How Alek Almost Killed Alyson | S1E20 "Best Prom Ever"
How We Made Your Mother
Audacy & Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas
4.8 • 922 Ratings
🗓️ 18 August 2025
⏱️ 71 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh and Craig revisit “Best Prom Ever,” which features Alek’s memorable (well, to him) cameo as Todd. They reflect on the episode’s big themes—Lily’s growing doubts, the anxiety of adult commitment, and the bittersweet grief that comes with making life choices. The conversation also includes a heartfelt listener message from Jesse, a longtime trans fan of the show, which prompts a thoughtful, honest discussion about how comedy evolves, the importance of inclusive language, and owning past mistakes. The team also unpacks behind-the-scenes stories from filming the prom sequence, shares how Scooter (David Burtka) was introduced, and celebrates the first appearance of the show’s unofficial house band, The 88.
Read Craig’s piece “Hollywood and the R-Word” here in the Boston Globe.
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Transcript
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| 0:12.8 | Bet the Responsible Way, gamblerware.org. |
| 0:15.1 | If I get my kid at phone, I'll be able to keep in touch with them all the time. |
| 0:17.9 | You'll be on it all the time. |
| 0:19.2 | Could walk to school by himself. |
| 0:38.9 | She could see something she shouldn't. He could chat with grandma. Friends, trolls. They can access anything on the internet. They can access anything on the internet. So, should I give my kid a phone? Growing up with phones isn't always easy. Introducing E.E. Safe for Sims. Sims that help moderate usage and shield harmful content on any smartphone. |
| 0:45.1 | Choose EE safer Sims. Only on the UK's best network. To verify best network see EE.com. UK slash claims. |
| 0:53.3 | Hi, my name is Jesse. I'm in the US. I'm 22. I've been watching how I met your mother since I was nine. |
| 0:57.0 | My loved ones would probably say that I'm weird about the show, and I am. My family moved a lot when I was young, and I watched the show again and again and again and again, |
| 1:04.0 | and the colors of Hemium and the characters and the vernacular. |
| 1:09.0 | The apartment and the booth all constitute a very real and very |
| 1:13.7 | consistent location in my mind and body when I don't have another one of those. |
| 1:19.4 | I'm trans, and I'm not going to say that Hemium was or is a show that uplifts trans people, |
| 1:24.7 | but I will say that every time I've watched the world shift against me, |
| 1:29.0 | I found myself coming home to this show again and again and again and again and again. |
| 1:33.9 | I'm alone. What a pity I won't be soon in New York City When I see you |
| 1:45.8 | Please permit me to tell you everything |
| 1:49.8 | In New York City |
| 1:52.6 | Thank you so much for that note, Jesse |
... |
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