How I Met Your Mother "How Lily Stole Christmas" 12/11 POLL [Text View]

Royster

12-12-2006, 04:01 PM

I don't know. I thought it was bitch until I read the thread and now I don't know. My wife and I discussed it while the show was on, but clearly neither of us have dirty enough minds to even consider the c- possibility.

I did like how she literally became a grinch by stealing the Christmas decorations.

jking

12-12-2006, 04:22 PM

Should have added "other" as an option. If it wasn't bitch, that doesn't automatically make it the c-word.

markymark_ctown

12-12-2006, 04:35 PM

Should have added "other" as an option. If it wasn't bitch, that doesn't automatically make it the c-word.

:rolleyes: always a critic out there.

:D

Supfreak26

12-12-2006, 04:52 PM

Bitch all the way. Never even considered the C-word when watching the show last night.

DevdogAZ

12-12-2006, 05:11 PM

No chance was it the Seaward (AD reference :D ). Grinch was simply used for comedic effect, not to cover up a word that couldn't be said on the airwaves. And the reactions to the word that are causing everyone to overthink the issue are also there for comedic effect, not for realism. It's a freakin' sitcom, people.

Besides, does anyone actually call someone else the c-word? I don't think I've ever heard it used like that, and I seriously doubt that's the word that the writers were hoping would pop into the viewers' minds.

Mikeyis4dcats

12-12-2006, 05:21 PM

AJRitz

12-12-2006, 05:24 PM

It HAD to be the c-word. Bitch wouldn't have gotten the rise out of people that it appeared to - from the woman in the bar to the landlord in the apartment above to the bible-thumping relatives. It had to be much more over the top than bitch. And I still think that it's not over the top for Ted to use that word for Lily. First, he was trying to get his best friend's attention, and bitch wasn't going to do it. Second, he was pretty pissed at Lily himself, for taking off like that. Third, bitch can, and is, used playfully among friends. The c-word? No way. The c-word means business. It's the queen of swear words, especially for women.

markymark_ctown

12-12-2006, 05:25 PM

i voted c-word...the reaction from everyone was too strong to be b!tch.

jennifer

12-12-2006, 05:34 PM

I voted B word. Ted seems much too nice to call Lily the C word!!!

jking

12-12-2006, 05:53 PM

In the context that Ted used it for Lily and the fact that they are such close friends, I think Ted could have said "loser" and she would have reacted similarly. Obviously he didn't call her a loser, but I think Lily would have taken anything derogatory from Ted and would have overreacted (especially if the writers wanted her to ;) ). Robin probably wouldn't have thought it a big deal to be called a bitch, but Robin probably knew how it would effect Lily, which could be why she reacted to it. As for the chick in the bar, if she's walking by a random table and thinks she's been called a bitch out of the blue... well, I probably would have reacted as well.

And for anyone who doesn't think bitch means war to some women, haven't been on the receiving end of their wrath. I've said it to a couple of my female friends in a joking way and have still been given the silent treatment for days until I apologized.

drew2k

12-12-2006, 06:08 PM

I voted "bitch" and brought it to 16-16. (My reasoning for the vote is in the episode thread.)

MitchO

12-12-2006, 06:23 PM

I vote c-word. Considering the way the b-choice is thrown around sometimes in comedic or lighthearted fashion, only the c-word could result in such a strong response from Lily.

Honestly, it never even crossed my mind it would be anything else.

Amnesia

12-12-2006, 06:31 PM

As for the chick in the bar, if she's walking by a random table and thinks she's been called a bitch out of the blue... well, I probably would have reacted as well.And the landlord...?

Supfreak26

12-12-2006, 06:59 PM

And the landlord...?

Maybe he doesn't like someone screaming "bitch bitch bitch bitch!!" in his building.

I called my wife and she says "bitch" as well. When I mentioned that you guys thought it was the C-word, she was as suprised as I was. We never even thought about that word when watching the show.

Even Grinch sounds like Bitch! Seems like a no-brainer to me.

DaveBogart

12-12-2006, 07:24 PM

Even Grinch sounds like Bitch! Seems like a no-brainer to me.But why does the substitute word and to be a sound-a-like? It would have been funny, though, if they used Alan Funt.

SparkleMotion

12-12-2006, 07:28 PM

Something more current might be "James Blunt". ;)

jking

12-12-2006, 09:48 PM

And the landlord...?

Perhaps Lily's infectious personality has grown on him and he thinks of her as a daughter.

Perhaps he likes her new hair and has a crush on her.

Perhaps it's like SupFreak26 said and he doesn't want "bitch, bitch, bitch" being screamed throughout his building.

Perhaps one of the neighbors complained.

Perhaps he was watching the game and he couldn't even make out the words, only yelling, and it bothered him.

Perhaps it woke up his bitch of a wife and she hit him over the head with a frying pan and told him to cut the power to that bitch's apartment downstairs... :eek: :p

busyba

12-12-2006, 10:53 PM

Don't get grinchy!

jking

12-12-2006, 11:25 PM

Don't get grinchy!

And by that, of course, you mean bitchy. :p

porges

12-13-2006, 12:56 AM

TV critic Alan Sepinwall reports (http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2006/12/himym-ted-goes-seaward-aka-ouchie-in.html) that his source at CBS says C-word.

Amnesia

12-13-2006, 01:26 AM

TV critic Alan Sepinwall reports that his source at CBS says C-word.All the time? In public? Does he get slapped?

JETarpon

12-13-2006, 02:23 AM

Definitely C-word. When he first said it, I thought bitch, but fairly quickly decided that it was something stronger. My wife also thought it was the c-word.

Jesda

12-13-2006, 03:43 AM

"Whore"

Amnesia

12-13-2006, 06:35 AM

"Whore"
Fits everything except the landlord. Still not strong enough for his reaction (IMO)...

TonyD79

12-13-2006, 11:05 AM

But why does the substitute word and to be a sound-a-like? It would have been funny, though, if they used Alan Funt.

Because it was a play on the Christmas Story Fudge/F-word joke. They even made that joke immediately after when Ted said "Fuuuuudge"

Havana Brown

12-13-2006, 11:25 AM

I think it would have been funny if they would have actually mouthed the words and then bleeped over with "grinch."

classicX

12-13-2006, 03:12 PM

I think that mouthing the c-word wouldn't look like much, and I believe the f-word has to be blurred as well as bleeped / dubbed.

And to those who think it's the b-word because it rhymed, it's not. They just chose Grinch because later in the episode she stole all of the decorations.

johnperkins21

12-13-2006, 04:06 PM

Never even crossed my mind that it could be anything other than the "c-word."

cook31400

12-13-2006, 05:21 PM

Gotta be the C-Word. Hints, Mom's new boyfriend CLINT.(squint) :)

cook31400

12-13-2006, 05:22 PM

Stewie mouthed the F-word on Family Guy!

dvdapex

12-13-2006, 09:50 PM

See You Next Tuesday.

JETarpon

12-13-2006, 09:58 PM

Gotta be the C-Word. Hints, Mom's new boyfriend CLINT.(squint) :)

Did you know that the word "flick" is banned by the Comics Code Authority? Don't know about the name Clint.

markymark_ctown

12-14-2006, 08:05 AM

Interesting...almost a 5/50 split as of 8:00am Thursday 12/14.

TiVoLance

12-14-2006, 08:48 AM

I love how people say that something couldn't possibly be true just because they didn't think that. :rolleyes:

jradford

12-14-2006, 09:36 AM

I'm suprised it's a discussion. Wife and I watched it last night. Firmly entrenched in B-word land. I think the fact that he said things throughout the show, TO Lilly, like "Well, Lilly you WERE a Grinch last summer." And didn' Lily say something at the end like, "Yeah, I guess I was kind of a grinch last summer?" Seaward still doesn't strike me as a possibility, even if a friend of a blogger who works at CBS thinks it is.

dilorc

12-14-2006, 10:29 AM

My wife and I thought it was bitch at first, but the reaction seemed to be too much. We then switched to Seaward.

I mean really, would you call someone's Mom over "bitch"

Martin Tupper

12-14-2006, 03:46 PM

My wife and I thought it was bitch at first, but the reaction seemed to be too much. We then switched to Seaward.

I mean really, would you call someone's Mom over "bitch"
I called your Mom over last night...and don't call me "bitch"

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

DreadPirateRob

12-14-2006, 04:08 PM

I still can't decide. The B-word seems a little mild for the reaction that Ted got in the bar and stuff, but I can't see Lily saying, "You're right, I was kinda of a c-word this summer". No way.

jgerry

12-14-2006, 05:14 PM

I still can't decide. The B-word seems a little mild for the reaction that Ted got in the bar and stuff, but I can't see Lily saying, "You're right, I was kinda of a c-word this summer". No way.

I'm firmly in the C. U. Next Tuesday camp. Everyone's reactions were far too overblown for the simple B word. And I've absolutely got girl friends who would call themselves that, at least in private. But please understand that I have some crazy-ass gal pals.

Mr. Soze

12-14-2006, 05:47 PM

Mrs. S. and I agreed it had to be the C-word. Bitch is used frequently in the common vernacular, and really doesn't have much power behind it. That other one? Better say it running!

drew2k

12-14-2006, 07:28 PM

Mrs. S. and I agreed it had to be the C-word. Bitch is used frequently in the common vernacular, and really doesn't have much power behind it. That other one? Better say it running!On it's own, no - bitch is not that powerful. But what if you called someone unexpected a bitch, say, Mother Theresa? All of a sudden that word has power.

In this tiny little group of friends, Lily is Mother Theresa. For one of her oldest friends to call her a bitch is almost blasphemous, hence the other friends' reactions (and Mom's too!) to Ted's use of the word.

mhalver

12-14-2006, 08:19 PM

I still can't decide. The B-word seems a little mild for the reaction that Ted got in the bar and stuff, but I can't see Lily saying, "You're right, I was kinda of a c-word this summer". No way.

Actually, I could see her saying that. Lily seems to have this kind of split personality thing going. She comes off so good and wholesome, but we have seen that she has a bit of a dark side. Besides, anybody who could apply kindergarten rules to the adult world is capable of anything.

dumbunny

12-14-2006, 08:33 PM

The C-word is clearly implied. Barney said "You kiss your mother with that mouth?" but used the word "slut" in another scene with no reaction from Ted or Marshall. "Bitch" and "slut" are on par with each other.

Also, leaving for SF without making contact for several months hardly qualifies as being "bitchy." That makes even less sense than C-word"y".

Amnesia

12-14-2006, 11:51 PM

In this tiny little group of friends, Lily is Mother Theresa.Umm...let's not forget that she dumped Marshall and took off for San Fran. Mother Teresa wouldn't have done that...

TonyD79

12-15-2006, 11:53 AM

To anyone who says the reactions were too strong for the word to be "bitch" how do you explain that Ted refuses to apologize for using the c-word if that were the word. A word that strong, Ted would apologize to a STRANGER for, much more a dear, personal friend.

Just about every reaction can be justified to the word "bitch" (the friends would be very upset to use any nasty word against Lily, the girl in the bar was timing, the kids on Christmas Eve...well, the mom there would be upset if they said "lesbian") but nothing supports Ted not apologizing for using a very heinous word like the C-word.

Amnesia

12-15-2006, 12:20 PM

Just about every reaction can be justified to the word "bitch" Not the landlord.

bubba1972

12-15-2006, 12:37 PM

Supfreak26

12-15-2006, 12:57 PM

Not the landlord.

Says who? Are you familiar with the moral standings of the landlord? Do you know his tolerance for profanity?

Bitch may mean nothing to you but it can be very offensive to others.

Your argument assumes that the landlord fits the typical New York landlord stereotype. That's quite an assumption.

Bottom line is that the C-word would be totally out of character for any of these characters to throw around so freely. I'm still shocked that you guys even brought that word up.

Bitch all the way. :)

JLucPicard

12-15-2006, 12:59 PM

I am of the school that you just don't call Lily the b-word and the reactions being somewhat over the top was all a part of the gag for that episode.

If Ted is standing in the middle of the Winter Wonderland that Lily created, and she's going to play a message where Ted KNEW he called her the c-word, he would have done anything to keep her from hearing it. Not so much if he used the b-word.

That's just my take on it, though.

Supfreak26

12-15-2006, 01:00 PM

Does anyone recall them using the word 'Bitch' in any previous episodes and what kind of reaction it got? I thought they meant bitch while watching the episode, but after reading this thread and thinking back to the reactions, I think a harsher word was implied.

I think everyone is looking into this too deep. They used "grinch" because it was a Xmas episode. Also, literally calling Lily a grinch would be a huge insult to her considering how gung-ho she is about Xmas. So it's seasonally and metaphorically correct.

Also, Grinch sounds like Bitch.

I don't see any valid argument for the C-word. Just doesn't fit in any way.

classicX

12-15-2006, 01:03 PM

Does anyone recall them using the word 'Bitch' in any previous episodes and what kind of reaction it got? I thought they meant bitch while watching the episode, but after reading this thread and thinking back to the reactions, I think a harsher word was implied.

They've all used the b-word before (except for Marshall).

Think about the fact that Ted is telling these stories to his kids; he's told other stories containing the b-word but censors the same word in a different story? That doesn't make any sense.

And FWIW I do believe that Lily would say something like that.

classicX

12-15-2006, 01:08 PM

To anyone who says the reactions were too strong for the word to be "bitch" how do you explain that Ted refuses to apologize for using the c-word if that were the word. A word that strong, Ted would apologize to a STRANGER for, much more a dear, personal friend.

To anyone who says that the reactions were too strong for the word to be "bitch," how do you explain Ted refusing to apologize for using the c-word, if it were the c-word? With a word that strong, Ted would apologize to a STRANGER, much more a dear, personal friend.

I was having a heck of a time understanding that statement, sorry. :o

You're missing one thing though: Ted didn't apologize to a stranger - and he got slapped for his trouble.

And why would Barney say "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" when he hasn't protested the B-word in any previous episode?

Amnesia

12-15-2006, 01:42 PM

Says who? Are you familiar with the moral standings of the landlord? Do you know his tolerance for profanity?I know as much about his moral standings as TonyD79 did about others' when he said
Just about every reaction can be justified to the word "bitch"

MitchO

12-15-2006, 03:01 PM

I don't see any valid argument for the C-word. Just doesn't fit in any way.

It's funny that you're so adamant, because I feel 100% the exact opposite. No way would all that build up be over "bitch". You're wrong. Period. :rolleyes:

drew2k

12-15-2006, 03:52 PM

Umm...let's not forget that she dumped Marshall and took off for San Fran. Mother Teresa wouldn't have done that...But of course. Mother Teresa also wouldn't have had pre-marital sex. ;)

drew2k

12-15-2006, 03:56 PM

Bitch may mean nothing to you but it can be very offensive to others. In can also be extremely offensive in context. Imagine the response of those who might be in attendance to the Queen of England if someone in the vicinity referred to QE II as a bitch?

jradford

12-15-2006, 06:06 PM

Voting is still very tight. I say that whatever gets to 100 first is the winner, and everyone in the opposite camp must agree that they were wrong and the b-word, -err, winning word, was right. (As long as B-word wins.) :)

marksman

12-15-2006, 08:51 PM

I definitely fall in the b-word camp. My reason being is simple. That was a very relatable story line to me as I have lived it a few times with a few of my closet friends. I have gone through the whole issue of bad mouthing an ex to get them out of a funk like that, and I probably referred to a woman or two as a beyotch, but never in a million years would I use the C-Word to refer to my best friends ex-girlfriend whom he has dated for 9 years. No way no how. Juding by Ted and Marshall's relationship and their characters, I can't see Ted doing that either. Calling Lilly a b is one thing, c is a completely different thing and is probably something Marshall would have had an issue with it.

So I still can't see my way to seeing it be anything other than the B-world. Both because I don't think Ted would say that to someone who was a friend like Lilly but more importantly I don't think he would ever say it about an ex-girlfriend of his bestfriend whom he dated for 9 years. One of my best friend's ex whom they went out for that long and were actually married for a while was the biggest b on the planet. I would have never used that word with her in a million years and I hate her guts. So perhaps it is my personal bias, but if I could not use it with her, I don't see anyone with any reasonable amount of decorum doing it for someone who was actually a friend of his.

kar74

12-16-2006, 02:58 PM

i'm going with b*tch. it sounds closer to grinch than the other.

PJO1966

12-16-2006, 08:02 PM

I didn't even consider it was anything other than the C-word. I still don't. As others have pointed out, Ted has already used the word "bitch" in telling his kids these inappropriate stories. He substituted a word that he did not feel comfortable saying in front of his kids (and one that the CBS censors would never let pass). No question in my mind.

Unfortunately I've heard this word in casual conversation more than I ever hoped to in my life, and usually preceeded by the F word.

See you next Tuesday.

SparkleMotion

12-16-2006, 08:24 PM

As per usual, I'm going with PJO196. :p

PJO1966

12-16-2006, 08:28 PM

As per usual, I'm going with PJO196. :p

Man, I'm old! :D

SparkleMotion

12-16-2006, 08:55 PM

Okay, I dropped a six. I've done many worse things in my life. Recently even! ;)

JLucPicard

12-17-2006, 07:14 PM

I'm of the b-word camp, and I just can't understand how people can insist it HAS to be the c-word because people on the show have used the word "bitch" before. Yes, there generally is some continuity throughout a series that spans different episodes, but I don't think that means that within the context of this one episode (the Christmas episode, by the way!) that "grinch" absolutely cannot mean "bitch" just because that word has been used before without using a harmless substitute.

tem

12-17-2006, 11:48 PM

Gotta be C.

markymark_ctown

12-20-2006, 08:34 AM

the b!atches have it!

Lee L

12-20-2006, 08:58 AM

If only the writers of the show agreed. :p

jradford

12-20-2006, 09:25 AM

If only the writers of the show agreed. :p
Have they? I'd love to see a link with quotes. They must be getting a kick out of all the b-word/c-word stuff. :D

busyba

12-20-2006, 12:13 PM

the b!atches have it!
Well, on South Park they said that 25% of all americans are retarded. Apparently they got it wrong, it's 50.92% :p

BeanMeScot

12-20-2006, 01:37 PM

It was obviously the C-word. That's the worst word you can call a woman. Many women are proud to be called B*tch cause it means they can stand with the guys. The c-word is just bad.

jradford

12-20-2006, 05:10 PM

marksman

12-20-2006, 10:27 PM

Is there a way to block all users who voted for the "c-word?" They are wrong, and thus, should not have a voice. It is time for my "B-word" brethren to stand up and strike down our "C-word" foes. :p :D ;)

People who don't think it is the b-word are a bunch of c-words!

"No e dint"

:eek:

Waldorf

12-21-2006, 02:54 AM

From TV Guide:

Episode Detail: How Lily Stole Christmas - How I Met Your Mother

Ted almost ruins Christmas for everyone when, still carrying around anger toward Lily, he calls her a horribly disgusting name.

'horribly disgusting name'.. Maybe I'm a grinch, but b*tch doesn't even show up in my top 20 list of horribly disgusting names to call someone.

My wife and I both assumed right away it was much worse than that. :)

busyba

12-21-2006, 06:01 PM

Is there a way to block all users who voted for the "c-word?" They are wrong, and thus, should not have a voice. It is time for my "B-word" brethren to stand up and strike down our "C-word" foes. :p :D ;)
I'm surprised the people who voted for B-word are even capable of using a computer. I'd think they'd mistake it for a hat or something.

I guess AOL really is easy to use....

;)

markymark_ctown

12-22-2006, 08:02 AM

mrowe8

12-28-2006, 11:48 AM

Before I even new this post existed, my wife, brother-in-law, sister, best friend and best friends wife all discussed this episode and the possible meaning of the word "Grinch". We all agreed that we thought the "b-word" right off the bat because it sounds like "Grinch". However after hearing the rest of the show and seeing everyone react in horror we all are of the definate "c-word" camp. Therefore I would like my vote to count as 6 votes.

mwhip

12-28-2006, 11:54 AM

Well Michael Aussiello from TV Guide is saying that they meant the c-word. He is not naming a source but he is usually pretty accurate.

sushikitten

01-09-2007, 09:06 AM

I just watched this last night - of course, I thought it was B but the more I thought about it, the more I thought C... except for the fact that I just cannot see Ted calling her that (even if to get Marshall out of a funk) or Lily saying "Yeah, I was a bit of a C last summer."