Posted by Brian Cochrane

Since its debut four seasons ago, CBS's "How I Met Your Mother" has been distinguished by its ability to meld witty characters, biting wordplay and genuine romantic touches with a storytelling style that routinely whips from present to past and into the future. Now, with Ted's marriage plans to Stella having gone belly up on the Jersey shore, the series again ponders who'll be "the one" for Ted Mosby, future dad.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg as Season Pass readers posed their questions to "HIMYM" creators-showrunners Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, right. Topics ranged from the Barney-Robin prospects to the recollection of Victoria, one of Ted's earlier loves, who still seems to hold a warm spot in the hearts of "HIMYM" fans. And, not surprisingly, there were plenty of questions that delved into the show's intricacies, its timeline and the trail of clues laid out so far.

Reflecting the banter that characterizes the show's writing, Bays and Thomas clearly relished the chance to have some fun with this Q&A session. Read on for their answers, revelations and their favorite question:

Q. What does Barney do, exactly? Will you ever actually state it in the show? — Jeremiah
A. We love never quite saying what Barney does -- although, as of episode 2 of season 4, we now know his mega-corporation, Altrucel, has merged or somehow overtaken Goliath National Bank (and now Barney and Marshall work together, or at least in the same building). That’s probably the most specific thing we’ve ever said about it. We just like maintaining the mysterious world that Barney inhabits. We had a friend in NYC who, if you asked him a question he didn’t wanna answer, would dismissively say, “Please,” and move on. That’s what Barney says if you ask him about what he actually does. This vagueness allows us to make weird intimations that his company is involved with very, very bad things, which often seem to involve the North Koreans. Remaining vague throughout the series about what Barney does is part of our master plan, in the very last "HIMYM" episode, to reveal that Barney is an international spy, and then spin that off into its own hour-long action drama. Cha-ching! You know where to reach us, networks!

It’s going to be legend … wait for it … ary.

“How I Met Your Mother” creators-exec producers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas (pictured at right) have awesomely agreed to answer your questions right here, as part of Season Pass’s ongoing Q&A series.

We’re big fans of the witty, quirky and romantic comedy that has built a devoted following on CBS and introduced both the Barney Stinson lexicon and popstar Robin Sparkles to hipsters everywhere.

As “HIMYM” hits the middle stretch of its fourth season, fresh twists abound, including the collapse of Ted and New Jersey-ite Stella’s wedding plans and the apparent return of Robin into both Barney and Ted’s romantic sphere. The questions surrounding just who the titular “mother” will ultimately be are again percolating.

It’s clear that everyone involved with the show puts in a great effort to make every episode pop, and we’re looking for Season Pass devotees to do the same with their questions. In other words, let’s not ask about things you can find just by going to the show’s Television Without Pity recap or Wikipedia.

Here are the guidelines:
1) Click on the comment link below and leave your question by the end of Sunday, Oct. 26.

2) Check other people’s comments so you aren’t repeating a question that’s already been asked.

3) It’s OK to ask more than one question, but doing so won’t boost your chances of seeing questions answered. In the interest of fairness, we’ll give plenty of folks a chance to weigh in.

4) On Tuesday, we’ll choose the best questions to present to Carter and Craig, who will then answer at least 10 of them.

5) We’ll post the answers on Monday, Nov. 3, giving you all a chance to read the responses before watching that night’s episode.

6) Of course, if there are any changes to the posting schedule due to unforeseen circumstances or conflicts, we’ll keep you informed  right here.

Have fun and follow the guidelines and we won't need an intervention.

— Brian Cochrane

First off, I'm a huge champion of "How I Met Your Mother." The cast is terrific, the writing consistently funny and the direction by Pam Fryman is stellar. So speaking from a fan's perspective, last night's episode left me disappointed.

The first time Britney Spears appeared on the show a few weeks back, it was a great piece of stunt casting as showrunners Carter Bays and Craig Thomas integrated her character just enough so that we knew it was Britney but it didn't interfere with how smoothly the rest of the actors work together and it didn't take anything away from the storyline.

Not so much last night. It wasn't that Britney's character -- a young woman who has a crush on Ted but sleeps with Barney to get even -- was involved too much in the episode but, rather, Britney just plain can't act. Period. She looked stilted and foolish in scenes with TV pros such as Neil Patrick Harris and Josh Radnor.

Ratings for "Mother" shot up for Britney's first appearance, and for a show this good that has never received the high ratings it should — series just got the OK from CBS for another season, yeah! — any way to push the Nielsen meter is smart, but last night's episode felt to me as if it had crossed a line in pimping to get viewers.

From Britney's perspective, coming on as a guest star is a smart move. By working on "Mother's" tight sitcom schedule, it helps keep her life straight -- or straighter than usual -- and makes her seem a bit more like a "normal" person and not just tabloid fodder.

But her exposure and rehab felt like it came at the expense of "Mother." I'm hoping it doesn't happen again next season.

— Stuart Levine

I ... just don't know.

For many, the post-strike return of CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" and "How I Met Your Mother" was long-awaited. For my part, I'll go as far as to say they were welcomed, even mildly anticipated. I don't live and die with these shows, but they have had their moments of sweetness and light.

However, even by those less-than-exacting standards, tonight was a disappointment.

I expect the people who really do love "Bang" will be happy with tonight's airing; it had the show's typical silliness.  My problem was that it was all-too-typical. I stared at the screen blankly for almost the entire half-hour.

Doesn't it get old after a while that Leonard has bad clothes and things to be embarrassed about, that Sheldon is anal-retentive, that Penny is nonplussed by their behavior?  The same behavior is mined, and the situations don't change all that much. The one twist that tonight's episode did have going for it – the fact that Penny's meddling was actually undermining Sheldon and Leonard's friendship – was barely exploited.  Even the fight between Sheldon and Leonard was undercut by stock reactions from Howard. Though there was a good moment when Leonard outlined all his insecurities before insisting Sheldon was worse, I was never really won over.

It's weird because "Bang" truly is likable - I almost always sit down expecting to enjoy it more than I do. It says something about the show that I'll watch it even when I'm not laughing, but I don't know if I'd want to do that indefinitely.

"How I Met Your Mother" usually delivers for me more than "Bang" does, but I was even more mystified by its comeback outing.  The A story had Ted repeating the same joke – wow, he's being a bad guy, but it's working out great – and the payoff?  Hey, being a bad guy doesn't work out great. Okay. ... The B story, involving an apartment with a slanted floor, was even more flimsy.

These episodes just felt very by-the-numbers.

– Jon Weisman

“If we were friends with Garfield, we wouldn’t set him up with Mondays.”

That was a joke on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" this week.  And it was offered without qualification, without irony.

I kept thinking that surely it was a set-up line, that surely, on a show in which the characters are constantly testing and teasing each other's coolness, Marshall (Jason Segel) would be mocked for making an "Garfield" analogy.

Nope.  That was it. Just a bunch of cool twentysomethings in the 21st century, batting no eyes at a reference to a comic most people last enjoyed nearly 30 years ago.

This wasn't "Peanuts" or even "Family Circus." This was "Garfield," perhaps the most cachet-free, zeitgeist-immune comic one can think of. Did the "Mother" generation ever even like Garfield? I really think it was one of the oddest moments I've seen on TV so far this season.

Of course, I shouldn't get too holier-than-thou.  After all, I understood the joke …

— Jon Weisman

Most of my fellow Season Passers didn't care for the pilot of "Carpoolers." Five of nine SPers panned the show; three of us (including myself) offered guarded praise in the form of one thumbs up. Only Variety ratings guru Rick Kissell granted the show a full, double-thumbed vote of confidence.

After watching tonight's second episode, it must be said: Kissell was right. I really dig the "Carpoolers." So much so, I'm adding it to my Season Pass list (though my lame Time Warner Cable DVR calls it a "series recording".)

What some critics wrongfully dismissed as misogynist and dull-- the New York Times called it "'Bewitched' with tollbooths"-- is actually shaping up as the most unexpected surprise of the season. The four lead characters are all being fleshed out well, and are emerging as more than just cliches. All roles are well played by the cast, particularly the should-be-more-famous Fred Goss and the subtle Jerry Minor.

Most of all, "Carpoolers" has a loopy spirit about it that just makes it fun to watch. There's the adult son named Marmaduke. A woman who only dates married men. The guys belting out "Come On, Eileen" with abandon.

At its best, "Carpoolers" comes close to channeling the spirit of the late, great "Arrested Development" (really). Part of that stems from the fact that the pilots of both shows were directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, who find a way to make even the most mundane shots interesting.

It's been a pretty pathetic season for new comedies. NBC didn't have the guts to try a single new sitcom, while CBS's "Big Bang Theory" and Fox's "Back to You" just haven't gotten me excited, despite their solid pedigrees and winning casts. CW's "Aliens in America" is very good stuff, but it's on the CW, which means I've got to try extra hard to remember it's on....and with "How I Met Your Mother" and "Chuck" airing against it, it's never gonna be my first choice for the night.

But with "Carpoolers," ABC got it right. One more episode like Tuesday's, and I might just be ready to declare it the best new comedy of the year.

--Josef Adalian

This week is a grand time for TV fans in not only do we get to check out the new TV entries but it gives fans a chance to come back to some favorites and catch up with old friends.

That's why I was excited about last night's premiere of "How I Met Your Mother." I've always felt "Mother" was current day comfort food. The way some thought of "Friends" is how I relate to "Mother." I like to hang out with the gang.

By episode's end, however, I felt like I would've preferred to wait longer for a better episode than the one offered.

"Mother" has never been a show filled with belly laughs or gut-busting guffaws, but that's OK. It's more about the little light-hearted digs the kids — and since they're all younger than me, they're officially kids — take at one another.

And while the writing has always been been sharp and clever, it felt somewhat lazy last night. Specifically, there were a reference to a woman's chest that seemed unnecessary, then that same character tossed out a vagina reference that seemed a bit gratuitous and then Robin, at the end of the show, talked about how Ted is "bigger" than her new boyfriend.

Now, I'm far from a prude but suggestive and lewd lingo might work on "Rules of Engagement" but it hasn't made "Mother" a show with a hardcore group of fans. Maybe it's not an exceptionally large group of fans (see Rick Kissell's story on Monday night ratings) but they're a dedicated bunch and the ones I spoke to this morning felt, for the most part, the same way as me.

By the way, there were some elements that worked well. Loved the slap bet countdown after the credits and Ted partially shaving as he's getting ready to hit the bar was good stuff too.

Hey, despite my complaints I'm still on board, season pass firmly set. Here's just hoping the season premiere was  just an out-of-the-gate miscue.

— Stuart Levine

(Ed. note: My season pass was canceled last night. — KL)