While How I Met Your Mother echoes other successful sitcoms like Friends that follow a group of friends in New York City, it stands apart through its unique framing device and main character. The show is told through flashbacks and flashforwards by Ted Mosby in 2030 as he recounts to his children the story of how he met their mother between 2005-2030. Like Friends, it centers around Ted, Marshall, Lily, Barney, and Robin who hang out at a favorite bar. However, it differs through its sole focus on Ted's journey to find love and the mystery of how he ultimately meets his future wife.