Alyson Hannigan

Jason Segel is the sweet-faced actor who makes Marshall on "How I Met Your Mother" one of the most likeable characters on TV.

The popular CBS sitcom began its first season with Marshall asking his sweetheart Lily (Alyson Hannigan) to marry him and ended with them breaking up. But Segal, 26, promises that when the second season kicks off Sept. 19, Marshall will still melt female fans’ hearts, even without Lily by his side.

The Los Angeles-born Segal won’t be so adorable in "Knocked Up," a comedy about a jerky guy who accidentally impregnates his one-night stand. The Judd Apatow ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin") flick is due in theaters next year. Here’s what Segel chatted about at the 2006 TCA Press Tour:

On "How I Met Your Mother" the hit: "I did ’Freaks and Geeks’ (NBC, 2000) and then ’Undeclared’ (Fox, 2002), and they were both critically acclaimed shows that did horribly ratings-wise and got canceled immediately. From those experiences, I learned not to go there in terms of expectations and whether or not it will make it. I just show up and try to do as good a job as I can."

On how he’s like Marshall: "I’m single for the first time in six years, like Marshall. I haven’t been single since high school. All of a sudden, the ground rules have changed. Like, it’s not leading up to French kissing in the back seat anymore. It’s pretty terrifying. There’s no prom to invite a girl to."

On Detroit and ex-Pistons center Ben Wallace: "I’m very upset with you guys. I’m furious. I’m not happy about Ben Wallace. You traded a man who embodied the identity of the team. Not just because of the Afro, but he is the underdog. He was never drafted and he came to the Pistons and now I was a Lakers fan until they traded Shaq. It was very similar to the Ben Wallace trade. But I’m not rooting for the Chicago Bulls. I don’t like Ben Wallace that much."