Monday Night TV Recap

OK!'s Joyce Eng breaks down your fave show of the night: How I Met Your Mother!

How I Met Your Mother: “It's Britney, bitch. Because we learned nothing from Crossroads, Britney Spears is acting again. We open with a lingering shot of Brit gazing lovingly at Ted, which was basically the capacity of her entire role. Thank god the focal point of the episode was less Abby and more Stella (Scrubs' Sarah Chalke), Ted's dermatologist whom he sees about removing his butterfly tramp stamp, inflicted on him by Amy's (Mandy Moore) ex in the season premiere. Always one to fall in love on the spot, Ted asks her out to see her choice of the worst movie ever made, only it wasn't exactly a date, and she has no interest in there ever being one.

Undeterred, Ted is determined to make her a convert by the end of his 10 laser sessions. Halfway through and no progress, Ted realizes the way to the doc's heart may be through the sweet and dorky Abby, to whom she's very sweet, especially after a caller reduces poor Abs to tears. It works, sort of. Stella asks Ted out on a date -- for Abby. Trying to do recon work, Barney and Marshall each see Dr. Stella. Barney claims Stella is only attracted to men with mustaches, and so Ted grows a pornstache, only to be laughed in the face by Stella. Turns out it was just a bet Ted and Barney made a year ago. Marshall, on the other hand, proved to be more useful, reporting that Stella has a "crush" on Ted, although he didn't get as much info as he could have, as his hypochondria about his mole overtook the conversation.

Session 10, the tat is off and it's time for Ted to ask her out. Stella explains she doesn't date because she has an 8-year-old daughter, Lucy (hey, that was Brit's name in Crossroads!). The only free time she has during her day is two minutes for lunch. Their Girls Night Out movie is a once-a-month novelty, and she went to her first party in a year on St. Patrick's Day where she left early. Hmmm, not so much a throwaway line, you ponder. Ted realizes Stella never said "no," so it's time to woo the girl with a two-minute lunch date! If you're looking for the most ridiculously adorable sitcom date ever, look no further. With the cab-driving help of Ranjit (yes, he's back!), the two speed-date down the block for a meal and montage version of Manos: The Hands of Fate, Ted's choice for worst movie ever. And in the end, chances look good for a longer date. This was such classic Ted, the same love fool we fell for in the pilot after his speech to Robin. And don't worry about Abby. She may have chased Ted down the block, but she wound up in bed with Barney, who was that aforementioned tear-inducing caller.

How was Brit? Functional. The part could've been played by any unknown actress, but the cutesy ditz is what Britney does best. If it weren't for her greasy hair and jarring acting skills, there wouldn't be so much left to be desired. So is Stella the mother? The creators love throwing out red herrings and that St. Patty's line may be one. Future Ted's mentioned Stella's name, occupation and the fact that she has a daughter to his kids, so wouldn't they be able to figure it out if she were their mom?” – Joyce