‘How I Met Your Mother’ Season 8: Is This the Last Season After All?

TV shows so rarely get the opportunity to go out on their own terms, as networks vie to keep them on the air as long as possible to maximize profit. That rings especially true for 'How I Met Your Mother,' which we've been hearing for months now might move onto a ninth season if CBS can successfully negotiate with the cast and crew. But with the 'How I Met Your Mother' season 8 premiere only days away, what are the show-runners saying about the gang's last year?

We're days away from the premiere of 'How I Met Your Mother' season 8, a prospect made even more daunting by the fact that we don't yet know if it's the last! CBS has been very vocal in its desire to continue the exploits of Ted, Robin, Barney, Marshall and Lily for an additional year, particularly given its other flagship comedy 'Two and a Half Men' may not return next year either.

Still, with the writing process already begun, are 'HIMYM' creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays looking at the current season as the last? It seems so, according to comments from a recent press screening of 'How I Met Your Mother' season 8 premiere "Farhampton":

That premiere is the first episode of the final season of 'How I Met Your Mother.'  I don’t feel like we pulled any punches. That’s the premiere of the last season of 'How I Met Your Mother' for sure, ultimately.

We’re writing this season like it’s the end and we’ll have to sort of figure it out and have a Plan A and a Plan B going, and we’re approaching the moment where those two things will diverge. But we really feel like this launches the last season of 'How I Met Your Mother.'

Of course, the duo were quick to explain that they'd be happy to return for an additional season if CBS negotiates all the contracts, but that they'd need to know soon so as not to waste work since the current season is in mind to be the last. They also clarified that looking at the current season as the last imbues them with a sense of excitement, perhaps more-so than dragging things out another year.

Regardless, Bays and Thomas remain adamant that a ninth season wouldn't move forward without all five cast members Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Segel and Alyson Hannigan on board.

What say you? Would you like to see 'How I Met Your Mother' season 9 come to fruition, even if Carter Bays and Craig Thomas look at the upcoming season as the last? Tell us what you think in the comments, and be sure to check out the 'How I Met Your Mother' season 8 premiere on Monday, September 24!