In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit How I Met Your Mother’s second episode, “Purple Giraffe.” They talk about the pressure of following up the pilot, the decision to structure the story around three parties, and how the show continued to play with time and storytelling. They also reflect on Ted’s optimism, his flaws, and what this episode reveals about his character.
The episode includes behind-the-scenes stories about writing, editing, and production, including how the purple giraffe came to be and why the rooftop scene was so important. Josh shares what it was like navigating early fame, and his wife Jordana offers thoughtful insight into Ted’s emotional growth.
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AND MORE:
Josh’s “Museletters” on Substack
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Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing)
Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack
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AND IN CASE IT HELPS:
03:08 Creating Episode Two: Purple Giraffe
06:13 The Challenges of Writing a Second Episode
09:03 The Great Gatsby Influence
17:57 The Essence of Ted Mosby
20:49 Balancing Humor and Heart
35:16 The Art of Cinematic Storytelling
40:39 Ted's Journey: The Tug of War Between Control and Destiny
49:00 The Evolution of Ted: From Childish Dreams to Adult Realities
59:00 Audience Engagement and Community Connection
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