Neil Patrick Harris is one of those people that's so talented in so many different ways that it seems, truly, unfair. He's the reigning King of Halloween and the man behind the legendary Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother, but right now he has us all mesmerized as Count Olaf on Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
To celebrate the shows second season, NPH stopped by to hangout with some hella cute rescue pups while answering everything you've been dying to know. Here's what we learned.
If you had to give Count Olaf one genuine compliment, what would it be?
Neil Patrick Harris: He is devilishly handsome. He has metal. You know what that means? Not metal like in your collar, but metal, gumption!
What are your plans after the third season wraps filming (and I'm assuming last season because it will cover the last books)? Will you go back to Broadway?
NPH: I’d love to go back to Broadway someday! I’m looking forward to resting. Series of Unfortunate Events is super fun, but all kinds of exhausting.
What do you think happened with Barney on HIMYM after the show ended and what he’d be up to now?
Do you still talk to the HIMYM cast? Would you ever consider collaborating or reuniting with the cast down the line?
NPH: I do still talk with the HIMYM cast. Mostly Cobie Smulders, because we have kids that are similar ages, and her husband Taran lived in New York for a bit. But yeah we text and shoot the breeze. I don’t think we’d ever reunite on the show.
In a movie about your life, who would you want to play you and David?
NPH: Ooh that’s a good question, who would play me? Josh Duhamel. And who would play David? Nick Jonas. Next question!
What’s the craziest rumor you’ve ever heard about yourself?
What, in your opinion, was Count Olaf's best disguise?
NPH: They’re all pretty good! I think I like Detective Dupont the best. He’s in the Vile Village episodes. And he’s a hipster man, he talks like this! Everything that he says is cool bo da boo boo! Cooool.
You've played a lot of really different characters on Unfortunate Events, do you have a favorite one?
NPH: My favorite, probably — Shirley St. Ives was fun. Because she was a girl, and I sort of got to play her like she was in Mad Men, and she talked like this. It was less fun when I had to pee, because I was wearing padding and spanx, and kind of tucking.
Is there a celebrity that you've met that left you completely starstruck?
If you were willingly going to visit a deserted island for a few days and could only have 3 things with you, what would you bring?
NPH: A lighter, or a tarp, or one of those phones that you can call people to save you. Luxury items I’d probably bring, I don’t know, a ukulele. Um, maybe a fleshlight.
Would you ever host the Tony’s again?
NPH: Oh, I would love to do that again! It’s a hard job though, maybe some year. I need to take some time off. The Tony’s are a great one, a great show to host. There’s all the performances, it’s the best show to watch, because it’s all performances by people who are doing shows live, so then you get the live show all around you.
What has been the most memorable moment of your life that you would like to cherish forever?
NPH: Oh man, the birth of my children. Holding newborn babies that came from you, that’s a pretty amazing thing.
To put it bluntly, Count Olaf is a garbage human. How do you get into character to play such a despicable person?
How do you choose the themes for your family Halloween costumes, and can you hint to some potential options for this year?
NPH: No hints. We have talked about it! It’s much more of a negotiation now because the kids speak the English language and have opinions. Before it was so much easier, "Here, put on this lion costume. Here, you look like Dorothy!" Now it’s, "Come on! It’ll be fun!" You’re gonna do this, you’re gonna wear it, put it on! No, I don’t do that.
What's your go-to karaoke song?
NPH: That’s a good question. “Rocket Man” is good. I tend to go with Elton John songs because they’re fun. I also know all the words to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, That was my New Mexico rap days.
Do you appreciate when fans come up to you in public or is it annoying?
What’s your idea of a perfect day?
NPH: Playing with puppies. Well probably a perfect day would be, with my family, in Hawaii, on the beach, drinking a piña colada and riding Disney theme park attractions. I don’t think there’s a Disney theme park in Hawaii but that would be a perfect day.
Out of all of the villains in Count Olaf’s Theater Troupe, who is your favorite?
NPH: I got a soft spot for Hook-Handed Man, because he’s my right, hook, man.
Be sure to catch Neil Patrick Harris in Season 2 of A Series of Unfortunate Events streaming now on Netflix!
