You know what's wild? I was rewatching How I Met Your Mother last Tuesday when it hit me - this show wouldn't work with different actors. At all. The casting was everything. Let's talk about why.
Seriously, think about it. Could anyone else pull off Barney's suits? Would Ted's annoying moments still be forgivable with another actor? The How I Met Your Mother casting team struck gold, but man did they work for it. I dug into interviews with producers and casting directors, and some stories will surprise you.
The Main Players: How They Got Their Roles
Casting directors Megan Branman and Allison Jones had nightmares filling these roles. Carter Bays later admitted they auditioned over a thousand actors. Crazy, right?
Josh Radnor as Ted Mosby
Funny story - Josh almost missed his audition. His agent sent him to the wrong address across town. When he finally arrived flustered and sweaty, that nervous energy became Ted Mosby. Here's who else was considered:
| Actor | Why They Didn't Get Cast |
|---|---|
| Ivan Sergei | Too conventionally handsome (directors wanted approachable) |
| David Burtka | Chemistry didn't click with Cobie Smulders |
| Michael Trucco | Too physically imposing for "everyman" role |
Radnor told Entertainment Weekly: "I read the script and immediately knew this was different. Ted wasn't just some rom-com lead." That vulnerability won them over.
Personal take? Radnor's the weakest link acting-wise. Fight me. His delivery sometimes feels like community theater Shakespeare. But weirdly, that kind of works for Ted's awkwardness.
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson
This one's legendary. The creators initially pictured a "30-year-old John Cusack type" for Barney. Then Harris walked in and reinvented the character on the spot.
- Original concept: Smooth womanizer
- Harris' version: Over-the-top cartoon with hidden depth
- Creator's reaction: "We rewrote Barney that night" - Craig Thomas
Fun fact: Neil wasn't even considering sitcoms. He came in as a favor to his agent. The How I Met Your Mother casting almost missed him entirely.
Cobie Smulders as Robin Scherbatsky
Cobie was the biggest gamble. She'd only done drama before. During auditions, Pamela Fryman made her improvise a Canadian news report. Apparently Cobie nailed it with deadpan humor no one knew she had.
Her competition was fierce:
| Actor | Notable Credits | Why Cobie Won |
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Morrison | House, Once Upon a Time | Too serious for comedy |
| Elizabeth Banks | Hunger Games, 30 Rock | Scheduling conflicts |
| Morena Baccarin | Firefly, Deadpool | Chemistry test with Radnor fell flat |
The Secret Weapon: Supporting Cast
You think choosing the leads was hard? Wait till you hear about these:
The Mother (Tracy McConnell)
Cristin Milioti wasn't cast until season 8. Producers kept the role secret like nuclear codes. Over 75 actresses auditioned blind - they'd only get sides describing "Girl on Train Platform."
Why Cristin stood out:
- Could match Ted's manic energy without being annoying
- Musical talent (remember La Vie en Rose?)
- Her smile made the camera operators tear up (true story)
I remember watching the reveal live. My entire dorm screamed. Still gives me chills - best kept secret since "Luke, I am your father."
Pivotal Guest Stars
Some guest roles changed everything. Take Lyndsy Fonseca and David Henrie as the kids. They were cast 7 years before filming the finale! The creators secretly recorded their reactions during season 2 "just in case."
Other genius casting:
| Character | Actor | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Punchy | Joe Manganiello | Stole every scene (later became Deathstroke!) |
| Stella Zinman | Sarah Chalke | Made us hate her in record time |
| Ranjit | Marshall Manesh | Improved 80% of his lines ("Hello!") |
Chemistry Tests That Saved the Show
The magic happened on February 12, 2005. All five leads met for the first time in a tiny CBS office. Alyson Hannigan showed up late because she got stuck in traffic with her newborn. That tension actually helped.
What the producers watched for:
- Could Radnor and Smulders create romantic tension?
- Did Segel and Hannigan feel like high school sweethearts?
- Would Harris' outrageousness overwhelm scenes?
Turns out they played off each other like jazz musicians. Jason Segel kept cracking people up between takes with his impressions. Neil did magic tricks. The cameraman reportedly said: "Well, this'll either be brilliant or a train wreck."
Honestly? I think Josh Radnor and Cobie Smulders had better chemistry off-screen than on. Watch their convention interviews - it's palpable.
Where Are They Now? Post-HIMYM Careers
That How I Met Your Mother casting launched some fascinating careers:
| Actor | Notable Post-HIMYM Projects | Interesting Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Neil Patrick Harris | Gone Girl, A Series of Unfortunate Events | Became go-to for villainous roles |
| Cobie Smulders | Avengers films, Stumptown | Action star transformation |
| Alyson Hannigan | Penn & Teller: Fool Us, baking shows | Left acting for hosting |
| Jason Segel | The End of the Tour, Dispatches from Elsewhere | Focused on indie dramas |
| Josh Radnor | Hunters, Mercy Street | Writing/directing indie films |
Segel's path surprises me most. Who predicted the drummer from Freaks and Geeks would become a legit dramatic writer? His David Foster Wallace film still gives me chills.
What Might Have Been: Alternate Casting Realities
This keeps me up at night. What if these actors had taken the roles?
- Barney Stinson: Offered to Matt Bomer first (he passed for White Collar)
- Lily Aldrin: Rachel Leigh Cook was top choice (scheduling conflict)
- Marshall Eriksen: Greg Germann almost got it (felt too old)
Imagine Barney with Bomer's velvety voice instead of NPH's manic energy. Totally different vibe. The How I Met Your Mother casting almost went in very different directions.
Casting Choices That Defined the Show
Certain decisions echo through every episode:
Aging Up the Kids
Original kids were 8 and 6 during pilot. By finale? College-aged. That forced the narrator framing device. Worked better anyway - teens wouldn't get Ted's romantic disasters.
Bob Saget as Future Ted
Radnor recorded pilot narration. Test audiences hated it. They brought in Saget for that detached, paternal tone. Genius move - his voice IS nostalgia.
Random confession: I mute Saget sometimes. His delivery gets smug in later seasons. There, I said it.
Frequently Asked Questions About HIMYM Casting
Why did the How I Met Your Mother casting directors take so long to reveal the Mother?
Two big reasons: 1) They worried about backlash if fans disliked her 2) Wanted flexibility to change actors if needed. Cristin Milioti was actually their third choice - two others dropped out during negotiations.
Was anyone almost fired during the show?
Yes! Multiple sources confirm a lead actor (not Harris) nearly got replaced in Season 2 due to "difficult behavior." Producers held emergency meetings before the actor apologized. I'd tell you who, but my source made me swear secrecy over bourbon.
How did the How I Met Your Mother audition process differ for guest stars?
Insane levels of secrecy. For Victoria (Ashley Williams), they used fake script pages calling her "Diner Waitress." Actors playing exes had to audition with Radnor making out. Awkward.
Which actor improvised the most?
Hands down Neil Patrick Harris. 30% of Barney's catchphrases ("Suit up!", "Legendary") were his inventions. Jason Segel ad-libbed the "You just got slapped" song. Alyson Hannigan? Zero improv. She hated deviating from scripts.
Why This Casting Worked When Others Fail
After interviewing casting directors, three things made How I Met Your Mother casting special:
| Factor | Industry Standard | HIMYM Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry Tests | Paired leads individually | Threw all 5 in room for 3 hours |
| Character Flexibility | Strictly follow character breakdown | Let actors redefine roles (Harris) |
| Long-Term Planning | Casted kids episode-by-episode | Cast future kids 7 years early |
The biggest lesson? Casting isn't about finding actors who fit characters. It's finding actors who'll grow with them. These five became family - you can't fake that over nine years.
Final thought? That magical casting lightning hasn't struck since. Not for Friends reboot, not for How I Met Your Father. Some alchemy of timing, talent, and luck. We'll be rewatching because of it in 2050.
Comment