Current Events > They really chose poorly casting Barney's Mother in How I Met Your Mother...

(+) Yeah! (+)

She has such bad energy. They keep trying to sexualize her but shes so...old its just disgusting. They really should have recasted her. Anytime she has a lot of screen time it just falls flat. Especially towards the end.
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Sexualize or Secularize? Those mean two very different things.
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Typo. On mobile.
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pretty sure it IS suppossed to be disgusting, she was just promiscous when young and still acts the same as an old used up woman, and it feels weird because its suppossed to.
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orcus_snake posted...

pretty sure it IS suppossed to be disgusting, she was just promiscous when young and still acts the same as an old used up woman, and it feels weird because its suppossed to.

I think thats a leap. They dont play up the fact that shes repulsive...she just is.
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SwayM posted...

They keep trying to sexualize her but shes so...old its just disgusting.

That would be the joke.

Dash_Harber posted...

SwayM posted...

They keep trying to sexualize her but shes so...old its just disgusting.

That would be the joke.

Except is not a joke dude. Did you watch the show? If they hired someone that aged gracefully and had charisma it would be a different story but this is clearly a case of bad casting.

I feel bad for taking so much shit about her Im sure the actress is a lovely person

But definitely not the right one for this role.
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The joke is literally that she is an old lady with a an overly sexual past who secretly got a dirty side. She doesn't have to be attractive. The joke is that it's shocking to see a nice, kindly old lady reminiscing about how she got spit roasted at a rock concert in the 70's.

I've never seen the show and I'm still 100% positive that the joke is that she's old and you're not getting it.
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pegusus123456 posted...

I've never seen the show and I'm still 100% positive that the joke is that she's old and you're not getting it.

Then youre talking out of your ass and youll be embarrassed when you eventually realize how wrong you are.

Dash_Harber posted...

The joke is literally that she is an old lady with a an overly sexual past who secretly got a dirty side. She doesn't have to be attractive. The joke is that it's shocking to see a nice, kindly old lady reminiscing about how she got spit roasted at a rock concert in the 70's.

And yet that joke is ruined by the fact they cast someone so out of place that you dont find it remotely funny or believable. It ends up being an entire wasted character and like I said when they use her heavily the show comes to a dead stop.
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SwayM posted...

And yet that joke is ruined by the fact they cast someone so out of place that you dont find it remotely funny or believable. It ends up being an entire wasted character and like I said when they use her heavily the show comes to a dead stop.

Again, she's not miscast. Why don't you believe her as an old lady with a past?

I am now 200% positive that you are wrong because you're not even understanding what Dash_Harber is telling you. The joke is that she is a nice, cookie-baking grandma who's still DTF. The dichotomy between what she looks like and what she is is what makes her funny.
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orcus_snake posted...

pretty sure it IS suppossed to be disgusting, she was just promiscous when young and still acts the same as an old used up woman, and it feels weird because its suppossed to.

Bingo. What pegasus and Dash said is also true

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jblnE7oWpdg
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Dash_Harber posted...

SwayM posted...

And yet that joke is ruined by the fact they cast someone so out of place that you dont find it remotely funny or believable. It ends up being an entire wasted character and like I said when they use her heavily the show comes to a dead stop.

Again, she's not miscast. Why don't you believe her as an old lady with a past?

If they were going for like a Betty White type sweet old lady then I would agree theres a lot of funny to be had there. Like I said its not just the case of sexualizing an old lady who you cant possibly imagine had such a sorted past. Its also that she just feels bad in that role. I think poor energy is the best way I can describe it. You watch a scene with her and tell me that it has the intended effect they wanted.
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pegusus123456 posted...

I am now 200% positive that you are wrong because you're not even understanding what Dash_Harber is telling you. The joke is that she is a nice, cookie-baking grandma who's still DTF. The dichotomy between what she looks like and what she is is what makes her funny.

That isnt the joke and youre now 200% talking out of your ass.
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SwayM posted...

pegusus123456 posted...

I am now 200% positive that you are wrong because you're not even understanding what Dash_Harber is telling you. The joke is that she is a nice, cookie-baking grandma who's still DTF. The dichotomy between what she looks like and what she is is what makes her funny.

That isnt the joke and youre now 200% talking out of your ass.

I literally just repeated what Dash said and he has seen the show.

It's okay to admit you just don't get the joke, darling.
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pegusus123456 posted...

SwayM posted...

pegusus123456 posted...

I am now 200% positive that you are wrong because you're not even understanding what Dash_Harber is telling you. The joke is that she is a nice, cookie-baking grandma who's still DTF. The dichotomy between what she looks like and what she is is what makes her funny.

That isnt the joke and youre now 200% talking out of your ass.

I literally just repeated what Dash said and he has seen the show.

It's okay to admit you just don't get the joke, darling.

The joke is shes a cookie baking grandma with a promiscuous past. Not that shes still looking to get stuck every time shes on screen. Watch the show. youve stumbled into a discussion you dont belong and its showing. Stop embarrassing yourself lol.
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SwayM posted...

The joke is shes a cookie baking grandma with a promiscuous past.

Good, you got it, topic over.
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Thanks for the bumps. Go find another topic to troll.
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Her character is meant to be similar to Sheldons grandma in "Young Sheldon".
I won't argue that she doesn't play the part as well as she should, but she's not nearly as bad as you make her out to be.
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meestermj posted...

Her character is meant to be similar to Sheldons grandma in "Young Sheldon".
I won't argue that she doesn't play the part as well as she should, but she's not nearly as bad as you make her out to be.

Havent seen it but thanks for somewhat agreeing with me. Im just watching season 9 right now and she has a lot of screen time in it. I think my opinion is justified
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Eh, I didn't like her either as it felt like they went too far in the "perfect for Ted" direction and she just felt way too unnatural and unrealistic
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Xelltrix posted...

Eh, I didn't like her either as it felt like they went too far in the "perfect for Ted" direction and she just felt way too unnatural and unrealistic

Are you talking about the mother ?
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SwayM posted...

Xelltrix posted...

Eh, I didn't like her either as it felt like they went too far in the "perfect for Ted" direction and she just felt way too unnatural and unrealistic

Are you talking about the mother ?

Oh wait, woops. I misread the topic title lol.

I was fine with Barney's mother.
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Lol
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And I just read through the topic and agree fully that TC just completely missed the point of her character.
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Xelltrix posted...

I just read through the topic and agree fully that TC just completely missed the point of her character.

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SwayM posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

SwayM posted...

And yet that joke is ruined by the fact they cast someone so out of place that you dont find it remotely funny or believable. It ends up being an entire wasted character and like I said when they use her heavily the show comes to a dead stop.

Again, she's not miscast. Why don't you believe her as an old lady with a past?

If they were going for like a Betty White type sweet old lady then I would agree theres a lot of funny to be had there. Like I said its not just the case of sexualizing an old lady who you cant possibly imagine had such a sorted past. Its also that she just feels bad in that role. I think poor energy is the best way I can describe it. You watch a scene with her and tell me that it has the intended effect they wanted.

Argue against this.
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Uh, all the arguments have already been made. That post really didn't say anything new except restating your opinion that no one else seems to agree with.
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Also, sordid, not sorted.
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Wasn't she really ill at first but then suddenly she was better and they turned her into a cougar?
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CarlGrimes posted...

Wasn't she really ill at first but then suddenly she was better and they turned her into a cougar?

She was only ever ill off-screen and bounced back because of Barney's lie---and she has never been a cougar. Talking about her sexual past doesn't mean she's sexually active now. Certainly doesn't mean she's sexually active with much younger men.
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Xelltrix posted...

CarlGrimes posted...

Wasn't she really ill at first but then suddenly she was better and they turned her into a cougar?

She was only ever ill off-screen and bounced back because of Barney's lie---and she has never been a cougar. Talking about her sexual past doesn't mean she's sexually active now. Certainly doesn't mean she's sexually active with much younger men.

As mentioned previously, I haven't seen the show. But when I read that bit in her wiki article, I assumed that she pretended to be sick to make Barney get a wife.
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It definitely didn't come across that way in the show's flashback, but Barney is an unreliable narrator so it's possible.
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Xelltrix posted...

CarlGrimes posted...

Wasn't she really ill at first but then suddenly she was better and they turned her into a cougar?

She was only ever ill off-screen and bounced back because of Barney's lie---and she has never been a cougar. Talking about her sexual past doesn't mean she's sexually active now. Certainly doesn't mean she's sexually active with much younger men.

And thats the thing. They make her character pretty clear in that her sexual past is behind her. The way I see it that character could go one of two ways.

Either the Betty White sweet old lady or More of a cougar, you could tell she was a spitfire back in her day

The actress they got does neither. Shes just awkward in the role. I mean I havent even mentioned how she doesnt fit well as Barneys mother. They write her well but IMHO she doesnt have the charisma needed for that role.

TendoDRM posted...

Also, sordid, not sorted.

Thanks
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Gafemage posted...

Xelltrix posted...

I just read through the topic and agree fully that TC just completely missed the point of her character.

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SwayM posted...

Argue against this.

We have, multiple times. You responding with, "well you are right, but I just don't agree" doesn't change that. You admitted that the joke was that she was a seemingly innocuous old lady with a dirty past. It's fine if you don't like the actress, but that is not a case of a miscasting.

Also, a person doesn't have to be gorgeous to have a past. Not only that, but she was never a cougar. She has one relationship during the entire show, and it's with an equally elderly preacher who was the father of Barney's brother.

I mean, one of the first jokes she makes is literally her straight up admitting she was a whore and going on a lengthy description of a sexual encounter, which stuns and disorients Marshal to comedic effect.

Dude you just missed half of my argument.

I said for comedies sake you either make her a cougar OR you make her a Betty White type (sorry I keep bringing her up but shes just the perfect example)

The jokes like the one you just mentioned dont work because she doesnt have the charisma of either role. Please watch a scene with her and tell me I dont have a point. Tell me they couldnt have found someone FAR better to be the mom to, most would argue, the best character on the show.
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SwayM posted...

I said for comedies sake you either make her a cougar OR you make her a Betty White type (sorry I keep bringing her up but shes just the perfect example)

And again, you missed what I said. They did choose a type. She was the latter.

SwayM posted...

The jokes like the one you just mentioned dont work because she doesnt have the charisma of either role. Please watch a scene with her and tell me I dont have a point. Tell me they couldnt have found someone FAR better to be the mom to, most would argue, the best character on the show.

I've watched the series about 8 or 9 times now, so I don't have to go back and watch a scene. You seem to be the only person I've ever encountered that felt she didn't fit in the role. Did you ever stop to consider that maybe you just don't like the actor? I mean, that's a legitimate opinion, but saying it was a miscast is completely different easily proven wrong (as we have, so far).

Dash_Harber posted...

Did you ever stop to consider that maybe you just don't like the actor? I mean, that's a legitimate opinion

No, it's not, Frances Conroy is a treasure.
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Bob Barker wore her out
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I don't understand why she would have to be some cougar-like persona at all. Her point isn't to be seductive, it's like people are saying: Disorienting the audience (and main cast) by seeming completely plain and still having a very wild history. Which is exactly what she does. She's not miscast just because she's not the stereotype you want her to be.
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Do people really have this bad of reading comprehension?

Her character, as written, is a retired whore. Theres two ways to cast that character. You get an older lady who still looks good for her age and you play that up. Or you get the total sweetheart, unassuming character and you play off the juxtaposition. Which I would argue is the funniest.

Now the show sends us mixed messages or what they want that character to be. Because on one hand you get just a couple key moments where they try to make her a sweetheart and how she protected Barneys sad past with lies.

On the other hand you have her sat in a Bra losing in a strip poker game and she doesnt lean into her being a harmless old woman because shes the one telling these raunchy sex stories most of the time.

Ive been saying it those whole fucking thread. They should have got Betty goddamn White herself and we wouldnt be having this conversation. Her character would be bulletproof. I wouldnt even consider the cougar angle if they it didnt feel like theyre trying on some level to have it both ways.

Im not saying she was miscast because they should have got a cougar. Im saying they miscast her because she doesnt fit the role of someone you can sexualize on either end of the haha but shes so sweet though or yeah I could see her pulling game back in her day spectrum. When they sexualize her it doesnt fit to me...and if thats what theyre going for then well done....I guess.
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SwayM posted...

Theres two ways to cast that character.

No?
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So basically

TC's problem is that he doesn't want to bang Frances Conroy
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pegusus123456 posted...

So basically

TC's problem is that he doesn't want to bang Frances Conroy

Yeah. And he can't wrap his head around the juxtaposition of plain-looking and wild past, so he just refuses to acknowledge that it can even be done.
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Yup. Reading comprehension isnt strong around these parts.
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Lmfao I'm so glad tc is joking
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