<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral . Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable, independent, third - party sources . (November 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> The American sitcom How I Met Your Mother premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005 . Created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays, the show is presented from the perspective of Ted Mosby in 2030 ("Future Ted") as he tells his children how he met the titular mother . The show lasted for nine seasons and 208 episodes; the finale first aired on March 31, 2014 . </P> <P> The main characters are: Ted, a romantic searching for "The One"; Barney Stinson, a womanizer; Robin Scherbatsky, a journalist who moved to New York in 2005; and Marshall Eriksen and Lily Aldrin, a long - term couple . Although the show is based around The Mother, her first appearance is not until the season - eight finale . </P> <P> Many of the main character's relatives appear throughout the show, such as Lily's father or Barney's brother . They may also be seen in family gatherings, such as Barney and Robin's wedding or Marshall's father's funeral . Ted's children and Marvin W. Eriksen (son of Marshall and Lily) appear in the background of many episodes without being crucial to many plots . </P>

Who is the couple in how i met your mother