Twenty years ago, on Sept. 19, 2005, the pilot episode of the American sitcom How I Met Your Mother aired on CBS.
How I Met Your Mother told the story of Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) finding love, but it also explored the importance of friendship, the bittersweet nature of life and the choices that shape a person’s journey. The show also followed Ted’s friends and their lives in New York City.
The pilot begins in 2030, with future Ted Mosby (voiced by Bob Saget) telling his teenage children the story of how he met their mother. The story flashes back to 2005, where Ted is prompted to find his soulmate after his best friend and roommate, Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel), proposes to his longtime girlfriend, Lily Aldrin (Alyson Hannigan). At their usual bar, MacLaren’s, Ted meets and is instantly smitten with ambitious reporter Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders). Their first date is awkward, with Ted revealing his love for her too early, and Robin leaving abruptly for a news story, leading his friends to believe that Ted blew it.
“9 seasons. 5 friends. 1 epic story. 💞☔️,” the show’s official Instagram account posted on Friday. “TODAY we celebrate the #HowIMetYourMother pilot anniversary!.”
As the series marks its 20th anniversary, fans took to social media to share their favorite memories and celebrate the show’s lasting legacy.
“20 years later and we’re still chasing blue french horns and yellow umbrellas. 🌂🦊,” a user wrote, referring to two of the show’s most iconic symbols — the blue French horn representing Ted and Robin’s on-again, off-again romance, and the yellow umbrella symbolizing Tracy, the eventual mother of Ted’s children.
“20 years later and we’re STILL mad about the ending 😭,” a fan said. The series ended with Ted admitting to his children that Tracy passed away in 2024, and he wanted their blessing to pursue Robin, with whom he reconnects and ends up with after Tracy’s death.
One user simply quote-tweeted, “changed lives.”
“Ted, Barney, Lilli, Marshall, Robin forever,” a fan commented on Instagram, referring to Ted and his main friend group on the show.
Many fans were also shocked that it’s been 20 years since the show first started airing.
“Wow, 20 years already?,” a user wrote on X. “Feels like just yesterday we were rooting for Ted…and secretly hoping Barney’s suits would finally teach us life lessons.”
“wow…. two decades,” one said.
Another user expressed, “Can’t believe Barney’s playbook is two decades old now 👀📖.”
Fans can watch all nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother on Hulu.
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pop Culture section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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