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Barney Stinson

 

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Barney Stinson


 
 

Barney Stinson is a fictional characterFictional character

A fictional character is any person who appears in a work of fiction....
 created by Carter BaysCarter Bays

Carter Bays is an American television writer....
 and Craig ThomasCraig Thomas

Craig Thomas may be:*Craig Thomas,...
 for the CBSCBS

CBS is one of the largest television networks, and formerly one of the largest radio networks, in the United States....
 television series How I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your Mother Summary

How I Met Your Mother is a CBS sitcom that premiered on September 19, 2005....
, portrayed by Neil Patrick HarrisNeil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris is an American actor, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico....
.

Role on How I Met Your Mother

Barney Stinson is one of five main characters on the CBSCBS Overview

CBS is one of the largest television networks, and formerly one of the largest radio networks, in the United States....
 television series How I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother is a CBS sitcom that premiered on September 19, 2005....
. The show revolves around Ted MosbyTed Mosby

Theodore "Ted" Evelyn Mosby is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series '...
 as he falls in love. Despite his opposition to Ted's settling down, Stinson, a womanizer, offers many strategies designed to help Ted meet women. Through several seasons of the show, four of the main characters were couples, as Ted began dating Robin ScherbatskyRobin Scherbatsky

Robin Scherbatsky is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met...
 and Ted's roommate Marshall EriksenMarshall Eriksen

Marshall Eriksen is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met ...
 became engaged (and later married) to Lily AldrinFacts About Lily Aldrin

Lily Aldrin is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your ...
. This left Stinson the only single character, and, according to Neil Patrick HarrisNeil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris is an American actor, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico....
, who portrays the character, Stinson was "resentful" that the other characters had paired up.

Harris was invited to audition for the character by Megan Branman, the casting director for the show. He assumed that he was invited solely because the two were friends and did not believe he had a chance of winning the role. Harris later said that "Since I (considered) myself the long shot, I didn't care that much, and I think that allowed a freedom." His audition centered around a scene of laser tagLaser tag

Laser tag is a sport loosely related to the original game of tag....
, and Harris executed a dive roll, accidentally knocking over a chair. CBS executives enjoyed his performance, and Harris was quickly offered the part.

Character

Harris describes Barney as a man who "likes to create crazy situations and then sit back and watch it all go down." In the show, Barney is a womanizerWomanizer Summary

A womanizer or philanderer is a man who engages in love affairs with women he cannot or will not marry....
 who almost always wears a suit and is always willing to offer his opinion. Although The Early Show described him as "utterly devoid of morality", Barney lives by "The Bro Code", his own code of rules, which includes a lemon law for blind dates. However, according to creator Craig ThomasCraig Thomas

Craig Thomas may be:*Craig Thomas,...
, Barney is "a pretty fragile character who's really afraid of being alone. He just wants people to like him, to be important to people, and to have disciples who follow his word." A flashback in the episode Game NightGame Night

"Game Night" is the 15th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother....
 reveals that Barney had been an innocent young man who wanted to join the Peace CorpsPeace Corps

The Peace Corps is an independent federal agency of the United States designed to promote mutual understanding between Ameri...
 with his one and only serious girlfriend Shannon. When she left him for a suit-wearing womanizer, Barney morphed into a similar man.

While Barney's softer side is not seen often, it is not always relegated to flashbacks. When Eriksen and Aldrin broke their engagement in season one, Barney often lured women away from Eriksen so that he could remain faithful to the woman he truly loved. It was later revealed in a flashback that it was Barney who had gone to San Francisco and begged Aldrin to go back to Eriksen, even buying her a ticket for the trip back.

Barney's family life was defined in flashbacks in the episode ShowdownShowdown (How I Met Your Mother episode)

"Showdown" is the 20th episode in the second season of the television series How I Met Your Mother....
, which established that Barney's mother (played by Megan MullallyMegan Mullally

Megan Mullally is a three-time SAG and two-time Emmy Award-winning American actress and comedian....
) was a promiscuousPromiscuity

Promiscuity is the practice of making relatively casual and indiscriminate choices....
 woman who claimed that his father was Bob BarkerBob Barker

Robert William "Bob" Barker is an Emmy Award-winning American television game show host....
, longtime host of The Price is RightThe Price Is Right

The Price Is Right is a television game show format currently owned by the FremantleMedia wing of the RTL Group, origina...
. Barney also has a half-brother, James (played by Wayne BradyWayne Brady

Wayne Brady is a American comedian, singer,and television personality, best known for his role on ABC's television show Wh...
), who, unlike Barney, is African AmericanAfrican American

An African American is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were...
, homosexual and married.

Although Barney's occupation has not been fully specified, the show has revealed that he works for Altrucel, a large company that produces militaryMilitary

A military or military force has seen many different incarnations throughout time....
 weaponWeapon

A weapon is a tool which is intended to or is used to injure, kill, or a person, damage or destroy property, or to otherwis...
ry, petroleumPetroleum

Petroleum or crude oil is a black, dark brown or greenish liquid found in porous rock formations in the earth....
, and the "fuzzy yellow stuff" on tennis ballTennis ball

A tennis ball is the bouncing ball designed for the sport of tennis, but also used in some other games, such as squash tenni...
s. The company is also shrouded in mystery; for example, when Marshall speculates as to why Barney feels bad about sleeping with Robin, Barney responds "If I wanted a psychological evaluation, I'd hire the guy who hypnotizes us before we give depositions". Barney's job within Altrucel also remains unclear; whenever he is asked what his exact profession is, he always replies with a laugh and a "please." Although Barney's alma materAlma mater

Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother"....
 has not been specifically revealed on the show, in the episode How Lily Stole ChristmasHow Lily Stole Christmas

"How Lily Stole Christmas" is the 11th episode in the second season of the television series How I Met Your Mother....
, Barney is seen wearing a shirt from Cornell UniversityCornell University

Cornell University is a private research university located in Ithaca, New York....
.

He became friends with TedTed Mosby

Theodore "Ted" Evelyn Mosby is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series '...
 after meeting at a urinal in the bathroom of a bar, and then sitting down next to him later that night to "teach him how to live". Barney often states that he is Ted's best friend, only to be corrected by Ted, who retorts that he (Ted) and Marshall are best friends.

Barney is also an amateur magicMagic

Magic may refer to:* Magic , a term for various supernatural, mystical, and paranormal practices...
ian of some skill, this comes from Neil Patrick HarrisNeil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris is an American actor, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico....
 being very interested in magic himself. Harris and Barney are also proficient at playing the pianoPiano

piano or pianoforte is a musical instrument classified as a keyboard, percussion, or string instrument, depending on t...
. Barney is an avid Star WarsStar Wars

Star Wars is a science fantasy and fictional galaxy created by writer / producer / director George Lucas during the 197...
 fan, going so far as to display a life-sized Clone Trooper statue in his apartment.

Catchphrases

In the show's pilotPilot (How I Met Your Mother episode)

"Pilot" is the 1st episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother....
, Barney first utters his most recognizable phrase, "Suit up!", as he tells others to dress like him. According to creator Thomas, this is a sign that Barney "thought of his suit as some kind of superhero outfit that separated him from the pack." The phrase is repeated in many episodes, and is often modified to fit whatever clothing Barney is wearing, such as "Flight suit up!".

As the show's most popular character, Barney is rewarded with the best catchphrases. Besides "Suit up!", he often describes schemes as "Legendary!". He also frequently intersperses the phrase "Wait for it" between syllables of a long word. The season two finale closed with Barney saying "Legen -- wait for it...", and he opened season three with "..Dary!"

In the show Barney frequently approaches attractive women with Mosby in tow and asks "Have you met Ted?" as a way to start a conversation with strangers. Thomas says that this phrase is based in real life, as a one-time friend of his often used a similar line to meet women.

Barney also will tell elaborate, outrageous stories or assert his own "awesomeness", followed by "True story." When he makes up a fake fact he always uses the number 83.

Reception

According to The Early ShowThe Early Show Overview

The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City, 7 to 9 a.m., Monday...
, Barney is one of the main reasons that the show has been a success. Maclean'sMaclean's

Maclean's is Canada's leading weekly news magazine. ...
says that Barney is the show's most popular character and explains that the most likeable characters are often those with the best catchphrases. In 2006, TV LandTV Land

TV Land is an American cable television network which first started transmissions on April 29, 1996....
 named Barney's "Suit Up" one of the 100 Best Catchphrases. Barney's signature phrase is one of only four from contemporary television shows, as writers are now less likely to have a character repeat a phrase in many episodes.

In 2007 and 2008, Harris was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work playing Barney.