CBS Boss "Heartsick" That "How I Met Your Dad" Didn't Make the Cut — Will a Rival Snatch it Up?
by Matt Webb Mitovich
5/14/14


CBS has essentially divorced itself from "How I Met Your Dad", leaving the "How I Met Your Mother" off-shoot ripe for picking by a rival network.

Explaining why the comedy, which was to star indie darling Greta Gerwig and be narrated by rom-com poster girl Meg Ryan, failed to land on CBS’ 2014-15 TV slate, network chairman Nina Tassler told reporters on Wednesday, “To say we love this show and we love these producers is an understatement. They are beloved, and we have an extraordinary relationship with them. But there were elements in the pilot that didn’t work out.”





CBS of course reached out to production house 20th Century Fox TV for “a conversation about redoing the pilot,” Tassler said, “but that’s not happening right now…. It wasn’t what they wanted to do.”

(Per our sister site Deadline, 20th wanted, but failed to secure, a guarantee that if they did reshoot the pilot, CBS would grant a series pick-up.)



Tassler noted that CBS has “an extraordinary track record redoing pilots,” citing the famous example of "The Big Bang Theory", as well as "Numb3rs" and the upcoming "The McCarthys" as success stories.

In having to let go of HIMYD, she said, “I’m heartsick. We loved this brand, it is a very important show and we love the producers, but it didn’t work out.”





Tassler said the HIMYD team “certainly can” shop the sitcom around to other outlets, once CBS’ option expires today — and Deadline reports there already is interest.

http://tvline.com/2014/05/14/how-i-met-your-dad-cbs-2014-schedule/

http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/how-i-met-your-dad-not-going-forward-at-cbs-what-went-wrong-what-happens-next/

But 20th Century Fox TV, though willing to retool the pilot (http://www.vulture.com/2014/05/why-cbs-passed-on-how-i-met-your-dad.html), was unwilling to proceed without the guarantee of a series commitment, according to Deadline. So 20th is shopping the “How I Met Your Mother” to other networks, and Deadline reports that other channels have shown interest.
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#CLe4HmymASOgYMvd.99

Bays and Thomas, the creators were both very arrogant in the aftermath of the HIMYM finale. In interview after interview, they "Stood by their finale." This was after lots of people were vocally upset about it, and felt cheated. They tried to do something clever, and it backfired. Afterwards, HIMYD was a sure thing, but after the severe backlash from the HIMYM fans after the finale, they were told to redo the pilot, and refused. Just like with the finale of HIMYM, they stood with the pilot. The studio didn't want a lackluster spin-off after an awful finale, so they got it canned. They probably figured it would get picked up, or something else they made would.

This is how it went:

CBS: If we're going to buy this show, you're going to need to make some changes first.
Bays, Thomas & Spivey: Okay, but only if you promise to buy it if we do.
CBS: I don't think you understand. We aren't happy with the current product. Make the changes and then we'll buy it if we like what you've done.
Bays, Thomas & Spivey: ...No deal.

I didn't watch HIMYM much, nor the finale, but I heard about it. They hyped the mom all season and she only got a minor cameo. The episode was about the guy getting with Robin, right?

Why we never got to see How I Met Your Dad (http://www.looper.com/28467/never-got-see-met-dad/)

http://www.agcwebpages.com/BLINDITEMS/2020/MARCH.html

34. ENTERTAINMENT LAWYER 03/03 **13** (https://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2020/03/todays-blind-items-hit-that-wasnt.html)
The Hit That Wasn't: In a world of really bad pilots and hopes and prayers some new television show will be a hit, there was a network (CBS) that had a surefire one. It was a spin off of a very popular long running comedy ("How I Met Your Mother") on that network. The original had a huge cavalcade of stars. The spin off ("How I Met Your Dad"/2013 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_I_Met_Your_Mother#How_I_Met_Your_Dad)) had this alliterate A- list actress/director/multiple Oscar nominee (Greta Gerwig) who was really only an actress at that point. The pilot was a huge hit. The show was going to be a huge hit. It was a guaranteed money maker. So, why was the show never made? Our actress wouldn't sleep with the head of the network (Les Moonves/1995 to 2018). He took it personally and wouldn't give the show a series order. Greta Gerwig/"How I Met Your Dad"/CBS/Les Moonves