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Britney meets bad role on "How I Met Your Mother"

BY VERNE GAY | verne.gay@newsday.com

March 25, 2008

Actor Josh Radnor as Ted, right, and guest star Britney Spears as Abby, in a scene from "How I met Your Mother." (AP Photo)

Believe me when I say, I feel bad for Britney Spears.

Feel bad she's had some problems. Feel bad for her kids. Bad, she married a loser. Bad, for the MTV thing. Bad, about the paparazzi. Bad, 12-year-olds aren't mimicking her midriff act anymore (no, feel good about that). Even sort of bad her music career - miracle notwithstanding - is over.

But after last night, bad has turned to "annoyed." Her cameo in "How I Met Your Mother" - Abby, the smitten receptionist - wasn't completely awful, but misguided and regrettable and really truly mystifying.

What was the point? To what end? Signifying what? Does anyone - anyone - with half a brain and (or) her best interests at heart give her counsel that suggests something like this just might not have the desired effect at career rehab? (Which it certainly didn't.)

Here's the problem. "How I Met Your Mother" is pretty much an average-to-occasionally-good sitcom - a shaggy dog story about how Ted (Josh Radnor) explains to his kids how he met their mother. It's featured flyby cameos for plenty of actors and other assorted hams - Wayne Brady, Heidi Klum, Enrique Iglesias, Mandy Moore, et cetera - which must have convinced Spears' handlers this was a reasonable start at reversing the tragic spectacle she's become in recent months. Only problem: The role was not funny, while she was required to perform in the same building with Sarah Chalke - Stella, the dermatologist Ted was hitting on - who's a particularly gifted TV comedy actress ("Scrubs.")

Spears' Abby, who was initially hot for Ted then for Barney ( Neil Patrick Harris), ends her brief sitcom career with this regrettable line to the latter: "If [the bed] is fixed, can we have sex on it and then go shopping?" Not quite "Gimme More" at the VMAs, but not far off either.