'HIMYM' exec: 'New season is best yet'

The creator of How I Met Your Mother has claimed that the upcoming sixth season will be the best yet.

Carter Bays admitted to TV Guide that the show had suffered a creative slump in the previous year.

"At the end of last season, I think we were all feeling really old, and there's been kind of a rejuvenation around here," he claimed. "I think a lot of it has to do with the stories of the season."

He explained that new episodes will move away from stand-alone stories and return to the series arc as Ted (Josh Radnor) searches for a wife.

"While it was fun doing the stand-alones, there's a bit of amnesia every week," he said. "You keep hitting the reset button. This year, we won't do that as much. If you only see one episode, it'll be funny and you'll totally enjoy it, but if you stick with it, you'll be rewarded for it."

Bays also suggested that he would like the sitcom to continue for at least two more seasons.

"Eight seasons will be great," he admitted. "If it's more than that, it'll be great too. We'll definitely do this for as long as we're having fun. We know where we will end up and this year will kick-start that eventual final chapter."

How I Met Your Mother returns to CBS tonight at 8/7c.