The Limo (How I Met Your Mother)

"The Limo" is the 11th episode in the first season of the American sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The episode aired on CBS on December 19, 2005. The episode was written by Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil and was directed by Pamela Fryman.

The episode stars Josh Radnor as Ted Mosby alongside Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Alyson Hannigan, and Bob Saget (voice).

Plot
Trying to avoid the usual letdown of New Year's Eve, Ted rents a limo for the group. Robin has plans with her boyfriend, Derek. Ted, Lily, Marshall, and Barney plan to attend five parties before midnight finding the best party to be at, with Ranjit as their limo driver and Barney's "Get Psyched" mix CD to psych them up. The group goes to party one where they pick up Ted's coworker Marybeth. Barney also finds a date named Natalya. Lily complains that her shoes are hurting her feet, but the group disregards this and they head to party two, only to become disappointed there and head to party three, leaving Natalya behind. Robin calls Ted asking if they could pick her up, saying that Derek is stuck in Connecticut due to his job. Ted picks her up, offers to kiss her at midnight in Derek's place, and suggests that the group go to Gray's Papaya before party three. Lily returns to the apartment to change her shoes, intending to meet the group later.

The limo heads to party three when Marshall sees who he thinks is Moby out the window of the parked limo. Moby then rides to his party with the group. Marshall leaves the limo to find Lily. The group heads to Moby's party, but discover that he is not Moby. As they drop off Not Moby at his party, Marshall's phone which was accidentally left in the limo rings. Barney answers the call from Lily and tells her that Marshall is looking for her at party three. Lily then sees Not Moby walking into the party and flees. When she rejoins the group they realize that Lily accidentally went to party four. As the group heads to party three, Barney realizes that Not Moby took his "Get Psyched" mix just as the limo gets a flat tire. To cheer up everyone, Ted and Robin begin singing the first song from the "Get Psyched" mix. Marybeth decides to leave the group, telling Ted she knows he has feelings for Robin and encouraging him to pursue her.

With 15 minutes until midnight, the group begins walking to party three. As Lily tries to find Marshall, Barney tells Ted to stop trying to make New Year's better. Just before Ted gives up, they hear Marshall who then runs to the limo. He reveals that when he could not find Lily at party three he walked to party four. Marshall then went to party five and convinces the group that it is the best party. As the group head to party five, the limo gets stuck in traffic. Accepting that they will not make it there in time, Ted opens a bottle of champagne and pours everyone a glass, saying they already have a great party in the limo. Derek appears at the limo's window, having left work to be with Robin, and Natalya is found sleeping at the front seat. As the countdown begins, everyone in the limo is paired off except for Ted, who leaves the limo. Robin follows him, saying she has not forgotten about their deal and justifying that Derek kept her waiting, and she and Ted kiss.

Development and filming
The episode is a bottle episode meaning it is set in one location. The episode was reportedly one of the most difficult of the season to film.

Casting
The episode features principle cast members Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, and Alyson Hannigan as Ted Mosby, Barney Stinson, Marshall Eriksen, Robin Scherbatsky, and Lily Aldrin respectively. Additionally Bob Saget voices a future of Ted, but goes uncredited. The guest cast includes Lyndsy Fonseca and David Henrie as Ted's children and Marshall Manesh as Ranjit, All three of whom reprise their roles from earlier in the season. J. P. Manoux makes a cameo as Eric who the group mistake for the musician Moby. James Tupper also guest stars as Robin's boyfriend Derek.

Broadcast
"The Limo" was first aired in the United States on CBS on December 19, 2005. It was watched by 10.36 million viewers.

Awards

 * Director of Photography Chris La Fountaine won an Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series for this episode.

Soundtrack

 * "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi (a recurring track from "Get Psyched" mix CD)