| Karen | ||
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Portrayed by: | ||
First appearance: | ||
Last appearance: | ||
Romances: Ted Mosby (on and off ex-boyfriend) 3 unnamed boyfriends | ||
| Gallery of Karen images (8) | ||
Karen was Ted's on-again-off-again girlfriend throughout high school and college. She was referenced in numerous flashbacks before she finally appeared in Sorry, Bro.
Show Outline[]
Karen and Ted in College
Karen and Ted broke up for the first time in college before winter break of Ted's freshman year. While dating him in college, Karen cheated on him with her Philosophy professor.
Both Marshall and Lily hated Karen because of her incredible pretentiousness and her tendency to bring it out in Ted. Lily admitted that she particularly hated Karen because she "lingered" her gaze on a nude Marshall when she walked in on Lily doing a nude portrait of him. They also hated her because she frequently cheated on Ted.
In 2009, Karen and Ted started dating again, even cheating on her boyfriend at that time with Ted, until she finds Robin's earring in Ted's bed. Later Ted discovers that Lily was responsible and has been meddling with his relationships for years. She and Ted reconcile after Lily confesses the truth to Karen. When Karen expects Ted to never see Lily again, however, he breaks up with her for good, deciding that while it doesn't matter what his friends think of his girlfriend, it does matter what his girlfriend thinks of his friends. (The Front Porch)
Episode Appearances[]
- Arrivederci, Fiero (mentioned only)
- How I Met Everyone Else (mentioned only)
- Sorry, Bro (first appearance)
- The Front Porch
- The Rough Patch (flashback)
- Say Cheese (last appearance; flashback and photographs)
- Twin Beds (mentioned only)
- Last Words (photograph only)
- Challenge Accepted (mentioned only)
Notes and Trivia[]
- Just like Robin when she sees her high school boyfriend Simon Tremblay, Ted also experiences "Revertigo" whenever he sees Karen.
- Laura Prepon starred as Donna Pinciotti on "That 70's Show" in which Alyson Hannigan played Suzy Simpson for two episodes in season.
- Just like Karen, Suzy was at the center of a situation that jeopardized the friendship of some of the main characters.
- Coincidentally, both Alyson and Laura guest starred on the same season 8 episode of "King of the Hill" in 2004.
- In Sorry, Bro Marshall and Lily explain Ted's relationship cycle with Karen would involve him going to Providence to confront her. That means she either went to Brown University, Providence College, Rhode Island College, or the Rhode Island School of Design.
External Links[]
- Laura Prepon at the Internet Movie Database
- Laura Prepon at the English Wikipedia
- Behind the Scenes Video - Laura Prepon and Josh Radnor filming Sorry, Bro
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| Students | Ted Mosby • Lily Aldrin • Marshall Eriksen • Maggie Wilks • Steve Henry • Pete Durkenson • Matt Blitz • Daryl LaCoutre • Karen | |||
| Faculty | Professor Vinick | |||
| Places | Wesleyan University | |||