How I Met Your Mother
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Christmas isn't for another month, but Marshall gave us an early present when he decked Barney's halls last night on a Thanksgiving episode of How I Met Your Mother.

As we stated in our review of "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap," the episode was good on its own but not quite on par with the original, 2007 Slapsgiving hilarity.

Below, our staff members break down Slap #4, Lily's dad and everything else from last night in our weekly How I Met Your Mother Round Table. Let's get to it ...

1. What was your favorite How I Met Your Mother quote from last night?

Dr. Shepherd: Marshall's sheepish, preceded-by-awkward-pause answer to how he knew so much about Lily's dad supposedly getting his life together: "Body language?"

Mrs. Northman: Robin: "Don't sell yourself short there, Teddy, you're a slapping rock star. Your name should be Eric Slapton." How can you not love Eric Slapton? Pure genius I tell ya!

Mrs. Mosby: I must admit I was not a big fan of the multitude of quotes in which they used the word "slap" ("slapsolutely," "I'll be your slapprentice," etc.). Can that be my answer?

The Barnacle: It's become a Slapsgiving tradition of mine to declare one of the witty slap puns to be the quote of the episode. And by tradition I mean I'm starting it now since TV Fanatic didn't have Round Tables in Season Three. This year? I give it up to Scherbatsky for declaring Ted the rock star of slappers, Eric Slapton.

2. Who did you most want to slap Barney?

Mrs. Mosby: I wanted Marshall to slap Barney all along because he's hilarious when it does it. And he's just so big and lovable (and typically a bit pathetic) normally.

Dr. Shepherd: If Marshall can bequeath a slap to Ted/Robin, can he also mandate that Barney slap himself? Wonder how the Slap Bet Commissioner would rule on that.

The Barnacle: Oh Ted absolutely deserved it. If you date a man's ex you better damn well marry her. Barney took the gamble, failed to entertain television audiences, and was forced to end it. His punishment should have been a legendary slap from Ted "Eric Slapton" Mosby.

Mrs. Northman: Although any and all would be great choices to slap Barney, I'm most definitely going with Marshall - he's the tallest and strongest member of the group - plus this is his thing with Barney. Let's try not to forget a classic is always the best way to go.

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Any time you have a sequel, you're inevitably going to compare it to the original.  So when How I Met Your Mother aired this week's sequel to the fantastic season three "Slapsgiving," they must have known what fans across he nation were thinking.

As far as regular episodes go, "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap" was a great one.  It focused on Lily and her past, which is rare for the show.  It even gave Marshall yet another chance to show his sensitive side.  However, we can't help but say it fell a little short compared to the original.

Now some quick notes from the episode:

• I never get sick of slap puns.  Slapple, Slapsolutely, Eric Slapton, Slape diem, Slapprentice.  I'm sure I missed plenty but you can find them in our How I Met Your Mother quotes section.
• How great were Mickey's board games?  Tijuana Slumlord, Car Battery, Dog Fight Promoter, and Diseases just to name a few.  Anyone know where we can pick them up?
• Was it just us or was Chris Elliot a little too young to be playing Lily's father?
• So did they really eat the Turkey after it got the lead-based paint and stomach bile on it?  Despite claiming it was ruined I sure saw it cleaned off on the table.
• Absolutely loved the Lily "You're Dead to Me" stare (and yes I realize you Buffy fans will say it's a Dark Willow throwback).  Even better?  Marshall's failed attempt at one.
• I'm glad Marshall was the one to use the slap and was glad it was in surprise, but I was kind of hoping he was going to save them. I'd rather them be used ina  completely random episode.
• Funny or cheesy that Marshall said the name of the episode?

Not enough How I Met Your Mother for your Tuesday morning reading?  We have a round table coming up soon!

While Richard Heene isn't winning any father of the year awards for his Ballon Boy stunt, he did at least inspire Chris Elliott in his role as Lily's estranged father on tonight's episode of How I Met Your Mother, "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap."

Elliott told TV Guide that, "When I was shooting it, the whole Bubble Boy thing was going on, so I was imagining that father. I think if that's what he was into, he would've sent her off in a balloon!  That's the kind of dad he was when she was growing up — a guy obsessed with invention."

What invention?  Lily's father, Mickey, is obsessed with creating the next cool board game and his ideas include "Car Battery" and "Diseases!"  The last thing Lily would want to see on Thanksgiving would be her father or one of his board games.

However, since Thanksgiving is about forgiveness and such, Marshall invites over her dad and, "She slams the door in my face, but I weasel my way in.  He does love Lily. He still brings the game over, but he realizes his mistakes. He realizes that it's time to make up for lost time."

We hope he succeeds because we'd love to see more Chris Elliott in the future.

The How I Met Your Mother guest-starring list continues to grow.

Amanda Peet will appear on a January episode of the sitcom. The actress was recently seen in the movie 2012 and last starred on the small screen in the short-lived series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

On the installment, titled "Jenkins," Peet will portray a co-worker of Marshall's.

She's one of a number of big names set to appear on the sitcom, as Chris Elliot will appear on this week's episode; and Rachel Bilson, Tim Gunn and Stacy Keibler are slated for the 100th installment in January.

As we discussed in our "Rough Patch" Round Table, some fans felt How I Met Your Mother’s decision to bring the Barney-Robin love story to an end was premature and sad.

Co-creator and executive producer Carter Bays insists the romance was sacrificed for the greater good, though, and that would be the preservation of a legendary ladies' man.

“None of us wanted to see Barney wearing a sweater-vest and going to bed-and-breakfasts,” says Bays, adding that it makes sense the relationship would “flame out fast.”

Despite fans' attachment to the two as a couple, and the characters' obvious attachment to each other, Bays says “neither of them, at their core, wanted to be tied down.”

Relationship guts and all, Barney and Robin called it quits.

And who's to say they won't try again? “[They] could get relationship amnesia and decide, ‘Hey, this is a good idea!’” he says. “This could be the first of many flame outs.”

“I don’t want to say reconciliation. But the story is not over, for sure.”

Just like old times, the Barnacle was back to his old tricks (literally) in this week's episode, "The Playbook." It was entertaining, even if you missed him being with Robin.

Bays believes viewers prefer single Barney to attached Barney: “It’s one of those things where you can give people what they think they want, or what they really want.”

What do you think? Is he right? Which do you prefer ...

We know on Monday's episode, "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap," two things are for sure:

1. Chris Elliot will be guest starring as Lily's estranged father, Mickey.
2. There will be at least one slap of Marshall's remaining slaps against Barney.

However, executive producer Carter Bays is still keeping his mouth mum about the exact details of the slap.  He says, "There’s a little bit of a twist on the slap this year.  The Slap Bet commissioner makes an interesting ruling that I can’t reveal."

We will give you a hint.  Marshall gives away his slap and it will be used by one of the other How I Met Your Mother cast members... or Lily's father.  Watch their potential slaps in action:

Hi, I'm Don.

With those words, Benjamin Koldyke introduced himself to How I Met Your Mother fans on this week's new episode.

Unfortunately for Barney and Robin fans, not only with this actor be sticking around the sitcom; creator Carter Bays says he'll be romancing Robin for awhile.

“I don’t want to oversell anything," Bays told Michael Ausiello. "Yes, it’s very soon after her and Barney [split up], but...we’ve had characters that Ted has dated many times, but we haven’t brought in somebody for Robin. We’re seeing where it goes. We’re taking it gingerly."

Koldyke is quickly becoming some what of a guest-starring slut. Aside from dating Robin on HIMYM, he'll play for the other team and get with Alby on season four of Big Love.

The old Barney is definitely back, and more devious than ever. Last night, he revealed "The Playbook" to the gang. Playbook for what, you ask? Do you even watch the show?

Below, our staff members break down Barney's antics and everything else from last night's episode in our weekly How I Met Your Mother Round Table. Let's get to it ...

1. What was your favorite How I Met Your Mother quote from last night?

Mrs. Mosby: Definitely the MILSWANCAs quote: "Barney Stinson is back on the market. Mothers, lock up your daughters. Daughters, lock up your MILSWANCAs." Marshall: "MILSWANCAs?" Ted: "Wait, I can get this ... Mothers I'd Like to Sleep With and Never Call Again." Barney: "Correct, circle gets a square."

Dr. Shepherd: Ted's reaction after learning Barney patented a move based on Stella leaving him at the altar. Barney doesn't think twice about mocking Ted's loserdom, nor does Ted bat an eye. He just thinks aloud, "Wonder if that would work ..."

The Barnacle: Hehe, I'm gonna have to give it up to Barney coining the new phrase, "MILSWANCA" and to Ted for figuring out what it stood for.

2. What was your favorite page of Barney's playbook?

Mrs. Mosby: The Lorenzo von Matterhorn. That takes a lot of work! As someone who knows a thing or two about how to rank on Google searches, Barney gets major points for pulling off the L.V.M. play successfully.

Dr. Shepherd: The Cheap Trick. As in posing as a guy from that band. How I Met Your Mother quotes feature wordplay matched only by The Simpsons quotes, such as when the Native American tribal chief tells Bart "oh, that's just Crazy Talk ... my uncle."

The Barnacle: Is that a rhetorical question? It's quite obvious the Lorenzo van Matterhorn is possibly the greatest move of all time, let alone out of just Barney's playbook. Please help me come up with potentially famous names in the comments below. And does anyone know an editor from IMDB that can help me out?

3. Were you fooled by the scuba scam?

Dr. Shepherd: By the book, I got played by the master. It wasn't until he left in his scuba gear and Lily got a text from him that I realized it was all according to plan. Who would incorporate a move into the book that sacrificed the book itself? Genius.

Mrs. Mosby: YES! After seeing Barney's vulnerable side during his relationship with Robin, it was easy to be fooled by him again. But it's good to see that the old Barney is back.

The Barnacle: Honestly, I kind of knew where they were going with it the second the gang got friendly with Claire, but sometimes it's all about the ride. Especially when that ride leads to moves out of The Playbook.

4. Will Don be the one for Robin?

Mrs. Mosby: He looks Canadian and manly, so I am thinking he just might be. We'll have to see how he handles himself at the Hoser Hut to be sure though.

The Barnacle: Pff, no way. I remember the last co-anchor Robin tried to date and the helmet of hair they had to lower on to him.

Dr. Shepherd: They sure set us up to believe it with all the similar accounts of acquaintances meeting their soul mates right after giving up on love. No way is Don as funny as Robin's most recent ex, but maybe he'll be more of the marrying type.

As the biggest fans of Swarkles, aka The Barman and Robin, we were initially sad to see these two break up.  Then we remembered what made How I Met Your Mother so awesome... single Barney.

On last night's episode, "The Playbook," it was amazing to have the real Barney back.  Recovering instantly from his breakup, Barney used the playbook, a book of all his tricks, to deceit a bunch of women into his bedroom.

So what made this episode so legendary?

• Lorenzo von Matterhorn.  We're already trying to come up with our fake name to begin dominating the top ten Google results.
• I love how Claire (Kim Knight) just fit in with the group and even joined in during the "Hell No" harmony.
• The running gag line of "Sonuvabitch."
• The backwareds plot telling device, while not as clever as other HIMYM episodes, was still fun.  Seeing the Lily grab the sheet and realizing she's been had? Sonuvabitch.
• Hehe, he dressed as a SCUBA diver... and stuffed with a can of Pringles.
• Ted being set up.  Could the main character of the show and premise be back?  Well, not if Barey, err Lorenzo keeps scamming them.

Sure a lot of fans will complain that the multi-season build up of Barney and Robin getting together only to be broken up seven episodes into the season was short-lived.  We just want to remind them to re-watch this episode.  This was HIMYM.

Now for some of the finest How I Met Your Mother quotes of the episode after the jump.

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Back in season two of How I Met Your Mother, Marshall was awarded five slaps against Barney, courtesy the official Slap Bet Commissioner, Lily.

Now, in season five of the sitcom, Marshall still has two slaps remaining. How will he dole them out?

In HIMYM tradition, these will occur in the upcoming Thanksgiving - err, Slapsgiving - episode that airs in just two weeks. The episode will be cleverly titled "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap."

The fun twist on the remaining slaps? Marshall will actually be handing the rights to slap Barney over to Ted and Robin. We wan't wait to see how they use them!

Slapsgiving 2 will also mark the episode where Chris Elliot guest stars as Lily's estranged father. Check out the following episode stills that feature Elliott and the rest of the cast: