Neil Patrick Harris Says Threat of Cancellation Helped Make HIMYM a Hit - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 03-14-2026, 05:32 AM

Neil Patrick Harris Shares Surprising Reason Why he Thinks "How I Met Your Mother" Became a Hit
by Daysia Tolentino
March 13, 2026

Neil Patrick Harris just revealed why he thinks "How I Met Your Mother" was so legen — wait for it — dary.

In an upcoming two-part episode of the How We Made Your Mother podcast obtained by PEOPLE, cast member Neil Patrick Harris shared that the threat of cancelation helped fuel the show. The first part will be released on March 16 and the second episode drops on March 23.

“We never felt secure," Harris recounted on the podcast, which is hosted by Radnor and co-creator Craig Thomas. "We thought we might get canceled all the time. That hunger kept everyone sharp — writers, actors, everyone. We weren’t coasting.”

https://ew.com/neil-patrick-harris-s...a-hit-11925739

Alan Brady's Hair · 03-14-2026, 10:20 AM

A hit? Annual rankings in the US Nielsen ratings (2005-2014): 54, 61, 70, 49, 42, 48, 45, 42, 28

03-14-2026, 05:32 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,005	Neil Patrick Harris Says Threat of Cancellation Helped Make HIMYM a Hit *Neil Patrick Harris Shares Surprising Reason Why he Thinks "How I Met Your Mother" Became a Hit* by Daysia Tolentino March 13, 2026 Neil Patrick Harris just revealed why he thinks "How I Met Your Mother" was so legen — wait for it — dary. In an upcoming two-part episode of the How We Made Your Mother podcast obtained by PEOPLE, cast member Neil Patrick Harris shared that the threat of cancelation helped fuel the show. The first part will be released on March 16 and the second episode drops on March 23. “We never felt secure," Harris recounted on the podcast, which is hosted by Radnor and co-creator Craig Thomas. "We thought we might get canceled all the time. That hunger kept everyone sharp — writers, actors, everyone. We weren’t coasting.” https://ew.com/neil-patrick-harris-s...a-hit-11925739

03-14-2026, 10:20 AM	#2
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,822	A hit? Annual rankings in the US Nielsen ratings (2005-2014): 54, 61, 70, 49, 42, 48, 45, 42, 28