Mondays are one of the few nights that I watch prime time television. My favorite show that night is "How I Met Your Mother," and I usually stick around for "Two and a Half Men." (I very strongly believe that half-hour sitcoms were meant to be watched in pairs, which is why it is so odd for me on Thursdays, but that's another story for another blog entry.)

One of the things I like best about "HIMYM" is that when a character mentions a ridiculously named Web site, it actually exists. If you go there, you will see that it is exactly as the character on the show described it. And it's (as Barney might say) awesome!

There was the episode that gave us http://www.tedmosbyisajerk.com/. According to the site's visitor counter, more than 510,000 people have visited since Oct. 9, 2006. It's even got blog entries!

In another episode, "Everything Must Go," there was
http://www.guyforceshiswifetodressinagarbagebagforthenextthreeyears.com/ and http://www.lilyandmarshallselltheirstuff.com/. The former has a slide show of a guy with a girl wearing a garbage bag, while the latter is a link to a charity auction of items from the show.

Last night's episode gave us http://www.notafathersday.com/. You see, as Lily and Marshall decide whether or not they're ready to have a child, Barney gets a call from a one-night stand, telling him he's going to be a father. That turns out to be a false alarm, but at that moment, Barney declares the day Not A Father's Day, in honor of all the men who have chosen to remain childless. There's even a mission statement and an oath. The site is, naturally, sponsored by Goliath National Bank. There are even mugs and T-shirts available for purchase. (The link takes you to a page where you can buy them, plus "HIMYM" gear, including "The Bro Code," a book referenced last season in the episode of the same name.)

I love how the creators and writers of "HIMYM" reward their faithful watchers with fun stuff like that.

What I don't love is CBS' deal with Bertolli and Lara Spencer, who hosts "The Insider." During the commercial breaks, we see Lara preparing or eating some Bertolli meal and talking about the episode, and how well it goes with her meal. This is followed by an actual commercial for the food. I hate that. It doesn't make me want to buy Bertolli (even if it is easy to prepare) or watch "The Insider." CBS, I'm ashamed of you. If you want to integrate products into your show, look at how "30 Rock" or "The Office" accomplishes that. (But don't look at "My Name Is Earl." The part of a recent episode where Jane Seymour entices Joy with a necklace from Kay Jewelers through a vanity mirror was horrible. I actually felt kind of sorry for Jane.)

So, there you have it: the good and the bad of Monday night television. Next up (TV-wise) for me is NBC's "Comedy Night Done Right" on Thursday. Three out of four sitcoms ain't bad.