All of you How I Met Your Mother Fans probably have fond memories of the episode from 2006 where Robin revealed her darkest secret to the bunch; that she was, in fact, a Canadian teen pop star. We couldn't get enough of Robin Sparkles and her video "Lets Go to the Mall." But wait, because on tonight's episode we get to see another long lost video, "Sandcastles in the Sand," with cameos from James Van Der Beek, Alan Thicke and the original Pop Princess—Tiffany!
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The April 21 episode of How I Met Your Mother is turning into a wonderful '80s flashback. Already marking the return of Robin Sparkles, the outing will feature visits from former teen popstress Tiffany and Growing Pains' Alan Thicke, playing Ms. Sparkles' gal pal and father, respectively, in a newly unearthed video for "Sandcastles in the Sand," a ballad Robin wrote upon being dumped by her backup-dancer beau (Dawson's Creek's James Van Der Beek).HIMYM co-creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas wrote and composed "Sandcastles in the Sand" as the B-side of "Let's Go to the Mall," using iconic '80s breakup ballads such as "Foolish Beat" and "Toy Soldiers" as inspiration.With Michael Gross (Family Ties) having guested as Ted's pop and Bob Saget (Full House) playing narrator, Thicke represents the third classic '80s dad to get involved with the CBS sitcom. What's your take? Is this shaping up to be one of Mother's best eps? — MWM
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Per the Hollywood Reporter, William Shatner will boldly go where no man — save for Regis, Trebek and... OK, lots of others — has gone before when he hosts Show Me the Money, a new trivia-based game show that has just received a seven-episode order from ABC. Alan Thicke, meanwhile, has been tapped to host The Singing Office, a CBS reality pilot that will seek out America's best cubicle-confined crooners. Yeah, as if anyone can top my rendition of "Barbie Girl."
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Hey, TV-nostalgia buffs! Aching for another Growing Pains reunion movie? Well then, you'll be pleased to know Growing Pains II: Home Equity just wrapped production in New Orleans, which doubles for the Seaver family's Long Island home base. All of Pains's original cast is on hand — TV mom Joanna Kerns even directs — but, unsurprisingly, Leo DiCaprio isn't coming back as Luke.
"I'm sure they thought of it," Alan Thicke (aka Dr. Jason Seaver) tells TV Guide Online, chuckling. "And I'm sure [Leo's] not available." Fortunately, the real-life pregnancy of Tracey Gold — whose career was recently "executed" on Celebrity Mole: Yucatan — will help make up for the personnel shortage. Gold's pregnant, so Carol's expecting onscreen, too.
"I'm still trying to get used to the concept of playing a grandfather," the 57-year-old Thicke says. "I've now moved into what I call the 'ferzage' category. It's
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