CBS

Is Neil Patrick Harris the new Jamie Spears?

Well, no, but it’s clear he and the rest of the How I Met Your Mother clan have done Britney a world of good. Her second cameo on the show is slated to run May 12, and she looks positively radiant about it all.

Is it too late to petition the court for a new conservator?

CLIFF LIPSON/CBS

Neil Patrick Harris and Britney Spears as a couple? It had never crossed our minds, but even we have to admit this is a pretty cute shot.

The pic comes from the May 12 episode of How I Met Your Mother, in which Brit reprises her role as Abby the receptionist.

"I had such a great experience the last time I was on the show that I couldn't wait to come back," says Brit. "I was really looking forward to working with this cast and crew again."

Now if we can just get her to do a duet with Robin Sparkles, that would be golden.

Well, she had to do something to pay all those legal fees.

Britney Spears has signed on to guest star in an upcoming episode of CBS' critical darling sitcom How I Met Your Mother. A rep for show runners Carter Bays and Craig Thomas tells E! Online's TV blog that the casting coup "is true."

Spears' role is, for the time being, slated to be a one-episode endeavor, and will likely air toward the end of April.

The casting coup, first reported by Pink Is the New Blog, accounts for why the Blackout artiste was not present for her morning custody hearing. Spears instead spent the morning hours on the Fox lot along with her agent for a read-through of the episode.

Sources tell E! News that Spears will play a character called Abby, who works in the doctor's office of Ted, the main character played by Josh Radnor. Spears' role is described as "sweet and friendly and scattered and a little nerdy—a female Michael Cera."

Papa Jamie Spears no doubt approves of the paying gig. As the coconservator of her estate, he has final say over any contracts or deals his star spawn may enter into, at least until July 31.

The Britney Spears-starring episode of the CBS sitcom will be the third the cast and crew will film since returning from the writers' strike-imposed hiatus, and the 14th of the season. New episodes begin airing next Monday.

How I Met Your Mother, which also stars Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segal, is currently in its third season. It revolves around Ted, who recounts to his children the shenanigans of, as the title suggests, how he met their mom.

Life is good for Neil Patrick Harris. Someone should tell his publicist.

In an interview with People magazine Friday, the How I Met Your Mother star happily confirmed that he is gay, just two days after his rep issued a release saying the actor is "not of that persuasion." 

Publicist Craig Schneider's likely well-intentioned yet misinformed statement came in response to a Canada.com news brief reporting that Harris had helped his "longtime sweetheart," actor David Burtka, land a role on his hit CBS sitcom. 

While it isn't known whether Harris knew Schneider had issued such a flat-out denial about his sexual orientation, the stage and screen star had no problem setting the record straight afterward. 

"The public eye has always been kind to me, and until recently, I have been able to live a pretty normal life," Harris, whose big break came playing teenage genius Doogie Howser, M.D.in the early 1990s, told People.  

"[I] am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love," he said. 

Harris became the third big name this year to use People as a launching pad for coming out to the masses.

First former 'N Sync member Lance Bass confirmed rumors in July that he was in a committed relationship with Amazing Race winner Reichen Lehmkuhl, saying he's "more liberated and happy" than he's ever been in his life. The duo has since been presented with the Human Rights Campaign's Visibility Award.   

Grey's Anatomy cutie T.R. Knight followed suit last month, telling People he hoped to "quiet any unnecessary rumors" that may have sprung up in the wake of reports that castmate Isaiah Washington had leveled an antigay slur at him. (Which he apparently had, because Washington later apologized for his "unfortunate use of words.") 

Taking his cue from others who wanted to nip the rumor mill in the bud, Harris, who was also singled out in People's Hottest Bachelors issue this summer, said: "Rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions." 

Harris, who had a cameo as a tripped-out version of himself in the cult favorite Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, filled his time between sitcoms (Doogie ended in 1993) with a number of TV guest spots (including the almost-mandatory turn as a serial killer on one of the Law & Order shows), small film roles and high-profile theater work. The 33-year-old actor's stage credits include leads in Proof, Sweeney Todd, Amadeus, Rent and Cabaret.             

CBS doled out a generous helping of renewals Monday, issuing full-season orders for a total of 14 series.

The network demonstrated its faith in freshman programs Criminal Minds, The Ghost Whisperer and How I Met Your Mother, rewarding each show with a second-season pickup.

Cop drama Criminal Minds, starring Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini and Shemar Moore, became the second most-watched new show of the season, averaging 13.3 million viewers despite facing off against ABC ratings powerhouse Lost.

Eerie newcomer Ghost Whisperer, which stars Jennifer Love Hewitt as a woman who has the ability to communicate with the dead and relay their messages to the living, has also performed well for the network, routinely winning its Friday time slot.

Balancing out the drama with a little comedy, How I Met Your Mother, starring Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, Neil Patrick Harris and Cobie Smulders, has averaged 10.1 million viewers and leads its time period in key demographics.

In a no-brainer move, CBS also renewed a slew of familiar fare, giving full-season pickup orders to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, NCIS, Numb3rs, Without a Trace, Cold Case, Survivor, The Amazing Race, Two and a Half Men and 60 Minutes.

Currently in its sixth season, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation remains television's most-watched scripted show, averaging 25 million viewers each week. Its spinoffs have also proved to be winners, with CSI: Miami, averaging 17.8 million viewers as it heads into its fifth season and CSI: NY drawing an average of 14.2 million viewers as it enters its third season.

Criminal dramas have undoubtedly served the network well, and as a result CBS keeps packing them into its schedule, with NCIS and Cold Case now in their third seasons, Numb3rs in its second season and Without a Trace heading into its fifth season.

Globetrotting and triple Emmy-winning reality series The Amazing Race will return to the network for its 10th edition, while Survivor will beach itself for its 13th and 14th editions.

Two and a Half Men, heading into its fourth season, continues to rank as television's top comedy, drawing an average of 15.3 million viewers.

The clock keeps ticking for 60 Minutes, as the newsmagazine marches into its 39th season, making it the longest running primetime program on the air.

"These series are the foundation of a schedule that is broader and deeper than any on television," Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement announcing the renewals. "From the start of the night through 11 p.m., from Monday through Sunday, CBS is populated with successful programs on every night and in every time period--many of which are number one in their time period, and some even number one on the entire night."

The network did not reveal the fates of shows including freshman drama Threshold and comedies Yes, Dear, Still Standing, King of Queens and Out of Practice. The full schedule won't be announced until May.

In other renewal news, Bravo announced plans to bring Project Runway back for a third season. The show's second season has set record ratings and consistently ranks as cable's number one show on Wednesday nights.