Britney Spears Propels ‘How I Met Your Mother’ To Series High

Britney Spears’ return to scripted television had viewers tuning in at record numbers Monday night.

Call it curiosity or possibly fans rooting for a celebrity-underdog, for whatever reason, Britney’s appearance on CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother” boosted the series to its highest ratings ever in its three-season history with adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, according to preliminary Nielsen ratings.

But what are the critics saying about Britney’s performance?

Tom Gliatto of People said Britney managed to jump the acting hurdles she faced, writing, “Her challenge was clear: Demonstrate that, even though she seems in recent months to have been traveling through life on the roaring, ragged edge of a tornado, she could still stop and stand still long enough to perform on camera, be as naturally charming as the role permitted, and let the audience conclude: ‘Well, she SEEMS all right. She seems like Britney.'”

He doesn’t think the script did enough with the potential triangle between the characters played by Britney, Josh Radnor, and Sarah Chalke.

“[Britney’s] best scene came at the very end: Abby, letting herself be seduced by the ridiculously rakish Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), unexpectedly and enthusiastically upped the ante. It was a sort of fantasy validation: This loser secretary, who tried to find herself reading self-help books, was transformed into a fun girl with thoughts only of uncomplicatedly naughty good times,” Gliatto writes.

“As she bolted from the office with Harris, it was as if Britney were rushing out to meet her former self,” he added.

As for the acting professional’s take on Britney’s sitcom stint? The pop princess is getting more high marks.

“She did pretty good, there was a sweetness to her, a vulnerability,” Charna Halpern, artistic director of Chicago’s Improv Olympic Comedy Club, told Us Magazine. “She looked beautiful and had screen presence, even when she was behind the desk and they made her look kind of homely, she was adorable.”

Aliza Shane, senior director of NYC’s Looking Glass Theater agreed, telling Us Britney’s role was, “over the top, and she certainly went for it. Clearly, she likes being on camera, no one can argue that!”

Check out Brit in action HERE!