Barney Stinson vs Sheldon Cooper

[Holdfast]

But people saying that Barney is somehow likeable is puzzling to me.

Barney is just a chance for Neil to have a shitload of fun and even get paid for it. The show isn't afraid of letting that shine through, as seen in the musical scene up there or that Doogie Howser scene.
Part of the fun behind this character is how he's so similar to the actor playing him and yet so completely different in other regards (e.g., Neil is openly gay, has been in in a committed relationship for years and is a proud father of twins).

Oh yeah I realize that. I love NPH, and I think the Barney character is incredibly entertaining.

But Barney as a nice guy? Naahhh.

Oh, I agree that he's not really a nice guy, but you don't need to be nice to be likeable. Some of the most likeable & charming people I know aren't nice. Sheldon is entertaining to watch, but rather irritating. He's certainly a much nicer person than Barney, but I don't really like him. Barney would be great fun to hang out with; Sheldon wouldn't be. You just wouldn't ever let Barney get close to you (mind you, you probably wouldn't want to let Sheldon get too close either! ).

 

[FPAlpha]

I think you are a little off concerning Barney.. if you are an attractive woman don't count to have something meaningful with Barney (unless you are Robin Sherbatsky) but if you manage to become a friend of his you've really got a friend.

He will come through everytime you need him.. might not happen as you expect and with more sexual innuendo than you're comfortable with but you knew what you were getting when you became Barney's friend.

As Ted said in season 1 about Barney: "I never got where i wanted to go but i always got a great story"

To a different degree the same applies to Sheldon.. a few episodes back there was one of the most heartfelt scenes with him when he pleaded to Penny to "Please don't hurt my friend" after he found out that Penny had second thoughts about being with Leonard and was considering breaking up with him again.

Sheldon may be annoying as hell and sometimes i wonder too why the others put up with him he's like the weird uncle.. sometimes unbearable when he's around but you'd still miss him if he were gone.