'How I Met Your Mother' Books Post-'SNL' Abby Elliott

In a move that might pique the interest of those on the ongoing Mother-watch, How I Met Your Mother has cast a familiar face for an arc on its upcoming eighth season.

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A CBS rep confirms to The Hollywood Reporter that Abby Elliott, who recently departed a four-season gig at Saturday Night Live, will join the cast for multiple episodes.

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As first reported by EW, Elliott will play Janeane, a "crazy" girl who catches the eye of one of the gang. The choice of adjective should answer any questions that she might also be playing a long-term interest for Ted (Josh Radnor).

Elliott's gig is being described as an arc, though she won't appear until the second half of the season in 2013.

How I Met Your Mother, which returns Sept. 24, is in negotiations for a possible early ninth-season renewal that likely would kick off an endgame for the series.