I'm a huge fan of CBS' How I Met Your Mother. However, I'm not a Britney Spears fan, especially due to everything she did this past year. So when CBS announced a few weeks ago that Spears would guest star on the show, I was not a happy camper. That said, after watching the episode "Ten Sessions," I had to admit that Britney Spears gave a good enough performance as Abby, the crazy office assistant. But I was hoping that this would be the last we would see of Abby. The TV Fairy didn't hear my plea and decided that Spears could return for one more episode ... if planets aligned.
Even if she only had a minor role in the episode, Spears' appearance on HIMYM helped the show get record ratings. This big ratings push and the good press Brit got from this gig are probably the main reasons why both the show and Britney Spears are trying to have her return one more time. TV Guide's Michael Ausiello reports that Britney Spears' return as Ted's stalker will depend on her availability.
I'm torn by this announcement. I don't like Britney much but her appearance on the show helped get the needed ratings for a possible renewal (the show is still on the bubble). If it can help this gem of a show get another season, I guess I'm all for Spears returning as Abby and stalk Ted some more.
What do you think about this announcement? Should Spears come back? Let your voice be heard in comments below.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-03-2008 @ 9:37AM
Cristy said...
She can't act to save her life, but if it would help in keeping the show on the air, then sure.
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4-03-2008 @ 9:36AM
Tom said...
Honestly, my wife and I both thought she was very funny in the role. Granted, it sounds like the producers are simply taking advantage of the popular response they got to beat a somewhat dead horse -- but if she's as funny the second time around as she was the first, I'd be fine with it.
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4-03-2008 @ 9:47AM
MosquitoControl72 said...
I didn't even think it was good. She stuck out, I though, which was made worse by (as I'd mentioned before) all the close-ups they gave her.
Again, it might have all been in my head and I'd need to rewatch it, but I seem to remember nearly every other shot in the show having at least two cast members in it, but Spears constantly getting close ups of just her. It struck me as conspicuous.
Plus her plastic acting, which was passable only because her character was supposed to be awkward and weird. I felt that was more proper casting than good acting...
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4-03-2008 @ 10:29AM
GigG said...
Those weren't close-ups she has just gotten really fat.
4-03-2008 @ 12:10PM
Michael said...
she wasn't BAD but also not great either, but! if her return means Sarah Chalke returns then im totally ok w/ that
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4-03-2008 @ 10:23AM
KMF said...
Ugh are they trying to kill my love for this show? Britney is toxic to me. I just cannot tolerate her. I never have been able to stand her since the day she hit the big time. I'm happy that the show benefits which means getting another season or a ratings boost, but I feel like it's at a cost. Cost of the quality we all loved. It's like some kind of a pact with the devil. They made a mainstream grab for ratings. What if next time, she doesn't pull the ratings? Worse yet if she continues to pull those big ratings and they make her a regular!
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4-03-2008 @ 10:26AM
Isabelle Carreau said...
If she does appear a 2nd time and that she again gets "not that bad" reviews and good ratings, I fear they'll make her a recurring. If they make her a regular, I think a lot of fans will be unhappy. We are willing to tolerate her for a few episodes if it can help get a renewal but not more than that.
The WORSE case scenario though would be that she ends up being the mother!!! But it's highly unlikely since Abby is such a crazy person.
4-03-2008 @ 12:04PM
Jennifer said...
I somehow doubt they could get her as a regular. Y'know, with her uh, busy schedule and all.
I am not thrilled by this either- I hate that the show has to whore itself out to stay on the air by doing this. But she wasn't absymally horrible (not good, but not horrible), so I guess if it keeps the show on the air we'll all have to suck it up.
I just hated all the closeups too, especially since Sarah Chalke was really the star of that episode. I really hope they don't do an episode where she's the main focus of it.
That said, I guess it could be funny if she stalked Barney. Oh, wait, SHE could be the trashy blonde!
4-03-2008 @ 10:54AM
Wintermute said...
I didn't mind her in the one episode. I didn't think she was half bad, all things considered. And if stunt casting gets HIMYM off the bubble and into another season, then I can live with it.
'mute
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4-03-2008 @ 11:11AM
Alicia said...
Are you living in my brain? That is exactly what I was going to say!
4-03-2008 @ 10:57AM
SirRon said...
I can deal with Brit, if they would just get rid of that laugh track... it's ruining the show!!!
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4-03-2008 @ 11:31AM
kevjohn said...
Dumb idea. If they did that they'd actually have to put some funny jokes in the show so the folks at home will know when to laugh.
4-03-2008 @ 11:35AM
chgosaint said...
Can she be the one who is cockblocking Barney? Give her a total of two minutes airtime, but not much more.
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4-08-2008 @ 7:04PM
Faith said...
Gee, are they making her a regular? No? Then what's the big deal? No one's world is going to come to an end because they had to watch someone on tv for a few minutes. Let the woman try to get her life in order, and if it helps ratings, then it's a win/win situation.
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4-03-2008 @ 12:38PM
Sean said...
I don't have a problem with this possibility because How I Met Your Mother DOES bring minor characters back for second appearances quite a bit. The most recent episode featured the return of that girl Barney left at Marshall & Lily's new place and the one who though Barney was "Ted Mosby, Architect." I mean, if Abby was just played by some no name actress, no one would think anything of her coming back again; in fact, quite a few people would probably enjoy the callback to an earlier episode.
Is the fact that she's played by Britney Spears really so distracting? In my opinion she did a good job as Abby (not a great one, but a good one); she should be treated the same as any actress who did a decent job with their bit role. Is this reaction just because she's famous or because she's Britney Spears? If Serena Williams had played Abby, would you still feel so vehemently about it?
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4-03-2008 @ 12:57PM
TX2Step said...
Her appearance did work... people were talking about the show for the first time ever in the mainstream.
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4-03-2008 @ 1:36PM
Darren said...
If it helps bring the show back next season for a FULL season, bring her back 1 more time! Just get it on next season!
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4-03-2008 @ 2:34PM
Ashley Boyd said...
She was okay, and certainly tolerable if it means the show stays going (and as someone else said, particularly if Sarah Chalke also returns).
Plus, every tabloid mention of Britney now tends to include 'who recently guest starred on How I Met Your Mother' so thats always good.
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4-03-2008 @ 3:21PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
Maybe she could be the missing link to the pineapple incident? There has got to be a crazy reason for that and Abby is a little loco. That would work for me.
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6-14-2008 @ 3:40PM
Cassandra said...
When I saw the show with Ms.Spears I was really happy that Britney was on the show.
I will always support Brit as long as she in the bunniess
so if people have a problem with her well that is only for u and other people may agree with you nad some people may not
Britney I love
Please come back to Toronto,Canada WE LOVE YOU AND WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT YOU
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