Jason Segel’s Hit Apple TV Comedy Just Gave Us A Deep-Cut How I Met Your Mother Reference

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Warning! Spoilers for Shrinking season 3, episode 5 ahead!

The Apple TV+ series Shrinking cleverly paid tribute to How I Met Your Mother with a fantastic musical number. Since Shrinking stars Jason Segel – who was also in How I Met Your Mother – it’s not surprising the shows share some fans. Segel, along with the show’s creators, Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence, seem to be having fun with these connections and have included several enjoyable nods to the earlier series.

The show Shrinking has continued its trend of nostalgic references. Following a guest appearance by Cobie Smulders (known for How I Met Your Mother) and the reveal that a character will attend Wesleyan University – the same school as Ted, Marshall, and Lily from How I Met Your Mother – the series has now included an even more subtle nod to Jason Segel’s popular sitcom.

I was completely blown away by an episode of Shrinking! In season 3, episode 5, Harrison Ford’s character, Paul, needed a ride to the airport to get his daughter, so Jimmy and Brian volunteered. What happened next was incredible – they launched into a full-blown, perfect performance of “The Confrontation” from Les Misérables right there in the car! It was so dramatic and funny, and the best part was watching Harrison Ford’s face in the backseat of Jimmy’s Bronco – his genuine confusion just made the whole scene even better.

Jason Segel & Neil Patrick Harris Famously Performed “The Confrontation” In HIMYM Interviews

As a big fan of How I Met Your Mother, I loved seeing this little detail come up! It’s not a direct moment from the show, but “The Confrontation” has a special meaning for the cast and us fans. Back in 2006, when the show was still pretty new, the main cast – Jason Segel, Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders, Alyson Hannigan, and Josh Radnor – were on The Megan Mullally Show to promote the series. That’s where Jason and Neil confessed they both adore Les Misérables and often sing “The Confrontation” together. It was such a fun, unexpected reveal!

The crowd enthusiastically requested that Megan Mullally’s co-stars perform their take on the famous duet from Les Misérables, and Jason Segel and Neil Patrick Harris happily obliged. Harris sang Javert’s part, while Segel took on the role of Jean Valjean, earning a standing ovation. Years later, in 2014, they recreated the performance on Bravo’s Inside The Actors Studio, effectively marking the beginning and end of How I Met Your Mother with what remains their most memorable karaoke moment.

Shrinking Season 3, Episode 5, Included Another Unique Jason Segel Song Cover

Those who enjoyed How I Met Your Mother will remember that Jason Segel isn’t just an actor – he’s a gifted singer and songwriter. He wrote and performed several popular songs for the show, like “You Just Got Slapped” and “Best Night Ever.” Now, in season 3 of Shrinking, Segel is showcasing his musical abilities once again with a cover of R.E.M.’s “Nightswimming.”

In the fifth episode of Shrinking‘s third season, Jimmy confesses to Meg (April Bowlby) that he just wants a simple kiss to help him move past his dating struggles. He pictures the song “Nightswimming” playing while he kisses someone—and hilariously imagines himself as the singer. The episode ends with Meg surprising Jimmy with a passionate kiss, and as the credits roll, Jason Segel’s cover of the R.E.M. song plays, making Jimmy’s fantasy a reality.

David Segel’s cover of R.E.M.’s “Nightswimming” is fantastic, and you can listen to it now on Spotify. It’s a perfect example of how Shrinking uses music to attract How I Met Your Mother fans while also adding to the show’s clever and original humor. It’s everything we could hope for!

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2026-02-26 18:38