Only two words can accurately describe this episode; absolutely hilarious. The creative team took a very simple idea (finding the best burger in New York) and turned it into one of the funniest episodes I’ve seen. I know it won’t happen but I’d love for Regis to be nominated for guest actor at next year’s Emmy’s. He did such a good job that I don’t mind the stunt casting at all.
Along with Regis, I also loved the jab at modern game shows (I’m actually a little surprised something like “Million Dollar Heads or Tails” hasn’t been made yet), Marshall’s increasingly pathetic pep talks, Robin longing for even a bite of food, and Marshall’s odes to his favorite burger. Despite having no real mythology at all, this episode is already an instant classic in my book.
Barney’s company has bought a bank called Goliath National Bank and Marshall is offered a job. Marshall declines then goes on many interviews, enough so that his morning “pep talk” becomes more and more pathetic each day. The bar has a new burger and the gang tries them since they can never agree on a place to eat. Everybody (except poor Robin who hasn’t ate in two days) gets their burgers and they all love them except for Marshall. He just thinks its okay since when you’ve had the best burger in New York already, nothing can compare.
Marshall tells us the story of his favorite burger. Eight years ago, when he had just moved to New York he was scared to death of going outside. Ted eventually got him to go out and he found it to not be scary at all. He found a very small diner and had the most perfect burger ever. He went to go get Ted but they couldn’t find the place again and still haven’t had any luck. He has tried every highly-rated burger in the city but nothing. They once had a break in the case, Barney met Regis Philbin (Marshall remembered his picture was in the diner) but he forgot where the place was too. Regis really wanted his meat and basically threatened Barney to find it.
When Marshall describes the building, Robin tells him that she always passes a building matching the description. Robin finally gets her burger but Marshall won’t let anyone eat anything else except the burger from heaven. They head out and Marshall is extremely excited. Barney just wants to continually drum up Goliath National Bank. He calls Regis, who leaves a taping of “Million Dollar Heads or Tails” to head out to the place.
When the gang arrives, it looks exactly like the place. Lily has her first “burgasm” and the others love the burger as well (except Robin who is once again the last to get her food). However, Marshall knows it isn’t the same burger. Ted thinks he just built it up too much. Marshall waxes poetry about the burger then starts going rather insane. Lily knows he needs a job soon. He hasn’t even been putting on his pants. Ted introduces us to another term, the “underpants radius.” The further you are willing to go outside in your underpants, the less self-confident you are. Since Marshall has even went to a restaurant in his underpants, his situation is definitely dire.
The gang eventually finds out that this isn’t the place, it was just modeled after it. They call Regis again with the new location but find out that the place doesn’t exist anymore. Goliath National Bank now has the building so Lily blames it on Barney. Marshall reveals that he took Barney’s job offer and Barney has just been talking about how incredible the bank was so she would be impressed. Marshall does still want to be an environmental lawyer eventually but for now, he just needs a reason to put on his pants. A guy on the street tells the gang that the place isn’t gone, it just moved. After bribing him for the location, they find the actual place.
