Jim Parsons Talks Failed Audition for ‘How I Met Your Mother’

Jim Parsons swung by Live with Kelly and Michael and talked about failing to land the role of Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother. Parsons still remembers finding out about the role, telling Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, "It was one of the stranger experiences of my life. Because you know how it is to audition for things. They come out with character breakdowns and stuff, and on this one, it specifically said: "Barney, a big lug of a guy." And I remember thinking, I got it and was like, 'Who the hell looked at me and thinks 'big lug of a guy?'" And it wasn’t offensive, I thought, 'This is silly.'"

Since then, he’s obviously gone on to fame and fortune with The Big Bang Theory, so Parsons is fine how things turned out. He noted, "Look, it all worked out fine... Neil's better for the part, let's be honest, and it all went that way."