Bad News (How I Met Your Mother)
Bad News is the 13th episode of the sixth season of How I Met Your Mother. It aired on January 3, 2011, on CBS. The story mainly follows Marshall and Lily as they try to conceive and seek help from a fertility doctor who oddly looks like Barney.
Lily and Marshall go to Dr. John Stangel, who resembles Barney but has a beard and different hair. Lily initially thinks Barney is in disguise, but Marshall confirms they are two different people. Lily learns she is highly fertile, while Marshall worries that something might be wrong with him. He tries to give a sperm sample at the clinic but can’t. Later, his parents visit, and they reassure him of their love regardless of the outcome.
Meanwhile, Robin starts a new job at World Wide News and endures embarrassing gossip from her old colleague Sandy Rivers. Ted helps Robin confront Sandy, and they discover Sandy wears a toupee. Robin chooses to mock the situation with humor instead of letting it ruin her.
The big twist comes when Lily’s fertility news turns into the heartbreaking moment: Marshall’s father has died of a heart attack. Marshall is stunned and tells Lily he isn’t ready for this loss, and she comforts him.
The episode is also known for a countdown motif, with numbers from 50 to 1 appearing on objects, signaling that something big is coming. The final image shows an expired parking meter, underscoring the sudden bad news. The ending scene was kept a secret from the actors and was shot in one take.
Bad News was praised for its emotional impact and strong acting. It drew about 10.15 million viewers and earned Emmy nominations for makeup. Critics highlighted the episode’s surprising and moving ending, with some calling it one of the year’s best.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 04:53 (CET).