Thanks to a last-second change of mind by star Jason Segel, How I Met Your Mother fans have an extra reason to cheer this holiday season:

The sitcom has been renewed for Season 9.

Rumors about the future of the series has been running rampant for weeks because the contracts of creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays and all the key How I Met Your Mother cast members are up after this season.

The producers had been pushing for an answer from CBS in order to plot out the rest of the show, which is finally building toward the Mother reveal.

Now, with his fellow stars on board, Segel has decided to sign on for one final run of episodes.

As for the next chapter of How I Met Your Mother Season 8? Bays has teased that it will have a lot to do with Barney and Robin and their future as an engaged couple.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.