How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris (at left with HIMYM co-star Cobie Smulders) met with the press by phone today to talk about hosting the Tony Awards on Sunday night and our Steve Thompson was among those asking the questions. Harris has been working with a team of writers to get ready for the big night but don't expect Hugh Jackman-like singing and dancing. Harris says he will be there to make the audience comfortable between acts and that's it. He's been seeing some of the nominated productions and let slip he'll be in the audience for Best Musical front-runner Billy Elliot, The Musical tonight. A veteran of theater productions like Cabaret and Assassins, Harris said this year he would like to see "some less than predictable winners." 

Speaking of less than predictable, Harris is executive producing an adventure-scavenger hunt called Accomplice, where people in New York City and Hollywood can be led on an Amazing Race-type tour through the streets of those cities while actors play out different scenarios. Harris, who'll be back in HIMYM next fall as womanizer Barney Stinson, is nothing if not creative. "I like to live in lots of once in a lifetimes," he said of his across-the-board talent.

Photo by Randy Tepper