God love me, I found myself DVR'ing (and watching) the latest MTV "documentary" on Britney Spears, BRITNEY SPEARS: FOR THE RECORD. They billed it as a no-holds-barred look at her life over the past couple of years, but it was surprisingly devoid of any juicy bits. Even when they asked her about shaving her head, her answer seemed ... I don't know. The word "fake" comes to mind. Britney just kept reiterating how she's had "hard" or "difficult" times, and how she was "kind of a mess." Dude, that's an understatment if I've ever heard one!

At the same time, there was this really soft, vulnerable side to Britney that came across beautifully. She talked a lot about feeling lonely, about where her rebellious streak comes from, and a tiny bit about the breakup from Justin, and how she came apart in the aftermath. That really was the beginning of her downfall, if you think about it - it's when she started running around, partying too hard and cavorting with the likes of K-Fed. Even in that obnoxious TOXIC "reality show" she did about their relationship, she talked about feeling so lonely and just wanting to be married and have babies.

Anyway, I finished the show feeling like Britney still hasn't spoken honestly about the majority of her "stuff" - i.e., the breakdown, custody battle, etc. - which is totally her right, but then why make a documentary called FOR THE RECORD if much of the record is left off the record? Yet, there were other parts - things like watching how the paparazzi hounds her, and how fragile she looks when she realizes how many hacks are vying for her picture - that made me remember why I liked Britney in the first place, all the way back in 1999. I'd just seen an episode of MAKING THE VIDEO where she was doing the shoot for "Crazy" and I couldn't believe how hard this 17-year-old kid was forced to work. At one point in the episode, she was just dog tired and begging for a break, and I really felt for this girl. Well, I still feel for her. She was a total train wreck, but how many of us haven't have train wreck times in our lives? And at least for "real" people, we can be train wrecks without video cameras and paparazzi documenting our every moves.

So Brit-Brit seems to be growing up, and she seems to have learned some lessons. Good for her. I hope this does mark her "comeback," whether or not she hates the expression. At the same time, if the comeback doesn't happen, I wonder if she could find happiness back in Alabama, just being a mom and a sister and a daughter and a friend. Perhaps life out of the spotlight would be kinder to her? I don't know.

Random side note: does anyone else think Madonna (who appears in FOR THE RECORD briefly) has started to look like the scary plastic surgery lady who resembles a cat? :: shudder ::