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24 Episodes 2009 - 2010
Season 5 of the sitcom begins with Ted (Josh Radnor) starting his new job as an architecture professor at Columbia University. Meanwhile, notorious commitment-phobes Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) begin dating, although neither of them know what they want out of a relationship; and Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) wonder if they should have a baby. Memorable guest stars include Jennifer Lopez and Carrie Underwood. Rachel Bilson has a small role as the roommate of Ted's future wife.
Episode 1
Mon, Sep 21, 2009 30 mins
In the fifth-season opener, the friends discover that Barney and Robin are secretly a couple; and Ted stresses over his first lecture as a Columbia professor.
Episode 2
Mon, Sep 28, 2009 30 mins
Ted goes on a blind date and realizes he went out with the woman before on an arranged date seven years earlier; and Barney takes Marshall on a guys' night out.
Episode 3
Mon, Oct 5, 2009 30 mins
Robin thinks Barney's cheating, but she soon sees it's just the opposite: He's spending his nights getting lessons from Ted on how to date Robin.
Episode 4
Mon, Oct 12, 2009 30 mins
Marshall and Lily hope that Robin and Barney will be their new double-date friends, but they are a little too enthusiastic, prompting Robin and Barney to break up with them.
Episode 5
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 30 mins
Barney tries to persuade Robin to become a U.S. citizen; and Ted and Marshall's road trip hits a bump when Lily decides to come along. Kenny Rogers provides the narration on an audio book the friends listen to on their trip.
Episode 6
Mon, Nov 2, 2009 30 mins
Barney, thinking he and Robin are the perfect couple, gives relationship advice to Marshall, which turns out to be a big mistake.
Episode 7
Mon, Nov 9, 2009 30 mins
Barney and Robin's romance falters, and Lily comes up with a scheme to break up the unhappy couple that involves a little help from Robin's celebrity friend, Alan Thicke (who appears in a cameo).
Episode 8
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 30 mins
Barney and Robin break up, and Barney gets serious about dating again by consulting his "playbook" containing all of his greatest techniques.
Episode 9
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 30 mins
Marshall gives Ted and Robin one of his "Slap Bet" slaps to be used on Barney; and Lily's estranged father (Chris Elliot) visits her for Thanksgiving.
Episode 10
Mon, Dec 7, 2009 30 mins
The gang helps Ted out when he finds the perfect girl (JoAnna Garcia) is available to date; and Marshall finds a letter he wrote when he was young, and it has a dramatic effect on him.
Episode 11
Mon, Dec 14, 2009 30 mins
The friends try to quit smoking; Robin is bothered by a coworker. Harvey Fierstein provides Lily's smoking voice.
Episode 12
Mon, Jan 11, 2010 30 mins
Barney has to decide between his trademark suits or a beautiful bartender (Stacy Keibler) in the 100th episode, which includes a musical number by the cast called "Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit." Cindy: Rachel Bilson. Tim: Tim Gunn.
Episode 13
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 30 mins
Marshall tries to prove to Lily that a beautiful colleague kissed him; Robin discovers that she's the subject of a drinking game.
Episode 14
Mon, Feb 1, 2010 30 mins
Barney challenges himself to bed seven women in seven days. Jim Nantz and New York Yankee Nick Swisher have cameos.
Episode 15
Mon, Feb 8, 2010 30 mins
Lily and Marshall are tasked with setting Ted up on a blind date for Valentine's Day, and they only have a week to find the perfect woman. Meanwhile, Robin's invited to a party by her obnoxious colleague. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms appear as themselves, providing voice-over commentary on Barney's dating life.
Episode 16
Mon, Mar 1, 2010 30 mins
Ted's friends think he's being strung along by a woman (played by Carrie Underwood) and it makes them reflect on their own similar experiences.
Episode 17
Mon, Mar 8, 2010 30 mins
Still hurting from the way Barney ended their romance, Robin gets back at him by getting a beautiful self-help author, played by Jennifer Lopez, to turn the tables on Barney.
Episode 18
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 30 mins
Ted wrecks Lily's birthday by bringing a date to her celebration dinner, and Lily does her best to keep the woman out of the annual group photo. Karen: Laura Prepon. Natalie: Anne Dudek.
Episode 19
Mon, Apr 12, 2010 30 mins
Marshall gets mugged, prompting Lily to want to get a gun, so Marshall comes up with a crazy story about the crime in the hope that it will change her mind.
Episode 20
Mon, Apr 19, 2010 30 mins
Ted attends his mom's wedding and is troubled by her affectionate relationship with the groom, which prompts Ted to make an impulsive decision regarding his life.
Episode 21
Mon, May 3, 2010 30 mins
Ted and Barney fight, claiming they both love Robin, while Robin realizes she's over them; and Lily and Marshall decide to get twin beds.
Episode 22
Mon, May 10, 2010 30 mins
The friends crash an upscale party attended by prominent intellectuals, and Ted tries to show off his brainier side. Arianna Huffington, Peter Bogdanovich and New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz have cameos.
Episode 23
Mon, May 17, 2010 30 mins
Ted goes on a movie date and realizes the film's loosely based on his relationship with Stella, and it's written by Tony, the man for whom Stella left Ted at the altar.
Episode 24
Mon, May 24, 2010 30 mins
In the fifth-season finale, Marshall and Lily make a vow to try to have a baby if they see Barney's doppelgänger; and Robin is offered her dream job.