Will Britney Be Matthew Perry's New TV Friend?

• Sep 20, 2007 01:48 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

The New York Post's Liz Smith herself admits it's a "long shot," but nonetheless reports that some NBC mucky-mucks believe Britney Spears could be just the ticket to play opposite Matthew Perry in a new sitcom. The tentatively titled Occasional Wife has the Friends alum attached to play a guy who persuades a young, wacky artist to pose as his missus, so as to bolster his career. Assessing Spears' fit for the female lead, one Peacock insider tells Smith, "There's something about her that just connects with the audience.... They want her to succeed now in spite of her adversity." Or at least deliver one more decent music video. Speaking of which....

Today's Brit bits:

" Spears' "Gimme More" video is not debuting today on TRL, says Extra.
" Barely 24 hours after a judge odered Spears to submit to random drug and alcohol testing, the pop tart was spied cruising L.A. hot spots Hyde and Winston's - but probably just to snack on buffalo wings, I'm sure.
" Appearing on Wednesday's Oprah, Brit's former flame Justin Timberlake said, "To be honest with you, I haven't spoken to her in years.... I don't know her as well as I did. [But] what I do know is she has a huge heart and she's a great person."