Ryan Reynolds and Sister-in-Law Robyn Lively Share Hilarious “Doogie Howser” Spoof to Roast Neil Patrick Harris as Deadpool’s New Voice
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In a playful nod to TV nostalgia and gaming fandom, Ryan Reynolds teamed up with his sister-in-law Robyn Lively to spoof the classic ’90s medical series Doogie Howser, M.D.—all in response to news that Neil Patrick Harris, the original Doogie star, is now lending his voice to Reynolds’ iconic character Deadpool in an upcoming video game.
The comedic clip finds Reynolds, 48, dressed in a white doctor’s coat, typing furiously on a retro desktop PC, channeling the teenage medical prodigy Doogie Howser. Suddenly, Robyn Lively, 53 — Blake Lively’s older sister and the actress who played Doogie’s love interest Michele Faber — pops up in the window and yells, “House call!”
Reynolds, clearly caught off guard, exclaims, “My girlfriend! What are you doing here? If my dad sees you, he’s gonna freak.” Robyn retorts cheekily, “You’re a 48-year-old man.” Undeterred, Reynolds leans into the bit: “I’m a 14-year-old medical prodigy who’s going through the change.” Robyn responds with mock innocence, “Are you talking about puberty?”
The back-and-forth continues with Reynolds joking, “Robyn, you’re being paid,” to which she shoots back, “This is vindictive and stupid.” “I disagree with that diagnosis,” Reynolds quips, maintaining his role as the self-aware Deadpool.
The spoof playfully acknowledges the upcoming Deadpool VR game by Meta Quest, in which Harris, 51, surprisingly voices Deadpool. The game’s synopsis teases the Merc with a Mouth’s misadventures in the Mojoverse, hinting at plenty of mischief and chaos ahead.
In the closing moments of the video, Reynolds awkwardly leans in as if to kiss Robyn, but quickly pulls back. “No, I don’t think we should do that, because—” he starts. The two interrupt each other simultaneously, Robyn snapping, “Because you are so dumb,” and Reynolds adding, “Because you’re my sister-in-law.”
Earlier in the spoof, Reynolds channels Doogie’s signature journal narration, musically lamenting, “Today, I learned a lesson about buttholes they don’t teach you in medical school. People who steal your signature role are the biggest buttholes of all.”
Despite the jokes, Reynolds expressed genuine admiration for Harris: “Neil Patrick Harris is an amazing actor with the nurturing voice of an angel, but even though I haven’t hit puberty yet, I still know when you’re getting totally screwed.”
The lighthearted parody is a witty celebration of Doogie Howser’s legacy and a cheeky commentary on the unexpected voice casting in Deadpool VR, showcasing Reynolds’ trademark humor and his fun family dynamic with Robyn Lively. Fans of the actor and the beloved ’90s show will no doubt appreciate this hilarious crossover moment.
