going there and she thought he was making it up. Later, it is revealed how she does not know that reindeer are real (despite being Canadian, where reindeer are found practically everywhere) or that Jack Kennedy and John F. Kennedy are the same person. Ted also points out Lily's bad throwing skills. Marshall is the only one whom the gang does not mention, and he eventually asks the gang to pick on him. He reveals that he is aware that the gang has been careful around him ever since his father died, and says that he just wants to feel normal again. The group does resume picking on Marshall, mocking his inability to wink or swallow pills, his tendency to add too much water to his oatmeal, how he always misses one belt loop and how he is too old to ask to see the cockpit on planes. Marshall thanks them, grateful to be treated like an equal again. Production Co-executive producer Craig Thomas said the issue about the identity of Barney's real father was already a plot point in the initial conceptualization of the series. John Lithgow was the first choice to play Jerome Whittaker and the producers gave him a collection of specific episodes detailing Barney's father issues (including "Showdown") to help him get acquainted with the role. Thomas said Lithgow will still appear in future episodes, as the role would complicate Barney's connection with Nora. Reception Donna Bowman of the A.V. Club gave the episode a B. Zach Oat of Television Without Pity graded the episode at B+ Robert Canning of IGN gave the episode a rating of 8 out of 10. A number of reviews also praised Neil Patrick Harris' emotional scene with Lithgow. References External links How I Met Your Mother (season 6) episodes 2011 American television episodes