The HALF Hour of Power Recap

Oh, that's right, "How I Met Your Mother", you heard me.

This weekly recap will be referred to as the "HALF Hour of Recap" until Stella is gone and I laugh at something more than just Barney (I will admit that Marshall's rant about New Jersey at the end of the episode last night was pretty funny, but still).

You know what, I'm actually going to start with "HIMYM" today.

I'm not officially panicked or even worried about the state of the show but my concern grows with each clunker they have trotted out this season.

I'm starting to think that this is just part of a greater "EFF You!" to CBS for almost cancelling the series the past two seasons. Comedian Chris Rock once did a bit about how your girl can keep running her mouth at you and there comes a point when she crosses the line and you both know that you have every right to punch her in the face, only you don't because you're an evolved, civilized human being; but here's the key: once she knows that you're not going to hit her, she just unleashes on you because now there's no fear of any consequences.

So my theory is, the "HIMYM" producers blew all of their creativity the past three seasons trying to keep the show alive and now that they know CBS isn't going to cancel them, they're almost taunting the net by churning out crappy episodes.

Just like "Family Guy" did when Fox brought them back from the dead.

Wow. I'm turning into the Oliver Stone of sitcom conspiracies.

OK, now that I got that out of my system, here's what I really think is going on: We've all been there. We've all had that best friend that gets real serious with someone that we think is bad for them. The relationship change your friend's personality and lifestyle and you would be fine with it IF your friend seemed happy in the process (because we all want what's best for our friends).

Does Ted really seem happy to you right now?

I think not.

And, just like I can't believe we had an entire episode about hamburgers last week, I can't believe we had to sit through the charade of an actual debate about New York and New Jersey.

Here's all you have to know: If you're debating about living in New York or New Jersey, than I can guarantee that New York doesn't want you. That's like if you were looking to buy a really nice, big mansion but then told the real estate agent that you were still considering moving into the dumpster out back.

The agent would make that decision for you.

So while "HIMYM" is displaying some very real Shark Jumping symptoms, I'm not giving up hope. I know we have to go through Stella's sister wedding in November (the father of Stella's daughter returns as a complication) and I think that should be the beginning of the end for Ted and Stella.

And then you know what we will be rewarded with?

Not in a Relationship Ted!

Not in a Relationship Ted episodes are my favorite because Ted is always more fun when he is chasing the unicorn than when he thinks he has caught it. And I really believe that this Not in a Relationship Ted will actually lead to the relationship we have all been waiting for.

I have been wrong before, but it's just a hunch.

Oh, and Robin is not going anywhere permanently. Remember that she has to be living with Ted on his 31st birthday because of the "goat" story. And that's another reason we know Ted and Stella don't work out - there's no way Stella would let Ted have an ex-girlfriend move in with him AND he is still in the apartment in New York when the goat story happens, not New Jersey.

Here's how it will go down: Robin moves to Japan, Ted and Stella break up, it doesn't work for Robin in Japan but now she has no apartment to move back to so she moves in with Ted.

You're welcome.

With that said, "The Big Bang Theory" is blazing right now. This was the first basically Sheldon-centered ep that didn't drag and - oh, my gosh - there was an actual misunderstanding comedy bit (when Leonard could hear Penny and Sheldon talking behind the door of Sheldon's bedroom). The bit was short and kind of predictable but it was snappy and funny.

More importantly, it was there!

Like I've said before, Kelly Cuoco does such a good job with keeping Penny grounded that it's not unbelievable that she would get so wrapped up in nerdy online gaming. That's another reason why I've always said the predictable route for the show would be Penny and Sheldon hooking up (thus creating obvious conflict between Sheldon and Leonard because everyone knows that despite their differences, Penny and Sheldon would make for a better couple), but that's what I've appreciated about "Big Bang" so far - it hasn't gone the predictable route (yet) in terms of story arc.

But if it did, I think it would be handled properly.

They always keep everything really understated on that show. Our TV Group could not believe it when last night's episode was over; it felt like it was just beginning to build towards a climax and then - boom - done with little-to-no resolution.

I like that a lot.

I also have to mention that the best part of the night had to be the fact that we now get to enjoy our HALF Hour of Power in beautiful HD. Like me, Paul has DirecTV and up until last night, he never had the network HD channels; but they inexplicably came in about an hour before our shows aired.

The sad part was that we got so excited about the thought of Sheldon being funny in HD that our buddy Chris had to remind us of Penny.

Ugh. I am getting old.

What did you think of the HALF Hour of Power last night? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.

- Josh Mahler

PS - Speaking of "Big Bang Theory", for all of you TV industry nerds out there like me, check out this article by Zap2it.com's Rick Porter about how some of the sophomore shows are doing this season after making it through the writers' strike and summer hiatus. Interesting stuff.