In this week's How I Met Your Mother, "Bad News," a not-so-hidden countdown helped build the anticipation leading up to a pivotal moment in the season - and the series.

Co-creator Carter Bays explained the origins of the HIMYM countdown and expounded on it a bit in an interview we posted earlier. Now, here are nine highlights (of the 50).

Click to enlarge some highlights below. For the full countdown, click here.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.