Neil Patrick Harris has paid tribute to the mother of his longterm boyfriend, who lost her battle with cancer last week.

The How I Met Your Mother star spoke out on Friday, during his stint as guest host on morning TV show Live with Regis and Kelly.

Referring to his partner David Burtka, he said, “David’s mother passed away last week from a leukaemia and pneumonia. It took her out really quickly, in just four and a half weeks. It’s been a really sad time. I just want to wish he and his sister Jen and their amazing dad Dan all the best.”

Source

WENN

Britney Spears may have wowed fans with her cameo on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, but she apparently still has something to prove to a few of the show’s cast members.

“I’m in the minority that feels our show does not need stunt casting in order to succeed,” HIMYM star Neil Patrick Harris declared during a break from taping the sitcom. “I worry that if they start Will and Grace-ing us too much, that the show will suffer. We’re all really proud of the content of the show.”

Britney has been the most high-profile guest star to visit the set, following past appearances by Mandy Moore, Enrique Iglesias and Heidi Klum. Spears’ cameo as a bubbly, sweet receptionist created so much buzz that 10.6 million viewers tuned in to watch the March 24 episode — that’s roughly two million more than the sitcom averages per showing. Among the 18- to 49-year-old demographic, it was the most-watched episode of the series ever.

HIMYM executive producer Carter Bays told the AP he’s proud of the result. “We had no illusions about what the stakes were,” he said. “And if it was classic stunt casting like, ‘Oh, my tour bus broke down outside’ and I just go, ‘Wow, Britney Spears! What are you doing here?’ then, like, we’re just flying over that shark real fast.”

Bays adds, “It was a great character and I think she played it well… I’m glad that we didn’t sensationalize the character in any way.”

Last Monday, the show introduced a “mystery woman” who warns women not to date the single-minded Barney, played by Neil Patrick Harris. When asked who he thinks the network may cast to play the woman, Harris replied, “No telling, but based on the stunt casting we’ve done in the past, I’m guessing Tara Reid.”

All righty-then!

Source

WENN

While A-list guest star Britney Spears didn’t make it to the How I Met Your Mother bash at the Palihouse in L.A. this weekend, our spywitness at the event heard plenty of chatter about the troubled pop star’s time on set.

The show’s star Neil Patrick Harris said he was surprised that Brit was rather quiet. “When she was with us, she
 was rather shy and intimidated,” he explained. “Probably because she doesn’t have a lot of acting experience, especially sitcom experience.”

And as for reports that the 26-year-old mother of two was a nightmare on the set, Neil said, “I wouldn’t call her a nightmare. She’s living
 one.”

While Brit might have been surprisingly quiet around the set, Neil admitted that the hysteria surrounding her even made its way past studio security.”When she’s on set, it’s kind of chaotic, hectic,” he explained. “Even though she was quiet and behaved… She brings that energy with her.”

WENN

Neil Patrick Harris is “disappointed” Isaiah Washington’s derogatory comments towards gay co-star TR Knight keep making headlines. Harris announced publicly he was gay in November, after Internet reports speculated on his sexuality.

He tells TVGuide.com, “TR (Knight) has proven himself to be an incredibly classy, dignified guy. I’m impressed that Katherine Heigl said what she said. I was shocked that it all reared its ugly head again.”

Washington shocked cast members on Monday in the Golden Globes press room when he denied he had called Knight a “faggot” during a spat on the set in October.

Harris refused to comment on what form Washington’s “punishment” should take adding, “It’s impossible for me to make any kind of comment about that because I wasn’t there when it happened. It’s just disappointing that it’s cyclical.”

Washington issued a statement on Thursday, apologizing for his behavior, and admitted he needed professional help to deal with his issues.