‘How I Met Your Mother’ season 8 spoilers: Boss explains season 9 situation

Even though the midseason finale of “How I Met Your Mother” is getting set to air on CBS Monday night, we are still waiting for an answer to an all-important question: just where is this show going to head now moving forward, and is a ninth season really going to happen or not?

As frustrating as it may be (and it is very frustrating, mind you), the jury is still out. Speaking in a new interview with TV Guide, executive producer and co-creator Carter Bays explained that he’d like to see the renewal situation handled by the end of the year, but that production is feared in way that they can write a certain amount of episodes before they start to prepare for what could be the end of the show:

“We’re going to write through [Episode] 14. We’re not quite at the point where we have to diverge paths [to a Season 8 ending or a Season 9 ending]. At least through 2012, what we’re working on works either way. I’m hoping we resolve that soon. We’re coming up against the edge now.”

Bays also teased a few storylines that are going to play a part through the rest of the season, including Ted dating a new woman (played by Abby Elliot) who is absolutely crazy, Lily having an interesting sort of career crisis, and Marshall still feeling the aftereffects of the pharmaceutical lawsuit that he “won,” but only in the technical sense given that he did not get anywhere close to the money he was hoping for. As for Barney and Robin, expect to see her keep up the pursuit of him moving forward, but do not anticipate a proposal happening for the two at least in the near future (and possibly not even this season, if the show is renewed).

If this season turns out to not be the last, what do you want to see unfold over the course of the season 8 as a whole? Be sure to share your thoughts below, and you can watch a sneak peek for Monday night’s episode over at the link here.

Photo: CBS