It’s hard to believe it was only 8 years ago but before Neil Patrick Harris made a cameo as himself in the stone comedy Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle he was nothing much more than that kid actor who was Doogie.

Man, times have changed.  Neil Patrick Harris has reinvented his career and he’s been propelled into the top of the acting world. He’s a Broadway star, hosted awards and he’s the star of the hit CBS show How I Met Your Mother.

It’s been a nice ride for NPH since he took the role of mocking himself in a silly comedy.

So with A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas coming out on Blu-Ray and DVD today, a day they’re calling  Neil Patrick Harris Appreciation Day ,we’re taking a look back at some of the best Neil Patrick Harris’ best moments.

And yes, we’ll be forgetting about The Smurfs.  Every comeback has a speed bump on occasion.

Neil Patrick Harris Meets Harold and Kumar

Here’s where it all began. Two stones pick up a hitchhiker on the side of a woody road at night and it turns out to be NPH! Geeked out on Ex, NPH rants some nasty non-Doogie type lines that cracked us all up.

Neil Patrick Harris’ 2011 Tony Awards Opening Number

NPH has an extremely broad appeal a thanks to his Internet status, comedic timing and singing.

Not many guys can pull it off as being a sexy lead on a TV show or movie and then belting out tunes on Broadway without losing respect but NPH can do it all.  During the 2011 Tonys he gave one of the best opening numbers to an award show ever.

I don’t even watch the Tonys, and I bet you don’t either, but you’ll see what I mean with this number called “Broadway, it’s not just for gays anymore.”

Barney Stinson Doogie Howser reference

C’mon, we all know he was once Doogie Howser, MD. Why not have fun with it? In this clip from How I Met Your Mother, Barney pulls out a sweet Doogie moment.

Neil Patrick Harris scene from “A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas”

NPH and Lunch Lady Scooter show their real love

Harold & Kumar 2- Neil Patrick Harris takes shrooms

NPH is tripping out on shrooms and listening to one of the best songs in the world when he just happens, for the second time, to run into Harold and Kumar in the middle of nowhere.

And yes, it’s got the awesome unicorn scene in it!

Neil Patrick Harris Can’t Take a Bad Picture

Barney finds it easy to be perfect. Here the camera, like his audience, loves NPH so much they can’t see him in a bad pose. His friend Robin is obsessed with taking a bad picture of Barney which is not possible. Or is it?.

Slapsgiving

One of the best parts of HIMYM are the Slapsgiving bets. Nothing like seeing Barney get all girlie at the prospect of getting slapped.