‘How I Met Your Mother’: Joe Manganiello returns (and he doesn’t look how you’d expect) — EXCLUSIVE PHOTO

Brad…my, how you’ve changed!

In the Nov. 12 episode of How I Met Your Mother, Joe Manganiello returns as Marshall’s old law school buddy, but as you’ll see from this exclusive first look, he’s looking a little unkempt.

Though definitely not the norm for the True Blood star, it got nothing but praise from Jason Segel, who applauded the actor’s willingness to play the HIMYM way. “Just knowing that Joe has that crazy body underneath that fake gut that we put on him — it’s just hilarious to me. He has no sense of vanity despite having every right to have one,” he told EW.

Image Credit: Richard Cartwright/CBS

We’re guessing what follows the encounter above has something to do with the logline just released by CBS, which reads: “Marshall recommends his old law school classmate Brad for a job at his firm, but the interview goes awry, leaving Marshall to do damage control with his boss.” (In other words: YES, we will see him in a suit. Whew!)

As previously reported, Manganiello will return for two episodes of HIMYM. The second airs Nov. 19.

(With reporting by Emily Rome)

Want more HIMYM? Read our recaps:
‘How I Met Your Mother’ recap: Family

More coverage:
‘HIMYM’ star Josh Radnor: Don’t stunt cast the mother!