In his critique of Monday night’s HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, Time Magazine’s James Poniewozik took the writers to task for delivering a Barney-centric episode that has “decided to simply wipe out a major character arc [Barney and Robin's relationship] and grant itself a do-over.”

Our take: We’re okay with that.

For unlike many critics — who earlier today took to the internets to express their disdain for last night’s tour-de-force/Emmy winning performance by one Neil Patrick Harris that had Barney opening up his “playbook” by revealing the many scams, flim-flams and bamboozles that he has employs to lie, cheat, and steal his way into a women’s heart (for one night only) — we loved every minute of it.

Sure, in theory Barney and Robin as a couple was a nice idea. But if Homer Simpson taught us anything, it’s that in theory, communism worked. In reality, said stable relationship turned Barney from the sleazy womanizer we love to well, love, into a boring average Joe. And do we really need another Ted?

What noted television critic Alan Sepinwall called an episode that felt like, “[Showrunners] Carter Bays and Craig Thomas were overcompensating for the return of Barney Stinson.” We call a welcome turn of events. Seriously. As someone who spends a lot of time watching story-lines go nowhere or disappoint for months on end (see: Izzie’s ‘Denny’ hallucinations on GREY’S ANATOMY, the DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES fiasco that was season two thank-you-very-much Betty Applewhite, and 50% of DOLLHOUSE), there is something to be said for two showrunners righting a wrong, and fast! Plus, after delivering four seasons of almost flawless comedy, if there is one thing the writers of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER deserve, it’s a do-over.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to get back to designing our new line of HIMYM-inspired clothing which may-or-may-not include an “I’m with Smoron” tshirt and “WWLVMD” (What Would Lorenzo von Matterhorn Do)

Good News: Lindsay Price has officially removed herself from ‘Mother’ contention. Bad News: After breaking up (in real-life) with HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’s Josh Radnor over what sources are calling ‘lifestyle’ differences. [Source]

Good News: Execs at ABC, CBS, CW and FOX can rest easy. Bad News: For NBC, who according to Silicon Valley Insider will (inexplicably) keep Jeff Zucker at the helm following Comcast’s deal to purchase 51% of NBC Universal from General Electric. [Source]

90210’s Shenae Grimes
What started out as an interesting way to handle a poorly conceived character that never really connected with viewers continues to get well less so, after yet another week went by with Shenae Grimes’ Annie Wilson on the outside looking in. Seriously, we can’t recall the last time (if ever) a character that started out the series front-and-center was pushed so far back into the periphery. Hey 90210 EP Rebecca Rand Kirshner, care to explain?

The handling of Barney and Robin
After a season of build-up, anticipation and hype, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’s  Barney and Robin are officially (spoiler alert!) no more. And while disappointment may not be exactly how we’d characterize the relationship that we believe is at least partially to blame for HIMYM’s somewhat less than stellar start to the season, we can’t help but be somewhat surprised that the same writers who gave us the genius that is the ’slap bet,’ ‘Robin Sparkles,’ and one of the cleverest sitcom hooks in recent memory (See: The mystery surrounding the titular mother) handled the pairing up of ‘Robney’ so poorly.

The controversy surrounding Monday’s GOSSIP GIRL
Popular USAToday Blogger Whitney Matheson took the words right out of our mouth when she tweeted, “I can’t believe folks are crazed over the ridiculous Gossip Girl threesome. Next to Skins, that show looks like Dora the Explorer.”

The People’s Choice Award Nominees
Yesterday’s announcement touting the nominees for January’s People’s Choice Awards which include Blake Lively for TV Drama Actress, THE HILLS and THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER for TV Obsession, HEROES for TV Sci-fi, THREE RIVERS and THE FORGOTTEN for New TV Drama, ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE, HANK and BROTHERS for New TV Comedy has this TV Addict wondering, People’s Choice or Network Marketing Executive’s Choice Awards? And by that we mean, HANK, seriously?!

The TV Addict has just learned something awesome. Actually, it’s not so much awesome, as legendary. Seriously. For on November 23, not only are HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER fans invited to a very special Thanksgiving-themed episode in which Lily’s estranged father (played by special guest star Chris Elliot) shows up announced and in doing so, allows for us to learn what led to their estrangement three years prior. The episode’s title is… wait for it… “Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap.” More first look photos of which can be found after the jump.

Since HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER is a repeat tonight, this TV Addict thought now might be a good time as any to fill you in on what hilarity you have to look forward to next week. On November 9th, Barney and Robin’s relationship hit a rough patch. Enter a meddling Lily, who for reasons we’re not entirely sure, devises a plan to break them up. One that involves special guest star Alan Thicke. More photos of which can be found after the jump.

Is Marshall and Lily’s marriage on the rocks? Barney certainly thinks so on the upcoming November 2 episode of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER when HE fantasizes being Lily’s husband. More photos of which can be found after the jump.

THE GOOD: On the news that their favorite Chicago Pizza haunt is closing down, Marshall and Ted decide to acquire the joint’s old Frogger Machine re-live their college days (complete with HIMYM’s trademark flashbacks) fuelled solely on Tantrum! (the original Red Bull) by driving twenty-two hours from New York for one last slice. Both funny and relatable (okay, perhaps not that relatable, although I been known to wait for over an hour and a half for a hot dog from Pink’s (overrated!), a burger from New York’s hallowed Shake Shack (totally worth it!) and a succulent original glazed when Krispy Kreme first came to Canada) Ted and Marshall’s excellent adventure was surprisingly enough the highlight of the episode (Lily, not so much, but more on that later.)

THE BAD: As much as I’m sorry (or as us Canucks apparently say it, “sore-ee”) to say this, Robin (and by extension Barney) have become a victim of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’s penchant for going to the everything-about-Canada-is-funny-well (or once again, everything-aBOOT-Canada-is-funny-well) one too many times. Seriously. Last night was the proverbial straw that broke the camels Mountie’s back as what was once a funny and original gag sprinkled throughout the occasional episode officially became a lazy go-to device for the writer’s to get a quick laugh. Yes Canada’s money may look like it’s from a board game, and sure we take our hockey a little too seriously — but as Barney was quick to discover thanks to the much-deserved pummelling that was brought down upon him in an accurately re-created Tim Hortons — his crutches and world-class medical care were free! (Three cheers for free health care!)

THE UGLY: What has happened to Lily Aldren? The girl who at one point could drink and eat with the best of them and would never dare encroach on a bro-mantic road trip has turned into an annoying and manipulative wife. What’s worse, she is bringing Marshall down with her.

Kids, today’s lesson is how to do what we once believed was impossible… deliver an unfunny episode of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER.

Step #1: Develop a completely implausible and predictable storyline that has Barney brushing up on Robin Scherbatsky 101 with a little help from self-proclaimed expert, Professor Ted. Really? Barney really needs to be taught that ‘Gun Maintenance,’ ‘Hockey,’ and ‘Emperor Penguins,’ are three subjects that can easily distract her? I mean you’d think that three years of friendship and one year of borderline stalking would have already filled him in on those obvious nuggets (Admittedly, the whole penguin thing was bit out of left field, but I digress.)

Step #2: Provide Lilly and Marshall with an utterly pointless ‘B’ story and in the process rob HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER of one of its most delightful gifts: Its uncanny ability to generate big laughs by putting an imaginative and unique spin on the everyday (See: the episodes one redeeming quality, the Dead Poets Society reference. Which let’s face it, never gets old.) Unfortunately, Marshall’s wide-eyed amazement over the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ that was the stoop outside of his apartment wasn’t one of those quirky spins on the everyday. As any apartment dweller in the history of tenants will tell you, if you put something outside, it’s going to be taken away. Heck, in my old haunt, stuff literally disappeared before I made it up the elevator to look outside.

Step #3: Screw up your Stanley Cup history. Seriously. Blaming “Captain Canuck” Trevor Linden for the Vancouver Canucks 1994 Stanley Cup Loss: Watchatalkingaboutwillis! There is absolutely nothing wrong with leading your team to an electric game-seven showdown (and subsequent 3-2 loss) against the unstoppable force that was Mark Messier and his New York Rangers. We’re just sayin’

Good News: Last week’s ratings surprises, MODERN FAMILY and COUGAR TOWN return tonight to ABC with brand new episodes. Bad News: The unstoppable ratings juggernaut (and lead-in) that is DANCING WITH THE STARS does not.

Good News: CBS is spinning off one of their most popular shows. Bad News: Signing a deal with executive producer/showrunner Ed Bernero and executive producer Chris Mundy for a CRIMINAL MINDS spin-off. Not, the bizarro version of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER featuring lesbian Robin, stripper Lilly and Mustachio Marshall that we were kinda hoping for. [Source]