How I Met Your Mother: Britney Spears comes back tonight

No British accent. No tabloid-style outbursts. Just Britney Spears, actress, guest-starring as a love-struck receptionist tonight on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother (8:30 ET/PT).
Spears was unavailable for comment, but she is said to be a fan and learned of the role this month when casting notices went out to agents.

“I thought I was hallucinating when I got the call,” says executive producer Carter Bays. “Our intention was to give a funny little part to an up-and-coming actress. Instead, we got the most downloaded person in the world.”

Series star Josh Radnor says the cast tried to provide “a nice safe place” for Spears, whose erratic behavior, child custody disputes and other issues ranging from hairstyles to driving have long been gossip fodder.

There were no shenanigans on the Mother set, where Spears spent two days filming. Her character, Abby, is transformed from prim mouse to sexpot. “It’s a cute, funny role, and she ended up being great in it,” Radnor says. “She’s actually very vulnerable and sweet.”

FIND MORE STORIES IN: CBS Corp. | Grace | Century Fox | Spears | Britney | Met Your Mother | Abby | Carter Bays | Josh Radnor
Despite Spears’ star status, there was normalcy during her few days with cast and crew. “There were no diva moments. She’s a professional,” Bays says. “Her people … her parents were there. She seemed to have a good time. I think she was grateful to be here.”

But Mother got a taste of Spears’ paparazzi appeal as helicopters flew above the 20th Century Fox lot. Security was beefed up to keep onlookers away, and cast and crew had to wear security wristbands, says Radnor, who disputed rumors that the cast had to approve Spears’ appearance first.

“We both screwed up our lines (during taping) and made fun of ourselves,” Radnor says. “She definitely has comedic instincts. She made funny line readings (during script read-throughs). That’s the sign of a good comedic actor.”

PR experts say Spears’ guest shot — her first on a sitcom since Will & Grace in 2006 — should do a lot to polish her tarnished media image.

“This will be remembered as the beginning of the return of Britney as an actress, a personality, as someone trying to be normal in a pretty crazed world,” says media and crisis management consultant Robbie Vorhaus. “Good for her.”

It seems almost everybody wants a piece of Britney Spears, and at least six pieces are officially for sale.

Spears’ wardrobe from her guest-starring stint on CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother” will be sold at an online auction to benefit the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental organization.

The weeklong auction begins Monday night, just after the episode featuring the pop star is set to air. Spears plays a flirty receptionist who falls for show’s main character.

Actor Josh Radnor as Ted, right, and guest star Britney Spears as Abby, in a scene from “How I met Your Mother.” Spears’ wardrobe from her guest-starring stint on the show will be sold at an online auction beginning Monday, March 24, 2008, the same day the episode featuring the pop star is set to air.

A half-dozen Spears-worn items will be available, including a navy print Juicy Couture dress, a yellow Nannette Lepore dress and a cream Nannette Lepore cardigan with blue flower details.

CBS and 20th Century Fox Television, which produces the show, are sponsoring the auction.

Brite is my favorite. She is a talent girl. I like her. Some of her fans found her on a millionaire&celebs club meetingwealthy.com. She has a personal account there with her pictures, blog…In her friend circle, some other stars can be found there.

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