How Ted Won the Belt [with Dave Hemingson] | S3E3 "Third Wheel"
6/1/202657 min
Josh and Craig are joined by Dave Hemmingson to revisit “Third Wheel,” the Season 3 fan-favorite where newly single Ted unexpectedly finds himself navigating the possibility of a threesome with returning guest stars Busy Philipps and Danica McKellar. Dave talks about joining the writers’ room during a pivotal moment for the series, helping launch the “free-range Ted” era after the Robin breakup, and crafting the episode’s frantic, almost real-time energy inspired by farce and physical comedy. The group digs into Barney’s surprising vulnerability, Marshall and Lily’s enthusiastic “mission control” support of Ted’s big night, the origins of the tramp stamp storyline, and whether Ted actually “won the belt.” Along the way, they reflect on why the episode still works: balancing absurd comedy, emotional honesty, and one of the weirdly sweetest stories HIMYM ever told.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
Mom, can you tell me a story?
Craig Thomas· Host0:01
Sure. Once upon a time, a mom needed a new car.
Speaker 10:04
[gasps] Was she brave?
Craig Thomas· Host0:05
She was tired mostly, but she went to carvana.com and found a great car at a great price, no secret treasure map required.
Speaker 10:12
Did she have to fight a dragon?
Craig Thomas· Host0:13
Nope. She bought it 100% online, from her bed, actually.
Speaker 10:16
Was it scary?
Craig Thomas· Host0:17
Honey, it was as unscary as car buying could be.
Speaker 10:20
Did the car have a sunroof?
Craig Thomas· Host0:21
It did, actually.
Speaker 10:22
Okay. Good story.
Craig Thomas· Host0:24
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Speaker 40:57
[upbeat music] Hey, guys. This is Jay from Boston. In 2008, I moved to Boston for my first job out of college, and I was so excited to be in a bigger city, and be with my friends, and make new ones, and go on adventures, and be single. And then I had my Ted and Robin meet cute moment of sorts. I wasn't in a bar, I was in my office, but across the office, even though I swore I was gonna be single for a while, I locked eyes with the woman who is now my wife. I was already a huge Himym fan and always identified