Latest news with #HowIMetYourMother
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Jason Segel hails Shrinking co-star Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox has been a "huge inspiration" for Jason Segel. The 63-year-old actor stars alongside Jason, 45, in the Apple TV series 'Shrinking', and Jason has relished the experience of working with one of his idols. Jason - who starred on 'How I Met Your Mother' from 2005 until 2014 - told People: "I got the chance to tell him that he was a huge inspiration to me while I was in a weirdly similar situation doing 'How I Met Your Mother' and movies at the same time and being tired. "We always would talk about Michael J. Fox and what he was doing with 'Back to the Future' and 'Family Ties' at the same time. He's an idol for sure." Bill Lawrence, the co-creator of 'Shrinking', previously revealed that Michael served as the inspiration for the comedy-drama series. The 56-year-old producer explained that Michael's journey with Parkinson's disease inspired Harrison Ford's on-screen character, who is also battling the neurodegenerative disease. Bill - who previously worked with Michael on 'Spin City' - told People: "It's cool to get to write about things you care about now. And Michael J. Fox is my first mentor. So we wanted to represent it in hopefully an inspiring and not sad or tragic way." Bill has been amazed by how Michael has coped with his health struggles. He shared: "I found the first mentor in my life and career, Michael J. Fox, to be so inspiring with the way he took it in stride and continues to work harder than anybody I know. And we want to kind of carry that spirit if we can into the show." Meanwhile, Michael previously admitted that his meteoric rise "made no sense" to him. The actor - who moved from Canada to the US at the age of 18 - initially struggled to find work in Hollywood, but he ultimately shot to international stardom as Marty McFly in the 'Back to the Future' franchise. He told 'Entertainment Tonight': "I was dumpster diving because I knew the grocery store would throw baked goods out. We'd steal jam and peanut butter from the IHOP or Denny's. It was a tough existence. "But in a relatively short period of time I was famous and I was the biggest movie star in the world ... It was crazy. It made no sense."
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why we can't get enough: The surprising psychology behind rewatchable TV shows
How comfort, familiarity, and nostalgia keep us coming back — again and again. In an era flooded with endless new series and movies, it might seem odd that viewers often return to the same shows time and again. Why do millions willingly rewatch familiar stories instead of chasing novelty? The answer lies in a fascinating mix of neuroscience, emotional psychology, and social dynamics — all of which reveal that rewatching is far from a mindless pastime. It's a deeply ingrained human behaviour rooted in comfort, connection, and cognitive ease. The brain's love for familiarity and predictability At the heart of our rewatching habits is the psychological principle known as the 'mere exposure effect.' First identified by psychologist Robert Zajonc in the 1960s, this effect explains that people tend to develop a preference for things simply because they are familiar with them. New shows demand mental effort as viewers learn characters, follow plots, and anticipate twists. But with a show you've already seen, the brain shifts gears. The cognitive load lightens, triggering the release of dopamine — the brain's reward chemical — not just from novelty, but from predictable and satisfying patterns. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo This explains why iconic comedies with familiar jokes and catchphrases become addictive on repeat viewings. For example, the awkward charm and laugh-track timing in The Office (JioHotstar) reward viewers with a sense of anticipated humour, creating a comforting cycle of enjoyment. Its setting — a mundane workplace filled with offbeat personalities — reflects a world that's absurd yet safe. Characters like Michael Scott and Jim Halpert feel like old friends, and their arcs don't demand emotional strain but provide gentle humour and soft predictability. The brain delights in this familiar rhythm, turning reruns into a pleasurable mental 'warm blanket.' Emotional regulation through narrative safety Life's unpredictability often leaves us craving emotional stability, and rewatching offers precisely that. Returning to a show where the story arcs resolve as expected provides a reassuring sense of control and closure. This can be particularly soothing during stressful periods, offering emotional respite. Shows like How I Met Your Mother expertly balance humour with heartfelt moments, giving viewers predictable emotional highs and lows. Its structure — with one narrator recounting the journey of finding love — offers viewers a sense of closure even as it embraces meandering storylines. The show captures the essence of young adulthood and friendship in urban life, echoing shared experiences and choices. Knowing that conflicts will be resolved and characters will find happiness offers psychological reassurance and mood regulation. Parasocial bonds: Friends we invite into our lives Rewatching also strengthens parasocial relationships — one-sided emotional connections with fictional characters. These relationships fulfil social needs, especially in times of isolation or loneliness. The familiarity of these 'virtual friendships' can be deeply comforting. This phenomenon is so powerful that a 2015 study in the journal Psychology of Popular Media Culture found that viewers who developed strong parasocial bonds with TV characters were more likely to rewatch episodes, especially during times of personal upheaval. Ensemble casts such as those in Friends (Netflix) or the reality-driven drama of The Kardashians invite audiences into ongoing, intimate social worlds. Friends, in particular, taps into the idealised phase of life between adolescence and full adulthood — where relationships, jobs, and apartments are still fluid. Each character brings a distinct but relatable energy, making it easy to emotionally anchor oneself to the group. Viewers often rewatch episodes to reconnect with these characters who feel like familiar companions, easing feelings of solitude. The streaming paradox: Over choice drives familiarity In today's streaming landscape, the sheer volume of available content often overwhelms viewers, leading to decision fatigue. When faced with endless new options, many naturally gravitate back to familiar shows. Platforms' features like 'Continue Watching' and curated watchlists make it easy to revisit beloved series without the stress of choosing. This trend is evident with long-running favourites such as Grey's Anatomy, which keeps viewers engaged with its familiar emotional arcs. Its mix of medical drama and soapy personal relationships creates dependable storytelling beats. Despite the evolving cast, it offers continuity, which makes returning feel like picking up a conversation with an old friend. Likewise, despite a vast array of international content, Modern Family consistently holds its position as the top trending show among the platform's international offerings. The show's success lies in its multi-generational, mockumentary-style warmth — it celebrates family with wit, heart, and zero high-stakes drama. Such enduring popularity highlights how trusted comfort picks continue to dominate viewer attention amid the content deluge. Cultural nostalgia and social connection Rewatching favourite shows also strengthens cultural identity and facilitates social bonding. Shared fandom creates a common language — whether quoting memorable lines from Modern Family or reminiscing about iconic Friends moments. These shows become rituals that unite viewers across generations and geographies. Through social media, watch parties, and casual conversations, rewatching fosters community, belonging, and collective nostalgia. Expert insight Clinical psychologist Nikhila Deshpande explains, 'Most of the time, when you're rewatching a show, it's a sign of anxiety. New content often triggers emotional highs and lows — it starts with dopamine and oxytocin as you connect with characters but then leads to cortisol when they go through intense problems. Today's web series are made with more dark, gory, and hard-hitting themes, which can feel overwhelming if you're already dealing with stress or unpredictability in life. In that case, you'd rather revisit shows from a time when things felt lighter — college days, childhood — because you know what's going to happen, and that predictability gives a sense of control. Sitcoms especially help, because you know you'll laugh, and you don't have to think too much.' Her perspective reveals that rewatching isn't just about comfort — it's a psychological response to anxiety, offering familiarity, emotional safety, and a temporary sense of control in an otherwise unpredictable world. Conclusion: Rewatching as a meaningful psychological ritual Rewatching favourite TV shows is a complex, multi-dimensional behaviour that intertwines neurological reward, emotional comfort, social needs, and cognitive simplicity. In a content-saturated world full of uncertainty, these familiar narratives provide stability, joy, and a sense of belonging. It's no surprise that shows like The Office, How I Met Your Mother, and Friends continue to attract devoted audiences who find solace and connection in revisiting familiar stories. Ultimately, rewatching is not just a habit — it's human nature. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Buzz Feed
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders On How I Met Your Mother Sex Scenes
This week, How I Met Your Mother alum Cobie Smulders appeared on the How We Made Your Mother podcast, which is hosted by her ex-costar Josh Radnor and one of the show's co-creators, Craig Thomas. During the wide-ranging chat, Cobie and Josh — who played Robin and Ted on the long-running sitcom — reflected on what it was like shooting intimate scenes. 'Josh and I had quite a few intimate scenes,' said Cobie. 'And so I would try to, as much as humanly possible, before we would roll, whisper something to Josh that was just extremely inappropriate.' Cobie explained that she would typically describe the kinds of things that their characters had just done in bed before the scene began when she'd whisper to Josh ahead of shooting. 'I feel like I'm an amazing scene partner and I'm just thinking about the other person and making sure that they're comfortable, making sure that there's a connection there,' she said. 'And so I would just sort of set us up before we actually started the scene in our speaking roles, just with like, 'This is what just transpired between us.' And usually Josh would not be able to say anything and his face would turn that color for those who are watching,' she added, while Craig confirmed that Josh was indeed 'turning beet red.' Meanwhile, Josh went on to note that their costar Neil Patrick Harris — who played the infamous womanizer Barney Stinson — could also be 'disgusting' when it came to whispering things before shooting scenes. 'Neil has a real ability to be gross,' he shared before adding: 'He is nothing compared to the depravity that Cobie Smulders laid out.' LOL. You can listen to Cobie's full appearance on the How We Made Your Mother podcast here.
Express Tribune
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Cobie Smulders reveals on-set secrets from How I Met Your Mother
Cobie Smulders, known for her role as Robin Scherbatsky on How I Met Your Mother, has revealed a surprising behind-the-scenes ritual involving co-star Josh Radnor. Speaking on the How We Made Your Mother podcast with Radnor and series co-creator Craig Thomas, Smulders said she had a habit of whispering 'extremely inappropriate' things to Radnor just before filming their intimate scenes. Smulders explained that the tactic was part of an acting method known as 'the moment before,' used to build emotional continuity prior to a scene. However, her version was far from traditional. 'Typically it was what we just did. And usually it was sexual,' Smulders said, adding that the comments would often make Radnor blush and leave him speechless. Radnor confirmed Smulders' claim and praised her comic timing. 'She would time it in such a way that she would finish saying it, they'd call 'action,' and I couldn't speak,' he said. He also joked that Smulders could write 'the filthiest romance novels' due to her creativity. While Neil Patrick Harris was also known for making crude remarks on set, Radnor said Smulders surpassed everyone in terms of shock value. Interestingly, co-creator Craig Thomas said he had no idea this dynamic existed during filming. How I Met Your Mother originally aired on CBS and is currently streaming on Netflix and Hulu.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cobie Smulders whispered 'inappropriate' things to 'How I Met Your Mother 'costar Josh Radnor before' 'sex scenes
Cobie Smulders knew exactly how to set the mood before filming sex scenes with Josh Radnor on How I Met Your Mother. Smulders played Robin, the object of Ted's (Radnor) affection for a majority of the long-running sitcom, and she revealed on Monday's episode of Radnor and co-creator Craig Thomas' How We Made Your Mother podcast that she would whisper "extremely inappropriate" things before filming scenes in bed together. "Josh and I had quite a few intimate scenes, and so I would try to, as much as humanly possible, before we would roll, whisper something to Josh that was just extremely inappropriate," Smulders said. "We have something in acting called 'the moment before,' which is typically used in an audition [where] you have to land as soon as they roll... there's been a whole life, so you have to create this moment before. So I felt, as a good scene partner, I should lay out what the moment before was. And typically it was what we just did. And usually it was sexual." "Because there were a lot of post-coital scenes, yeah," Radnor agreed. Smulders laughed at how she was just being a "giving actor" to her scene partner by laying out what their characters had just done in bed before the scene began. "I feel like I'm an amazing scene partner and I'm just thinking about the other person and making sure that they're comfortable, making sure that there's a connection there," she said while Radnor laughed. "And so I would just sort of set us up before we actually started the scene in our speaking roles, just with like, 'This is what just transpired between us.' And usually Josh would not be able to say anything and his face would turn that color for those who are watching." Thomas confirmed that Radnor was "turning beet red" as Smulders told this story. "It's one of my favorite things," Smulders added. But when the show's co-creator asked for an "appropriately-worded example" of what Smulders would whisper to Radnor, she refused to share any details. "Just think of the worst possible thing and that's really what I [said]," she teased. Radnor explained that while their costar Neil Patrick Harris, who played womanizer Barney on the show, could be "disgusting" when whispering things to him before a scene began as well, Smulders took the cake with what she'd come up with. "Neil has a real ability to be gross," Radnor said. "He is nothing compared to the depravity that Cobie Smulders laid out." Thomas laughed as he admitted he and the other producers "never knew" this was happening on set in the almost decade-long run of the series. And Radnor praised Smulders for how she would finish saying her comments right before the director called "action," often leaving him speechless. "She would time it in such a way that she would finish saying [it], she would stick the landing, and they would say 'action,' and I couldn't speak," Radnor said. "They're fond memories, but I also was immobilized by Cobie's visionary. You could monetize this in some way, Cobie, like if acting stops, you know what I'm saying? I think you could write just the filthiest romance novels... I'm telling you, you have a real talent for spinning the dirtiest webs of narrative, it was always shocking to me. Delightful in its own way."When Thomas once again tried to get more details on what Smulders said, the actor said it's just between her and Radnor. "Only Josh and I know exactly what was said, and the context of what was said, and how it was delivered," she said. "But now you know what was going on." "Your imagination is free to wander," Radnor added. "And I'm also incredibly breakable. I'm easy to break. But I think probably in some of the blooper reels, when you see me laughing is probably in response to something [she said], if you see us in bed." How I Met Your Mother originally ran for nine seasons, from 2005 to 2014. While the majority of the series revolved around Ted's on-again, off-again love for Robin, (spoiler alert for something that's been out for over a decade!) he ultimately married and had children with Cristin Milioti's Tracy, who joined the series in the season 8 finale through all of the ninth and final season. However, the series finale revealed that after Tracy got sick and died young, their children encouraged Ted to get back together with Robin years later. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
