I'm not really sure how to process this news: according to Kristin Dos Santos of E! Online, Britney Spears will guest on an episode of How I Met Your Mother. Dos Santos got the word directly from the show's reps at Fox and from a rep for HIMYM show-runners Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, so the information seems to be solid.The role Britney will likely play is Abby, a girl who works in a doctor's office Ted will frequent (I'm guessing it's the offices of the doctor that will be played by Alicia Silverstone). Abby is supposed to be "sweet and friendly and scattered and a little nerdy-a female Michael Cera." I'm sure Michael Cera would be thrilled to hear that. Anyway, Britney is scheduled to appear on the show's 14th episode, which is only three episodes into its post-strike comeback (which starts on Monday March 17 at 8:30 ET).
I'm really not sure what Bays' and Thomas' motivation was to cast the world's biggest tabloid punching bag. Sure the show, which seems to be perpetually on the bubble, needs some publicity. But you'd think these guys wouldn't stoop to such stunts. Of course, for all I know, she put the word out that she was a big fan of the show, the guys saw her read some lines, and thought she would do a good job. I want to convince myself that that's the case. Either way, let's hope Brit was on her meds when shooting her scenes; that would probably help her comic timing, don't you think?
(UPDATE: My own sources at the show confirm this. They also confirm that Britney's folks approached Bays and Thomas with the idea. All I have to say is: I hope this works.)
[thanks to Kim for the tip.]
The Dharma Initiative wants you - VIDEO - Comic-Con Report
Forget the Knight Rider movie, say the series creators - TCA Report
Giveaway Monday: TV Funhouse
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-10-2008 @ 6:28PM
Jake said...
NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Sigh. I guess viewers will have to Suck It Up Suit Up on this one. This is worse casting news than when one of the Olsen twins went on Weeds. Maybe people who follow Britney Spears will start watching the show, but do we really want those kind of unstable viewer?
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 6:31PM
Steve said...
I though Carter and Bays were much smarter than this, i mean its been clearly demonstrated that she can't act. This may be the one HIMYM episode that i do not look forward to watching.
I know how Britney will prepare for this she'll SLUT UP!
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 7:23PM
GameJerk said...
meh. As long as HIMYM gets some more viewers i'm all for it. As long as they don't use this as a crutch and have guest stars all the time.
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 8:29PM
Aevum said...
whats the idea of putting britney spears to work in a clinic ? discount of VD treatments ?
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 8:30PM
Bash said...
Effing stupid stunt.
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 8:41PM
J said...
I just started to watch this show from the strike, and there it goes and slaps me (moreso faithful viewers) in the face.
Britney is under the line on the hot/crazy scale. Wait a second.. didn't the Vicky character who bounced around that chart shave her head?
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 8:46PM
c_apon said...
Hello, shark. Are you ready to be jumped?
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 9:47PM
John Darc said...
this is really, really bad. so bad, it's not even worth joking about.
Reply
3-10-2008 @ 10:44PM
Justin said...
This is mind boggling. Why, why, why would they cast her? Coming off the Alicia Silverstone news and a chance for me to re-live my crush on the Aerosmith girl, this is just the worst news. How will it all go? There's already a lot of comments on my HIMYM site:
http://www.have-you-met-ted.com/
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 12:37AM
khamel said...
im psyched. i never really thought or cared for britney spears (except for my mild obsession with 'toxic' during my vegas spring break 4 years ago) but after reading her 'expose' in rolling stone im addicted. shes such a train wreck, theres no way this could fail!
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 1:03AM
Jennifer said...
Dude, odds are extremely high that she won't show up to the set, and will crap (literally) all over it or something equally batshit if she does show. They can't think this will end well and she can actually "play a part" (or show up, stay sober for a few hours and read lines off a teleprompter), can they?!
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 1:51AM
Brent McKee said...
As long as Britney doesn't turn out to be "The Mother" it's okay.
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 4:13AM
PurpleSlog said...
If this gets the network to renew it for another season I am okay with it.
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 7:27AM
KMF said...
AAARRGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love HIMYM but this is one episode, at least I hope it will be just ONE episode, I may not watch! I can't stand Britney. She's totally tainted one of my favourite shows. I thought Carter and Bays were above such crappy stunts. This is a show that used Violent Femmes, and Roxy Music, and they think of Britney?!
Oh and yeah she showed up. She decided it was better to go to the set than go to her court date that day. That's work ethic!
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 11:54AM
George said...
Actually, it would by hysterical if Britney's character *did* turn out to be the mother. For one thing, it would explain why Ted wound up with sole custody.
Seriously, though, Bays and Carter know what they're doing. We're talking about one guest star who does a couple of scenes in, by all accounts, a single episode. If that's all it takes to kill HIMYM, it was already on life support. Give the show a chance to work some magic.
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 11:56AM
George said...
Whoops -- I meant Bays and *Thomas* in my previous post.
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 12:55PM
kevjohn said...
I may have said this before, but I'm really glad I never bothered watching this show. :)
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 3:54PM
Mike said...
No good can come of this, unless they just have NPH berate her for 22 minutes.
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 8:25PM
Jen said...
She's not given a huge role, just something cheesy and fun. If the writers and such are OK with it then we will live with it. And from a PR perspective - HIMYM got front page yahoo news headline for most of the day and this is bouncing around everywhere. Kudos to HIMYM for taking on the challenge.
Reply
3-11-2008 @ 8:55PM
jeff stiefer said...
jeez....first Paris on My Name is Earl and now this? What the hell is going on over there?
So help me god if Lindsay Lohan pops up on 30 Rock...
Reply