Alyson Hannigan

"Is he short? He’s got to be short." That was my best friend’s first reaction when I told her I would be visiting the set of CBS’ How I Met Your Mother to watch Enrique Iglesias (left) shoot a guest spot. And while most stars seem more diminutive in person, I can definitively state that he was one of the tallest guys there (and his leather flip flops weren’t giving him any boost). I’m also happy to report the Latin singer is just as steamy to watch as you’d imagine (even discounting the stage makeup that made his cheeks rosier than usual).

Iglesias will appear in the new season’s first two episodes as Gael, an Argentinean heartthrob who accompanies Robin (Cobie Smulders) back to New York after they share a lusty vacation romance. He’s the sexy, wind-surfing, bongo-playing, vegan, hippie-ish masseur who has all the ladies swooning — including Lily (Alyson Hannigan). (Which, of course, doesn’t make her new hubbie Marshall, played by Jason Segel, very happy.) Playing the girl who finds love on vacation was new to Smulders. “I like to travel with my guy,” she says. “So I never found myself in that situation.”

It’s no surprise that Iglesias plays the hunk. "They always put me in that role," he acknowledged as he lounged on the set’s couch between takes. He doesn’t mind playing the heartthrob, as long as it’s "in a sarcastic, humorous way. … I like not taking myself too serious." Maybe not, but that didn’t stop Iglesias, clad in a casual turquoise hoodie and khakis, from drawing stares around the crowded set. "Enrique’s great, and not too hard to look at," observed Hannigan as Iglesias cruised past, glancing in our direction. "I said, You might be a little hot," she said to him, with a smile. "You’re not too bad on the eyes."

While all the costars enjoyed his charming presence around the set, onscreen, Gael and Robin’s new relationship causes stirs up some resentment amongst the friends. He’s mocked by all the guys — they not-so-lovingly call him "Male Gayle" — and tensions flare until they reach a dramatic climax…which will be revealed on the Sept. 24 season premiere.

The star-studded premiere will also feature Mandy Moore as Amy, Ted’s (Josh Radnor) rebound gal. Even though they locked lips onscreen, Radnor described the scenes as "the least intimate thing in the world — there’s 80 people watching! But she was really great, to say the least."

With new music released in June by both musicians, the two should be fresh in fans’ minds. When asked how he thinks audiences will react to the guest stars, Segel says, “Hopefully, it will be the same love they had for us before, but with a little extra cherry on top.”