TV Notes: Spears returns to ‘How I Met your Mother’

Britney Spears, who proved she’s worth a cool million viewers to “How I Met Your Mother,” is paying another visit to the CBS sitcom.

Spears will reprise her role as bubbly secretary Abby in the May 12 episode.

“We’re all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again,” said series executive producer and co-creator Craig Thomas, adding: “And just to head it off at the pass this time around: Yes, Mom, Britney’s very nice and no, I can’t get her autograph for you.”

Spears’ March 24 guest appearance won her good reviews and boosted the show’s viewership to 10.6 million viewers, up from 9.6 million the previous week.

When last seen, Abby was flirting with womanizer Barney (Neil Patrick Harris). The new episode, which began production Monday, has Abby and Barney sharing their mutual dislike of Ted (Josh Radnor) and acting on it.

WB on the Web

Warner Bros. is launching two Web sites to capture new ad revenue and a younger generation of viewers.

KidsWB.com, geared to children, debuted Monday featuring animated characters from the Warner Bros. library, including Bugs Bunny, Scooby Doo and such DC Comics heroes as Batman.

TheWB.com – with full episodes of series such as “Friends” and “Smallville” and made-for-online shows – is set to launch in a beta test format next month.

Warner Bros. Television Group President Bruce Rosenblum says the move is intended to make the studio’s content available to viewers such as his 20-year-old daughter and her friends, “who are watching on laptops and cell phones. To them, that is television.”