Britney Shows Charm On "Mother" Set

(CBS)  Britney Spears will reprise her role as Abby on CBS' Comedy "How I Met Your Mother" tonight and previews show she and Barney, Neil Patrick Harris' character, are united in their hate of Ted.

"They take it pretty far. It is quite, quite funny," says series co-star Alyson Hannigan, who plays Lily. "I don't want to give away the big spoilers, although I have seen it in the commercial. There could be a proposal. You never know."

Hannigan says working with Spears was a delight.

"She's very polite and sweet. She's got the southern charm. And she's just a -- you know, she comes in, she does her stuff. She's very funny. And really sweet. And she liked my dogs."

This is Spears' second time guest-starring on the show.

"We're all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again," said Craig Thomas, executive producer of the show. "And just to head it off at the pass this time around: Yes, Mom, Britney's very nice and no, I can't get her autograph for you."

This time around her character Abby will flaunt her "relationship" with Barney, in an attempt to get a rise out of Ted. Barney, who had a falling out with Ted, will even go as far as popping a surprising question to Abby to get to his former pal.



Of course, the camera is not on Spears for the entire episode. Hannigan's character has shopaholic tendencies that spiral out of control in this episode. So Marshall, her husband, sets up a Web site to sell her clothes in order to raise money.

"Actually," says Hannigan, "the Web site is real. And all the money's going to go to the Los Angeles Children's Hospital."

To bid on some of the outfits Hannigan has worn in the show, go to www.lilyandmarshallselltheirstuff.com

"I've picked a bunch of outfits that I wore on the show. I really felt like Lily," Hannigan says of the experience. She says she would hold up an outfit and think, "I love this dress" and then put it aside for charity because "it's a good cause."

[mhleta]

There are so many people in the world who are trying to pick themselves up, better themselves, be better parents, learn the difference between ''then'' and ''than'' and are doing so privately and with dignity. There are also many people infinitely more talented than BS who are laboring away in obscurity while America feeds its fasciination on emotional train wrecks and popular pornographers. I''m just asking for a little dignity and a little bit of artistic integrity. I wish her well. I just want her to show some pride and dignity.

[mhleta]

I spent the entire show cringing at the bad acting, the monumentally annoying speaking voice and the inordinately doughy body that is obviously still carrying around extra weight despite the press trying to convince us otherwise through some sort of magic in which the words "bikini body" are supposed to make us think she has one. When I wasn''t cringing, I was scratching my head and wondering, other than the freak factor, how on earth this woman manages continually to have herself served up as worthwhile entertainment. Other than the fact that she seemed sober, I don''t see obvious signs of "the work she is putting to get her life into order." As far as I can tell, she''s still obsessed with getting noticed for the sake of being noticed and not for any discernable artistry or talent. Please, Britney, lay low for a while longer. There''s so much more work to be done.

[dragonmouse-2009]

I think she had some REAL issues. She was surrounded by a lot of people that were taking advantage of her. They helped keep her drunk and drugged and she went into a very downward spiral from all the pressure. She rose fast and fell hard.

It looks like she''s coming around as a mother too..I do wish her the best.

[jeannec3]

Ahhhhhh Britney !!! Good for you ! Your picking yourself up by your bootstraps and heading back up the ladder !! I''m so proud of you !!! And what a great show and a great cast of characters to do it with !!! I hope they keep the character that played the Dr. on there too !!! I so wish I could remember her name !!! I just LOVE how Ted and her clicked together on the show !! These actors and actresses are just a great cast of characters on this show and bring so much laughter to a sad crazy world !!

[hypnotoad72]

ismetoo - I agree with you. I''ve heard a lot of positive press too. For Britney AND the media that was so zealous, these truly are wonderful changes.

And to those who want to be snide -- consider the work she is putting to get her life into order. People are worthy when they work to turn their lives around.

[ismetoo]

WELCOME BACK, BRITNEY! It is a pleasant change to just see positive press about you after the struggle you''ve had. Like it or not, IMHO, the Conservatorship was the best thing that could have happened to you. Sure, people are going to say negative things about you or laugh, but when so many things are wrong in this world, it''s nice to see something right happening for someone. I''m glad to see you''re pulling out of the spiral. I''m sure many people are rooting for you, so stay strong. Keep up the positive work!