on the twist and a most helpful link to a Tumblr page that captured screen shots of each number. (I didn't notice the countdown at all because I'm dumb, I guess. I did notice the 48 steak sauce but thought it was a lame TV take on Heinz 57 or A1 steak sauce. I also noticed the 6 when Dr. Stengel tossed the medical file but mostly just thought it was weird. Aren't I so sharp?! Geez. Of course, after I read about the countdown I had to fast forward through the episode again to find all the numbers... Turned out to be pretty easy. Why didn't I notice'em the first time around? Gah.) Apparently, the viewing public is torn between thinking it was the best, most creative and awesome HIMYM episode ever and thinking that the countdown was leading toward something funny and, when it did not, getting offended by the 'cheap emotional sucker punch.' I'm with the chick from TV.com - "when the episode was over, I moved on." Am I indeed a heartless schlub at the core of my superficial schmoopiness? What did you guys think?

TV Tidbits 65 - HIMYM, NCIS

EW.com has a couple of good Q&As posted today: one with NCIS' Ziva (partially on the Tiva romance... bleh) and one with HIMYM's exec producer on last night's maybe reveal (you obviously don't want to read that one if you haven't seen last night's episode!).

NCIS:

Isn't it the actor who usually tears up during an interview, not the journalist? Last week, we met up with NCIS' Cote de Palbo for lunch in New York City to talk about the tension that's about to explode between her character, former Mossad agent Ziva David, and Michael Weatherly's Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo in season 6's final three episodes (CBS, Tuesdays, 8 p.m. ET). SPOILER ALERT! If you were hoping that Tony questioning Ziva's loyalty to NCIS after uncovering her connection to the mysterious Michael Rivkin might somehow be one of those situations in which anger turns to passion -- stop. "We could not be farther away from kissing," de Pablo says. "I'm telling you, it's not 'I hate you' [kissing sound] anger; it's 'I want to kill you' anger. Like, 'I want to shoot you in the head, but instead I'm gonna put my gun on your knee' anger....He does something to her that is almost unforgivable. However, the reason he does it is because he truly believes it's going to help her. Little does he know that he almost kills her." Metaphorically or physically, we ask. "Physically and emotionally," she answers. Our eyes get a little misty, which we point out to her. "Tell me when you watch the end of that episode," she says, "because I want to be sitting next to you." Here, de Pablo talks about the Tiva chemistry, what makes NCIS work, and why she doesn't have a TiVo.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Why do you think the show has gotten its best ratings ever -- in season 6?

COTE DE PABLO: People don't watch this show because of the crimes we solve. They watch the show because they want to see how people relate within the show. We're like a little dysfunctional family. I've always thought of Ziva as the adopted kid who comes in and has this really funny thing with one of the siblings, which is Tony. It's funny how the audience caught on.

And what's interesting is that you're able to do that character stuff without sacrificing the logic of the cases. Or maybe it's just because the character stuff is so well written that I don't stop and try to find holes in the plots.

We all have a really great chemistry and when we get a script, we get together, and we make it work. That's one of the things about the show -- and about us -- that is still sort of remarkable, and Mark Harmon always points it out: Isn't it fantastic that during our sixth year, we can still come to work and question a scene to the point where we won't go out there and shoot it unless it's clear to all of us? We make sure we all understand what's going on, that we're all on the same page. So many shows out there, they're just doing the words. We love our jobs, and we care about it so much that we show up and we add our input to make it better...Daddy Mark Harmon. We love him. [Laughs] He's our dad.

You watched "Legend (Part 1)" [the first half of the two-parter that introduces the cast that would lead the as-yet-untitled NCIS spinoff; Part 2 airs tonight]. What was your reaction to OSP [Office of Special Projects]?

I think that will be very interesting. God knows, we all wish them the best of luck. It's a tough thing: They'll go on their journey, they'll find their chemistry, and they'll gel. It happens for every show. I thought Michael Weatherly was so, so good in that episode.

Tell us one moment from these next episodes that is going to floor us.

When I almost shoot Michael in the knee. [Laughs] I keep saying Michael, but it's Tony. I'm not shooting Michael, I'm shooting Tony.

When did you know that you and Michael would click as well as you do?

Michael and I clicked immediately. We sort of hated each other immediately, and loved each other immediately. I walked into the audition and he thought, Ohmygod, she's gonna be so hard to work with. She's so complicated. And I thought, This guy's so incredibly unprofessional. During the audition, he grabbed my hair. He would not follow the lines. He totally went off script and started improvising, and this was my final audition with the heads of CBS. I thought, This guy is sabotaging my audition. So immediately I went, Oh, I'm gonna show this guy. I'm gonna show him. So he tried touching me, and I literally like [mimes slapping his hand away]. That relationship was established the moment that we met. Nothing changed, it was just enhanced. And we loved each other as well. We realized we're so drastically different and so much alike that there was an immediate attraction.

Some fans are worried that Ziva won't be on the show next season. What can you say about that?

Oh, you never know. All I can tell you is that there's a fantastic cliffhanger, and in order for them to continue the show, they'd have to at least bring me back to tie up some loose ends.

But you know how the story arc plays out, right? Or has [exec producer] Shane Brennan kept even you in the dark?

The thing you need to know about Shane is that Shane will always keep everyone in the dark. He's the dark master. He'll give you hints of where he wants to go with things, but there's secret pages coming out on the day you shoot. So there's always mystery. You're never quite sure what's going on, which quite frankly, is kinda nice. You start creating scenarios in your head. It keeps the ideas and creativity flowing constantly.

So do you know what happens in the Season 7 premiere then? Not that you have to tell me, but do you know?

Let's say the team has to get together and they have to help someone because they're in a desperate situation...I gave you all of it, don't look at me like that. [Laughs] I'm not saying that much! I'm not saying that much! You're good. Your little sweet face. The tilt of the head.

Okay, we can move on to the Pop Culture Personality Test portion of the interview. When do you yell at the TV?

The Millionaire Matchmaker. It's the saddest thing. It's an addiction. It's like watching a train wreck all the time. I just think Patti is the funniest person in the world. For the most part, I love Bravo shows: Project Runway, Top Chef, it's what I call "fine reality." I love period pieces. I really liked Rome. Now I'm really liking The Tudors. If you asked me what my dream would be -- obviously, NCIS is a dream to me -- I'd like to be on a period show. I love the Discovery Channel. I love all sorts of medical shows. I love a show called Diagnosis: Unknown.

How many TiVos do you have?

I don't have a TiVo.

But you do tape shows somehow?

No. I'm not a technology person.

It's one button!

No, I don't know how to do it. When I have time off, I usually go to the beach. I stay at a rustic place where TVs are non-existent. I'm drinking some fruit juice with a surfboard under my hand. That's how I want to spend my time. Or this: Walking around the city. Sitting down, having great lunches. I love food. [She enjoyed a bloody mary and pear salad with us; then left for a second lunch, where she was going to have a steak.]

The last movie you saw in the theater?

I used to love going to movies, but when you work the way we work, which is a lot, the last thing on your mind is going to a movie theater. Then when the Oscars come around, you feel so left out. Within two or three weeks, you try to watch all the movies. The last movie I saw in the theater was actually a really bad scary movie, The Last House on the Left. And by bad, I mean really entertaining. Like the scary movies usually are. If it were really, really good, I wouldn't be able to stay in my seat. I would never watch Poltergeist.

The movie you have to watch every time you spot it on cable? Like, if I see Baby Boom, it's over. I'm watching it.

That's a good movie. There are so many comedies: Wedding Crashers. When Harry Met Sally...

The person or band you still need to see in concert?

I'd love to see Brazilian Girls and Erykah Badu....I would've loved to have seen Eva Cassidy and Judy Garland. I love music. I'd really love to go see a great opera [in NYC], but I don't think I'll get to see one this time around.

What is your position on karaoke, and what is your song?

If I did it, I would probably sing "Crazy For You," Madonna. I've never done karaoke. I don't think I've ever been drunk enough to do karaoke.

You need more vodka in that bloody mary.

I used to go with friends, and they were always like, "Come on. You sing!" "No, you go ahead." I'd watch my friends bomb on stage. I loved it.

Name something from your childhood you wish you still had.

There are entire outfits that I wish I still had. My taste in clothing has not changed. I used to dress exactly like this when I was 7. Shirt off the shoulder. My hair wild. Hat. Jeans. Back then, obviously, it was a lot cooler. Now it's just normal. But I was like a little tomboy. I had a very defined sense of style. The stuff I liked then, I still like now.

What is your pop culture blind spot?

Ohmygod. I feel so out of it sometimes. I don't even know. Like what?

Have you read Twilight?

No.

Have you read Harry Potter?

No.

Do you get the Jonas Brothers?

No. I have no idea what they are. Keep on going, you'll find out how incredibly removed I am from that.

Name something you think is underrated in pop culture.

Pauley Perrette [NCIS' Abby Sciuto] and I have always thought instead of models or actors on the covers of magazines, it would be great if we could have, like, the best teacher of the year. I think if education was celebrated in pop culture, we'd live in a better place.

Now that you've finished your drink, I'm gonna try one more question about NCIS: Will Tony and Ziva ever kiss again?

The first question I always get is, "Are these people ever gonna kiss?" And I'm like, "I don't know if you remember, but my first season, we did kiss."

"Under Covers."

"Under Covers." They're like, "No, no, no. We mean, like, a real kiss." And I'm like, "I think that was pretty real." Michael and I talked about all of those scenes right before we did them. We had a totally different way of looking at it. In our minds, we thought the characters weren't faking anything. They just got carried away. Then all of the sudden after that, they saw each other in a different light. That's how Michael and I wanted to play it: If something really happened during that, it was okay. Tony was willing to go there, and Ziva certainly didn't mind. She doesn't care about that stuff. We'll leave it to anyone's interpretation....I think that was the beginning of something, and at a certain point, it will have to be addressed.

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HIMYM:

I defy you to find a single fan of How I Met Your Mother who isn't asking themselves exactly that question in the wake of last night's humdinger of an ending -- which seemed to strongly hint (if not outright reveal) that Sarah Chalke's Stella is the show's eponymous mom. Unfortunately, only two people on the planet know the answer. Fortunately, I just got off the phone with one of 'em --executive producer Carter Bays!

Is Stella the mother?
CARTER BAYS: I won't say whether she's the mother or not, [but] we were definitely very careful in the wording of the narration. Obviously, we're not going to say, 'Okay, here she is! Show's over."

Was it an intentional fake-out?
BAYS: Nothing's a fake-out on this show. We established very early on that this is a very windy, twisty story, and the message of the show is there's a ridiculous series of events that has to happen before this guy meets the woman he marries... I will say this about the next two episodes: Everything will be made clear and it will move the ball forward.

You certainly got people talking.
BAYS: We freaked out a ton of people. We've never really kept a big secret from the audience. And what secrets we do have we usually tell people and there are usually spoilers floating around. And this kind of felt like, "Let's try and do something that takes everyone by surprise and really blow people's minds." And I think we did it.

What kind of reaction have you been getting?
BAYS: It seems to be split 50/50; some people loved it but a lot of people really hated it. And I certainly don't want to tell you that I like it when people hate my show, but knowing where the next two episodes go, I feel like those are both legitimate reactions and both what we were going for.

Does the yellow umbrella belong to Stella?
BAYS: I can't say one way or the other.

Can you give me a preview of next week's episode?
BAYS: We'll reveal why Ted running into her again is such huge moment. He already ran into her once before and didn’t do anything, but this one has more meaning and we'll find out why next week.

Is it your plan to hold off on confirming the identity of the mother is until the final episode of the series?
BAYS: That's always been the plan, but obviously we have a lot of options at our fingertips.

Which side of the 50/50 split do you fall on? And how do you think Stella figures into the Mother mystery? Weigh in below! And then check out Ask Ausiello on Thursday to see out what else Bays told me about this season's final two episodes.

TV Tidbits 58 - CBS Finale Spoilers

Courtesy of EW.com, here's a rundown of season finale "spoilers" (they're so NOT - they're sanctioned by the network for goodness sake!) and air dates for all CBS shows:

COLD CASE
Sunday May 3 and Sunday May 10
The music of Pearl Jam will rock throughout the two-part sixth season finale. Rush and the team delve into the 2005 murder of the first female cadet of a local military school who didn't live beyond her first semester. The stakes of the case are raised after the cadet's unknown killer commits a shocking act against Rush designed to thwart the investigation. Bonus scoop: Friday Night Lights' Jesse Plemons guest stars!

THE UNIT
Sunday, May 10
The Unit must locate and defuse three sets of dirty bombs headed for unknown locations across the U.S. Meanwhile, the team prepares for a wedding of one Unit member and the end of a marriage for another.

THE BIG BANG THEORY
Monday, May 11
As he prepares for a three-month science expedition, Leonard reconsiders his feelings for Penny.

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
Wednesday, May 13
Christine learns some shocking news about New Christine's father (Scott Bakula) after the two of them rekindle their romance at Richard and New Christine's wedding. James Lesure guest stars as a wedding guest and potential hook-up for Barb.

GARY UNMARRIED
Wednesday, May 13
Gary and Allison's frustrating personal lives lead them back into the bedroom… repeatedly.

CSI
Thursday, May 14
The CSIs investigate a series of murders tied to a scam involving valuable poker chips from a long-gone casino and Det. Ray Langston must use deadly force for the first time in his career as a CSI. Cynthia Watros and Gerald McRaney guest star.

GHOST WHISPERER
Friday, May 15
When a ghost pays Melinda an unexpected visit, she worries for her unborn baby. Meanwhile, wedding bells ring for Melinda and Jim.

NUMB3RS
Friday, May 15
When Amita is abducted, Don and the team's frantic search leads to a charismatic sociopath (James Callis), but it is up to a distraught Charlie to discover what's behind the suspect's bizarre plans for her. The situation causes Charlie to reassess his relationship and future with Amita. Lou Diamond Phillips returns as Agent Ian Edgerton.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
Monday, May 18
Ted gives Barney his blessing to finally profess his love to Robin.

TWO AND A HALF MEN
Monday, May 18
Charlie starts to question his relationship with Chelsea when he hears that Mia is back in town. Meanwhile, when Judith goes into labor, Charlie, Alan and Herb rush her to the hospital.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Monday, May 18
Jeff wonders if he and Audrey are lacking spontaneity in the bedroom.

CSI: MIAMI
Monday, May 18
Horatio fights to save Yelina while Delko goes against Calleigh's pleas and helps his dangerous father with life-threatening consequences. Brian Austin Green guest stars as an alleged carjack victim.

NCIS
Tuesday, May 19
Ziva's homecoming to Israel with Gibbs leads to a tense reunion with her father, the enigmatic and powerful head of Mossad. As this delicate situation escalates, Gibbs is forced to make a decision that sends shockwaves through NCIS.

THE MENTALIST
Tuesday, May 19
Lisbon suspects that serial killer Red John is drawing Patrick Jane into a trap when the CBI team investigates the murder of a young girl and the abduction of her twin sister.

WITHOUT A TRACE
Tuesday, May 19
The team searches for a man who disappears after a late-night ocean dive that includes stolen drugs and three dead bodies. Meanwhile, Danny and Elena take their relationship to another level. Martin Landau reprises his role as Frank Malone, Jack's father. Adam Kauffman, Poppy Montgomery's real-life boyfriend, reprises his role as Brian Donovan, the father of Samantha's son, Finn.

CRIMINAL MINDS
Wednesday, May 20
The BAU tracks a serial killer who picks up junkies, prostitutes, and the homeless off the streets of Detroit and takes them across the border into Canada. After solving that case, another killer returns to exact his revenge.

CSI: NY
Wednesday, May 20
A member of the team is murdered after a deadly group of kidnappers snatch Robert Dunbrook's son while he is being transferred from prison to court. And, if that loss isn't enough, the life of another CSI is threatened.

Best of '08: HIMYM Gallery

I know - probably not too many of you actually watch How I Met Your Mother. (Were it not for Neil Patrick Harris, I probably wouldn't, either.) But EW.com has a cute gallery of the cast reenacting "best of" moments from the past year. Check it out here.

If you are reluctant, however, I understand. So, I've included my favorite photo from the bunch below.

JONAS BROTHERS

''I don't often wear skinny jeans. It's not my thing. 
 But I heroically squeezed into some,'' says Radnor. Harris worked to internalize his character deeply, as well: ''I got to be the straight-ironed guy. Not the curly. I don't know their names...Alvin? Theodore?''

NPH & Jason Segel

Robert and I saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall yesterday and it was pretty cute... not fantastic but pretty cute. I've never been particularly partial to Jason on HIMYM - you know NPH [Barney] is my man on that show - but he's had his moments (unlike Josh Radnor [Ted], who is just... bleh. I think Ted and Robin should move away and make us all happy; unfortunately, since they're the "lead" characters, I don't see that happening anytime soon). Anyway, he was a lovable loser in the movie and I think it made me like him a little more. I found this clip of him and NPH singing a song from Les Miz and it's darn good:

Jason sang a bit in FSM but since he sang as Dracula (with a Transylvanian accent, of course), it was hard to tell how well he could really carry a tune. :o) I knew NPH could sing - he was on Broadway and in a Sondheim piece, no less - and was tickled to see him duet with Jason. Poor other boring people on HIMYM... you guys suck!! As I knew you did.