Lily and Marshall arrange a Valentine's Day date for Ted, while Robin agrees to go to a Valentine's Day party hosted by Don Frank. Meanwhile, Barney gets his phone number on TV and his phone becomes a nonstop hotline for women wanting to sleep with him.
This episode provides examples of:
- Arranged Marriage: Ted commissions Marshall and Lily to find a wife for him by Valentine's Day; the woman they settle on seems to be a perfect match, with the added bonus that her visa is about to expire.
- Bait-and-Switch: When Ted goes on his double date with Marshall and Lily and the girl they found to marry him, he is hesitant about going through with it and ultimately doesn't. While it initially seems like this is because his feelings for Robin have resurfaced, it turns out that it's actually because he found Barney's phone and also got addicted to it.
- Call-Back: Don tries to seduce Robin by performing the Naked Man gambit which appeared in episode "The Naked Man".
- "Cavemen vs. Astronauts" Debate: When Marshall claims that rabbits are better than ducks, a bitter argument is sparked between him and Ted, Lily, Robin, and Ranjit, who argue that ducks are better. It quickly devolves into a screaming match and, according to Future!Ted, was the most intense argument the gang had ever had.
- Citizenship Marriage: Ted asks Marshall and Lily to find a wife for him by Valentine's Day; the woman they settle on seems to be a perfect future spouse for Ted, with the added bonus that her visa is about to expire.
- Continuity Nod: While trying to figure out who to set Ted up with, Marshall suggests several of Ted's previous Girls of the Week, specifically Trudy, Blah Blah, and Natalie.
- Cursed with Awesome: Barney's cell phone is initially a wonderful hook-up magic charm after his number gets on TV. However, as the options keep pouring in, he gets more and more neurotic about choosing the best girl to hook-up with, and ends up never closing the deal with anyone.
- Fun with Acronyms: CBS is used to stand for Call Barney Stinson
- Insane Troll Logic: Ted's ironclad argument that Don is a duck for Robin (i.e., something she loves) as opposed to a rabbit (something she hates), which leaves Robin unable to respond.Robin: And Don is, and always will be, a rabbit.Ted: Oh, I wouldn't be so sure, Robin. Think about it: Don...Donald...Donald Duck. And what, pray tell, did Donald Duck never wear?Lily: Pants.Ted: Pants. Don's a duck. [to Marshall] Permission to say "Lawyered?"Marshall: I'll allow it.Ted: Lawyered.
- Jerkass Realization: Following his "Naked Man" incident with Robin, Don ends up feeling bad for his unprofessional behavior, apologizes to Robin for this, and vows to take his job as her co-anchor more seriously.
- Once More, with Clarity: After Ted bails on his date with Natalia (the girl Lily and Marshall found to marry him), the previous few scenes are replayed showing that it was because he found Barney's hook-up cellphone and started using it.
