Oh, Neil Patrick Harris. I love how you continue to defy expectations.

You claw your way out of the child star purgatory and wiggle your way into a successful prime time gig. You come out of the closet and refuse to only take gay roles, instead tackling the role of a misogynist on a pretty funny network series.

It just warms my heart is all.

On that note, take a look at NPH’s new Old Spice commercial. It’s both genuinely chuckle-worthy (which is a higher compliment than it sounds) as well as defiant of the expectations one would have from an openly gay actor.

Take a look:

I don’t know about you guys, but last night’s TV really brought it. Please be prepared for some spoilers ahead (though the biggest I’ll put after the jump).

I’ve decided to approach the evening chronologically. Not in the order that the episodes aired, but in the age of the characters portrayed.

High School

In the second episode of The Paper, we learned a little more about my new favorite newspaper teen: Alex. Alex went to Hebrew school with Amanda. Alex considered Amanda a friend before junior year, then he started hanging out with the Adam/Trevor/Gianna axis of evil and grew apart from Amanda. Alex had a crush on Amanda in ninth grade! We are witnessing Alex’s transformation from shy dork to life of the party. It’s great.

I don’t have the energy to mount my Amanda defense, but I think as stubbornly odd as she is, you can see that she just doesn’t know how to relate to people. I don’t think she’s a bad person and I’d like to see her succeed — but she does have trouble letting loose, as is clear from her post-its and the “fun” of the ice cream social.

College

I’ve been hoping for a Greek flashback episode for a long time now, and this one delivered. It not only gave us a glimpse of the kids way back when (2 years ago), it also did the impossible: It turned Evan into the hero! Cappie’s phenomenal charisma has always been a problem for the show: Why on earth would Casey ever break up with him? Especially for suit-wearing, soul-crushing Evan? This episode paints the picture beautifully. Cappie is the life of the party, but that’s his priority, not Casey. Evan is the quiet, conflicted best friend who doesn’t know where to belong. Cappie has never had a problem fitting in. Seeing Evan’s problems makes him infinitely more likeable. And seeing how Cappie has grown since his relationship with Casey — he really comes through for Rebecca — makes him, if possible, even more sympathetic (not that he needed it).

Mid to late 20s

How I Met Your Mother has been on fire this season. This episode was no exception. And the ending! I will discuss more after the jump.

I’m sure you all noticed last night’s two lovely in-joke moments, but I’ll happily point them out again because they made me smile. These are the nerd moments, and if we, as nerds, don’t talk about them, who else is going to take the time to appreciate the care and love that went into the gags?

First there was Barney typing up his blog as if he were a 16-year-old doctor with his own show in the early 90s (it’s the last scene of the episode). It seems like the writers of HIMYM may have discovered this delightful Hulu treasure trove as well.

And then, on Greek, which came out with a great episode all-round, Alan Ruck, who plays the dean, got cornered by Ashley at the Great Gatsby party. She talks awkwardly. We cut away, some other stuff happens. When we cut back to Ashley and the dean, she pulls a great Espenson (that’s what I’m calling it now — thanks, Jane!): “And so in conclusion, that’s why I think that Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is the Great Gatsby of our generation.” I don’t agree with Ashley’s logic, but I like Alan Ruck’s face in response.

In conclusion, I have now fulfilled my nerd obligations, and so will you once you comment on these winking nods to the real world.

• Expect plenty of scenes of Angela from the Office sitting at her desk and hiding behind office equipment
• 30 Rock visits MILF island
• Watch a press conference with the stars of Battlestar Galactica
• For no reason: Battlestar Galactica Simpsonized
• Watch all episodes of South Park online, free, and legally right here
• After the smashing success of Fox News’ comedy program, CNN says “me too!”
• Milo from Heroes has a Youtube posse
• What will the Beeper King’s new moniker be on 30 Rock?
• 10 TV shows that changed the world
• Britney helps How I Met Your Mother get it’s highest ratings this season
• Up to 8 Buffyverse actors are being considered for roles on Dollhouse
• E! Kristin has gossip on 30 Rock, Pushing Daisies, HIMYM, FNL and more!

There’s a good chance you’ve already heard about Britney Spears’ future appearance on How I Met Your Mother.

If not, Britney Spears is going to be on How I Met Your Mother.

In any case, there’s a new clip of her cameo that I thought I’d share. It’s not much (really, it’s not much), but it’s something to watch, I suppose.

It’s no Crossroads, but it’ll do.

• Mary Ann from Gilligan’s Island arrested for pot
• E! Kristin has spoilers for How I Met Your Mother, Friday Night Lights, and more
• Will Arnett sex tape! (possibly NSFW)
• Financing secured for a Wire movie, but David Simon hasn’t signed on yet
• House feels snubbed by Britain
• Hulu.com, the collaboration with NBC and Fox to put shows online, goes live today
• Alicia Silverstone quits HIMYM, would rather be unemployed than work with Britney Spears
• Whole bunch of Buffy stuff on sale at this charity eBay auction

An abbreviated line-up. Busy busy busy!

Looks like it’s going to be a flashback episode of Heroes, which I know some people think is happening too late in the season, but I’m still curious what happened — even if it means delaying my Adam Monroe questions for another week. Chuck is hanging on to the list by a tiny, tiny thread. Make me care, Chuck. Make me care. And How I Met Your Mother — please allow me to stop hating Lily and Marshall. I’m begging you. Let’s just never speak of their 18% mortgage ever again, okay?

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming: Billy Crystal gets the Kennedy Center Mark Twain award, whatever that is, on PBS tonight. Also, Heather spoke convincingly about the merits of Darkon, on IFC at 9:00.

I support the WGA — I’d have absolutely nothing to talk about, ever, without their fine work — so I’m going to be jealously hoarding every minute of fresh television in preparation for the inevitable descent into reality TV and game show hell. Producers, you’re on notice. If NBC weren’t such a horrible youtube content destroyer, I would link to Fred Armisen’s hilarious bit about the strike from Saturday’s Weekend Update. I paraphrase: “I don’t have $200,000! I wish I had $200,000! But I only have $20 million.” “It costs $.60 to make a DVD. We sell them for $29. Now writers want more of the profits. What profits?”

(Actually, here it is. Watch it while you can)

And now, tonight’s TV.

Chuck promises to explain some back story tonight; namely, why Bryce got Chuck kicked out of Stanford. I’m very curious, and I hope they’re doing it because it’s about time to actually tell us something and not because the network’s putting pressure on them to make some big reveals.

Speaking of big reveals, I’m cautiously optimistic that Heroes will kick into gear now that Peter has pulled the old visit-the-future-and-the-future-is-terrible trick. It’s familiar ground, I know, but at least it was pretty exciting the first time around.

Marshall learns of Lily’s financial irresponsibility and creepy deceitfulness in tonight’s How I Met Your Mother. Maybe this will make me stop hating Lily so much. Maybe.

Two weeks ago I had three sitcoms from three networks crowding up my Monday night. I’m sad to say I’ve given up on Aliens in America. I started watching last week’s episode, and was decently amused up until Scott Patterson lost his job in the first five minutes. Then I got a bad feeling — a queasy sense of impending cliche. “If he lies to his wife about losing his job,” I said, “I am not watching this show any more.” So there it is. Still going to give Samantha Who? a chance, though.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming: I can’t remember who I was talking to recently about Flight of the Navigator, but I just noticed it’s playing on the Hallmark Channel tonight if you’re in the mood for a fantastical 80s kids movie.

Things I Liked:

1. Jon, on the latest Democratic presidential debate: “It’s like the world’s most boring Neil LaBute play.”
2. In the boring moments of Reaper, Sam’s cute little freckly nose.
3. Evil Horse Lady insulting Kristin Chenowith’s cleavage on Pushing Daisies.
4. Free taco day. I didn’t eat one, but it still makes me laugh.

Things I Disliked:

1. Lily’s out-of-control financial irresponsibility on HIMYM (because girls love to shop, didn’t you know?), and that she’s lying to Marshall about it and has been for years, and that they made me hate Lily.
2. No Kristen Bell on Heroes.
3. The extreme grossness of the man with sludge blood on House.
4. See number 1. I understand why they did it for the story — it would’ve been terrible for her to make Marshall take the soulless job just to save her ass — but she’s lying to him. And she’s lying for such a stupid reason! I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all.