General Questions | S1E2 "Purple Giraffe"
Explicit content warning
04/03/25 • 38 min
1 Listener
In this bonus General Questions episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek respond to listener questions all about “Purple Giraffe.” They cover everything from how Josh and Cobie developed their early on-screen chemistry to the symbolism of the rooftop and the origin of the show’s callbacks. The team also weighs in on the fan-created “purple vs. yellow” theory, share behind-the-scenes wardrobe details, and talk about how real-life relationships and experiences made their way into the show’s characters.
They reflect on what it felt like filming the second episode after the pilot, how the roof became such a central location, and the challenge of balancing screen time in a packed episode. It’s a mix of thoughtful answers, personal stories, and a few very specific snack preferences.
Questions We Attempt to Answer in This Episode:
How did Josh and Cobie build their chemistry so quickly on screen?
How did you keep track of callbacks throughout the series?
What’s your favorite kind of dip?
What were you actually drinking at the bar?
Was the mood different filming episode 2 compared to the pilot?
What inspired the rooftop setting, and do you have personal connections to it?
How did you approach casting smaller roles like Carlos?
What’s the story behind John Bernthal’s early appearance on the show?
How did wardrobe choices affect your performance, especially for Ted?
Why did Marshall and Lily’s relationship start out so strong and established?
What’s the purple vs. yellow theory, and did you plan it?
CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:
Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages)
Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig)
HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research
AND MORE:
Josh’s “Museletters” on Substack
Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing)
Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack
Advertising inquiries:
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this bonus General Questions episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh, Craig, and Alek respond to listener questions all about “Purple Giraffe.” They cover everything from how Josh and Cobie developed their early on-screen chemistry to the symbolism of the rooftop and the origin of the show’s callbacks. The team also weighs in on the fan-created “purple vs. yellow” theory, share behind-the-scenes wardrobe details, and talk about how real-life relationships and experiences made their way into the show’s characters.
They reflect on what it felt like filming the second episode after the pilot, how the roof became such a central location, and the challenge of balancing screen time in a packed episode. It’s a mix of thoughtful answers, personal stories, and a few very specific snack preferences.
Questions We Attempt to Answer in This Episode:
How did Josh and Cobie build their chemistry so quickly on screen?
How did you keep track of callbacks throughout the series?
What’s your favorite kind of dip?
What were you actually drinking at the bar?
Was the mood different filming episode 2 compared to the pilot?
What inspired the rooftop setting, and do you have personal connections to it?
How did you approach casting smaller roles like Carlos?
What’s the story behind John Bernthal’s early appearance on the show?
How did wardrobe choices affect your performance, especially for Ted?
Why did Marshall and Lily’s relationship start out so strong and established?
What’s the purple vs. yellow theory, and did you plan it?
CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:
Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages)
Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig)
HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research
AND MORE:
Josh’s “Museletters” on Substack
Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing)
Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack
Advertising inquiries:
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Previous Episode
How I Met the Roof | S1E2 "Purple Giraffe"
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.
CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:
Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages)
Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig)
HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research
AND MORE:
Josh’s “Museletters” on Substack
Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing)
Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
Surfshark: Go to https://surfshark.com/yourmother and use code YOURMOTHER for 4 extra months of Surfshark.
Advertising inquiries:
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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Next Episode
How We Made a Cartoon | S1E3 "The Sweet Taste of Liberty"
In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit “The Sweet Taste of Liberty” and talk about how it marked a shift in tone for the show. The episode introduced Barney’s cartoonish side, the “legend—wait for it—dary” catchphrase, and a more outrageous style of storytelling. They discuss the influence of writers Chris Miller and Phil Lord, the origins of Barney’s character, and the episode’s mission to answer two big questions: Why is this wild man part of the friend group? And how do Robin and Lily become friends?
The conversation also explores how Ted became more reactive in this episode, the challenge of balancing sitcom energy with character growth, and how early episodes were still “auditioning” the show’s style. They end with heartfelt letters from listeners about how How I Met Your Mother impacted their lives—and Craig shares his personal story about making the show while navigating his own family’s medical crisis, adding emotional depth to the series and the podcast.
Make sure to listen through to the end, when Craig Thomas will announce the permanent fundraising campaign of this podcast, How You Make a Difference, raising money for congenital heart disease.
CONNECT WITH THE SHOW:
Official Website (Send us your audio and written messages)
Substack (Join the mailing list, get announcements, and read more from Josh and Craig)
HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
Donate to our ongoing campaign to support congenital heart disease research
AND MORE:
Josh’s “Museletters” on Substack
Craig’s Official Website (with links to his published writing)
Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:
Nutrafol: Start your hair growth journey with Nutrafol at nutrafol.com and use the code YOURMOTHER.
Advertising inquiries:
AND IN CASE IT HELPS:
00:00 Emotional Growth Through Television
07:14 The Creative Process Behind 'How I Met Your Mother'
14:00 Character Dynamics and Relationships
21:04 The Evolution of Storytelling in Sitcoms
30:54 The Creative Process Behind Iconic Moments
32:41 Balancing Character Arcs and Storytelling
35:49 The Role of Chaos and Creation in Relationships
39:03 Exploring Vulnerability and Masculinity
43:23 Fan Impact and Personal Stories
55:08 The Timelessness of Love and Resilience
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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