The 6 Most Memorable Guest Stars on How I Met Your Mother
For nine seasons, How I Met Your Mother entertained audiences with its hilarious jokes and charming characters.
But one of the show's defining elements was its impressive list of guest stars who added even more weight to an already talented cast.
From pop stars to movie icons, there were numerous celebrity appearances that made a lasting impact on the show and its viewers - and in this article, we'll take a look at the six most memorable ones.
1. Katy Perry
In the 15th episode of season 6, Katy Perry made a cameo appearance as Zoey's cousin Honey, who ends up dating Barney. Honey is a ditzy character, always smiling and speaking in a high-pitched voice. As she's endearingly gullible, people say 'Oh, honey' to her whenever she does something that demonstrates it.
Britney Spears appeared in two episodes in season 3 as Abby, a naive and sensitive receptionist at the clinic of Stella Zinman, who had a brief relationship with Ted. The singer's appearance on the show generated a great deal of buzz at the time, and she brought in a lot of new viewers and arguably saved the show from low ratings.
3. James Van Der Beek
James Van Der Beek appeared as Simon, Robin's Canadian ex-boyfriend who is obsessed with himself. Van Der Beek's performance was a standout, and it's easily one of the funniest cameos of the sitcom.
In a season 5 episode titled 'Of Course,' Jennifer Lopez played Anita, an author of a self-help book that aims to empower women. After meeting her on the morning show, Robin asked Anita to teach the womanizing Barney a lesson concerning how he treated women. There's no doubt that Lopez's impressive performance gave a boost to not only the show's viewership but also to her career.
5. William Zabka
Zabka appeared in several episodes throughout seasons 8 and 9 as himself. He's first introduced to the show when Robin hires him for Barney's bachelor party to dress as a clown and do a surprise reveal. Zabka ends up being invited to Barney and Robin's wedding and even becomes the best man for a short time.
6. Bryan Cranston
First appearing in season 2, Bryan Cranston played Hammond Druthers, Ted's eccentric and unpredictable boss who used his status to treat others badly. Cranston's performance was widely praised for bringing depth and nuance to a character who could've easily been a one-note villain.