Britney Is Gone, "How I Met Your Mother" Isn't

Relax, people. "How I Met Your Mother" is coming back, regardless of how lousy Britney Spears was on last night's episode. And she was pretty lousy.

There are several reports that CBS has passed along an official bro handshake to the producers, even though the announcement won't be made till later this week. You have to wonder what the hell took the network so long; supposedly one bigwig just doesn't think the show is funny, unlike every critic in America and a growing cadre of viewers. Because, you know, it's what executives think is funny that makes a show a success or not. Sigh.

I really hope we've seen the last of "Abby," the nutso receptionist played by nutso pop tart Spears. Despite the ratings bump she brought in her cameo a few weeks ago, last night she simply dragged down the show. Compared to the travails of the ever-winning Allyson Hanigan's Lily on the episode, Spears' acting was skit-night-at-rehab bad. Certainly Neil Patrick Harris has been punished enough for saying publicly a couple of weeks ago that he thought the show was doing just fine without this kind of stunt casting; he shared just about every scene with her.

In a semi-related CBS comedy note, lots of folks are surprised about "New Adventures of Old Christine." It was widely expected to move to ABC, but instead CBS reupped it with a full 22-episode order for the season.

Comments

[oakling]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!

And also: the face Neil is making in this shot looks adorably and hilariously like the ones that Justin Timberlake makes as the host of "City Vibin'" on the latest Gnarls Barkly video.