Hulu has recently announced the cancellation of its series “How I Met Your Father” after two seasons. This news comes shortly after the streaming platform canceled another show, “The Great.” “How I Met Your Father,” which starred Hilary Duff, concluded its second season in July without answering the implied question in its title.
“How I Met Your Father” served as a spinoff to the popular series “How I Met Your Mother,” which aired on CBS from 2005 to 2014. Although not a direct sequel, the spinoff was set in the same version of New York as the original show and even featured guest appearances from “HIMYM” stars Cobie Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris, among other alums. The show also incorporated characters played by Christopher Lowell and Suraj Sharma who lived in the apartment previously occupied by Ted and Marshall in the original series.
In addition to Hilary Duff, the cast of “How I Met Your Father” included Christopher Lowell, Suraj Sharma, Francia Raisa, Tom Ainsley, and Tien Tran. Kim Cattrall served as the narrator of the series and also made on-camera appearances as a future version of Duff’s character, Sophie, recounting the story of how she met her son’s father. This narrative style was reminiscent of the original series, where Bob Saget narrated as Future Ted, although Saget himself never appeared on camera.
The concept of a “How I Met Your Mother” spinoff had been in development for quite some time, with various iterations considered. At one point, Greta Gerwig, director of films like “Little Women” and “Barbie,” was rumored to be starring in the spinoff. However, in 2021, Hulu gave the series a green light, and it premiered in January 2022. The show was well-received by fans and was subsequently renewed for a 20-episode second season. The second season was split into two parts, allowing for a more extended storytelling arc.
The creators of “How I Met Your Father” were Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, known for their work on the hit series “This Is Us.” Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, the creators of “How I Met Your Mother,” also served as executive producers. Pam Fryman and Adam Londy were also part of the executive production team.
Unfortunately, with the cancellations of “How I Met Your Father,” “The Great,” and the ending of FX-produced show “Reservation Dogs” after its third season, Hulu’s lineup of original, live-action comedies is decreasing. However, the streaming platform still has several comedies in its current roster, including “Only Murders in the Building,” “Ramy,” “Life & Beth,” “This Fool,” and FX’s “The Bear” (which is classified as a comedy for awards purposes).
The cancellation of “How I Met Your Father” was first reported by TVLine. Fans of the show were disappointed by the news, especially after investing two seasons into the story. Nevertheless, Hulu continues to offer a diverse selection of original content, and viewers can still find engaging and entertaining shows on the platform.