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Neil Patrick Harris talks with MSN TV about Muppets, 'HIMYM' and magic
By Kent Laird
Lead Editor, MSN TV & Movies
Undoubtedly one of the busiest people working in Hollywood, Neil Patrick Harris -- star of "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, host of multiple award shows, promoter and enthusiast of magic, and father to two -- recently launched the last episode in his online series, "Neil's Puppet Dreams," on the Nerdist Channel. The final episode heads to the east where his latest dream drops him into the middle of a romance in the heart of Bollywood. MSN TV caught up with the busy actor to talk about the series and also captured some thoughts on the latest season of "HIMYM" as well as some other ongoing projects.
MSN TV: It’s a pleasure to talk to you. I don't know how you get all this stuff done.
Neil Patrick Harris: I don't either, to be honest, but somehow we keep spitting this stuff out.
Bing: More on Neil Patrick Harris | More on 'Neil's Puppet Dreams'
So how do you find the time for all of it? These episodes of "Neil's Puppet Dreams" are really well done, and you obviously have other things going on.
The nice thing about web content is that you don't have proper deadlines. So, we have been tossing this idea for "Neil's Puppet Dreams" around for months and months, and we filmed them in the fall. So, we’ve just been releasing them every Tuesday the past few weeks. We filmed all seven episodes in two and a half days.
It was kind of nice to do it all in one confined shot. I found it all very experimental in the best old-school, Henson [Production] way. Because we had free rein to come up with our own creative content, we were just very interested in trying different ways of working with puppets. From green screens, one whole episode was shot without editing, one was on location, one was filmed like a documentary and one was a music video. We were just seeing how it all worked. It was all round one for hopefully a bigger picture.
The episodes are really funny.
Thanks. Have you seen the Bollywood episode yet?
Yes, I just got it. It’s really funny. The end, when you come out of the dream, David's reaction to your comment is priceless.
[Laughing] Yeah, we spent the most time on that one. That’s our "pièce de résistance."
Was it hard to get the choreography right for the Bollywood style dancing?
Well, Spencer Liff choreographed it, and he was just nominated for an Emmy for “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he is an unbelievable talent and a friend as well. Sending him an email asking him if he would like to choreograph a Bollywood number where I’m in love with a puppet cow, I was cringing at his response. But he said, “Yes absolutely, this is fantastic!” So yeah, he had to spend some time with me learning. The dancers behind me are much better than I am.
I don’t know. You pulled it off pretty well.
Ah, thanks, thanks. Good editing will do that.
How was the whole series conceived?
Well, Chris Hardwick’s Nerdist Channel was launching, and we are creative friends, always supporting each other. He asked if I would consider having my own show on the Nerdist Channel, and his pitch to me was what if you joined forces with Brian Henson and the Jim Henson puppets. That is the ultimate carrot to dangle for me because I am the ultimate die-hard Henson puppet fan, both of Brian and his father before him.
So I said yes, almost immediately and then needed to figure out what it all meant. There are no rules yet in this world. Because if we were doing this for a cable network or one of the big four networks, there would be a lot more management by other people defining the content or how long they could be or what the budget was. We just sort of went into a big meeting and said, “What would be funny? What would be good? And what is actually filmable?” Lots of ideas came out, and we went back and forth. Finally, Janet Varney, who is one of the executive producers on it, said during brainstorming, “What about if it was dreams. Different kind of dreams.” That would kind of root it in some sort of structure, give it some sense, but super freedom.
Once we hit on dreams, we felt it was fantastic because not only can you have every episode be radically different, as dreams are, but you can also be lo-fi with it all, because in the dream, if you try to get Katy Perry and she’s not able to do it, you can just use your next door neighbor and call her Katy Perry. [Laughing] “Why do you look like my next door neighbor, Katy Perry?” It freed us up a lot.
We started researching dream archetypes and came up with 40 typical ones. Fear of falling, fear of teeth falling out ...
Forgot to go to class right before you’re set to graduate …
Exactly! Being in a place you aren’t familiar with and can’t get out of. And then we started narrowing those down into what we could film in two and a half days. And even then, everyone was freaked out. The poor crew and director of photography when we were trying to describe the Bollywood episode with green screens and multi-levels and dancers and puppet dancers and branding and spinning and weddings. And he was like, “You want to do this in one afternoon?” And were like, “Totally!”
And in three minutes!
Yeah, exactly! The Bollywood style frees us up a little because, again, my favorite thing about those Bollywood music videos is their use of heart, wipes and old-school technology to create their effects. That’s good for us budget-wise. And also production wise.
Were you ever surprised with what you could get away with the puppets? I couldn’t believe that some of the dialogue was coming from Henson puppets.
I can’t speak for Brian [Henson], but I know that Henson having a lot of their classic Muppets owned by other companies are looking to their next chapter. One piece of that is the Henson alternative puppets, which we used, they are the Miskreant puppets. They have been used for a couple years in a show called, “Puppet Up” and in New York it was called, “Stuffed and Unstrung.” They were intentionally adult in content, probably to steer away from the thought that puppets equal kid’s educations shows.
So that was fortuitous. They weren’t incredibly nervous about swear words or adult content.
It’s great how in different episodes you alluded to other elements of the history of the Muppets. Like the reference to "Fraggle Rock."
[Laughing] We had to change some of those. We had a lot of conversations about some of those. We had to change “Fraggle Rock” to Frugal Rock. Well, we didn’t have to, but we opted to. We didn’t want to actively cause controversy by doing these. That’s not our style.
We are all unbearably respectful of puppeteers and puppets and the process that goes into all of it.
Do you have a favorite episode?
Bollywood is easily my favorite. I think the song is very catchy. I think the execution of it, filming it, lip synching. Brian Henson played the cow puppet, himself, so getting to actually do these physical feats on four-foot risers with Brian hunched over on a little trolley train doing circles and having to do these shots with him and be as efficient as possible. That was a very exciting afternoon for me.
I love “Dream Bump.” I think it’s really funny. The musical ones seem to go really well. I think as a piece of comedy, the Doctor’s Office really fits into what we wanted “Puppet Dreams” to be. We have Nathan Fillion as a hilarious guest star, but also, it seems like it’s much dirtier than it actually is. That was one with seven puppeteers beneath me on the floor, and I was up on a set that was built on the second floor. That was really fun to do.
They are all really cool.
I had to freeze-frame the credits.
That was my idea. They weren’t going to have credits at all because you don’t usually have them on the Internet, but there were so many people involved, I felt like we should have credits. But once you start seeing credits on YouTube, you click on something else. So, I thought just a flash of credits would make people go back and freeze them and actually read them. And then within them, I wanted to put some funny credits in them. In every one, we put in "Frank Drumond – Leslie Nielsen," because the “Naked Gun” was really the first movie to do funny credits. So we wanted to give a shout-out.
Now that the last episode is being released, what do you hope is next for the series?
I don’t really know. It’s a unique series in that we, I, had no master plan. It was entirely experimental. I am indifferent about how many people see them and yet I hope everyone watches them. If there’s a Season 2, that’s great, if it turns into its own thing, that’s great. I kind of just wanted to see what Neil plus puppets would equal. For other things for like a Season 2 or a kids show or a variety show. I’m just a big fan of the puppets. I always fantasize what it must have been like for those guest stars on the original Muppet Show back in the day.
It was such a great shows. People I show them to are like, “Who is Dom DeLuise?” “What is a Madeline Kahn? What does that mean?” I cry a little on the inside.
I am old school. I watched “Fraggle Rock” religiously. HBO was just starting and it was on all the time. I’m anxious for my kids to get a bit older so they can watch that. Doozers rule.
“The Dark Crystal.”
“The Dark Crystal!” They need to make a sequel to that. The Darker Crystal.
I’m a big “How I Met Your Mother" fan. Are you happy with how things are progressing? This season has been a little odd.
I am. I’m very stoked that everyone agreed to a Season 9. We have been waiting, literally months and months and months to find out whether the whole thing was going to end this season or one more. It isn’t, thankfully, not going to go 10, 11 or 12 seasons because no one wants that, but with a Season 9, they have a really great idea for the entire season that is appropriate for waiting so long for answers. And conversely I’m happy we didn’t have to spend eight seasons dancing around a question and then have to answer it in three episodes.
So, yes, Season 8 has been odd because they did this long get of Barney doing this long play to propose to Robin which required several episodes of very non-Barney like behavior from my character which was difficult to play. They kept telling me to trust them, that it would be a bigger play and I’m glad it worked so well. I think the episode, called “The Robin” was a classic episode and it’s good to be Barney again. And I get to make out with Cobie Smulders every day.
I also heard Barney may have discovered yet another Robin Sparkles video?
Robin Sparkles may reappear, indeed. And Canadian jokes abound.
Bing: More on 'How I Met Your Mother'
What else are you working on?
I directed this show at the Geffen, two close-up magicians called “Nothing to Hide” and it was only supposed to be a four to five week run, but they just announced another three week extension so it’s going to go through mid-February at the Geffen Playhouse in L.A. It is, dare I say, the best night of close-up magic you will ever see. It blows my mind who has gone to see it. I was there a few weeks ago and Barbra Streisand and James Brolin were there. JJ Abrams came, Teller from Penn & Teller has seen it three times and claims it’s one of the best magic shows he’s ever seen. So, I’m thrilled for them. It’s really a fun evening.
Last question: Have you ever run into anyone who has an actual NPH brand tattoo?
[Laughing] No, but I have seen, online, two people who have a Barney Stinson adjusting-his-tie pose tattooed on their arms and shoulders. Crazy. What happens when I get a nose job?
New Season 8 trailer suggests the serial killer's sister gets chatty
Season 7 of Showtime's hit serial-killer drama, "Dexter," ended with Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) making a horrible choice. It's a choice that changed her life and the way she looked at her brother, Dexter (Michael C. Hall), forever.
Plus: 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office'
When the beloved series returns in June, for its eighth and final season, Deb's decision continues to haunt her as her life takes a downward spiral. But what will Deb do? Will she confess and turn in herself and Dexter, too? That's certainly what the show's newly released trailer suggests. Check it out:
"Dexter" Season 8 debuts Sunday, June 30, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.
Juicy conclusion and spoilers for next season dominate Twitter and the web
SPOILER ALERT: This post includes plot points from the Season 2 finale of "Scandal."
To call "Scandal" a guilty pleasure after Thursday night's delicious Season 2 finale would be a misnomer. After all, why should anyone feel guilty for watching what was arguably one of TV's most gratifying and twist-filled closers this year?
Not only did fans see mole Billy Chambers get his comeuppance but the rise and painful fall of Olivia (Kerry Washington) and Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) once again. This, after Olivia devised such an awe-inspiring divorce package for Fitz and Mellie (Bellamy Young). The bit on Mellie being labeled a racist was a thing of beauty in and of itself. But the best part was when viewers learned that Rowan (Joe Morton), the underhanded CIA-B613 boss, is none other than Olivia's dad. Whaaaaat!
This revelation and all the other juicy twists and turns -- including Quinn's (Katie Lowes) penchant for torture and Cyrus' (Jeff Perry ) heart attack and break-up abilities -- captured the attention of 9.1 million viewers. Many of these same viewers flocked to Twitter, GetGlue and the web to give voice to their shocks and delights.
Plus: 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office'
"Exhausted after the #Scandal finale," tweeted fan Mona Scott-Young. "I feel like I've been 'fixing,' drilling & went into cardiac arrest my damn self! #Wow!!" Meanwhile, Lena Dunham got in on the action, too. Not one to be excluded from a good time she tweeted, "Not leaving the house this weekend until I'm caught up on Scandal. I feel left behind & left out like the last girl to get my period."
And if you think the Season 2 finale was a head-spinner, creator and executive producer, Shonda Rhimes, promises a Season 3 filled with more suspense and intrigue, especially when it comes to Rowan and Olivia's troubled father-daughter relationship.
"At the very least, Rowan was trying to get Jake (Scott Foley) to have sex with her and then make a tape of it, which seems creepy on many levels, right?" Rhimes told reporters at a "Scandal" event the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences held Thursday night. "I don't know if they were trying to kill her. That's up to interpretation."
Rhimes also said she and the writers considered an ending where Olivia and Fitz spooned in bed and ended up together but, ultimately, they wanted Olivia to have clean hands. "It was charming, adorable and really, really sexy and I love the scene and maybe one day someone will get to see it," Rhimes said. "But the problem with it was that Olivia put the white hat back on and emotionally you felt like she had found her inner core after losing it so badly. It felt like a cheat -- that we were cheating her out of trying to do something good."
"Scandal" Season 3 kicks off this fall on ABC.
Network says comic-book drama remains in the works
Wonder Woman could get another shot in primetime.
"Amazon," the CW's prequel starring the beloved comic-book hero, is in development still, even though it didn't land on the network's fall schedule. "It's being redeveloped," said Mark Pedowitz, the CW's president, following an upfronts presentation Thursday. "We don't want to produce something (inferior). It's the trickiest of all the DC characters."
The original "Wonder Woman" with Lynda Carter aired on ABC from 1975-79. David E. Kelley and NBC attempted to reboot the series, starring Adrianne Palicki in the iconic title role (pictured), for the 2011-12 season but the project died on the vine. Earlier this year, Warner Bros. TV sent out a casting call for a young woman, 5'8" or above, for a series about "the teenage years of the heroine who will become Wonder Woman," EW.com reports.
Plus: 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office' | 10 reasons to love 'The Mindy Project'
The description of the show also included details about the heroine hailing from a "secluded country where she was raised as a solider in a brutal environment. Now a stranger in a strange modern big city, she's a fierce warrior with the innocent heart of a romantic and she will fight to the death to make the world safe."
Pedowitz said the "basics" were all there, but the execution needed work. Producers and networks don't usually cast series until a pilot is ordered, but a project like "Amazon" cannot succeed without the right woman in the lead role.
Soap reboot experience remains a work in progress
"All My Children" and "One Life to Live" have remained in the top 10 on Hulu since premiering on April 29, but the online soap reboots are reducing the number of episodes released per week. Viewing patterns indicated the shows were producing too much content for many viewers to consume, so fans can expect two episodes of each show to air each week, starting Monday, May 20.
Bing: More about "All My Children" | "One Life to Live"
New episodes of "All My Children" will now be released Mondays and Wednesdays, with fresh episodes of "One Life to Live" posted Tuesdays and Thursdays. The behind the scenes series "More" will run as a single show on Fridays.
"When it comes to online, as with all new technology, it's adapt or fail," Prospect Park explained in a news release. "We feel fortunate to be an online company and to have such an opportunity to adapt. Of course, we will continue to evaluate all the data that comes in and will be vigilant about revising our strategy as needed."
The change stems from viewing patterns that have emerged during the first month of streaming. First, fans have been binge viewing or watching on demand, usually during the weekend: That means many fans have been trying to cram five hours of soaps into their weekend. On ABC, fans watched episodes close to their airdate, so they didn't fall as far behind. They also tended to watch only two to three episodes a week. But with the action-packed reboots, it's not as easy to follow when you've missed episodes. Plus, Prospect Park clearly doesn't want fans skipping episodes.
Plus: 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office' | 10 reasons to love 'The Mindy Project'
Another interesting shift in viewing was that fans aren't watching both shows. On television, maintaining audience is a key factor, with fans often watching whatever airs next. That doesn't apply on the Internet. Prospect Park likely hopes that, with less to consume, fans will go back to watching both series.
While the shows will release fewer episodes at a time, production will continue at the same pace through mid-June. Prospect Park will focus on editing while productions halts in July, with production resuming in August.
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Hulu will continue to stream all current episodes for free so that viewers who've fallen behind can catch up. There is no mention in the release about how this affects iTunes or how the show is performing there.
"All My Children" and "One Life to Live" can be streamed via Hulu, Hulu Plus and iTunes.
New 'Late Night' host says the new 'Tonight Show' star paved the way
Seth Meyers is sending a lot of love and gratitude Jimmy Fallon's way.
Meyers said he wouldn't have been promoted to his new "Late Night" hosting gig if Fallon hadn't proved that anchoring "Weekend Update" is the perfect training ground. Fallon will take the lead on "The Tonight Show" in February 2014. And Meyers will step into his new job around the same time, NBC announced this week.
Bing: More on 'The Tonight Show' | Jimmy Fallon | Seth Meyers
"I think I owe a debt of gratitude to Jimmy for having gone from 'Update' to 'Late Night' and shown that it's a nice progression," Meyers said on the 'Today' show Thursday. "So I'm very happy to be doing it. But, I mean, I think if you sit at that 'Update' desk, you learn how to talk about topical stories and certainly with the guests, you learn to talk to crazy people. Although, if you do late night there are real crazy people as opposed to Bill Hader pretending to be one."
Plus: 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office' | 10 reasons to love 'The Mindy Project'
Hosting "Late Night with Seth Meyers" wasn't his only option. ESPN had been courting Meyers to helm a new late-night sports talk show. Meyers impressed ESPN executives when he twice hosted the ESPY Awards. But in the end, Meyers wanted to keep working with his "SNL" boss, Lorne Michaels, and opted to stay at NBC. Meyers, who is the head writer for "Saturday Night Live," will continue working on the show through the fall.
"I'm nowhere near emotionally ready for Saturday to be my last show -- I wouldn't be able to handle that," Meyers said of the "SNL" season finale, which airs May 18. "It's very strange to get a job that doesn't start for eight, nine months. So I think we'll do a lot of talking about it. But I think it'll be one of those things where the first show you do you're gonna learn 1,000 things you didn't know yet."
The "Saturday Night Live" Season 38 finale airs Saturday, May 18, at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" airs weeknights at 12:35 a.m. ET/PT on NBC.
Would the Dowager Countess approve?
By Michelle Strub
MSN TV
So many questions! Sean "Diddy" Combs tweeted Wednesday afternoon that he's joining the cast of "Downton Abbey." Right now it's unclear if this is real, a publicity stunt, he's having a public meltdown, or if the rapper-turned-sometimes-actor has been hacked.
Bing: Sean "Diddy" Combs | 'Downton Abbey'
"Downton" producers previously announced that they're adding the show's first black character in Season 4, but named Gary Carr as the actor to play the part.
More: 'Downton Abbey' Season 4 gets January 2014 date in U.S.
We're sure we'll know soon whether this is actually happening -- thank you, Internet sleuths (and/or hopefully a statement from PBS)! Until then, we'll just sit here pondering all the ways this could go wrong ... or right?
What do you think the Dowager Countess would say about all of this? Tell us at MSN TV on Facebook and Twitter.
UPDATE [3:08 p.m. PT]: According to the Sun-Times, a spokeswoman for WGBH, the Boston public TV station that brings the British series to America, has said this is untrue -- Diddy is NOT joining the cast.
UPDATE [3:32 p.m. PT]: Diddy continues to tweet as if it's true and has Instagrammed a photo from the set as "proof."
More: Most shocking moments of 'Downton' Season 3
Update [5:18 p.m. PT]: Diddy posted yet another photo supposedly from the set of "Downton." That facial hair doesn't really seem to match the era in which the show takes place, right? Looks like we'll be anxiously awaiting midnight to see what it is he's pulling. That Diddy!
UPDATE [12 a.m. PT]: Well, Diddy wasn't kidding after all. Downton Diddy he is.
Barbara Walters, Shaquille O'Neal, Katie Couric, Selena Gomez, Honey Boo Boo and more
Daytime hosts, notable athletes, sports newsman and reality TV stars turned out to help "Maury" celebrate its 2500th episode, airing Friday, May 17. The landmark episode also caught up with memorable first guests and featured a few surprises for Maury Povich, including his wife Connie Chung jumping out of a cake!
Bing: More about "Maury" | Watch clips and episodes of "Maury"
The guest list for the big "Maury" episode featured Barbara Walters, Shaquille O'Neal, Katie Couric, the ladies of "The Talk," Donald Trump, Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin, NeNe Leakes, Steve Harvey, Wendy Williams, Jack Hanna, Billy Bush and Kit Hoover, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, "Pardon the Interruption" hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon and fellow NBC Universal talk show hosts Jerry Springer, Steve Wilkos and Trisha Goddard.
Plus: 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office' | 10 reasons to love 'The Mindy Project'
Selena Gomez and Honey Boo Boo also got involved in the celebration via video messages. Gomez had a surprise for a returning guest, while Honey Boo Boo let Povich know that he's not the father. Phew!
"Maury" will also catch up with the guests who started it all, including the guests who took the very first paternity and lie detector tests and the show's first out of control teen.
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Povich has more than 2500 reasons to celebrate. "Maury" goes into its landmark episode with 100 consecutive weeks as the #1 syndicated talk show among Women 18-34, Adults 18-34 and Adults 18-49.
"Maury" airs weekdays in syndication.
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood is exiting, but not for good
"The Bold and the Beautiful" beauty Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy) is taking a break from the drama this summer, but the Daytime Emmy nominee is not leaving for good.
Bing: More about Jacqueline MacInnes Wood | 'The Bold and the Beautiful'
"Jacqueline MacInnes Wood is taking a short break, as she has done in the past, from 'B&B,'" a show rep told MSN TV. "She remains as the character of 'Steffy Forrester'; and is continuing to tape, currently, with episodes airing through July of 2013 and then beyond."
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During Wood's past breaks from the soap, she shot the blockbuster "Final Destination 5," the pilot for "Arrow" and the upcoming Lifetime thriller "Her Husband's Betrayal." A DJ and singer, Wood also released her debut single "After Hours" in January 2012.
As "The Bold and the Beautiful" fans know, Wood's character Steffy been caught in a love triangle that aims to rival the show's epic Taylor/Ridge/Brooke triangle. As the scheming vixen of the younger set, Ridge and Taylor's daughter stooped pretty low in her battle to win Bill's son Liam away from Brooke's daughter Hope. Though Steffy seemed to have no limits, she's shown a softer side of late. That and a bun in the oven helped her finally marry Liam, but as news of Wood's short-term exit broke, Steffy was mowed down in a motorcycle accident on the show.
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With Woods set to tape scenes Friday, May 17, and air into August, one can expect Steffy will wake up before exiting the canvas this summer. The fate of her unborn baby is another matter.
"The Bold and the Beautiful" airs weekdays on CBS.
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meet the bloggers
Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.
Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.
