CBS Renews HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER for Two More Seasons

Following The Big Bang Theory‘s move to Thursdays and the uncertain future of Two and a Half Men, the dominance of CBS’ Monday comedy block is in jeopardy.  The Live Feed reports the network has locked in reliable performer How I Met Your Mother, renewing the sitcom for two more seasons.  How I Met Your Mother is currently in the middle of its sixth season; the renewal promises a season eight that would keep the show on the air through the end of 2013.

The five stars — Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders, Jason Segel, Allison Hanygan, Neil Patrick Harris — are each contracted through season eight.  With his budding movie career, Segel has implied intent to leave at the end of his contract.  Radnor reiterated in a recent interview: “Right now, I think everyone is on the same page, including the writers, to finish out the next two seasons, after this.”  The high-concept hook (“Who is the mother?”) always directed HIMYM to the end of its story, a strategy which is not best served by the indefinite timeline of an American TV series.  I’ll be sad to see it go, but I am excited by the prospect that creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays can plan the show around this end date.