Facts From a TV Junkie: 'How I Met Your Mother'

Hello all! Chances are if you're reading this it means you, much like myself, are addicted to TV. You just can't ever get enough of that small screen action! Well, I'm here to tell you that I feel your pain and would like to help you in your noble quest for TV knowledge, which is why I've taken it upon myself to create this fun, weekly feature. Every week, I will dig up new and interesting facts about a show and share them with you right here. So sit back, relax, and let the trivia madness commence!

This week's pick goes to my favorite Maclaren's Pub gang from the show 'How I Met Your Mother.' From slap bets to made-up interventions to triennial 'Star Wars' marathons, these guys always know how to make each and every episode legen — WAIT FOR IT — dary. So, as the show wraps up its final season, it's only fitting to obsess over as much 'HIMYM' trivia as possible. That's where I come in! We may now know who the mother is, but there's still a few things you may not know about this lovable sitcom. Such as…

Did You Know:

1. Maclaren's Pub is named after a real person from the show.

Unlike many other made up TV show locations like Central Perk, Maclaren's is named after an actual person. In this case, it's a tribute to the show's associate producer, Carl Maclaren. This also explains why the bartender's name is Carl.

2. All of Ted's future children scenes were filmed during Season 1.

This even includes a scene for the show's eventual final episode with The Mother. The show's creators mainly did this so the kids would look the same age throughout the entire series since this story is supposed to be taking place throughout the course of one day.

And it's a good thing they did because this is what they look like today:

Kudos to the writers for being able to plan so far ahead!

3. The opening theme song to the show is performed by the co-creators' band called 'The Solids.'

Yes, co-creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas are responsible for more than just creating one of the best modern-day sitcoms — they're also musically gifted. The song is called "Hey Beautiful."

4. Actress Cobie Smulders is from Vancouver just like her character Robin Scherbatsky.

Being Canadian isn't just an act for Smulders. Before making her claim to fame, this 'HIMYM' star spent her days in Vancouver. (Though you may have already known that from one of TVRage's awesome weekly features about Canadian stars). Pretty cool, eh?

5. Josh Radnor is highly allergic to dogs.

The creators didn't know this until after Radnor was already cast, which could explain the writers'  decision to get rid of Robin's dogs in Season 2.

6. Barney Stinson was named after a heroin peddler.

It's true. The name is from the James Ellroy book called "L.A. Confidential." Barney, of course, probably wouldn't be too thrilled to hear about this. Out of all the careers he's invented for himself in order to pick up chicks, I doubt he'd be eager to use this one. The book character probably didn't even own a suit. (The horror!)

7. The show is filmed without a live studio audience.

Due to the quick-cut nature of the show, each episode is completely filmed first, and then shown to a live audience on a later date. Their reactions are then recorded and added into the half hour segment.

8. Three of the main actors' significant others have guest starred on the show.

Alyson Hannigan's husband, Alexis Denisof, played Robin's co-anchor Sandy Rivers (left); Cobie Smulders' husband, Taran Killam, played the obnoxious Blauman (middle); and Neil Patrick Harris' fiancé, David Burtka, played Scooter, Lily's old high school flame (right).

9. Alyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders were both pregnant during most of Season 4.

Since neither of their characters were pregnant on the show, costumers had the difficult task of simultaneously hiding baby bumps for two of the series' main female actresses. Go back to that particular season and you'll notice the use of baggy clothes and giant handbags.

10. Most of the websites mentioned during the show actually exist.

Canadiansexacts.org and Stinsonbreastreduction.com can both be found as legitimate sites online. Even Lilyandmarshallselltheirstuff.com was created for a charity and was used to auctioned off items from the show.

11. 'Freaks and Geeks' Star Samm Levine auditioned for the role of Barney.

He later admitted to Neil Patrick Harris on 'Kevin Pollak's Chat Show' that Harris made a way better Barney than he ever could've been. And while I love Samm Levine, I have to agree with him on this one. Much like his character, NPH is 100 percent awesome all the time.

12. Tim Gunn was the cast's favorite guest-star.

Even though Britney Spears and Katy Perry were two of the biggest guest stars on the show, fashion designer Tim Gunn received the biggest welcome from the cast and crew. Nearly everyone on set wanted an autograph from him. (See, we're not the only ones who get starstruck!)

13. In most "statistics" Barney creates, the numbers 83 or 8 and 3 are usually involved.

It's unclear as to why that is, but if happen to catch a few of these episodes on TV you'll see that it's true. Hey, if it ain't broke…

14. Conan O'Brien made a secret cameo on the show.

In Season 7, the late night host can be seen in the background at Maclaren's pub right in the middle of a scene. It's a quick cameo, but one that's definitely worth noticing if you hadn't before.

15. Victoria was voted Ted's all time favorite love interest.

The results were discovered in an online poll, where fans selected actress Ashley Williams as their favorite girlfriend of Ted's. This could have something to do with the fact that she appeared in the most episodes over all of Ted's other exes (other than Robin, of course). Zoey (played by Jennifer Morrison) was voted the least favorite love interest. Do you agree?

I hope you enjoyed this week's installment of Facts From a TV Junkie. Check back next week for another fix!