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Worst TV Show of the Week

How I Met Your Mother on CBS

In many ways, the show How I Met Your Mother (Mondays, 8:00 p.m. ET) tries way too hard.  The canned laughter, the blatant attempt to popularize labored catch phrases like, “Suit up” and “Legend … wait for it … dary,” and the frequent use of cut-away gags taint the series with the thick whiff of effort.  The show also goes to great lengths to be sexually provocative, usually through its resident lothario, Barney Stinson.  The July 27^th rerun of an episode that originally aired on November 26^th, 2007 showcases the series’ propensity for perversion, earning it the title of Worst TV Show of the Week.    

The episode begins with the gang joining a local gym.  Barney notices that the woman behind the smoothie bar is none other than Rhonda, aka “The Man Maker,” the woman to whom he lost his virginity.  Barney explains that Rhonda was his mother’s slutty friend.  In a flashback, she is shown playing Go Fish with Barney’s mother while eight-year-old Barney and his older brother listen to her describe her sexual exploits:  "So Patti, know that new paperboy? I let him throw one into my hedges, if you know what I mean.  Did you see that new guy who cleans my pool?  I let him snake my drain, if you know what I mean.  Know that Chinese food delivery boy? I had sex with him.  I don't have a funny way of saying it, it just happened 20 minutes ago."  Later in life, 23-year-old Barney gets dumped by his girlfriend.  Heartbroken and still a virgin, Barney turns to his older brother, James, for advice.  James sends Barney to see Rhonda.  According to Barney’s recollection, he rocked her world.  She tells him afterward, “That was the best sex I ever had.”  Emboldened by his first conquest, Barney transforms himself into a sex-obsessed playboy.

Unfortunately, it was all a lie.

Rhonda remembers it quite differently.  According to her recollection, James asked her to sleep with Barney and tell him that it was the best sex she’s ever had.  But as part of the bargain, Rhonda forces James to sleep with her first.  After Barney sleeps with her, she tells him that it was the best sex she’s ever had while barely feigning interest. 

The revelation actually does rock Barney’s world.  His confidence is shaken.  He can no longer approach women with the same bravado.  Yes, he suffers from the dreaded “yips.”  This couldn’t have happened at the worst possible time because Barney has scored tickets to the Victoria’s Secret after-party.  During the party, he clumsily hits on the models.  Heidi Klum sympathizes with his plight and suggests that the only way for him to overcome the “yips” is to sleep with Rhonda and rock her world for real this time. 

Rhonda, however, has grown older and wiser.  When Barney shows up at her apartment and propositions her for sex, she responds, “"What are you talking about? I'm watching Wheel of Fortune."

“You can keep watching,” Barney states, “I’ll face you toward the TV.”

 Barney continues to insist.  Eventually, Rhonda gives in.  Later they are shown in her bedroom. She is naked underneath the sheets while he gets dressed.  She coos, "Oh my god, Barney, you really did just rock my world.  That was amazing.  And I'm not lying."

 Barney states matter-of-factly, "I know you're not lying, baby."

 "And it was good for you?" Rhonda asks.

 He lies, "It was the best sex I ever had.  (Yawn) Later."

As he heads out the door he cockily says to himself, "Daddy's back."

For a show that airs at 8:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. (Central), the sexual content on the show is disturbing.  What mother would let her friend talk so openly about casual sex in front of her young children?  And what kind of friend would later sleep with both boys in rapid succession?  Since when does casual meaningless sex fix more problems than it causes?  The sexual dysfunction on the show is played for laughs, but the show irresponsibly glosses over the serious consequences that accompany the kind of life Barney leads. 

When it comes to promoting safer sex, one thing is for sure … this show needs to try a lot harder. 

For strong sexual content, How I Met Your Mother has been named Worst TV Show of the Week.