Rewrites, Asterisks, and the Writers' Late-Night Process

Craig and Josh describe post-table-read rewrites, revision marks, and writer self-doubt versus real upgrades.

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Episode notes

In this bonus General Questions episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek dive deep into how How I Met Your Mother actually got made. They walk through the production week—from table reads to rewrites, from blocking to shooting—and share behind-the-scenes memories from the early days of the show. They also revisit the creation of the show’s opening credits, the music choices that almost happened, and the story behind Barney’s first big catchphrase. A true behind-the-scenes look at how television comes together—complete with New York Street, Liberty Bell licking, and Barney zipped in a suitcase.

Questions We Attempt to Answer in This Episode:

How far into filming did you create the opening sequence and bar photos?

Was the opening montage made just for this episode?

Is the basement in this episode the same as Stella’s house later in the series?

Did the studio or network have to approve the title sequence?

What was a typical production week like for Josh and Craig?

How did scripts get delivered to the cast?

Did actors ever feel responsible for jokes being cut after table reads?

What sets were permanent and which ones changed?

What was it like filming on New York Street?

Where did the idea of picking up girls at the airport come from?

Is Barney actually successful at picking up women in the early episodes?