How We Made Your Mother How We Chose a Pineapple [with co-creator Carter Bays] | S1E10 "The Pineapple Incident"
4 snips
Jun 2, 2025 
Carter Bays, co-creator of How I Met Your Mother, joins the conversation to unpack the beloved 'Pineapple Incident.' He reveals how this episode's origins predate the writers' room and discusses the impact of mystery in storytelling. Bays also shares the true inspiration behind the iconic 'vomit-free since ’93' line, reflecting on character dynamics and network challenges. The podcast takes a heartfelt turn as they read a listener's touching letter about the show’s role in navigating grief, highlighting the deep emotional connections it fosters.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Roots of The Pineapple Incident
- "The Pineapple Incident" was among the first pitches for How I Met Your Mother, initially called "Drunken Fiasco."
- Carter Bays and Craig Thomas wrote it early on, shaping the show’s voice and tone.
Mystery Shapes Storytelling DNA
- The episode is essentially a mystery about what happened during Ted's drunken blackout.
- This storytelling method encapsulates the show's blend of humor and narrative intrigue.
Pineapple as Symbol of Mystery
- The unresolved pineapple mystery was intentionally left unexplained to symbolize life's unknowns.
- The mystery serves as a cosmic wink, embracing uncertainty rather than frustrating it.
