Neil Patrick Harris: From Supporting Role to Leading Man

By Jo Piazza Posted Nov 18th 2009 01:10PM

He's gone from child star to cameo maker to supporting character to Tony Awards host to leading man. There seems to be no stopping the force that is Neil Patrick Harris. NPH's character Barney Stinson was originally supposed to be a comic foil on 'How I Met Your Mother,' but with so much NPH love in the atmosphere 'HIMYM' fans have watched the show evolve into all-Barney-all-the-time and we can't say that's a bad thing.

This season has seen NPH in a relationship (with the show's leading lady Robin played by Cobie Smulders), in a fat suit (our favorite fat suit appearance since Courtney Cox as fat Monica) and this week we watched as he went on a trampage through the women of Manhattan wearing a scuba suit.

So was it his Tony hosting turn that prompted all this NPH fervor or is it a case of an awesome actor finally getting his due, because he is legen...wait for it...dary? Our experts weigh in after the jump.

New York Daily News television writer and 'HIMYM' fan Cristina Kinon thinks the Tonys certainly brought in a new audience for NPH, but his expanded role on 'HIMYM' this season has just been a happy accident for those who are just tuning into the show for its fourth season.

"The timing just seemed to work out in the show's favor so that all of Harris' new fans, who enjoyed his Tony appearance, would get a big dose of him on the show," Kinon said. "But don't forget about previous Barney-centric episodes, that came before the Tonys, like Showdown (season 2), Wait For It (season 3), The Yips (season 3), The Bracket (season 3), The Stinsons (season 4), etc. Barney and NPH were loved, even before the Tonys, because they're legen...you know where I'm going with this right?"

There is no doubt that Barney Stinson has been the most valuable character for the show.

From 2007-2009, NPH has been nominated for Primetime Emmy awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work playing Barney and in 2008, Fireside published the book, "The Bro Code." Ostensibly written by Stinson, although actually penned by a writer for the show, the book reveals the hilarious code by which the character supposedly lives his life.

NPH had a lot of obstacles to face, being a recent openly gay actor and a childhood star; both hurdles that Hollywood seems to present as often insurmountable.

"The one thing that makes NPH different is that he is a great leading male actor, who happens to be gay not a gay man who happens to want to act," says PopWrap's Ryan Brockington. "With a show like 'HIMYM' begging for attention, and three camera sitcoms headed out to pasture, finding what works and then over saturating your show with it, is the only way to keep the dying sitcom industry alive. 'HIMYM' found that NPH's character Barney is the one people love, a lot like 'Will & Grace' embraced Jack, this show has brought a supporting role into the limelight. And for 1 million great reasons."

Tags: cobie smulders, CobieSmulders, how i met your mother, HowIMetYourMother, neil patrick harris, NeilPatrickHarris

Comments

(14)

Wednesday 18 November

By ria

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You forgot to mention NPH's awesome performance as Dr. Horrible in Joss Whedons Dr. Horrible's sing a long blog. He was genius in that! And what an amazing voice.

By Mark

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Gotta be honest, have never liked him - when he played the little kid doctor he always came across as too snotty, and in this show (which I otherwise like) I think he's just too "over-the-top"...but obviously I'm in the minority with my opinion.

By James - Los Angeles

He cannot play the character of a womanizer on HIMYM with any believability, before or AFTER he came out of the closet.

He's a poor actor, but since he's gay, Hollywood will continue to promote him and his projects.

But that's Hollywood - an evil and morally bankrupt business....

By Suan

Your a joke. He may be gay, but he can act. Maybe your jealous he does not want you.

By steve46062

His playing a ladies man is not affected in the least by his being gay unless that's all you can think of as you watch him. Which if that's the case perhaps you have a few issues you need to deal with?

By anne

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why are you talking trash about NPH? he is a great actor - and mind you, his sexual preference does NOT, in any way, affect his credibility as an actor.

By jay

He is a good actor good looking on the ball and quite smart, jealousy always looms.

Thursday 19 November

By James Blanche

Very mean-spirited, I must say. Actually, I think NPH is very talented and believeable in his role. I'll grant you a morsal: the ham is starting to show. But I, too, was put off by his Fonzie approach to womankind. To be fair to his persona, some women do fall for such crass blandishment.

I was hoping or wishing he was gay before we actually found out because he grew into a handsome and sexy man.

Hollywood is no pantheon of all things saintly, but don't disparage a town that spawns talent and sexiness like Neil Patrick Harris. Enough said!!

By Josie

He is the STAR of the show. He should have won the award rather than John Cryer. The award shows are fixed.

By Andrew

The show is in its fifth season. Not its fourth.

By Soo

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Since he's out his roll as a "womanizer" is that much more entertaining. Especially when he looks into the camera with that glint in his eye!

By Paul

James, keep your gay paranoia to yourself. I'm a straight as it gets and I totally buy his portrayal as Barney and it's one of the funniest things on TV. I'll never understand the hatred towards gays, they have ZERO effect on your life, so who cares?

Paul,

You're an a-hole. Plain and simple.

If you don't live in so cal, then you'll never understand how the system works. If you DO live here, you're as ignorant as the rest of these idiots.