Britney Spears

That's the rumor going around celebrity news circles, but if one of the CBS show's stars has his way, it's not gonna be happening anytime soon.

Neil Patrick Harris says he doesn't want Britney Spears back on How I Met Your Mother - nothing personal, he says, but he simply doesn't think they need to have recovering celebrity train wrecks show up for cheap ratings boosts.

"I'm in the minority that our show does not need stunt casting in order to succeed," Harris said in an interview with TV Guide.

Neil Patrick Harris: Not hoping for a second Britney Spears cameo.

There were rumors that Britney might make another appearance on the show after her first one, which was generally considered a success by her low standards.

Seriously, though, she's been receiving treatment for her mental problems and any sort of work that she showed up for and didn't melt down during is solid.

Producers have reportedly been receptive to the idea of Britney's return, as has the singer's dad, Jamie Spears, who is open to her working in TV more.

She's also got an offer from 30 Rock, so stay tuned!

A $1,100 tip at an L.A. restaurant, a $2,000 tip at a Vegas strip club, and on and on and on. Kevin Federline's spending, detailed in court documents, certainly has his critics buzzing over his apparently lavish lifestyle.

Enter Mark Vincent Kaplan.

K-Fed's attorney and confidant says, basically, that the haters need to look at the bigger picture before passing judgment on his client.

"He's totally getting a bad rap here," says Kaplan, who says that the "court of public opinion" is focusing on "a few expenditures." "It seems like an unnecessary attempt to knock him when there's really no basis to do so."

Kaplan claims that even the most ridiculed charge on the list of K-Fed's business expenses - a $2,000 Scores strip club tip - has an explanation.

"That was for a group of people for a friend's bachelor party," he said, adding that it wasn't even a tip at all: "That's just how the club categorized it."

Many of Federline's tips are certainly far from extravagant. During a September trip to Fat Tony's Italian Restaurant, he tipped $10 on a $41.69 bill.

The papers - used by Britney Spears' legal team to try to prove he, not Britney, should pay his own damn legal bills, show two sides to K-Fed, however.

Last August, he spent $304.30 to fly to Las Vegas on low-cost Southwest Airlines. But once he was there, he did not hold back, dropping $3,038.69 at the Hard Rock Beach Club, $3,863.50 at the hot club Tao, and $10,220.65 at The Venetian.

Some of his spending is less rock star and more average dad. Charges at Target ($115.10), IKEA ($246.66) and Albertson's grocery store ($405.75) fill his statements, with occasional shopping sprees ... at toy stores.

Mark Vincent Kaplan disagrees with Britney Spears' lawyers, who claim that the larger expenses suggest Federline should foot some of the massive fees she has been ordered to pay as a result of their custody battle.

"Don't focus on whether he spent too much money going on a vacation or going to a restaurant," says Kaplan. "Focus â€" as the court does â€" on was he reasonable having to incur these [court] fees? The answer is a resounding yes."

Kaplan says that the fees were "built up quite frankly by the conduct of [Britney Spears]" during some her court-delaying, widely-public antics.

"I don't think the court should be distracted by the fact that he went to Las Vegas and spent $1,000 or $5,000," says Kaplan. "It's not relevant."

Just in case any of you thought that Britney Spears had her $h!t totally together after seeking treatment for her obvious mental issues, well...

In a move that brought back fond memories of late 2007, Britney was joyridin' around yesterday when she pulled into a local McDonald's to use the restroom.

This sort of thing used to be part of the daily routine - maybe she should sign an endorsement deal with McDonald's and not some Danish furniture line.

Escorted by her bodyguard, Britney Spears made her way to the bathroom at the Malibu McDonald's, to the delight of the fast food restaurant's patrons...

Britney Spears does her thing... hopefully just #1.

Hey, sometimes you gotta pull over at McDonald's and take a leak. Even if you live in the same town as said fast food establishment and could just go home, where the bathroom is probably less of a biohazard. Then again, this is Britney.

We've all gotten bailed out by McD's when a bathroom was in desperate need, but we're not Britney Spears. Seriously, do you want to cause a scene wherever you go? It can't wait 10 minutes? Can't she cut down the Starbucks intake a tad?

Whatevs. When she finished up, Britney Spears returned to her Mercedes and fled. No word on whether she grabbed a few Big Macs for the road.

Man, Jamie Spears is gonna be pissed when he reads this story. Hopefully his underwear check prior to her leaving for her excursion was successful.

Yes. Another slow Britney Spears news and gossip week.

Reeling from massive amounts of legal bills and various other expenses that would bankrupt most normal humans, Britney Spears' father, Jamie Spears, has been working hard to stop the bleeding from his daughter's bank accounts.

Since he took over running Britney's legal, medical and career affairs earlier this year after she began treatment for bipolar disorder, Jamie oversaw her role on How I Met Your Mother, and may be helping plan a future world tour.

His latest idea? Get Britney Spears to promote a furniture line!

Sources say that as Brit's co-conservator, Jamie Spears is currently in the midst of discussions with Danish celebrity broker Claus Hjelmbak to "bring Danish accent pieces to the United States ... Britney Spears will be the face of the brand."

This was reported by the New York Post today, FYI ... we're not just making stuff up out of our collective a$$es a la certain celebrity news magazines.

Hjelmbak and the pop star met at the Scandinavian Style Mansion in December 2007, when Britney Spears was supposedly paid upwards of $1 million just to celebrate her birthday at the event, which was hosted by Sharon Stone.

This guy is also the same shady character who promised Rolling Stone's Vanessa Grigoriadis he could help her get an interview with the star - if the magazine ponied up millions. Maybe not the best kinda guy for Brit to hang with.

Troubled star Britney Spears is in secret talks over a comeback world tour - one that could net her $100 million - according to several sources.

The 26-year-old pop singer is said to be "desperate to get back on the road" and leave her recent troubles behind her, says the Showbizspy.

Spears has already begun training for the mega-money shows with "grueling dance sessions" at her home away from home, Millennium Dance Complex.

Her record label, BMG, is confident that she can restore her squeaky-clean image ... or at least move in that direction while on the road.

"Things are looking up for [Britney Spears]," said a source reportedly close to the singer. "She's finally focusing on her career again."

Will the next Britney Spears concert tour feature the current train wreck - or at least something resembling the Britney Spears of yore (above)? Gulp. Wow.

Hiring ex-manager Larry Rudolph again would help, but since her epic disaster of a performance at the MTV VMAs in 2007, Britney has a lot to prove.

"There will be no more on-stage blunders," the source said. "Britney's turned a corner and the world will be amazed with her."

We'll believe it when we see it, but we've been told that Britney Spears is ready to work her way back to the top and is even finally trying to get that pre-baby mama body back into top form. Remember that? See photo above.

Please, Britney, make it happen.

Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, says that with the help of father Jamie Spears, Britney Spears is heading in the right direction.

But he urged restraint in saying the pop star is fully recovered.

"Jamie is doing a really good job," Kaplan said. "There was a situation and that seems to be stabilized. Does that mean she's cured? Of course not."

Kaplan noted that Spears' negative press has diminished noticeably, and that her successes - from her How I Met Your Mother role to reports that she is working again with former manager Larry Rudolph - are making news.

He calls her father Jamie Spears' many important steps to improve Britney Spears' well being and diffuse the struggling pop singer's once tumultuous lifestyle "very smart," adding that, "Obviously before [Jamie Spears] stepped in, it wasn't a question of what was going to happen - it was a question of when."

A healthy, happy Britney Spears is something that ex-husband Kevin Federline has been always yearning for, says Mark Vincent Kaplan.

As for his own professional interest in the Britney Spears custody case, which is no longer dominating Los Angeles' family court system?

"I look forward to the time when I can be bored," Mark Vincent Kaplan said.

We will give Star Magazine this much: It's been a slow couple of months for those of us who thrive on Britney Spears news and gossip.

That being said, this celebrity news magazine and others like it are stooping to new lows and going to new extremes to fill a sudden Spears void.

They claim Britney Spears and Kevin Federline had a "secret meeting" during Easter weekend. At this time, they decided to run away Maui.

K-Fed, who was in Las Vegas hosting his own birthday party that weekend while Britney was in L.A., has already denied this via his rep.

It gets better. Backing up the made-up story is a photo of Britney and Kevin on a beach, enjoying a relaxing getaway ... on their honeymoon in 2004.

What's more amazing? This isn't even the worst Britney Spears celebrity gossip reporting job of the week! That honor belongs to the great OK! Magazine, which features a Britney Spears photo from 2003 to bolster its cover story.

SLOW NEWS WEEK: With little juicy gossip out there, these celebrity news sources decided to bust out old Britney Spears pics and make some $h!t up. Standard.

Proving that they're really grasping at straws, a Star "source" also claims Brit bought K-Fed a $138,000 diamond watch during their fake tropical jaunt.

Yeah, right. We had already figured out that this whole Spederline reuniting story was about as real as Heidi Montag's rack, but come on now, Star.

At least if you had written that Britney bought the FedEx man a $25 Casio, we might have believed it and kept reading ... at least for a minute or two.

Britney Spears' former manager, Larry Rudolph, confirmed celebrity gossip that he recently met up with the troubled singer, who is his old friend.

Like many others who have spoken with Britney of late (since father Jamie stepped into her life), Larry Rudolph says she's "doing great."

"I have spent time with her, and she is on the right path because she has people around her who really care about her well-being," Rudolph said.

He would not comment further on Britney Spears, explaining, "this isn't the time to talk business. This is a time for healing." Good man.

Last week, a source reported that Britney Spears met with Larry Rudolph, who is credited for discovering her talent and managing her career for nine years.

They stopped talking last February after Britney sorta went bonkers and in turn blamed Larry for "forcing her" into rehab, when it he seemed he was one of the only ones in her inner circle trying to do anything to help her.

He was relieved of his duties shortly thereafter.

Rudolph did not turn his back on her, though, even remaining on the run to avoid testifying in her custody case when subpoenaed by Mark Vincent Kaplan.

Rudolph, who is not formally signed back on as Britney's manager, is currently producing the MTV show Rock the Cradle, which debuts April 3.

Whoa! Slow down there OK! Fans must consider the source of this story. As usual, our favorite celebrity news publication is stretching the truth.

"It looked like Britney had lost 15 pounds in four weeks," a source told OK! Magazine. That quote is the entire basis for the cover below.

Oh, and the picture of Britney looking so thin and youthful? It was taken five years ago. Yes, it was from a 2003 shoot with Glamour. Way to go OK!

Of course, we will give them this much - the bloat, the ratty hair and the puffy face, along with the pink wig and trademark vadge of courage - are all gone.

In their place? A slimmer, fresh-faced Britney Spears with a shiny smile on her face and (dare we say) some determination in her step!

So how did she do it?

"Britney's a pro at losing weight fast," a Britney Spears pal tells OK! "She can drop 7-10 pounds in just two weeks."

Well, at least Britney Spears has come a long way in three months.

Sources say Spears - who may be re-hiring manager Larry Rudolph - has given up old, unhealthy weight loss habits, like popping laxatives and diet pills.

The 5-foot-4 star has also replaced soda and fast food with five, smaller protein packed meals a day. Doing so has enabled her to shed pounds.

To complement her healthier eating habits, Britney works out regularly as well, although you probably won't jogging or pumping iron. The recovering pop star enjoys daily dance workouts at L.A.'s Millennium Dance Complex.

"I don't like to work out because my legs get bulky," Britney said in a past interview. "Dancing makes me leaner."

We're glad she's feeling better these days, we really are. Hey, she's gotta fit in that bridesmaid dress for Jamie Lynn Spears' wedding, right?

Seeking to revive her music "career," Britney Spears met with her former manager, Larry Rudolph, last week, according to celebrity news sources.

"Britney wants to get back to work," a friend of the Spears family said. "People close to Britney know that Larry Rudolph is the best person for her - he's the man who can get her back on the right track career-wise."

The two â€" who stopped talking last year after Spears fired his ass and blamed him for forcing her into rehab â€" had a "mostly personal meeting," the source adds.

"They had a normal conversation, and it was very friendly and warm. There was no animosity... Larry just wanted to see her. He is still extremely close to Britney's family and really cares about her and wanted to spend some time with her."

This photo of Britney Spears and then-manager Larry Rudolph was taken in late 2006 - after she filed for divorce from K-Fed, but before she went bonkers.

Larry Rudolph, who is credited for discovering Spears, managed her career for nine years. He was subpoenaed in Spears' custody battle in August 2007.

"I know and understand Britney Spears better than anyone, I know what makes her tick, and I understand everything she's going through," he said. "With that being said, my loyalty will always stay strong with Britney."