Neil Patrick Harris Interview for 'How I Met Your Mother'

Neil Patrick Harris Q&A

In the world of legendary performances, Neil Patrick Harris has had more than his share.

In addition to being a preteen MD and TV's favorite ladies' man, the actor's a New York Times bestselling author (sort of), an Internet sensation ... and an accomplished magician who'll be hosting the 2008 World Magic Awards (airing Wed., Nov. 26 at 8PM on myNetworkTV).

Harris spoke exclusively to AOL TV about the magician's Bro Code, a musical 'How I Met Your Mother' episode, taking Dr. Horrible to Vegas and the joy of working with 'Hills' villain Spencer Pratt (Plath? Platt? Pratt.). -- By Maggie Furlong

Cliff Lipson, CBS

1. How did you get the gig hosting the 2008 World Magic Awards?

Well, I presented at last year's show and was impressed with the level of magic that they had on board. I'm also on the Board of Directors at the Magic Castle, so I've sort of been thrust into having a larger presence in magic.

MyNetworkTV, Barry J. Holmes

2. How are you as an amateur magician?

I'm pretty good. I have small props that old magicians used in the past ... I've been collecting antique magic sets, and those apparently go back hundreds and hundreds of years. I didn't realize until I started collecting them just how many I would have to get.

MyNetworkTV, Barry J. Holmes

3. Is there an equivalent in magic to your 'How I Met Your Mother' character Barney Stinson's book 'The Bro Code'?

Well, there was the 'Tarbell Course in Magic,' there was the 'Mark Wilson Course in Magic' and I think even before that there was a book called 'The Expert at the Card Table,' which was a very old book written by a man with the last name Erdnase. It's all about gambling slights and card slights, but they came to find out that there's no one on record with the last name of Erdnase who actually wrote that book. There are a few mysteries and tricks in magic that haven't been solved, and that's an intriguing one.

MyNetworkTV, Barry J. Holmes

4. You did a lot of stage work after 'Doogie Howser' -- did you think you'd be on another long-running successful TV show, like 'How I Met Your Mother'?

I didn't really! The longevity of a television show is so entirely out of our hands -- it's really just circumstance. We're very lucky that CBS needed this younger-skewing ensemble show and, quite frankly, that audiences wanted to watch it. I can't believe that we're in our fourth season already -- that blows my mind. It's gone so fast. I don't know if that's because I'm getting older, or ... [Laughs]

CBS

5. What chance do you think Barney and Robin have of living happily ever after together?

Well, gosh my opinion? I would say more than a 10 percent chance. [Laughs] You have to understand: Barney's got quite the roaming eye, so I can't imagine he'll settle down forever and ever. But if he did, you'd hope it would be with someone as kickass as Robin Scherbatsky.

CBS

6. Have you all tried to get the writers to do a musical episode? Barney doing show tunes and Robin Sparkles going to the mall -- it would be pretty legendary.

[Laughs] That would be hilarious! Jason [Segel] sings ... Josh [Radnor] sings ... I think Aly [Hannigan] is the odd woman out in that scenario, but maybe she could do some sort of rap ... gangster rap. [Laughs] There was the one episode where she's got some ghetto background. A cap sideways, pants on backwards ... I can totally see it now. [Laughs] Yeah, that would be awesome.

CBS

7. So what's taking so long?

We've all gotten to sing, just not all together in the same episode. Jason had his own 'Just Got Slapped' song that he wrote, Cobie [Smulders]'s got her thing that she sang, I sang as a performing robot in a black box theater. And actually I'm singing some lewd Christmas carols today at work, so that'll be fun. For the holidays ... for the kids. [Laughs] Here are the lyrics to one of the songs I'm singing today. It's to the tune of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" -- "I wish I could see her naked, I wish I could see her naked, I wish I could see her naked, and down on all fours." [Laughs] Word.

CBS

8. But you realize that men like Barney actually exist, right?

Totally -- you know 'The Bro Code' is a New York Times Bestseller. Right under 'The Power of Now,' which I found kind of ironic and awesome.

Amazon.com

9. At one time, you were just Doogie, and now you're so Barney -- what role do people recognize you from the most?

Oh, Barney Stinson, without question. It seems that the Doogie is shedding me. I get a lot of Dr. Horrible cred from the Interweb kids. They love the Dr. Horrible, so that's cool. But people are actually starting to watch 'How I Met Your Mother,' as opposed to hearing it's some show on CBS. I get a fair amount of people that come up and have nice things to say -- I'm always pleased to be interrupted by a compliment.

CBS