Are These Characters From How I Met Your Mother Or Friends? 50% Of People Aren’t Sure
- by Harry Kettle
- – on
- in Movies and TV
There are many great TV shows that have come and gone over the years, but very few can claim to have actively touched the hearts of millions around the world. It's not that the majority of shows aren't really good because they are, but there's something about a good sitcom (in particular) that just makes you leap out of your chair with laughter. Or, you know, it could leave you crying into a pillow for ten days straight. Go figure.
The two shows that we're going to be focusing on today are all-time classics, and we don't think that's an overstatement. How I Met Your Mother came along pretty quickly after Friends came to an end, and in the process, it filled the gaping hole in our heart created by the departure of the New York comrades.
It showed us how to laugh, how to love, and most importantly, how key friendship is. Of course, we don't want to get too soppy on you, because instead, we want to test you and your ability to remember some of the finer details of the show.
More specifically: we want to see how many of the characters you can actually remember. The most hardcore fans will probably think they've got this in the bag, but even with that being the case, we believe there are a few tricky ones in here that could trip you up along the way.
With that being said, let's take a look at the actual quiz itself.
Which show is this character from?
Ladies and gentlemen: meet Barney Stinson. This man is widely considered to be one of the most entertaining characters on either show, to the point where his legendary catchphrases are still repeated by millions upon millions of fans to this day. He was on the show from the very beginning until the very end, and his story arch was pretty intriguing to say the least. Sure, he came across as nothing more than a businessman/womanizer at times, but that was part of his appeal. He wasn't exactly the perfect character, but he knew how to make us laugh and cry in equal measure.
Which show is this character from?
Mr. Chandler Bing is probably (note, probably) the funniest character in either show, and we say that from a purely unbiased point of view. The man himself knows how to get himself into a tricky spot or two, and seemingly always makes comical mistakes in one way or another. Even with that being the case, though, he was able to warm the hearts of the nation throughout the course of the decade-long show. The actor himself hasn't gone on to do anything better in the years that have passed since, but to be honest, it'd be pretty hard to do so anyway.
Which show is this character from?
He'll be there for you, when the rain starts to fall. He'll also be there to talk to you about dinosaurs. Ross is the loveable nerd that we've all come to accept and appreciate over the years, despite the fact that he can be kind of condescending from time to time. A lot of fans believe that he actually mirrors one of the characters in the other show pretty strongly, but we aren't going to say which, because then this'll become more obvious than it probably already is. He was a charmer by nature, and for what it's worth, they were on a break.
Which show is this character from?
She's gone on to have a lot of success outside the restrictions of sitcom television, but in this universe, she's known as Robin. The beauty from Canada has had a series of different takes given by fans on her personality and character, but in the end, she's just Robin. As complex as she may be it's best to just enjoy her for what she is: a mystery. There are so many questions that people still have about her, and when we come to learn more about her upbringing, it's safe to say that she becomes all the more fantastic to watch.
Which show is this character from?
How you doin'? Joey Tribbiani is both loved and laughed at in equal measure, because let's be honest, he's just a bit of a goof. There's not even anything wrong with that, either, because it's often hard to play a role like that so convincingly. We think he's a really fun member of the main cast and it's always great to see a character develop so much as time goes on. Sure, it felt like they dumbed him down a bit too much in the later seasons, but that's what happens when you've just got so much material to work with.
Which show is this character from?
Side note: this guy reminds me so much of my older brother it's not even funny, but you don't know who that is, so we'll move on. Marshall is the gentle giant of his crew, and we'd like to believe the same thing is true for the actor portraying him too. He always came across as an exceptionally approachable and kind-hearted member of the gang, which is probably why there was such a panic when it was rumoured that he was going to be leaving the show due to some kind of contract dispute. Either way, we absolutely adore the guy.
Which show is this character from?
What a stunner. Despite her massive OCD issue and clear problem with being far too competitive, Monica is still one of our favourite characters from the show in question. She's smart, beautiful, and we think that we want to marry her (especially in the first few seasons). At times it felt like New York City wasn't big enough to contain her brilliance, and while she did have some annoying moments over the years, we aren't so sure where the rest of the gang would be without her. One thing is for sure: everything would be a lot dirtier. That's just a fact.
Which show is this character from?
Yup. That's one of the most famous actors in the world, and we're fairly certain that you all know his name by now. In the show, though, he was known as Will, and he only actually appeared in one episode. He had a series of back and forth scenes with a girl who, as you may know, he actually dated in real life. Will was introduced as a guy who used to be pretty overweight, but in the years since high school, he was able to slim down. As you can probably tell, the implication is that he wound up looking amazing.
Which show is this character from?
If there was a main character in this show, then we'd argue Rachel is it. At the start of the series she was nothing more than a spoilt little girl who always seemed to get what she wanted. However, as time went on, she was able to blossom into a strong and successful businessman - and a mother, too. She still had her moments from time to time and there's no denying how clumsy she could be, or insensitive, but we still love her all the same. The actress herself has gone on to have a lot of success, too.
Which show is this character from?
Hello! This man is the number one cab driver in all of sitcoms and we won't have anyone tell us any differently. As a comic relief character that showcases his talents every so often, we think he was a pretty effective addition to the cast. He was able to form strong relationships with all of the main cast members, layers were progressively added to his story as time went on, and he was just fun to watch. If there was ever going to be a spin-off of the show (which admittedly seems unlikely) then we'd like this fella to star in it.
Which show is this character from?
An unbelievably important character to the point where we don't even want to say her title, or even her actual name. For years it felt like we had been waiting for a character of her nature and stature to come along, and when she finally got there, it was as if she had been there the entire time. From her comedic timing to her off the cuff comments, she's one of our absolute favourite characters in either show. That's not to say that we thought the storytelling surrounding her was perfect, because as you can quite clearly tell, it wasn't.
Which show is this character from?
The main man: Ted Mosby. This hopeless romantic always seems to be unlucky in love, and while he has a few success stories throughout the history of the show, for the most part, he's left empty handed. Of course, the general theme of the show runs through him, and he is pretty much the central character when you really think about it. If it wasn't for him then the show wouldn't be what it was, and despite many fans believing that he is one of the least funny members of the main cast, we think he's an absolute delight. Honestly.
Which show is this character from?
Scooter is one of those guys on a TV show that you just kind of hope gets booted off, before quickly realising that most sitcoms actually don't function like Game of Thrones. He was annoying and he was incredibly needy, courtesy of his relationship with one of the primary characters on the show. He looks a lot more 'rugged' in the actual series itself than in the image that you're seeing here, but there are still a few key features that should jog your memory. Even if there isn't, a quick Google to hear his voice should do the trick (but don't do that, you cheater).
Which show is this character from?
James Stinson is a pretty important character, mainly because he helps to tell the story of the complex creature that is Barney. The two are brothers but have incredibly different outlooks on life, or at least, they do once it is revealed that James is in a relationship. That status changes and develops pretty drastically as the series itself goes on, and while not every fan has been in favour of that, you can't deny that the Stinsons have been through some really intriguing things. We think he's pretty essential to the development of Barney, and that's good enough for us.
Which show is this character from?
Punchy is the former childhood best friend of the one and only Ted, stemming back to their days in Ohio. He's considered to be a pretty annoying guy by most of the other cast members, and understandably so. He seems to play the role of 'remind Ted of what he used to be like' and that isn't always a pretty picture. He shares Ted's love of Cleveland and everything in it, which has made for a few fun episodes of the show over the years. Still, you have to wonder whether or not they first planned on bringing him back after his initial appearance.
Which show is this character from?
Gorgeous, intelligent, and just a little bit annoying. Sounds like a fun combination, right? Mona was a pretty innocent character by all accounts, to the point where most people often forgot she was even there. She first appeared at Monica & Chandler's wedding, before going on to form a relationship with Monica's brother Ross. Despite Ross not exactly being the best of boyfriends they seemed to stick it out and generally progress as a couple, until a comical series of errors led to their downfall. We still think that she was probably too good for Ross in the end, though.
Which show is this character from?
David didn't exactly look like that during most of his appearances on Friends, so just try and picture him with glasses. The loveable scientist, who flew off to Minsk in an attempt to make a success of himself, is most closely aligned with Phoebe. The two were very 'on again, off again' throughout the core of the series, but in the end, they didn't end up together. It's not through lack of trying on David's part, however, as you could quite clearly tell that he is still unbelievably in love with her. We hope, in the storyline, he wound up finding happiness.
Which show is this character from?
While the actress herself may be best known for her tenure on Scrubs, she certainly played a vital role in her role on one of these two shows. Stella was one of the first true loves for Ted, and at first, it really did seem like she was going to be the one that he wound up spending the rest of his life with. Of course, we all now know that wasn't the case, as she wound up getting back with her ex-husband Tony. Diehards of the show will tell you that she's a bit of a Grinch, and we tend to agree.
Which show is this character from?
The actor himself is an absolute legend, but when it comes to his character, you won't find too many folks who echo that sentiment. Richard was the much older boyfriend of Monica, to the point where a lot of folks (in the show) thought the relationship was a bit of a joke. We always thought he was really fun during the periods in which he was actually with her, but whenever he seemed to show up after that, it was always for troublesome reasons. His back and forths with Chandler, in particular, were pretty fascinating to watch given their history.
Which show is this character from?
This one is going to be a little bit trickier, purely because we think the guy in question seems to have changed quite a bit. Even with that being the case, though, Mark was a guy that seemed to be put into the show to cause mischief - nothing more, nothing less. There was nothing that he actively did which should've or would've been seen as wrong in everyday society, but most of us just had a bad feeling about him from the word go. In the end, it feels like we were right to do so, given that he did, in fact, make a move on Rachel.
Which show is this character from?
The eyes of a very, very intimidating man. The Captain was a weird guy as we didn't really know whether to be afraid of him, to respect him, or to laugh at him. In the end it seems as if he wound up with a hybrid, which is perhaps the best word you could actually use to describe the fella when you think about it. The show probably wouldn't have been the same without him, mainly because his primary storyline involved so many key and central figures. Oh, and yes, you probably do know him from Desperate Housewives as well.
Which show is this character from?
Up next we have a man who helped to produce one of the most emotional moments in the history of the show that he was on: Marshall's dad. His passing was a really heartbreaking episode, and it was a loss that was felt pretty heavily throughout the entire series. His warm-hearted nature made him a really enjoyable character to watch, and we aren't just saying that for the sake of it. Marshall's development and growth in his absence was really inspiring, and it made for a lot of really fun scenes and some really solid television as a whole. Bravo.
Which show is this character from?
Ah, Lily. As frustrating and lively as you are beautiful. Lily was one of the key and central figures of the show, with her relationship (and how it changed) being a really important story that they needed to tell. Despite her stature you could argue she was one of the most intimidating figures in the entire show, and no, that isn't because of her supposed 'criminal past' - which just felt like a silly mini-storyline, to be honest. Her ability to help out those around her makes Lily, in broader terms, one of the most helpful people on the entire show.
Which show is this character from?
Oh. My. GOD! It's the legendary catchphrase that will forever be remembered long into the night, and long after we are all gone. Janice is just a hilarious character and while you could easily confuse that with her being annoying, we tend to think she's just misunderstood. She's also been pretty unlucky in love on more than one occasion, and it's hard not to get on board with her because of that. Sure, you may have to mute the screen if you're planning on watching some episodes with her in it, but that just means she's a really great actress!
Which show is this character from?
This is an extremely recognisable face in the general world of Hollywood, but in terms of which show she was on, it could prove to be a little bit tricky. She played the sister of one of the main characters, and let's just say that she mirrored some of her characteristics in more ways than one. She showed gradual improvement from time to time but given that she only really featured in two episodes, it's hard to get a good grasp on where she wound up. One thing is for sure: the words 'high maintenance' have never been more appropriate.
Which show is this character from?
Behind the scenes this man was actually really influential in the day to day success of the show. On screen, however, he was just as important (and weird). Gunther was an ever-present figure at the coffee house, with his love for one of the main characters being painfully evident throughout. During the final episode he was finally able to profess his love to her, and in doing so, completed a decade-long story arch that we consider to be really remarkable. Oh, and the numerous references to his hair are well warranted, because the colour is just absolutely sensational. Isn't it?
Which show is this character from?
Look at this man. It's not really fair, is it? Like, how on earth are the rest of us supposed to compete? Brad was a good friend of one of the main characters on the show in question, but as time went on, he developed into something of a villain due to his 'lawyer' roots. Some think that he's a pretty limited 'talent' so to speak when it comes to his acting ability, but we think that there's a lot more to him than meets the eye. We probably would say that as a fan, but the point still stands.
Which show is this character from?
Jack Geller was a pretty unassuming guy throughout the course of his time on the show, to the point where you wouldn't even know he was there in some scenes - until he popped up with an absolute corker of a line. He was the father to two of the primary characters, and while he didn't appear all too regularly, he certainly made his presence known (for the most part) when he did. The actor himself is well known for a series of starring and featured roles over the years in movies, but will always be considered as that guy from [insert show here].
Which show is this character from?
Boy oh boy does this guy look different to the time he was in the show. Pete Becker was a businessman, and when we say a businessman, we basically mean that he was incredibly rich. We think that's a fairly accurate portrayal, given how rich the actor playing him is now due to what he went on to do. In the show he decided to try out the world of mixed martial arts, by entering himself into the UFC. As you can probably guess by the fact that this is a sitcom, things don't really go all too well for him.
Which show is this character from?
The king of board games - and we don't say that lightly with Marshall waiting around the very next corner. This father figure (and we say figure because we can't actually bring ourselves to call him a good father), was seemingly written to be incredibly annoying. Either that, or he just played it off really well. The guy was in and out of a few episodes here and there, but gradually became more of a regular as time went on. In terms of actually being funny and entertaining we don't necessarily think he was all too up to scratch, but that's just our take on it.
Which show is this character from?
From being a loyal wife in one episode to a member of the LGBT community in the next, this character had a pretty interesting trajectory. All of the 'interesting' parts seemed to take place in the earlier seasons, though, because as time went on, she became less and less of a factor in the story. She'd pop up from time to time but when you really think about what happened, you have to question why she's so judgemental all the time. She has no right to really be angry at anyone or even look down on them, so why does she? It bothers us.
Which show is this character from?
Nora deserved better, guys. We really did think she was going to be the one to help Barney settle down and finally take a relationship seriously, but in the end, she wasn't quite able to stop him from following his heart. When she first came into the show she certainly had an aura about her, to the point where it was obvious that she was going to be of great importance. In the end there are arguments to be had regarding just how impactful she wound up being, but we really do think she was key to Barney's story arch.
Which show is this character from?
Was there any character in either show that was as weird as Phoebe? We'd like to think the answer is no, because she's just an absolute delight. From growing up on the streets to becoming a real success story in her own right, we think that she is a great female role model for the girls of today. That might sound like we're overselling her a little bit, but all you need to do is watch her wedding episode in the final season to realise that she's so unbelievably important. If it wasn't for her, then the lives of the rest of the gang would be dramatically different.
Which show is this character from?
It's pretty difficult to break into the main cast of the show this fella was on, but somehow, he managed it. Mike wasn't really that complex of a guy to start off with, but once he was given more creative freedom, we were really able to see what he was capable of. It's not like he was taking over the show or anything like that, but the fact that he was there when the curtain came down proves how much value he held. His relationship with Phoebe was really different, and different is always a good thing in the world of sitcoms.
Which show is this character from?
Despite being best known (arguably) for her work outside of the show, we still think that the role of 'Zoey' helped this actress get to the next level. She was an important piece of the puzzle alongside The Captain, and she also did a lot to help us realise that there's often more than meets the eye after a first impression. That's not to say that first impressions aren't correct because sometimes the can be, but the journey she went on was a really important one. In the end it wasn't a happy ending we would've all wanted, but such is life.