Tailgate - Recap

Ted tells his kids that Marshall went to visit his father's grave on New Years Day in 2012. He can't believe it has been a year and he thinks that the best way to honor his memory is to watch football and get wasted with him. He talks about how it was one of their traditions. They would tailgate and bond at the game. He even wears his father's apron that he'd wear.

Marshall tells his father about how on New Years Eve he was speaking to Lily and she told him that she has not told her father that she is pregnant, yet. She feels like he would just let her down like all of the other times. He asks where he is and she says that he is at some board game convention. Lily calls and tells him and he just says “great, thanks” and then hangs up the phone.

He then tells his father about Ted and Barney's New Year. They go to McClaren's and the bartender that had hit Ted tells them that it is $50 dollars to get in and tells them to go stand in line. They don't have a problem with paying the money, because of his proneness to violence. Robin and Kevin are sitting at home watching the local NYE news special. He asks if she wishes she could have done that instead, if the perverted ex co-anchor doing the job bothers her. She says no and that she's better warm and in denial. He tells her that for her New Years resolution, she should get back on camera. He jokes and says that his was going to be making a sex tape so that will kill two birds with one stone. Sandy calls and tells her that the “love of his life” broke up with him and quit, so she needs to come and fill in as soon as possible. He had been hit on live television.

Marshall's brother, Marcus, shows up and they fight over their place there. He wanted to spend New Year's Day with his father, too. He thinks because he drove from their mom's, he should be allowed to stay. Marshall thinks that since he flew from NYC, he deserves to stay. Marshall gets dibs on Dad times infinity. They keep picking on each other.

Marshall continues to tell his father about how they were unpacking the baby's room. She finds the book about enigmas, such as a mother and a daughter in two separate locations making chicken salad sandwiches at the same time. She feels they are thin enigmas, he feels that these are extremely detailed accounts of said enigmas. He wants to read this to the baby. She doesn't want him to brainwash their kid to believe in something with no proof. He says it's not about proof, it's about faith. If there aren't Yetis and Leprechauns, what's the point in even getting up in the morning? He also think it's a bit narcissistic to think that there's not something out there bigger that humbles them. She asks if he means God and he says “werewolves”.

Sandy is wasted and still live. He's begging for Tina to come back. He loves her. Robin thinks that if it doesn't get worse than this, it'll be fine. Sandy then decides it is bathroom break and turns around and pees on camera. It turns out to be on the jumbo tron.

When Barney and Ted finally get in, the bartender tells him it is $100 each. They decide that it is a rip off and tells everyone so. Ted says, facetiously, that everyone would be better off going to get a beer from his apartment. That is when they are reminded of the time that they thought they should buy a bar. They decide to open Puzzles, the bar they spoke of.

Robin goes to see where Sandy is and he's wandered off drunk somewhere. She tells her tech guy to run the people that died this year until she gets back and to add Sandy, because when she finds him she's going to kill him.

Marshall tells Lily stories from the book and they argue over enigma versus fake. A third brother shows up at their father's grave. Barney and Ted's bar is upstairs in Ted's apartment. Ted always thought that the bar would be a more intellectual area. Barney sets up a VIP room in Ted's bedroom, but he doesn't want him to use it for anonymous sex. Kevin comes over and wants to tell them the idea he had for Puzzles. They tell him that it's kind of a duo vision, but he could totally be the bartender. He digs that idea and goes for it. Barney and Ted even came up with a theme song.

A man comes over to watch the game and eat a burger. He tries to continue the story. Robin goes to Tina's apartment and Sandy is there. He had convinced her that he loved her and only wanted her. Right then he propositions for a threesome and eventually gets the boot. She has a hard time getting him back to work, as he is still obliterated.

Thing goes horribly wrong at the “bar” and they end up getting a bouncer. Robin gets Sandy on stage and then he ends up disappearing again.

Everyone at the bar ends up getting kicked out. The bouncer gets upset that no one wanted his hats, but they're wet...it doesn't make sense to Ted or Barney. Kevin checks the bathroom to make sure that everyone is gone and Sandy is in there. Robin calls Kevin to tell him she lost him and he was about to tell her that he's there, but she worries that it'll ruin the countdown. She wonders if she's supposed to cover for him. Kevin says that she should. It's what she really wants and she deserves it. He ends up closing the door on Sandy and not telling her that he's at Ted's.

Marshall tells Lily that he just wants their kids to believe in enigmatic things. She tells him that her father never taught her to believe in anything, therefore she'll never trust it unless she sees it with her own eyes...but himself.

Robin fills in for Sandy. She makes a good speech about needing a fresh start. The guys tell Doug the hats are nice, despite being wet. Everyone at the nearby funeral ends up eating and watching the game. He keeps getting interrupted. He almost snaps and someone calls him Marvin and he remembers back to the tail gaiting and realizes that his father shared everything with everyone. He was happy to share. He realizes that maybe private moments are overrated and tells everyone the more the mirror, giving his brothers a beer.

Lily's father shows up with a huge teddy bear. He got excited and drove all night from Chicago to congratulate her on the pregnancy.

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