People: The Britney is coming, again?
If Neil Patrick Harris had his way, Britney Spears would be banned from the set of “How I Met Your Mother.”
Nothing against the pop singer personally – he just doesn’t think the show should bring guests aboard for a ratings boost alone.
“I worry that if they start ‘Will and Grace’-ing us too much, that the show will suffer,” says Harris, who plays womanizer Barney on the CBS sitcom.
With her March 24 cameo as a ditzy receptionist, Spears has been the series’ most high-profile guest star, following Mandy Moore, Enrique Iglesias and Heidi Klum.
“We wish we weren’t opposite an awkward reality dancing competition,” Harris says of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”
“But we have no say about that. I just am a real fan of our content. I think we have a great show going, and I hope it’s not screwed up by the desire for 700,000 more viewers.”
Executive producer Carter Bays says he’s open to a Spears return.
“It was a great character, and I think she played it well,” he says. “I’m glad that we didn’t sensationalize the character in any way.”
Falling back in
On the celebrity matrimonial front, singer Ashlee Simpson (Jessica‘s little sister) and Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz are engaged.
“We know there has been a lot of speculation recently about Pete and I, and we wanted our fans to be the first to know, because you guys are the best,” Simpson said in a statement posted on People magazine’s Web site.
And there may be hope yet for acting couple Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn, who have withdrawn their divorce petition – after attending an Eddie Vedder concert where Penn reportedly went onstage to serenade her.
Spinning their wheels
Turning to the traffic blotter, both former “O.C.” star Mischa Barton, 22, and Paris Hilton‘s little brother Barron, 18, have received three years’ probation on DUI charges and ordered to attend alcohol education programs.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Galaxy soccer star David Beckham got a ticket when he was pulled over Tuesday in Hollywood, his spokesman said. No specifics were released.
Back in the pink for Flamingo?
Four more Toni Braxton shows have been canceled as the Grammy winner recuperates following her hospitalization with chest pain.
She’s expected to return to the stage Tuesday at the Flamingo Las Vegas hotel-casino.
The cause of her chest pain has not been made public. Braxton, 40, has been treated for pericarditis, a viral inflammation of the heart.
Dolly does ‘Free Bird’
Dolly Parton wore designer buckskins and 4-inch heels Thursday as a young American bald eagle was returned to the wild by the American Eagle Foundation, based at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee.
Parton named the bird Liberty, explaining: “I thought that sounded better than Baldy.”
The birthday bunch
Actor Joel Grey is 76. Actress Louise Lasser is 69. Actor Peter Riegart is 61. Actor Meshach Taylor is 61. Actor Bill Irwin is 58. Singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale is 51. Country singer Steve Azar is 44. Singer Lisa Stansfield is 42. Singer Joss Stone is 21.