'How I Met Your Mother' renewed for a ninth and final season

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Jason Segel, Neil Patrick Harris and Alyson Hannigan have signed on for a ninth and final season of their U.S. sitcom, "How I Met Your Mother," CBS said.

Series regulars Josh Radnor and Cobie Smulders, as well as series creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, will return for the last season in which audiences will finally learn the identity of the titular mother, CBS Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television announced Wednesday.

"Through eight years, 'How I Met Your Mother,' has mastered the art of leading-edge comedy, emotional water-cooler moments and pop culture catch phrases," Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement. "We are excited for Carter, Craig, Pam Fryman and this amazing cast to tell the final chapter and reveal television's most mysterious mother to some of TV's most passionate fans."

"We're thrilled to have the entire and incredibly talented 'How I Met Your Mother' cast back for one final season to bring the series to a proper close," said Dana Walden and Gary Newman, chairmen of 20th Century Fox Television, in a joint statement.

"Carter Bays and Craig Thomas are masterful and hilarious storytellers, and we have no doubt that they will guide one of the greatest comedies of the last decade to a gratifying conclusion when they finally reveal the identity of the mother."