Critics hail Britney Spears' 'comeback'

Reuters

BACK ON TRACK: A smiling Britney Spears opens the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards with a short speech.

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She snubbed the media, didn't sing a note and only uttered a handful of lines, but Britney Spears' award-winning "comeback" at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards is being raved about by critics.

A tanned, toned and smiling Britney won three Moonmen statues at yesterday's awards ceremony, including best female video, best pop video and best overall video - all for her single Piece of Me.

She also opened the awards with a pre-recorded video and short four-sentence speech, but refused to talk to reporters after arriving at the backstage media room.

Critics say the lack of a live performance from Britney - especially after last year's disastrous show - was a wise decision.

"She looked fantastic ... really great and together and happy," People magazine Senior Editor Julie Dam told MTV.com.

"Physically, she looked amazing, which is already such a dramatic change from how she looked last year. I think people are rooting for her and I'm not surprised she won (three awards)."

"Her next big step is to deliver an album that's really good and promote it in a different way than she did the last one."

Gossip blogger Perez Hilton told MTV.com Britney did everything right.

"That's what people want. They want to see her smiling. Even if all she does is smile and wave, I say that's mission accomplished."  

But TV Guide executive editor Craig Tomashoff was hoping for more from Britney, who MTV had promised would open the show with "fireworks".

"I'm surprised the opening sketch didn't make any reference to last year," Tomashoff said.

"She seemed kind of nervous and ... I was expecting a little sense of humour about last year, or that there would be some little funny nod to it, something playful that referred to what made it a big deal for her to show up this year."

* What did you think of Britney's performance at the MTV Awards? Watch her here and here, then post your comments below.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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the-chill-pill   #42   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Who cares? Fake is the new black. Top this: http://i34.tinypic.com/2my59c0.jpg

hannah   #41   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

i think people need to give britney a break. she's obviously been through a lot and has worked hard to come out on top and looking the better for it. can't you think about how happy her family must be for her, and her kids must be glad that she's no longer crazy. even if you don't like her or her music you should at least be able to say she's managed to come out from a very dark time and is getting her life back on the right track

john mwenda   #40   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Happy to see Britney make a wonderful comeback after such a rough year. It gives us hope about our country's economy.

Lou   #39   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

wow its so great to see Britney being healthy and happy again, i hope she is on track and looks after her kids the way a mother should :)

winnie   #38   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

obviously you care or otherwise wouldn't comment.

alex t   #37   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!!

hahahahaha

Melissa Andrews   #36   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Brit - If you read this - can you please list the bronzer that you use. You are looking gorgeous by the way. you go girl.

Stewey   #35   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Learn how to spell!

Jason   #34   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Are you kidding me??? She doesn't fall down or slobber on herself and we call that a "come back"? She did absolutely nothing at the awards show that should have impressed any normal or sane person. It's obvious that the music industry felt pity for her by giving her 3 awards more than she's ever won at this event just so she would push herself off the ledge this time. Sad, really sad!

Bruce Wayne   #33   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I'm happy for her everyone needs support and motivation through the toughtest of storms. I hope she has a Mariah-like return next year. And for those who havent listened to Her album "Blackout" U should check it out its her best album ever by far and ive been a Britney fan from the beginning.!!!