"How I Met Your Mother" star Neil Patrick Harris pulled lots of laughs from audiences as a host on Saturday Night Live this weekend.

SNL was back after the holiday season with Neil Patrick Harris hosting the NBC show for the first time, which has been a dream come true for him ever since Fred Savage stole his spot in 1990. Joining him as the musical guest was country music singer Taylor Swift, whose latest album "Fearless" has been making waves since its release late last year.

The pouring reviews of Harris' performance praised the actor's talent placing him on top of the funniest things list since Tina Fey quit playing Sarah Palin.

Harris's monologue was dedicated to Fred Savage who got to host SNL as a kid, instead of him in his "Doogie Houser" days. "How I Met Your Mother's" title was then used for a series of crude jokes by some New York fans.

Neil Patrick Harris, who was nominated for a Golden Globe award this year for his performance on "How I Met Your Mother", has been seen on Broadway in "Assassins," "Cabaret" and "Proof." He appeared in the Geffen Playhouse's production of "All My Sons" as well as the L.A. company of "Rent," the Reprise! production of "Sweeney Todd" and the London mounting of "tick, tick . . . BOOM!"  On screen he starred in "Undercover Brother," "Doogie Howser, M.D.," "Stark Raving Mad" and "Joan of Arc."