Matchmaker (How I Met Your Mother episode)

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“Matchmaker”
How I Met Your Mother episode
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 7
Written by Chris Marcil and Sam Johnson
Directed by Pamela Fryman
Guest stars David Henrie (Son), Joe Nieves (Carl), Lyndsy Fonseca (Daughter), Beth Lacke (Dr. Sarah O'Brien), Nick Jaine (Sudeep), Camryn Manheim (Ellen Pierce)
Production no. 1ALH06
Original airdate November 7, 2005
Episode chronology
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"Slutty Pumpkin" "The Duel"
List of How I Met Your Mother episodes

"Matchmaker" is the 7th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on November 7, 2005.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Robin and Barney convince Ted to use a matchmaking service after Robin does a story on a place called Love Solutions and Barney gets Ted there by telling him that his boat is sinking. Barney is refused since the woman could tell that he didn't really want to find a soul mate. However, she convinces a skeptical Ted that she can truly help him find a soul mate. However, Love Solutions hasn't found anyone for him after 5 days (after they said it would take 3 days). After everyone tells him not to "Ted out" about it (and then explain Ted's name as a verb). He returns to Love Solutions, only to find that his chances for finding a soul mate are zero. The only person who is compatible with Ted is a woman who is already matched up. Ted sneaks back in and gets her info, only to track her down and find out that she is engaged and will be getting married in a few days. He tells her that if things change, he'll be available. She calls him up, and while he thinks things have changed, she merely informs him of something she spotted after his appointment. He reveals why he's been coming there, and she tells him to not believe in matchmaking services. He then returns to Love Solutions, and finds that because he has no soulmate (according to the computer), the company is ruined, as the 100% success rate no longer exists. Ted, however, has hope that he will find his soulmate.

Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily have spotted an unusual creature in the apartment. When they first see it, they run away, with Lily believing it to be a cockroach, while Marshall believes that it is a mouse. They spot it again, and try to kill it with bug spray and a phone book. However, they run away again when the phone book starts moving (meaning that the creature isn't dead), but have gotten a good glimpse of the creature. The creature is described as having six legs, antennae, and an exoskeleton, but also has tufts of fur, whiskers, and a tail, and is roughly the size of a potato. Thus, Marshall an Lily label it the "cockamouse." Robin is skeptical of them, but eventually they catch it, and Marshall wants to take it to the Columbia University Biology department. However, when Marshall arrives there, he finds that the "cockamouse" has mysteriously disappeared, and must still be in the apartment. Robin finally sees the creature, and throws a drink at it when the only way she can think of subduing it is by trying to get it drunk. Marshall arrives and grabs it and throws it out the window; however, the "cockamouse" suddenly begins to fly, surprising Robin, Lily, and Marshall. They then shut the window before it flies back inside, and the "cockamouse" is never seen again.

[edit] Notes

[edit] Ted's name as a verb

  • Ted out - To overthink. Also see Ted up.
  • Ted up - To overthink with disastrous results

(Note that both are references to Ted overthinking many things, which is one of Ted's character traits)

  • Ted says that, as a 9.6 match, he is 11.45% better than the 8.5; but he is really 12.94% more compatible.

[edit] Music

[edit] Cultural references

  • Robin compares "The Cockamouse" to the Loch Ness monster.
  • Love Solutions, the dating service Ted uses, has many similar characteristics to the matchmaking site eHarmony, as well as other matchmaking sites and local services. In particular, Love Solutions boasts a 100% success rate, which is similar in nature to eHarmony showing the numerous happy couples.
  • When teasing Lily and Marshall about their trap for the cockamouse, Robin says, "You think the Road Runner's gonna fall for it?" referencing the Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoons.
  • In discussing strange phenomena, Marshall names the Bermuda Triangle, Bigfoot, Area 51, and Stonehenge.

[edit] Continuity

  • While Love Solutions is unable to find Ted a match in this episode, the computer finally makes a match in the episode "Milk."

[edit] Barney's Blog

  • In his blog, Barney responds to an email from a woman asking for Barney's advice on where to get a guy like Barney. In his response, Barney says that whilst he doesn't date his readers himself, he is willing to set her up with his friend, Jack Package. Included in the blog is Jack's application for Love Solutions, which Barney claims he talked his friend out of submitting to the agency. Jack Package, is the alias Barney used when attempting to apply for Love Solutions's services.

[edit] External links