How I Met Your Father
How I Met Your Father | |
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Genre | Sitcom |
Created by | Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger |
Inspired by | How I Met Your Mother by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas |
Starring |
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Opening theme | "Hey Beautiful" by Lennon Stella |
Composer | Jeff Cardoni |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 10 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Hilary Duff |
Cinematography | Gary Baum |
Editor | Sue Federman |
Running time | 22–25 minutes |
Production companies |
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Distributor | Disney Platform Distribution |
Release | |
Original network | Hulu |
Original release | January 18, 2022 present | –
How I Met Your Father is an American sitcom created by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger which premiered on Hulu on January 18, 2022. It is a standalone sequel to How I Met Your Mother. The series, which stars Hilary Duff, Christopher Lowell, Francia Raisa, Suraj Sharma, Tom Ainsley, Tien Tran, and Kim Cattrall, follows the main character, Sophie (Hilary Duff), and her group of friends in New York City's Manhattan. As a framing device, Sophie (Kim Cattrall), in the year 2050, recounts to her unseen son the events that followed meeting his father in January 2022, and how they ultimately had him. In February 2022, the series was renewed for a second season.
Cast and characters[]
Main[]
- Hilary Duff as Sophie Thompkins, a hopelessly romantic photographer who is looking for her soulmate. Though believing in true love, she is unaware of her biological father due to her mother having dated random men.
- Chris Lowell as Jesse, an aspiring musician who works as an Uber driver and music teacher, who has become an internet meme after being left by his ex-girlfriend Meredith after a failed marriage proposal. He lives with Sid in Ted, Marshall and Lily's old apartment.
- Francia Raisa as Valentina, an impulsive assistant-stylist who is also Sophie's best friend and roommate and Charlie's love interest
- Suraj Sharma as Sid, Jesse's best friend and roommate who owns a bar. He's engaged to his long-distance girlfriend Hannah.
- Tom Ainsley as Charlie, a British aristocrat who abandons his inheritance to follow his love interest Valentina to New York after meeting her at London Fashion Week. He later moves in with Ellen and the two become roommates, before being hired by Sid as a bartender.
- Tien Tran as Ellen, Jesse's adoptive sister who moves to New York City to find romance after her divorce from her wife. She owns a produce farm.
- Kim Cattrall as future Sophie, who in the year 2050 tells her son the story of how she met his father
Recurring[]
- Ashley Reyes as Hannah, Sid's longtime girlfriend whom he gets engaged to in the pilot. She works as a surgeon in Los Angeles.
- Leighton Meester as Meredith, Jesse's ex-girlfriend who publicly rejected his marriage proposal
- Josh Peck as Drew,[a] the vice principal at the school where Jesse teaches music lessons
In addition, Stony Blyden co-stars as Jasper, a bartender at Sid's bar.
- Daniel Augustin as Ian, Sophie's Tinder date. He's a marine biologist who moves to Australia and returns after he loses his job due to the divorce of The Captain and Becky.
Special guest stars[]
- Michael Barbaro as Himself
- Paget Brewster as Lori, Sophie's mother, a notorious party girl who had Sophie when she was young
- Dan Bucatinsky as Fred, Valentina's boss
- Kyle MacLachlan as The Captain
- Cobie Smulders as Robin
- Laura Bell Bundy as Becky
- Joe Nieves as Carl
Episodes[]
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | ||
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1 | "Pilot" | Pamela Fryman | Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger and Carter Bays & Craig Thomas & Emily Spivey | January 18, 2022 | 1HME01 | ||
In 2022, after being on numerous failed Tinder dates, Sophie believes she's finally found the one. Sophie met Uber driver Jesse, and his friend, Sid, who's about to propose to his girlfriend. When Sophie finally meets Ian he reveals he's moving to Australia and just wanted to meet her before he goes. Sophie dishes to her roommate Valentina, who is not alone, much to Sophie's surprise. A handsome, naked British man named Charlie now lives with them. Charlie has moved across the world to be with Valentina, which convinces Sophie to give Ian another shot, but realizes that during the Uber ride she somehow swapped phones with Sid. They meet up at the bar where Sid's friends are gathered to surprise his soon-to-be fiancé. They meet Ellen, Jesse's recently divorced sister from Iowa. Sophie tells Jesse her plan to walk the Brooklyn Bridge once she meets her soulmate. At the Airport Sophie gives Ian a heartfelt romantic speech. Realizing she can't wait, Sophie decides to walk the bridge. Future Sophie reveals that very night she met the love of her life. The newly formed gang decides to have drinks at Jesse and Sid's place, to be revealed as Ted and Marshall's old place.
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2 | "FOMO" | Pamela Fryman | Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger | January 18, 2022 | 1HME02 | ||
While Sophie struggles with her short-lived 'relationship' with Ian, Valentina feels smothered by Charlie's constant presence. Sophie invites others to a brand new club named FOMO, thinking that the latter and Sid will become friends, however, Ellen tries to find a new girlfriend. Charlie bonds with Valentina breaks up with him but the moment is short-lived when the girls come by to Sid's bar and he accepts, but realizes they should start their relationship and that he needs to get his own Sophie to clarify her intentions with Jesse and remain friends. | |||||||
3 | "The Fixer" | Kimberly McCullough | Dan Levy | January 25, 2022 | 1HME03 | ||
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4 | "Dirrty Thirty" | Pamela Fryman | Amelie Gillette | February 1, 2022 | 1HME04 | ||
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5 | "The Good Mom" | Morenike Joela Evans | Christopher Encell | February 8, 2022 | 1HME05 | ||
Sophie's mother Lori comes to town and reveals she is seeing a musician in a band and invites Sophie out to see it. Sophie accepts, canceling a date with Drew where she would meet his friends to do so. When she finds nothing wrong with her mom's date, she thinks her mom may have found the right guy, only for Valentina to inform her she saw Lori kissing the musician's manager. Sophie confronts her mother, who reveals she was the reason all her relationships failed before. Having gained some insight into her own past, Sophie leaves to meet with Drew. Meanwhile, Charlie, attempting to find a job, decides he wants to help people confront their problems, and tries to help Jesse and Sid get over their past traumas. When he succeeds, he wonders if there is a job where he can get paid to do so without needing years of schooling. Sid hires him to work at his bar. Ellen meets Rachel, the granddaughter of a deceased neighbor, and attempts to form a relationship by lying about knowing her. When Charlie tells her the deceased neighbor had no children, she confronts Rachel, only for Charlie to realize he mistook their neighbor for another neighbor. Despite this, Ellen vows not to give up. | |||||||
6 | "Stacey" | Phill Lewis | Donald Diego | February 15, 2022 | 1HME06 | ||
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7 | "Rivka Rebel" | Kelly Park | Karen Joseph Adcock & Ria Sardana | February 22, 2022 | 1HME08 | ||
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8 | "The Perfect Shot" | Lynda Tarryk | Jeremy Roth | March 1, 2022 | 1HME07 | ||
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9 | "Jay Street" | Pamela Fryman | Ama Quao & Ally Thibault | March 8, 2022 | 1HME09 | ||
The Captain is shown to have cheated on his wife, Becky. After their kiss, Sophie and Jesse decide to go on a date. Jesse tells Sid, who reveals that Meredith wrote a single about breaking up with him. When Jesse confronts her, she admits she broke up with him because she needed to figure out who she was outside a relationship. She reveals that she regrets breaking up with him, and offers him a position as a piano player on her tour. Sophie goes to Drew's apartment to break up with him, only to find his parents visiting and is forced to stay for brunch. When she tells his mother that she is breaking up with him, she refuses to allow it and tells Drew that his father was involved in a Ponzi scheme and may be arrested. Valentina calls her and says Jesse went to see Meredith, which forces her to rethink breaking up with Drew. However, she does, telling him he deserves to be with someone who is sure about him. At the bar, Charlie attempts to get the gang to watch soccer with him, but Ellen has a job interview upcoming while Sid and Hannah try to plan their wedding. When Sid mentions that he supports Sophie and Jesse, calling it "good cheating", Hannah becomes upset. She apologizes, tells him the long-distance relationship is hard on her and reveals she was offered a fellowship after her residency ends, meaning she may be in California for another year. After the game ends, Charlie reveals he is homesick, and soccer is the only thing he can associate with Britain. Valentina helps Ellen pick her outfit for the interview, before going back to Charlie's apartment and decorating it with British paraphernalia to cheer him up. After breaking up with Drew, Sophie goes to meet Jesse and is called by the gallery owner, who tells her the show will use her photograph. She finds that Jesse has not arrived yet, and sits down to wait for him. In 2050, future Sophie interrupts the story to get something to eat. As she walks away, a large copy of her "perfect shot" is seen hanging on her wall. | |||||||
10 | "Timing Is Everything" | Pamela Fryman | Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger | March 15, 2022 | 1HME10 | ||
After the events of the previous episode, the Captain and Becky file for divorce, and she tells him she wants all his boats, including the one in Australia, revealed to be the one Ian is working on. The Captain reveals that he hasn't felt so bad since someone stole his pineapple in 2005. Jesse arrives late and explains he got closure with Meredith, and he and Sophie consummate their relationship. Afterward, in bed, Jesse says "I love you Sophie" in his sleep. She leaves and comes by his apartment to talk about it. When she tells him, he reveals he rejected Meredith's offer to go on tour and get back together with her. When she tells him she doesn't want him to give up his dream just for her, as their relationship is new, he tells her to leave. She goes to MacLaren's, the bar right downstairs, and meets Robin Scherbatsky, who she tells about Jesse. She encourages Sophie to not make her decisions out of fear. She goes to talk to Jesse, only to see him kissing Meredith. She tells Robin, who tells her, with love "timing is everything". Meanwhile, Sid encourages Hannah to take the fellowship, promising that they can visit each other more often. However, when they find what the weddings are going to cost, he starts to have second thoughts. Ellen, after a bad day, brings home a cat, and Charlie confides in her that Valentina wants children while he does not, as he does not want to be a bad parent like his mother. After Valentina starts to bond with the cat, Charlie reveals he does not want children, which shocks her. They both admit they will not change their opinion while Ellen goes to abandon the cat. In the hall, she runs into Rachel, who reveals the cat is hers, and that she does not hate Ellen, despite her first impression. At the art show, Charlie, Ellen, and Valentina arrive to support Sophie, and Ellen reveals she has a date with Rachel and was offered the job. Sid and Hannah arrive and reveal they have already been married at city hall. When Sophie tells Valentina Jesse isn't coming, Valentina reveals she and Charlie have broken up. Ian, having lost his job in Australia due to the Captain's divorce, arrives at the show, and asks Sophie "Is this a good time?" |
Production[]
Development[]
Following the production of the 2014 CBS pilot How I Met Your Dad, which did not move forward, on December 14, 2016, it was reported that Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger were set to write a new version of the previous spin-off's pilot, re-titled How I Met Your Father, with Carter Bays and Craig Thomas serving as executive producers.[2] It was later announced that, after signing new contracts with 20th Century Fox Television that would see both Aptaker and Berger being promoted to executive producers and co-showrunners on This Is Us alongside Dan Fogelman, the idea would be put on hold until further notice.
On August 8, 2017, Fox chairman Dana Walden told Deadline Hollywood that 20th Television were attempting a spin-off with different writers, for the third time. Three days following the announcement, Deadline reported that Alison Bennett would write the spin-off, with the same title as the previous attempt with Aptaker and Berger. It was also learned that Bays and Thomas were once again hired as executive producers.[3] This attempt also fell through.[4]
On April 21, 2021, the spin-off series titled How I Met Your Father was given a 10-episode series order by Hulu. Aptaker and Berger will serve as creators, writers, and executive producers while Hilary Duff will serve as a producer. 20th Television is involved with producing the series.[4] On June 24, 2021, Pamela Fryman joined the series as an executive producer and to direct the pilot.[5] The series was released on January 18, 2022.[6] On February 15, 2022, Hulu renewed the series for a 20-episode second season.[7]
Casting[]
Upon series order announcement, Hilary Duff was cast to star.[8] On June 16, 2021, Chris Lowell joined the cast as the male lead.[9] In August 2021, Francia Raisa, Tom Ainsley, Tien Tran, and Suraj Sharma were cast in starring roles while Brandon Micheal Hall was cast in a recurring role.[10][11] However, a few weeks later, Hall exited the role due to a scheduling conflict and Daniel Augustin was cast to replace Hall.[12] The next day, Josh Peck and Ashley Reyes joined the cast in recurring roles.[1] On November 5, 2021, Kim Cattrall was cast in a recurring role as the future version of Duff's character Sophie.[13] Upon the series premiere, it was reported that Leighton Meester is set to recur.[14] On February 3, 2022, it was announced that Paget Brewster was cast to guest star on the episode,"The Good Mom", which aired on February 8, 2022.[15]
Filming[]
Principal photography for the series began on August 31, 2021.[16]
Reception[]
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 38% approval rating with an average rating of 5.1/10, based on 39 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "How I Met Your Father takes great pains to update its predecessor's formula for a modern audience, but this stilted retread only amounts to a painful slog."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 48 out of 100 based on 18 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[18]
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (August 31, 2021). "'How I Met Your Father': Josh Peck & Ashley Reyes To Recur On Hulu's 'HIMYM' Spinoff". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 14, 2016). "New 'How I Met Your Mother' Dad Spinoff In Works With 'This Is Us' Writing Duo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 11, 2017). "'How I Met Your Father': Alison Bennett Tapped To Write New 'HIMYM' Spinoff". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b White, Peter (April 21, 2021). "'How I Met Your Father': Hulu Hands 'How I Met Your Mother' Spinoff Straight-To-Series Order With Hilary Duff To Star, Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger To Run". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (June 24, 2021). "'How I Met Your Father': Pam Fryman To Exec Produce, Direct Pilot For Hulu Spinoff Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ Schwartz, Ryan (November 17, 2021). "How I Met Your Father Gets January Premiere Date on Hulu — Watch Video". TVLine. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (February 15, 2022). "'How I Met Your Father' Renewed For Season 2 At Hulu". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ Gonzalez, Sandra (April 21, 2021). "Hilary Duff to star in 'How I Met Your Mother' sequel for Hulu". CNN. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (June 16, 2021). "'How I Met Your Father': Chris Lowell Joins Hilary Duff In Hulu's 'How I Met Your Mother' Spinoff Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ Petski, Denise (August 10, 2021). "'How I Met Your Father': Francia Raisa, Tom Ainsley, Tien Tran & Suraj Sharma Join Hulu's 'How I Met Your Mother' Spinoff". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Schwartz, Ryan (August 13, 2021). "HIMYF Stages God Friended Me Reunion, Adds Brandon Micheal Hall in Recurring Role — See First Cast Photo". TVLine. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ^ Petski, Denise (August 30, 2021). "'How I Met Your Father': Daniel Augustin Joins Hulu's 'How I Met Your Mother' Spinoff In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy (November 5, 2021). "'How I Met Your Father': Kim Cattrall Joins Hulu's 'HIMYM' Spinoff". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ^ Schwartz, Ryan (January 17, 2022). "How I Met Your Father: Yes, That Was Leighton Meester in the Series Premiere". TVLine. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ Schwartz, Ryan (February 3, 2022). "How I Met Your Father: Paget Brewster Cast as Sophie's Mom — First Look". TVLine. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ Schwartz, Ryan (September 1, 2021). "Does First How I Met Your Father Photo Rule Out Another Tie to HIMYM?". TVLine. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
- ^ "How I Met Your Father: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
- ^ "How I Met Your Father: Season 1". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
External links[]
- How I Met Your Father at IMDb
- 2020s American sitcoms
- 2022 American television series debuts
- American sequel television series
- American television spin-offs
- English-language television shows
- How I Met Your Mother
- Hulu original programming
- Television series by 20th Century Fox Television
- Television series set in the 2020s
- Television series set in the 2050s