Marshall thinks his new co-worker, Jenkins, is hilarious. At first, all the Jenkins-flashbacks feature Edward Flores, but Jason Segal provides the Jenkins voice in a demi-falsetto, plus the episode guest-stars Amanda Peet, so we know right away that (Marshall's "playing" Lily and) Peet is playing Jenkins. And by the way, HI AMANDA PEET! Thank you for taking this opportunity to rinse the last bit of Sorkin's 60 Issues On The Sunset Strip aftertaste right out of my mouth.
Jenkins isn't only a woman, she is also a huge Vikings fan from Pelican Rapids (just like Marshall's grandpa, only she's not dead), and she allegedly has boobs (just like Marshall's brother Martin). Tangentially, Marshall frequents some college bar regularly, and his nickname on the Skee Ball score board is "Big Fudge." Make your own jokes (at least until the full weecap). Speaking of fudging, when Marshall first told Lily about the fabulously funny Jenkins, Lily assumed Jenkins was a man, and rather than correct her, Marshall just made sure all his subsequent Jenkins-anecdotes were pronoun free. Because the stories come across oh-so-differently with Ms. Peet in the role (examples: Jenkins downs a bottle of cherries for the guys; Jenkins gyrates suggestively behind the boss's back; Jenkins dances on a table top and takes off Jenkins' her shirt), coming clean is complicated. When Lily makes a surprise visit to GNB, Marshall confesses the pronoun obfuscation, but Lily is so NOT jealous that it hurts Marshall's feelings; that's only compounded when Robin and Ted explain Lily is the "Settler" and Marshall is the "Reacher" in their marriage, and as such, Lily will never be jealous of Marshall. Ya gotta have friends. I guess. When a drunk Jenkins kisses Marshall and he confesses this to Lily, she thinks he's lying to make her jealous.
The B-plot sprouts when one of Ted's students, Scottie, recognizes Robin. When you stroke Robin's ego, you feed the beast, so soon, she's dropping by Ted's class to pimp her show and get a little validation. The students, led by Betty, are happy to oblige. Once Robin leaves, the kids confess that they watch Robin's show because they're usually still out drinking when it airs, and her habit of saying "But um..." has made for a great drinking game. Ted and Barney try it out and lose 5% of their liver function. Later, Ted plays But Um... with his students, but that's only after informing Robin about the game in a fit of pique, so Robin strikes back on air, and nearly gives Ted and his class alcohol poisoning.
Sober Jenkins feels terribly about the kiss and goes to MacLaren's to confess all to Lily, which Marshall allows, on account of it will prove he was telling the truth, and maybe shift the balance of power. Who's the reacher and who's the settler in their marriage is far less clear-cut, once Lily reaches her fist... right into Amanda Peet's face. Sorry, Amanda Peet. I think Studio 60 was punishment enough on its own.
Tomorrow, I'll cover all the details, including the end tag, in the full weecap. In the meantime, come on over to the forum, where there's nothing but wood in the 50 hole.
Add "reacher" and "settler" to our HIMYM Lexicon, then see why we still think Ted is Awesome.
This episode was a joy to watch, but not so much to weecap, so after failing miserably for a day, I'm trying a new method. See, I usually write in my office, sitting all upright at my desk, watching scenes over and over, checking online transcripts when available, and so forth. Today, I'm curled up on the living room couch in my comfiest jammies, and I'm going to do my level best to rip through this bad boy. Since I'm in my comfiest jammies and my sainted husband just started another pot of coffee, I'm good either way, but for your sake, gentle reader, I'm hope this works. But um... just in case, every time I suck, why don't you take a drink.
Saget!Ted tells his kids that when you're a thirtysomething New Yorker, there are a few places you avoid like the plague: Times Square on New Year's Eve; Rockefeller Center around Christmas; and most of all a college bar. In my head, I hear TWoP editor Mindy Monez weeping, wailing and gnashing her teeth, not over college bars -- at least they have booze there (and Mindy's a young thing). No, see, she works at TWoP Towers at 30 Rock, and as soon as the giant Christmas tree goes up, Mindy's heart shrinks three sizes. It doesn't return to normal (or "normal" -- she is a TWoP editor, after all) until ice skating season is over. Yesterday, she was complaining about the Beatles music playing there (!!!) but um... I'm going on too long about Mindy, so DRINK! (Heaven knows she would.)
Marshall leads a less-than willing Ted into a college bar. His fear that he'll run into his students turns into a desperate longing to run into his students and a full-blown fantasy that they'll hound him for an impromptu lecture, which he'd never ever want to give. Ted has an active inner-life, doesn't he? That's just as well, this week, as he doesn't get to do much that actually matters in this episode. Marshall explains he has been stopping by this particular watering hole once a month since he finished law school, just to maintain his record as Skee Ball champ. Ted points out the leader board and assumes it's too late for Marshall, as someone named "Big Fudge" is now on top. When he sees Marshall's face, he realizes what we knew as soon as we saw the board. "And you're Big Fudge." Marshall grins. "The biggest." When I was writing the recaplet, I planned to go there in this weecap, but um... comfy jammie girl isn't inclined, so DRINK!
When the guys take their seats, Marshall tells Ted he invited Jenkins. Marshall's been talking about his new, hilarious co-worker for a while now. We flashback to Marshall taking the gang on a series of additional flashbacks as he tells them about Jenkins. The Jenkins-scenes feature Edward Flores, but Jason Segal provides the Jenkins voice in a demi-falsetto, because... No, I'm getting ahead of myself... Anyhow, in the first flashback, Jenkins downs a bottle of Maraschino Cherries on a $200 bet from the GNB crew. While recounting this story to his friends, it's clear Marshall thinks it is hilarious, but none of the gang gets it. In the second, Jenkins dances suggestively (sort of like a latter day Elvis) behind the CFO, who's bending over a table, signing some papers. In the last, while out drinking with the GNB crew, Jenkins hops up on their table and gyrates "like a deranged stripper." Narration-Marshall laughs. "thing you know -- off comes the shirt. It was so gross." Jenkins' shirt lands on Flashback-Marshall.
College Bar: back in the present, Barney meets up with the guys, just as Ted's saying it will be great to finally meet Jenkins after all those stories. Barney says there's about to be one more story. "I'm going to bang Jenkins." Well, he doesn't just say that, he goes on and on, finishing that he's going to wear Jenkins like a sock. A sock? Really? Huh. At any rate, Barney's intention to have sex with Imaginary Edward Flores-looking Jenkins confuses poor Ted, who seems to be signing that there would be two penises involved, and he can't make it compute. Not that there's anything wrong with that (thanks, Seinfeld); after all, our very own lovely and talented Neil Patrick Harris, who is directing this episode, was just named "Gay Man of the Decade" by AfterElton.com. It's just that Barney always prefers to be the only prick in the room. Ted's confusion resolves itself when Amanda Peet peeks over Marshall's shoulder. Marshall looks like the cat who swallowed the canary. "Ted, this is Jenkins."
Hi Amanda Peet! I know you're a famous actress, so in case you didn't get a chance to read the recaplet, I'll repeat myself: thank you for taking this opportunity to rinse the last bit of Sorkin's 60 Issues On The Sunset Strip aftertaste right out of my mouth. But um... those of you who did read the recaplet are free to DRINK!
Over at the Skee Ball machine, Ted confesses that he thought Jenkins was a guy. Marshall's all, WHAT? WHY? Ted explains: "Oh, I don't know. Maybe the whole 'Jenkins peed out the window of a cab' story." Marshall deadpans: "Yeah. Much more impressive now, isn't it?" Ted and I say, "Yeah!" Marshall goes back to his Skee Ball game, but then turns to face Ted and declares he'll come clean. He explains how he met Jenkins, who he found out was a huge Vikings fan from Pelican Rapids (just like Marshall's grandpa, only she's not dead and haunting a barn in the Minnesota countryside). Ted threatens to take Marshall outside for a beat-down if he's crushing on someone other than his wife. Marshall smiles, indulgently. "Come on. First of all, buddy, you can't handle The Fudge." (No, I swear.) He claims he thinks of Jenkins as a big brother -- with boobs (sort of like his actual big brother -- Marvin Jr.). Anyhow, when Marshall first told Lily about the fabulously funny Jenkins, Lily assumed Jenkins was a man, and, rather than correct her, Marshall just made sure all his subsequent Jenkins anecdotes were pronoun-free. Because, as the flashbacks show us, the cherry guzzling, suggestive dancing, topless stories come across oh-so-differently with Ms. Peet in the role, so coming clean is complicated. Ted sees how that might be a problem, so Marshall makes it clear that Lily can't find out. Just then, Robin joins them at the college bar, and asks what, exactly Lily can't find out. Ted's lying skills are nothing to write home about, but they trump Marshall's, so he answers: "That... Marshall's going to buy her a horse." Okay folks, that's not my fault, but you should go ahead and DRINK!
Her nose for news being what it is, Robin buys the lame lie. But soon her attention turns to a pudgy, curly-haired blond college boy, who is staring at her from across the bar. Ted condescends to her that the boy is Scottie, one of his students, so he's not looking at Robin; he's looking at Ted. Robin thinks not. She's sure she's finally getting recognized for her show. They then bicker about who is more famous. Finally, Ted calls him over and tells "Scotter" he can ask him one architecture question and that's it. Scottie blurts: "You're Robin Scherbatsky, right?" He watches her show all the time, which Robin can't believe and Ted REALLY can't believe. Scottie's so excited. "You're friends with my Econ professor!" Ted snaps. "It's architecture!" He tells the kid to hit the bricks. Scottie starts to walk away and then recognizes Marshall. "Wait a minute. You're Big Fudge!" Ted yells, "GO!"
GNB: Marshall and Jenkins are meeting in a conference room, when Lily calls to tell him she's on her way up. Rocked by the surprise visit, Marshall tells Jenkins about his pronoun obfuscation. Jenkins offers to help him cover, but despite her Pelican Rapids Improv group experience, she's no better than Marshall and Ted at this stuff. When they meet Lily at the elevator, Jenkins adopts a bad French accent and makes up some story about a cheese incident. Marshall can't go through with it anyhow, so he blurts: "She's Jenkins!" Commercial. Lily says, "You're Jenkins?" Poor Jenkins blathers her way down the hall and leaves Lily to freak out at Marshall. Which she does not do. She isn't jealous -- not one bit. The big dummy. As they get in the elevator, Marshall asks if she isn't jealous because they're so in love with each other. Lily patronizes that that's it. Ouch.
MacLaren's: Marshall's still a little stung that Lily doesn't care that the cherry guzzling, gyrating, topless dancer is a woman. I don't know about her, Marshall, but once I learned a woman peed out of the window of a cab, in front of my husband, any jealousy I might have felt would probably evaporate. Ted and Robin suggest that there's a reason for Lily's composure. In their marriage, Marshall is "The Reacher" and Lily is "The Settler." They say the settler is never jealous of the reacher, because where else is the reacher going to go? Hey, when did this show turn into How We Shit On Your Uncle Marshall? Marshall argues with them, but Robin says, "Dude. You're so the reacher. You're getting her a horse." Heh. Either Marshall can't remember Ted's lie from the college bar, or can't believe Robin bought it. "What?" Clueless Robin, enjoying this too much, says, "Shhhh. Take the hit. Take the hit."
Ted's Classroom: He finishes up a lecture on modern architecture's brief flirtation with the V-frame house. If it weren't morning, I'd be reaching for a DRINK! Anyhow, Robin walks in, pretending she's there to return a pen to Ted, but it's her pen in the first place. Scottie stroked her ego at the college bar, and now the whole class has to suffer the consequences, I guess. By the way, I know it's just me, because everywhere I go online, I see evidence that it is just me, but I HATE Robin's trench coat. Hate it. It does nothing for her but give her huge hips she's never had -- not even when pregnant. Anyhow, Robin's really there to pimp her show and get a little validation. The students, led by Betty are happy to oblige. Once Robin leaves, Ted tells his class he can't believe they all watch her show. "It's like watching a well-lit aquarium, but it's not as well lit." Jealous Ted is fun Ted. The kids confess that they watch Robin's show because they're usually still out drinking when it airs, and her habit of saying "But um..." has made for a great drinking game. We cut to...
MacLaren's: Ted tells Barney about the But um... game. Barney explains the drinking game he had with -- by which he means "on" -- Robin. He'd pour peach schnapps in her navel. While she was sleeping. He seems surprised she didn't care for being woken up like that, and not too concerned when Ted reminds him they decided not to share intimate Robin-details. The conversation turns back to the But um... game and we cut to...
Ted's Apartment: Ted and Barney play But um... After the baker's dozen or so but ums that we see, drunk Ted is wearing his tie on his head and sliding off the couch and onto the floor. Barney must be even drunker still. He's got his suit jacket off, his tie is loose, and his top shirt buttons are undone! Okay, DRINK!
DOWISETREPLA: What the hell did Marshall do to his hair? It hasn't been like that all episode, has it? Am I getting so Marshall-partial that I'm starting to block these things out? I'm sorry, but really, look at that mess. Lily's hair isn't the smoothest, either. Let's pretend they just played the bagpipes. Anyhow, Marshall's reading the newspaper and acts like there's an article in it about romantic reachers and settlers. When Lily wants to see it, he has to lie that he saw it in another paper, and this paper just reminded him of it on account of being a paper. Put that drink down; that was cute. Anyhow, he asks Lily who is the reacher and who is the settler in their marriage. Lily says neither. Marshall starts proposing all these scenarios in which she'd have to answer the question (gun to her head; gun to his head, their future kids' heads, and the head of their future cat or monkey, depending on who wins their three-years-running game of Risk), but she keeps maintaining that neither of them is the reacher.
Saget!Ted narrates that this went on for a while, as we see the couple fast-forward to different spots in their living room [A time-worn classic! - Zach], until Marshall presents his final scenario. "Our two kids, our eight grandkids, our eleven great-grandkids are all on a plane, piloted by Oprah! And it's about to crash into an art museum, with all of your favorite paintings, and the only way -- the only way to save everything is to just... to just answer the question. Are you the reacher or the settler?" Lily pauses to consider and then looks at Marshall. "And Oprah's tried everything?" Yep. Finally, she says, "I guess... if I had to say, then maybe I'd say I'm the settler." Marshall screams, "How could you say that?" Damn Lily, he's right. This reacher/settler thing, by the way, has a lot of fans up in arms, because Marshall Eriksen is... well he's Marshall Eriksen, right? He's a good boyfriend in his sleep. He can rock a killer foot-rub with one hand and brew a kick-ass pot of Chamomile in the other that would make you weep. Hell, he's forgotten more about microwaving fat-free popcorn and watching Sandra Bullock movies than most guys will ever know. You know? That said, while Ted and Robin (and Lily-under-duress) say Lily is the settler, I don't think that's where the show is going with this, so I'm kind of enjoying it.
MacLaren's: Marshall is not enjoying it. He's furious that Lily thinks she's the settler. He tells Barney and Ted that he has to find a way to make Lily jealous. Barney says, "Well that's easy. Here's the plan. Step 1: Sleep with Jenkins. Step 2: I sleep with Jenkins, first. Step 3: We do Step 2 first. I'm gonna go get started on Step 2." He then does his flail-y little run out of the bar, so NPH can get back behind the camera. Poo. Want more NPH. Wait. Here's the plan. Step 1: Clone NPH. Step 2: Put original NPH behind the camera and Clone NPH in front of it (or vice versa, whichever original NPH prefers). Step 3: Engineer the clone, such that it's straight and attracted to slightly older women. Science can do that, right? Genome and all that blah blah blah. Step 4: Send me the clone. Step 5: Crap, now there's only one NPH on the show again. Step 6: Repeat Step 1 as needed. Step 7: Sell NPH clones. Step 8: Something. Step 9: World domination. I'm gonna get started on the straight clone... just as soon as someone sends him over. *Flail.* Ahem. Fine, be that way. Step 10: DRINK!
After Barney's gone, Ted reminds Marshall of the other night, "When you were putting nothing but wood in the 50 hole." He what now? Marshall shrugs and smirks. "Whatever. It's nothing for Big Fudge." Oh, that wood. We flash back to Marshall absolutely killing at Skee Ball. He's hot. He's cool. He's temperate, and apparently sort of tempting (not to us, we already know about us) -- to Amanda Peet. In the flashback, she's covering Marshall's eyes and otherwise flitting around him like you would if Marshall were in your bar. Back in the present, Ted says he's pretty sure Jenkins was into Marshall. Marshall asks if he's sure. Ted says, "Full on Lady-Wood." Ooo-kay. Marshall says, "My plan taketh shape." Standing, he raises his glass and versifies: "If Lady Lily's jealousy / Young Marshall cannot budge / Then perchance, fair gentles / ... Big Fudge... can... make her jealous." A beat. "Okay, let me try that again. If Lady Lily--" Ted saves him from himself. "I've got it, buddy. I've got it."
Robin is on her way in as Marshall leaves, so she slides into the booth across from Ted and says she has a great idea. He hopes it has to do with her cleaning her hair out of the shower drain. "Seriously, it's like you're trying to carpet the tub." Someone's still a little out of sorts that Robin's (in)famous with his students. Robin slides out of that hideous trench coat to reveal an unflattering sweater. Gah, what's wrong with the wardrobe people, lately? Coat aside (because as I said, I know I'm the only one), they have not been dressing her well since Cobie had her baby. I'm sure not all of the baby weight is gone, but she was so thin before, that might be a bonus. How about a shirt that doesn't go up to her chin, for starters? Take advantage of the post-partum cleavage while it lasts. A ruffled, short-sleeved, turtle-neck sweater is NOBODY's friend. Anyhow, Robin's idea is really just a chance to rub her "fame" with Ted's students right in Ted's face. Finally, he cracks, tells her about the drinking game, and that she's only famous because of her but ums. Robin denies ever saying "But um." Ted says, "Well, then I guess it's not a very good drinking game." A beat. "...Which would mean last night, when Barney and I played it, I didn't get super-wasted and throw up all over myself." Ted pauses for effect then smiles maniacally. "Oh-ho-ho WAIT! I did both of those things, so... FACE!" He raises his own hand in front of his face for emphasis. Poor Ted.
GNB: Marshall walks into the conference room to find a seriously disheveled Jenkins (although he doesn't seem to notice anything is off with her). He invites her to come to the college bar with him and Lily, but he's having a hard time being devious. "You could just, like, watch me play Skee Ball, or do exactly what you did... the other night... it's really up to you." Jenkins lunges for him, grabs his face and KISSES MARSHALL! OMINONONONO! Commercial.
When we get back from the break, Jenkins is still kissing Marshall, and bless him, it's very one-sided. He struggles to free himself, and then flees, first from the room, then from the building, screaming all the way. When Marshall gets home, he tells Lily, who again does not freak out. In fact, she doesn't even believe him. She uses her I'm-humoring-you-sweetie voice as she insists that she knows he's just trying to make her jealous. When Marshall swears he's not making this up, Lily turns the adorability up to 11 as she pretends to be jealous and swears she'll find that Jenkins and give her a knuckle sandwich. Jason Segel struggles not to laugh. Lily rises and offers to make Marshall some soup and walks off to the kitchen. Marshall looks after her and screams, "IT HAPPENED! DO YOU HAVE ANY... SPLIT PEA LEFT?" Hee.
Ted's Classroom: At the end of the lecture, Scottie invites Ted to go out drinking with the class tonight. They're going to play the Robin Scherbatsky drinking game. Ted's so thrilled, he can't contain his inner duke. "Well, what can I say, except... but-ums up?" Crickets. Ted's smile fades. "Can I still come?" More crickets. "I'll pay." The class finally cuts him a break. Hey -- birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim, students gotta drink and so do you. DRINK!
On air, Robin's interviewing an author and lets out a but um. At the college bar, Ted and the kids raise their glasses and yell, "But um!" Back on Come On, GET UP New York! Robin catches herself but-umming and tries to stop. She's not having much success, though. She falls silent for a moment and Saget!Ted tells us that it was then that Robin got an idea that would end the But um drinking game, forever. She starts throwing out but ums willy-nilly, even when they make no sense. Ted catches on and warns the kids off the game. Back on the show, the author walks off the set, telling the unseen producer (I guess) to keep the $10.00. Hee. Robin shouts out to any college kids who might be watching and lets out a non-stop stream of but ums Back in the bar, Scottie addresses Ted in hushed tones. "We have to drink, professor. It's the rules. She said 'but um'." He hands Ted a shot. Ted cringes. "God help us all."
GNB Conference Room: Jenkins finds Marshall and apologizes for kissing him the day before. He says, "That's okay." She adds, "And I'm sorry I had sex with you in the mailroom." Marshall says, "That wasn't me." Thank heaven! Jenkins sees it differently. "Oh good grief. That's two awkward conversations I have to have, today." Oh honey, don't sweat it. It was probably just Barney, and if it was, you'll never get the chance to talk to him again, anyhow. He'll be in full-on avoidance mode. "I--I don't normally do that. I was really drunk." Marshall says, "You were drunk at 8 in the morning?" With the help of a flashback, Jenkins explains that she too was at a bar (and it's not the college bar) playing the Robin Scherbatsky drinking game. Flashback Jenkins looks at her watch and stands, realizing she's got to get to work, and then passes out. Back in the present, Marshall comments that the game is really catching on. When Marshall tells Jenkins that he told Lily what happened, Jenkins insists on apologizing to her. Marshall is going to stop her from doing so, until he realizes that that's exactly the thing he needs -- it will at least prove to Lily that he wasn't lying to make her jealous, and who knows, maybe it will make her jealous, too. Marshall doesn't say any of that with his mouth, though -- just his eyes. He does, however, encourage Jenkins to stress the kissing part, even to the exclusion of the apology. Heh. We cut to...
MacLaren's: Jenkins apologizes. "I feel terrible about it, and I'm really sorry." Lily nods and suddenly, Barney's holding her purse, and Lily's putting her rings in her pocket. Marshall chimes in, "Well, it happened." Lily takes off her scarf and hands that to Barney, too. Marshall says, "What are you going to do?" and "Terrible, but like I said, it happened." Lily removes her earrings and nods and smiles, pleasantly. Jenkins apologizes some more. Lily hands her earrings to Barney. Jenkins says, "Please forgive me." And Lily? Lily REACHES her fist -- right into Jenkins' face. Jenkins is down. Lily hollers, "Kiss my husband? My husband?! NOBODY kisses my future baby daddy but ME!" She dives on top of poor Jenkins. Marshall is horrified. Barney's in shock. We hear Lily's grunts and groans as she continues pounding Jenkins. Marshall jumps back as Lily rises up slightly, just to pounce on Jenkins again. Barney yells, "Marshall, you're blocking the shot," which I love, because of course Barney would film this on his cell, but also I love it, because NPH directed this episode, and it feels like his own little shout-out to himself (or perhaps his straight clone, who could be on his way here any minute; I should get out of these jammies and into less comfortable but far prettier ones. DRINK). As Lily continues to beat poor Jenkins, Saget!Ted adds, "Kids, your Uncle Marshall never tried to make Lily jealous again." As we fade out, Marshall says, "Lil?" in an effort to call her off, and Barney/NPH says, "That's good."
End Tag: Ted and his entire class are obviously and painfully hungover and Ted, whose liver is older, is maybe still sort of drunk, too. As Ted digs some aspirin out of his bag, he whisper-slurs that they'll have a really low-key class today, with not a lot of talking and no noise. Just then a bright-eyed and bushy tailed (oh wait, that's just her coat) Robin bursts in and says, "'S'up, guys?" Ted slurs for her to just go away. Robin says, "I just wanted to drop by to say..." She reveals she's carrying a bullhorn. The kids, with their backs to her, can't see this, but Ted can. Robin presses a button and the bullhorn makes some sort of siren noise. The kids jump out of their seats. Robin yells into it: "Thanks for watching Come On, GET UP New York! Wooo!" She closes the door. The kids hold their poor, abused heads and returned to their slumped positions. Robin comes back in, bull horn to her lips. "BUT UM!" And? Scene.
Well, that was a fun episode, but I've had the worst time recapping it and I don't know why, so I'm going to just close saying that I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think that NPH did a bang-up job. Granted, I know nothing about direction, but if I didn't know he directed this episode, I never would have thought they had a directorial rookie running things. And also, I know a lot of you are upset that the show seemed to be implying that Marshall is the settler. And I see how/why you're saying that, but I don't think it was. I think the fact that Lily did get jealous (and so very ugly and violent in her jealousy) proves she didn't settle for Marshall. Of course, I don't think Marshall settled for Lily, either. I think her first answer was right -- neither one settled; neither one reached. That's why they're so good. That's it for this week, and I'm pretty sure week is a re-run, so I'll see you in February. In the meantime, please read on, because I've got a little request.
SOAP BOX: As I send this for publication, news is breaking that an aftershock registering 6.1 on the Richter scale has struck Haiti, centered about 35 miles northwest of Port-au-Prince. Even without this latest aftershock (and aftershocks are tricky things; sometimes they stop within days, but sometimes they go on for months), the people of Haiti were already in desperate need of our support. The editorial staff has been kind enough to allow me to link to charitable organizations in my recaps. I don't want to steer any donors in the wrong direction, so I'm focusing on organizations which receive a grade in the A range, from the AIP (American Institute of Philanthropy) on its Charity Watch page. You can check out the AIP link above to see what that means and how grades are assigned. With one exception (noted below**) I believe I have selected funds targeted specifically to Haiti -- not because that's the only place in the world that needs our help, but because at this time, that's where so many of us are moved to give.
** Doctors Without Borders (Emergency Relief Fund [general])
Partners In Health (Stand With Haiti)
Save The Children (Haiti Earthquake Children In Emergency Fund)
If none of the funds listed above appeal to you, check out AIP's own recommendations for Haiti donations.
Additionally, you can donate through the William J. Clinton Foundation (Haiti Earthquake Relief) (the foundation gets an A from AIP, but this fund doesn't appear on its Haiti list; I don't know why). Americans: you can text "HAITI" to and $10 will be donated to relief efforts through the William J. Clinton Foundation, and charged to your cell phone bill. Canadians: the above mentioned Clinton Foundation is working in alliance with the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (Canada), so you too can text the word "HAITI" to to donate $5, charged to your mobile phone bill. 100% will be directed to Haiti relief efforts. Note: No Canadian Charity receipt will be issued.
Finally, it's too new to be rated by AIP, but for those of you who want to support a bi-partisan, Haiti-targeted effort, check out the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (Haiti Fund). President Clinton is the U.S. Special Envoy to Haiti. President Obama asked him and President George W. Bush to work together on this relief effort, and I believe this is a safe place to send your funds. If those two can work together, miracles can happen -- boy, we need a miracle, so please open your wallets to match your open hearts. Peace.
Discuss this episode in our forums, then add "reacher" and "settler" to our HIMYM Lexicon. And then see 10 reasons why we still think Ted is Awesome.