Doogie grows up
Neil Patrick Harris escapes from famous role with TV series, stoner film
He is not your designated Doogie anymore. Now that he's hip, TV's former Doogie Howser has been dubbed NPH.
"I'm older. I'm wiser. I'm just living the dream. That's what I'm doing," says Neil Patrick Harris, 34.
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He was a teenager during his run on TV's "Doogie Howser, M.D."
"All I can say is it's nice to be back on the radar and back in the zeitgeist," marvels Harris.
He stars as Barney Stinson on the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother," which recently enjoyed a visit from a certain pop icon (more on that in a second). He also has a key role in "Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay," which is in its opening weekend.
In the sequel to "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" (2004), the two stoners try to sneak a bong on their flight to Amsterdam. Neil Patrick Harris plays ... Neil Patrick Harris.
Harris says his NPH in the film "is usually tripping on something or sitting in the car. But it's great. I think it's wildly funny."
He's awaiting word on whether CBS will order a fourth season of his sitcom. "From the pilot episode, the entire cast just got along so well," he says. "My only concern was that it wouldn't go to a series because we liked each other so much. It doesn't always work out that way on a series."
"How I Met Your Mother" is scheduled for its season finale on May 19. "I know Barney takes a bit of a dramatic turn, and things happen that will have repercussions that will last longer than one episode. I'm usually the comic relief of the show, but I can tell you there will be gravitas in the new season."
There was also gravitas in the press recently when Harris spoke about Britney Spears' well-received guest spot on the show last month. Reservations he expressed about "stunt casting" were taken as a slam at Spears.
"My words were misconstrued. I think she was a huge get for us and it was amazing to work with her," he says. "We hope she will be coming back soon." (There are rumors Spears will return, but nothing is official.)
"It's tricky, and you really have to watch what you say," Harris says. "Often things are actively misconstrued."
Harris is a show biz vet who grew up in a small town near Albuquerque, N.M., where his parents were both lawyers. At 16, he was cast as the lead in Steven Bochco's series about a teen doctor.
Suddenly, Harris was a teen hunk. "It's funny. I haven't seen an episode in ages, but I'll see the clips on YouTube," he says.
He followed the series with film roles in "Starship Troopers" (1997) and "The Proposition" (1998).
Harris lives in L.A., but has an apartment in New York. He's looking forward to his hiatus from the series because of another film at the multiplex.
"I can't wait for 'Indiana Jones.' I'm such a big fan," he says. "The film opens and he's swinging across the crevices with a bullwhip. Now that's up my alley."
Big Picture News Inc.
