The episode's main storyline revolves around a mystery: Which Canadian celebrity did Robin refuse to perform a specific, bizarrely named sex act with? An "Old King Clancy."
The B-story involves Ted being "pushed" out of the design for the new Goliath National Bank (GNB) headquarters.
is a fan-favorite episode of How I Met Your Mother that leans heavily into the show's long-running gag about Robin’s Canadian heritage and the absurdity of Canadian euphemisms. The Core Plot: The Canadian Sex Act Mystery [S4E18] Old King Clancy
: This episode features a minor recurring joke where Marshall tries to manipulate the cafeteria lady into giving him extra meatballs by pretending to work on a secret task force. How Aristophanes Met Your Mother - Working Classicists
The writers populated the script with a list of ridiculous, fictional Canadian sex positions, many of which became staples of the show's lore: The episode's main storyline revolves around a mystery:
: Described as a Chicago Moustache, but with snowsuits.
It is eventually revealed that the celebrity was Harvey Fierstein (who is notably not Canadian), and the act she refused was actually a "Frozen Snowshoe." Subplot: The "GNB" Headquarters The Core Plot: The Canadian Sex Act Mystery
Marshall and Barney lie to Ted, telling him the project is still moving forward to spare his feelings, while in reality, the company scrapped his design for a different architect.