Britney Spears on 'How I Met Your Mother': Give us more

Britney Spears' charming and seemingly sane star turn on "How I Met Your Mother" on Monday helped CBS win the night in the 18-to-49 demographic. It was "How I Met Your Mother's" highest ratings ever in that all-important age group.

Britney's guest appearance as a dorky receptionist who gets a crush on Ted made the difference in CBS' night ratings-wise -- the previous week, a "Dancing With the Stars"-propelled ABC easily beat all the other networks among young adults.

This Monday, "How I Met Your Mother" drew 10.6 million total viewers and a 4.5 among 18-to-49 year-olds. Combined with the other CBS offerings -- "The Big Bang Theory," "Two and a Half Men," "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and the first new post-strike episode of "CSI: Miami" -- CBS ended up with a 4.4 overall in 18-49, which, in early Nielsen estimates, beat ABC's 4.2.

Of course, "Dancing With the Stars" ran away with the night in total viewers, bringing in an audience of 20.3 million for its two-hour episode.  That includes 20.6 million during the 8:30 time slot when Britney was chasing Ted down the street.

-- Kate Aurthur

(Photo courtesy Monty Brinton / CBS / AP)

Comments

[anon626]

I watch HIMYM pretty often, and I saw last night's episode. I thought she was great. Seems like she is going in the right direction.

[Carey in Canada]

"How I Met Your Mother" tv.com scoring higher ratings than many classic shows.
At number 13 and Rising (was number 34 JUST a few days ago)
in the list of 100 Most Popular Shows
Rank Show Year Start/End Overall Score
1. Lost 2004 - 9.2
2. One Tree Hill 2003 - 9.1
3. Smallville 2001 - 9.1
4. Prison Break 2005 - 9.3
5. House 2004 - 9.4
6. Family Guy 1999 - 9.2
7. Heroes 2006 - 9.4
8. South Park 1997 - 9.2
9. Avatar: The Last Airbender 2005 - 9.3
10. Naruto 2002 - 9.2
11. Greek 2007 - 9.1
12. Gossip Girl 2007 - 9.2
13. How I Met Your Mother 2005 - 9.2
14. Jericho 2006 - 9.1
15. Grey's Anatomy 2005 - 9.2
16. Supernatural 2005 - 9.3
17. The Simpsons 1989 - 9.2
18. CSI: Miami 2002 - 8.7
19. Desperate Housewives 2004 - 8.8
20. Scrubs 2001 - 9.3
21. Dexter 2006 - 9.3
22. CSI 2000 - 9.2
23. Zoey 101 2005 - 8.3
24. Ben 10 2005 - 8.9
25. America's Next Top Model 2003 - 8.3
26. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 2008 - 9.1
27. Two and a Half Men 2003 - 9.0
28. New Amsterdam 2008 - 9.0
29. Hannah Montana 2006 - 8.9
30. The Hills 2006 - 8.8
31. The L Word 2004 - 9.0
32. Battlestar Galactica (2003) 2003 - 9.2
33. The Office 2005 - 9.2
34. NCIS 2003 - 9.2
35. Bones 2005 - 9.1
36. The Big Bang Theory 2007 - 8.9
37. Torchwood 2006 - 8.8
38. Kyle XY 2006 - 9.1
39. Dancing With the Stars 2005 - 8.1
40. Friends 1994 - 2004 9.3
41. Charmed 1998 - 2006 8.9
42. Stargate Atlantis 2004 - 9.2
43. American Idol 2002 - 7.7
44. Reaper 2007 - 9.0
45. Gilmore Girls 2000 - 2007 9.1
46. The Tudors 2007 - 9.0
47. Bleach 2004 - 9.2
48. 24 2001 - 9.2
49. Dragonball Z 1996 - 2003 9.1
50. Dirt 2007 - 8.8
51. Medium 2005 - 8.9
52. Nip/Tuck 2003 - 9.1
53. Saturday Night Live 1975 - 8.5
54. Sex and the City 1998 - 2004 8.8
55. ER 1994 - 9.0
56. The O.C. 2003 - 2007 8.7
57. CSI: NY 2004 - 8.8
58. Moonlight 2007 - 9.0
59. Knight Rider 2008 - 8.7
60. Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1997 - 2003 9.2
61. Las Vegas 2003 - 2008 9.0
62. Stargate SG-1 1997 - 9.3
63. Pokémon 1998 - 8.1
64. George Lopez 2002 - 2007 8.7
65. American Dad! 2005 - 8.4
66. Home and Away 1988 - 8.1
67. Chuck 2007 - 8.9
68. Weeds 2005 - 9.1
69. 30 Rock 2006 - 8.7
70. Degrassi: The Next Generation 2001 - 9.1
71. Futurama 1999 - 2003 9.2
72. The Unit 2006 - 9.0
73. Skins 2007 - 9.1
74. Brothers & Sisters 2006 - 9.1
75. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 1999 - 9.1
76. SpongeBob SquarePants 1999 - 8.7
77. Entourage 2004 - 9.1
78. My Name Is Earl 2005 - 9.1
79. Law & Order 1990 - 9.0
80. Unhitched 2008 - 7.1
81. Power Rangers 1993 - 7.9
82. The Boondocks 2005 - 9.1
83. Criminal Minds 2005 - 9.1
84. Dirty Sexy Money 2007 - 9.0
85. The Shield 2002 - 9.1
86. Big Brother 2000 - 8.3
87. Ben 10: Alien Force 2008 - 8.9
88. Survivor 2000 - 8.3
89. Ghost Whisperer 2005 - 8.8
90. Seinfeld 1989 - 1998 9.2
91. Angel 1999 - 2004 9.1
92. Cold Case 2003 - 8.9
93. Doctor Who (2005) 2005 - 9.2
94. H2O: Just Add Water 2006 - 8.6
95. Numb3rs 2005 - 9.0
96. The Wire 2002 - 2008 9.1
97. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody 2005 - 9.0
98. The X-Files 1993 - 2002 9.2
99. Men in Trees 2006 - 9.0
100. iCarly 2007 - 8.8

[ucrsue]

I could not believe how good she was on last night's HIMYM. I'm certainly not a fan of hers, first 'cause I'm too old, second 'cause she's been a mess in the last couple of years. However, she actually had good comedic timing, knew her lines, played the "dork" well, was funny and thankfully looked like she'd gained a few needed pounds. Carole Lombard . . .no. But way better than I had expected. Good for her.

[MM]

I'm a huge fan of this show. However, I thought last night's episode was one of the weaker episodes. It felt like the show centered too much around its guest stars (Sarah Chalke and Britney Spears) and didn't have the same pace and feel of its other episodes. Most of the regular cast had so little air time. Still, I agree that Britney was fun addition.