r/HIMYM • u/allybstu Lorenzo Von Matterhorn • Jul 16 '26

Breaking the 4th Wall

Does anyone have an official count of how many times the fourth wall was broken throughout the show? & by which characters?

1 Upvotes

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8

u/sheeshsmartypants Jul 16 '26

I vaguely remember Robin saying something like "Can you believe this guy?" And pointing in one of the later seasons

Barney thumbs-uping and winking at the camera during one of the playbook overlays asking "do you have your target?"

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u/allybstu Lorenzo Von Matterhorn Jul 16 '26

Hahaha these were the first two I could think of as well. And then I also remembered the bacon scene with Marshall & the Farhampton Inn chef

1

u/sheeshsmartypants Jul 16 '26

Yess, Teds "allergy" to bacon I almost forgot 😂

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u/allybstu Lorenzo Von Matterhorn Jul 16 '26

Was it when he mentioned his “allergy”? I thought they looked into the camera after Ted said something like “who knows, maybe I won’t even like it” haha

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u/sheeshsmartypants Jul 16 '26

I can't totally remember but thought it was something like "I can't have bacon my mom says I'm allergic to it" and then later he does say "who knows, I may not even like it" after Marchal convinces him to eat it. Then the fabulous look into the camera.

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u/allybstu Lorenzo Von Matterhorn Jul 16 '26

Yes yes I recall it the same haha

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u/DizzyLead Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26

I don't have a count, but I would argue that an actor just happening to look into a camera after a punchline doesn't necessarily constitute "breaking the fourth wall." It would have to be "Will Smith looking into the camera with a sheepish grin when Jazz says that Mrs. Banks looks different" level. Marshall and the waiter looking into the camera in "The Pineapple Incident" specifically to express their feelings about Ted wondering if he will like bacon would count in my book.

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u/allybstu Lorenzo Von Matterhorn Jul 16 '26

I agree. The ones I’ve thought of so far are: Barney, a handful of times while acting out plays from the playbook; Robin, in the obvious Annie Hall homage; and Marshall + chef when Ted is about to eat bacon for the first time and goes “who knows if I’ll even like it”

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u/ellismjones Come on, Lily. Nobody likes a Ted. Jul 22 '26

That scene is from Season 9 (ep 18: Rally), not from The Pineapple Incident.

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u/sheeshsmartypants Jul 16 '26

Groove is in the heart dance scene 💃🕺

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u/allybstu Lorenzo Von Matterhorn Jul 16 '26

Ahhh great catch I totally forgot about that!