Written By Rick Ellis, Sunday, September 17th, 2006

"How I Met Your Mother" is a show a lot of people missed last season. Nestled in the middle of a Monday night CBS lineup that really didn't bring a compatible audience, the series did respectable ratings numbers, but didn't get the water cooler buzz it deserved.

When networks describe a sitcom as the next "Friends," what they usually mean is that the show has a cast of young, witty and fabulous looking actors. But until now, I don't there's been a show that truly deserved the comparison.

From it's first episode, the show has been firing on all creative cylinders. The premise is certainly straightforward. A dad sits his two kids down to explain how he met their Mom. Each episode begins with that scene, and the rest of the half-hour is a flashback, set in the world of today.

One indication that the show is well constructed is that the premise never seems forced. The little scene with the two teens opens the show, and fans know to pay attention, because the writers will sneak in a few surprises.

This season's premiere begins with the kids, who are complaining that their Dad's story is taking forever to tell. "Dad, can't you just skip ahead to the part where you met Mom?" whines the daughter (Lyndsy Fonseca). "It feels like you've been talking for like a year."

The episode "Where Were We" picks up where last season's cliffhanger left off.

After a year of back-and-forth, Ted (Josh Radnor) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) finally become a couple, and they are thrilled beyond words. Unfortunately, that thrill is short-lived, when they discover that super couple Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) have split up. Lily left to got to L.A., using that famous "I need to find myself away from us" excuse. After ten years, to say that Marshall is surprised and devastated is an understatement.

Ted and Robin initially hope to hide their budding romance from Marshall, but Barney has an entirely different idea. After a brief moment of sadness, he tries to convince Marshall that his newfound bachelorhood is a good thing.

"For the first time...ever...the three of us are single at the same time," explains Barney. "I've dreamed about this day, boys, and it's going to be legendary. Together we will own this city. Anytime a girl wants to get back at her ex-boyfriend....we'll be there. Anytime a girl wants to solve her father issues through promiscuity and binge drinking...we'll be there. Anytime a bachelorette party drives through the city in a limo, sticking their heads though the sunroof shouting 'What's Up New York?".....we will be what is up New York. Gentleman, we are about to embark on (he glances at Ted and Robin)....oh man, you guys did it, didn't you?"

While the trio try and be supportive of Marshall, he completely falls apart. He can't sleep, can't smile...he can't even eat waffles (trust me, this will make sense).

Barney is more than willing to help, and what better way to move on than by visiting a strip bar? He explains that Marshall can't move on until he can no longer imagine Lily naked.

"The average male brain can only store a finite number of boob images--or "BPegs."

When the strip bar doesn't work, Robin has her own thoughts on the matter. As she tells Barney, "See, this is the problem with guys...you don't know how to deal with heartbreak."

"Oh, and what's your prescription, Dr. Estrogen? Eat Hagen Daz and watch 'Love, Actually' until your periods sync up?"

Things only get worse when he gets Lilly's card bill in the mail and decides to look and see what she has been charging and with whom. He goes online to check her account and realizes she is back in New York, checked into a nearby hotel.

He impulsively decides to call her room and when a guy answers, he heads off for a confrontation.

As fans of the show would expect, things aren't quite what they seem, and ultimately Marshall decides he has to try and move on. Although given the last scene of the episode, I don't think that's going to be as easy as he might wish.

This episode, like every episode of last season, is easily the funniest thing currently on the air. When I compared the show to "Friends," I wasn't being glib. It has that same breezy, funny feel, and it's easy to imagine the show lasting six or seven seasons.

But I'm with the kids..I really want to meet Mom.

"How I Met Your Mother" premieres on CBS on Monday, September 18th, 2006.