Britney Spears

Former neighbors and current pals Britney Spears and Mel Gibson spend some more time together Tuesday - at an exclusive Beverly Hills cigar club.

The singer and the actor-filmmaker met in what was considered more of an ongoing guidance session than a business meeting, sources say.

Mel Gibson and his wife Robin have taken Britney Spears under their wing since her meltdowns earlier this year, meeting with her regularly.

At the posh Havana Club, a tired-looking Spears arrived with her personal assistant, Brett and a bodyguard to meet Mel around 7:30.

"She looked pretty in her new Capri jeans a blue blouse, white shoes and a brown bag," said a celebrity gossip photographer on the scene.

Troubled stars Britney Spears and Mel Gibson have forged a friendship.

Britney was described as quiet and serious - by contrast, an upbeat Mel Gibson walked in holding a bag up to his face and saying "okay, you got me" as celebrity news photographers crowded around to snap his picture.

Once neighbors in Malibu (Spears now lives in Studio City), Britney and Mel began spending time together in March. In May, Gibson and his wife, and Britney and her dad, Jamie Spears, vacationed together in Costa Rica.

We all remember the days when Britney Spears was best known not for psychotic meltdowns, but for titillating dance routines... her perfect, toned body gyrating feverishly and nearly spilling out of her skimpy outfits.

Gulp.

Here's a blast from the past below. As you can see from one of her most memorable routines, Britney Spears is working that pole like a pro and belting out a lip-synched version of her 2000 hit, "Crazy."

OR IS SHE?

Is this a vintage photo of the singer herself circa 2000, or just a wax figure replica, complete with wax headset and stripper pole?

You decide in this edition of Real or Wax ...

Follow the jump to find out the answer ...

Blonde, tan and wearing what appears to be a rainbow apron or some sort of poncho, an increasingly sane, but still rather acne riddled and trashy-looking Britney Spears stepped out for a meal in West Hollywood, Calif., on Friday.

Reportedly, she met up with friend and ex-manager Larry Rudolph.

Hopefully if he takes over the reins of her career again, as has been rumored, he'll put her in better outfits than this. Are you serious? Who exchanges money for this crap? And who dresses Britney before she leaves the house?

Prepare to shield your eyes from this celebrity fashion atrocity ...

How do you feel about Britney Spears' outfit: Love it or Shove it?

With the possible exceptions of those crotch shot pics from late 2006, of course. If you're a reader who's into that sorta thing.

Regardless, this was taken yesterday, while the star played with her oldest son. A classic. Amazingly, we didn't photoshop it...

Ding dangit, I'm tard, y'all. I gone go sit in Preston's car!

Maybe she was worn out from shooting that Pussycat Dolls video.

In any case, Britney Spears took a load off in Sean Preston's mini Cadillac Escalade while spending time with he and Jayden James.

Absurd pic aside, it seems like Britney is getting her act together and focusing on her family, rather than clubbing in no pants.

Follow the jump for some cute pics of Sean Preston low ridin'!

Her next album may not be hitting stores any time soon, but Britney Spears is dipping her toes back into the music scene.

Or at least filming a cameo for the new Pussycat Dolls video.

"It's a small part," says a source about the pop star's visit to the L.A. set of the group's video shoot for their new single, "When I Grow Up."

Possibly saving her trademark moves for her own album (or because she's lost them for good) Spears is not expected to dance or perform in the video.

Here's a clip of the video being filmed this week:

The Pussycat Dolls create yet another groundbreaking music video.

As for the recovering Britney Spears, she's possibly dating producer Jason Trawick but definitely treading lightly as she tries to regain a career.

While her recent TV meetings have been strictly exploratory, How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris said the cast of that show would be happy to have her back for a third time saying, "The door is open for her."

Previously, we watched in horror as Dr. Phil tried to make even more of a name for himself off Britney Spears.

Now, Supernanny Jo Frost is following in Phil's disgraceful footsteps.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Frost offered her childrearing expertise to mother of Sean Preston and Jayden James.

"I do believe she loves her children very much and I'd be more than happy to help her," Frost said, trying as hard as she could to sound legitimately concerned.

Jo Frost wants to help herself get more famous Britney Spears.

"Importance in motherhood is about really relating to other mothers, being able to have support groups and it's about Britney being in a place where she's feeling secure and confident in herself, so that she is able to take care of her little ones and give them what they need from her, which is their mother around."

Truer words have never been spoken by someone trying to exploit a celebrity with a bipolar disorder.

Rocking a flowy purple dress (on a day that was apparently chilly) Britney Spears visited her manager - and rumored boyfriend - Jason Trawick.

Whether their meetings are more about pleasure than business has left fans and media filled with curiosity, pondering the following questions:

• Are they dating or just working together?
• If so, is this destined to be a long-term relationship or just another in her long line of flings?
• What ever happened to Adnan?
• Who the heck is Jason Trawick?

Britney Spears braves the cold to see Jason Trawick.

Of the possible romance, a source close to the family said: "Jamie Spears thinks Jason would be a great match for Britney. She's always had a thing for bad boys, but now she realizes good guys can be attractive, too."

After her "business" meeting, which may have pertained to her career "comeback," Britney Spears continued on with her uneventful but pleasant day, smiling ear to ear as she paid a visit to the local gym for a workout.

UPDATE: These two are linked together yet again in March 2009! Follow the link to read all about the recent rumors surrounding Britney and Jason!

Hey, Britney Spears - the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man called - he wants his coat back. Is she preparing to brave the sub-zero temperatures of mid-May Los Angeles? Joining a motorcycle gang? WTF is this jacket all about!?

We have a new theory as to why Britney Spears used to parade around in no pants all the time - she totally doesn't have any normal clothes!

We're not talking about her lame appearances on How I Met Your Mother this time. We're talking about what actually made Britney Spears famous.

Looking hot, dancing suggestively and pretending to sing.

After her vacation, Britney Spears is back in the recording studio, working with J.R. Rotem and doing well, according to several celeb news sources.

"Britney is in the experimental stages of a new album... She's trying to find the sound and direction she wants to go in,"  a source told MSNBC.

"But nothing is set in stone just yet. She has been playing the piano a lot and just singing. She says she misses ‘just singing.'"

Could this be the beginning of a comeback for Britney Spears?

Well... not really. But she is at a party, okay? You have to understand, Britney Spears gossip is just not what it used to be.

That's probably a good thing as far as the troubled singer not dying is concerned. Her dad, Jamie Spears, deserves much credit.

The video below is a prime example.

Here's an undercover video of Jamie and Britney Spears hanging out at Christian Audigier's birthday party the other night.

Watching his daughter like a hawk, when Jamie realizes they are being recorded, he moves the booze away from Britney.

Exciting stuff, people! Well ... not really. But it's a national holiday, so cut The Hollywood Gossip a little slack, okay?