Memorable Celebrity Guest Stars In How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother was a beloved sitcom that aired on television for nine seasons, from 2005 to 2014. The show was known for its witty humour, memorable characters, and its ability to attract some of the biggest names in entertainment as guest stars. From musicians to actors and comedians, How I Met Your Mother had a knack for attracting a wide range of celebrity talent including Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Enrique Iglesias. We're taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of the most memorable celebrity guest stars who appeared on the show. 

Katy Perry

Who did Katy Perry play in How I Met Your Mother?

Katy Perry appeared as a guest star on the television show How I Met Your Mother on the 7th February 2011. She played the character named Honey in the show. Honey is the cousin of Zoey, who is a love interest of Ted Mosby. 

Honey is an attractive but extremely naïve individual, often falling victim to people who exploit her gullibility by telling her blatant lies. Her trusting nature leads her to believe outlandish stories, such as mistaking a shower camera for a security camera meant to deter thieves or willingly providing her Social Security Number to someone claiming to be a Nigerian prince. Whenever Honey displays her characteristic gullibility, the gang would exclaim "Oh, Honey..." hence her nickname, as none of them can recall her real name, which remains undisclosed.

What episode is Katy Perry in on How I Met Your Mother?

Katy Perry appeared in the episode titled "Oh Honey," which is the 15th episode of the sixth season. In this episode, Honey becomes a potential love interest for Ted.

Honey first encountered the HIMYM gang when Zoey arranged a date between her and Ted. Although their date was going well, Ted couldn't go home with Honey due to his lingering feelings for Zoey. After their encounter, Barney leaves, accidentally leaving his cell phone behind. Honey contacts Marshall and, pretending to be her therapist, she reveals the story of Barney's emotional outburst and his unresolved issues with his father. After pretending to be her therapist, Marshall finds out from Honey that Zoey is divorcing The Captain.

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Wayne Brady

Who did Wayne Brady play in How I Met Your Mother?

Wayne Brady played the character James Stinson in How I Met Your Mother. James is Barney Stinson's (played by Neil Patrick Harris) brother. He is known for being successful, charismatic, and openly gay. Wayne Brady appeared in multiple episodes throughout the series.

What episode is Wayne Brady in on How I Met Your Mother?

Wayne Brady first appeared as James in the episode titled "The Stinsons," which is the 19th episode of the third season. In this episode, Barney introduces his friends to his seemingly perfect family, including his seemingly perfect wife and children. However, it is later revealed that the entire family is a fabrication created by Barney and James to cover up their true upbringing. 

In a notable storyline in "How I Met Your Mother," James gets married to Tom, despite Barney's insistence on staying single. James, like Barney, grew up without knowledge of his biological father, although his mother playfully suggested several black celebrities as possible candidates. However, it wasn't until 2010 when James and Barney's mother, Loretta, moved out of their childhood home that James stumbled upon a clue that would lead him to his birth father, Sam Gibbs.

During the episode titled "Gary Blauman," it was revealed that Gary was the person with whom James had an affair, which ultimately contributed to the breakdown of his marriage. James held Gary responsible for the demise of his relationship. However, as the episode progressed, Blauman reminded James that he couldn't continue blaming him for his own poor choices. This realisation prompted James to reconcile with Tom, who eventually forgave him and took him back. From that point forward, James and Tom continued to happily raise their children, Eli and Sadie, together.

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Heidi Klum

Who did Heidi Klum play in How I Met Your Mother?

Heidi Klum appeared in How I Met Your Mother as herself. She did not portray a specific character but made a cameo appearance as a guest star. Heidi Klum made a special appearance at the after-party of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

What episode is Heidi Klum in on How I Met Your Mother?

Heidi Klum appeared in the episode titled "The Yips," which is the tenth episode of the second season. In this episode, she interacts with some of the main characters, including Barney Stinson (played by Neil Patrick Harris) and Marshall Eriksen (played by Jason Segel), during a fashion show. Heidi Klum's cameo adds a touch of glamour to the episode as she showcases her modelling talent within the storyline. 

Heidi Klum's presence had a significant impact on Barney's storyline in particular. She persuaded Barney to give his relationship with Rhonda another chance and make an effort to regain his lost confidence. Her advice and encouragement motivated Barney to reevaluate his situation and take steps towards improving his self-assurance.

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Bryan Cranston

Who did Bryan Cranston play in How I Met Your Mother?

Bryan Cranston portrayed the character Hammond Druthers in How I Met Your Mother. Hammond was Ted Mosby's boss at the architecture firm, known for his arrogance, obnoxiousness, and bullying tendencies.

What episode is Bryan Cranston in on How I Met Your Mother?

In one episode, "Architect of Destruction," Lily, known for her habit of taking things from people who misbehave, stole Hammond's prized baseball signed three times by Pete Rose, hoping to encourage him to be kinder to his employees. In response, Hammond threatened to fire three people every hour until the ball was returned. Concerned for his colleagues, Ted reluctantly fired Lily when she stood her ground. Ultimately, Ted retrieved the ball from Lily and returned it to Hammond.

In another episode, "Aldrin Justice," Ted found himself promoted and became Hammond's boss. However, Hammond continued to exhibit unpleasant behaviour. Seeking advice, Ted approached Hammond, who unexpectedly suggested firing him. After a series of events, including finding Hammond sleeping at the office due to marital issues, Ted took him in and they developed a short-lived friendship. However, when Hammond's rude behaviour persisted at work, Ted made the difficult decision to fire him. This coincided with Hammond receiving divorce papers, learning about his dog's passing, and experiencing a heart attack (which Ted initially believed to be fake).

In the episode "Platonish," set in the fall of 2012, there was a flashback in which Hammond offered Ted a job in his architectural firm in Chicago. Initially declining, Ted later changed his mind and accepted the offer. However, meeting the Mother aka Tracy during the wedding weekend led Ted to reconsider and ultimately reject the job opportunity.

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Jennifer Lopez

Who did Jennifer Lopez play in How I Met Your Mother?

Jennifer Lopez played the character named Anita Appleby in How I Met Your Mother. Anita Appleby is an author of self-help books and a guest star in the series. 

What episode is Jennifer Lopez in on How I Met Your Mother?

Jennifer Lopez appeared in the episode titled "Of Course" which is the 17th episode of the fifth season. ennifer Lopez's character, Anita Appleby, made an appearance on the talk show "Come On, Get Up New York!" to promote her book titled "Of Course You're Still Single, Take a Look at Yourself You Dumb Slut." During her interview, she condensed the essence of her book into a single word: "No." While on the show, she had a conversation with Robin, which led Robin to set Anita's sights on Barney, aiming to "crush" him.

Initially, Robin's plan failed as Barney remained unaffected. The situation took an unexpected turn when the group confronted Barney about his behaviour following his breakup with Robin. This intervention made Barney realise the mistakes he had made and allowed Robin to pursue a well-deserved "Super Date" with someone worthy of her, rather than settling for Barney and Anita's connection.

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Enrique Iglesias

Who did Enrique Iglesias play in How I Met Your Mother?

Enrique Iglesias played the character named Gael in How I Met Your Mother. Gael is a Spanish photographer who becomes romantically involved with Robin Scherbatsky, one of the main characters after she travels to Argentina. Robin tries to convince the group that she has changed following on from her break up with Ted.

What episode is Enrique Iglesias in on How I Met Your Mother?

Enrique Iglesias appeared in the episode titled "Everything Must Go," which is the 19th episode of the third season. In this episode, Robin meets Gael when she tries to sell her possessions after a breakup. Gael's charm and romantic nature captivate Robin, leading to a short-lived but passionate relationship between them. Enrique Iglesias' guest appearance adds a touch of charisma to the episode as Gael sweeps Robin off her feet.

Robin introduces Gael, her new boyfriend, to the group at the bar. The guys, including Ted, attempt to mock Gael by mispronouncing his name. Ted believes that Gael is just Robin's rebound boyfriend, someone she brought home to make her breakup easier. Lily, however, is smitten by Gael's attractiveness and invites him and Robin for a dinner double-date.

During the dinner, Lily and Marshall initially have reservations about Gael, but they eventually warm up to him, especially due to his charming personality and skilful massages. Ted becomes increasingly frustrated with Gael's growing connection to the group, leading him to confront Robin at her apartment. He expresses his frustration, mentioning how they had an amicable breakup and now she's with Gael. Robin playfully points out that Ted has shaved his breakup beard, and when Ted challenges her to find a flaw in Gael, she responds with a remark about Ted's "size". This unexpected comment prompts Ted to feel somewhat satisfied in "winning" the breakup.

In the episode "We're Not From Here," Robin starts realising that her relationship with Gael is losing its spark. However, when Gael invites a group of traveling friends to stay at Robin's apartment without her consent, she comes to the realisation that she will never stop being a "city girl" and decides to end her relationship with Gael, asserting herself by kicking everyone out of her apartment.

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Britney Spears

Who did Britney Spears play in How I Met Your Mother?

Abby works as the receptionist at Stella Zinman's dermatology clinic in the show "How I Met Your Mother." She possesses a charming yet somewhat naive personality, accompanied by a heightened sensitivity. Abby's first appearance takes place in the episode "Ten Sessions," where she becomes increasingly interested in Ted while working in the clinic's waiting room.

What episode is Britney Spears in on How I Met Your Mother?

Over the course of approximately ten sessions, (where Ted is removing a Butterfly Tattoo with Stella) Abby develops a substantial crush on Ted, leading her to make various changes to her appearance in order to catch his attention. She attempts to subtly convey her infatuation by admiring Ted's less appealing qualities. For instance, during their sixth session, she affectionately calls him a "knight" when he offers her a cup of coffee. In the seventh session, she enlists Stella's help to convince Ted to go out with her.

Throughout their sessions, Abby continues to drop hints about her feelings for Ted. In the eighth session, she reads a book that Ted tries to use to impress Stella. And in the ninth session, after being tricked by Barney into growing a mustache, she compares Ted to a young Tom Selleck.

Abby's interactions with Ted add a humorous and lighthearted touch to the storyline as she attempts to win his affections in her own unique way.

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Lin Manuel Miranda

Who did Lin Manuel Miranda play in How I Met Your Mother?

Lin-Manuel Miranda played a character named Gus in the television show How I Met Your Mother. Although Gus does not have a major storyline or recurring role, Lin-Manuel Miranda's guest appearances bring his unique talent and energy to the show, making his character memorable in his brief moments on screen.

What episode is Lin Manuel Miranda in on How I Met Your Mother?

In the How I Met Your Mother episode titled "Bedtime Stories" in Season 9, Lin-Manuel Miranda played the character Gus. This episode revolves around Marshall's efforts to put his young son, Marvin, to sleep during their cross-country trip to Barney and Robin's wedding.

As Marshall and Marvin are on a bus heading to Farhampton, Marshall attempts to lull his son to sleep by telling bedtime stories in rhyme. Gus happens to be one of the passengers on the bus, and he engages in brief interactions with Marshall throughout the episode. Gus's character highlights Lin-Manuel Miranda's talent as a lyricist, with most of his dialogue involving rapping or rhyming. Marshall, however, perceives Gus as simply showing off. Towards the end of the episode, the bus experiences a flat tire, leading the passengers to gather outside and watch a nearby fireworks display.

Throughout its nine-season run, the series How I Met Your Mother treated viewers to an array of memorable celebrity guest stars. From musicians to actors, these guest appearances added an extra layer of excitement and entertainment to the show's already engaging storyline. 

Icons like Katy Perry, Bryan Cranston, Britney Spears, and Lin-Manuel Miranda brought their unique talents to the screen, creating memorable moments and enhancing the dynamics between the main characters. 

Whether it was through comedic timing, musical performances, or exceptional acting skills, these celebrity guests left a lasting impact on the series and its dedicated fanbase. Their appearances served as delightful surprises that enriched the overall viewing experience, making How I Met Your Mother even more special.

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