These Are the Casting Days of ‘How I Met Your Mother’

This is just like a darn soap opera.

When I finished writing this post the first time last weekend, the title was “How I Met Your Mother Snags Alicia Silverstone.” I then moved on to something else and promptly forgot to publish it.

By the time I remembered the post, more stuff had happened. So, I renamed the article “How I Met Your Mother Snags Alicia Silverstone and Britney Spears.”

That was last night. Now even more stuff has happened, and I’ve renamed the post yet again, scrapping any direct references to guest stars all together should additional casting developments occur. This time I haven’t forgotten to publish, though, as you can clearly see.

First: The Old News

TV Guide reported last week that the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother will get a new recurring guest star soon, namely Clueless and Miss Match star Alicia Silverstone.

According to the magazine’s original story, Silverstone would appear in a multi-episode storyline, portraying a doctor and romantic interest for main character Ted. The piece even speculated the actress could be the title mother who has eluded curious fans from the show’s beginning.

Since nobody at CBS was saying then, of course, it looked like viewers would just have to wait and see what happens when the show returns with new episodes on March 17th.

Now: The New News

On Monday, People magazine confirmed a post on Pink Is the New Blog stating that HIMYM has acquired yet another high-profile guest star, none other than current media obsession Britney Spears. Despite the very public personal turmoil that consumes the celebrity’s life at the moment, fans of HIMYM, which is perpetually on the so-called renewal “bubble,” should welcome the increased audience her presence will no doubt bring.

Spears will likely appear on an early April episode. And, if anyone should doubt her ability to get the job done, just remember how effective her performance was when she briefly joined NBC’s Will & Grace in April 2006 as a conservative talk show host. Her latest TV gig is definitely something to look forward to, for better or worse.

Pink Is the New Blog also passed along rumors that Silverstone’s role is now a no-go because her representatives don’t want her upstaged by Spears. What a shame because Silverstone is a talented actress in her own right — she has nothing to fear but the bizarre adoration that Spears receives from hordes of gossipmongers and wannabes.

Finally: The Newest News

Alicia Silverstone almost certainly will not guest star on HIMYM in the role referred to earlier by TV Guide because it has since been taken by Scrubs star Sarah Chalke. Nice!

Moreover, the multi-episode stint will also probably become a one-shot deal, which means Silverstone/Chalke’s dermatologist character likely isn’t the title mother anymore. Spears’ role is as the skin doc’s receptionist, so let’s pray she’s not mom either, simply because one episode is enough BS for the sitcom.

Epilogue

There’s a tiny bit of consolation for Silverstone fans, as well. TV Guide hints that HIMYM showrunners adore the actress — as they should; she’s quite lovable — and hope to create another future role for her.

That sounds good to me. And, please — don’t cast Lindsay Lohan or Amy Winehouse or whatever other celebrity wreck at the same time.