I’ve noticed a trend that seems to gaining steam: fallen starlets making good on the silver screen.  Let’s call it "television rehab", or,  “TV-Hab.”

Britney Spears has recently scored her most positive marks in years. (Okay, her “Blackout” album got kudos, too.)  Last month, she appeared on the hit sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,” playing a receptionist at a tattoo removal clinic.

I checked out a You Tube compilation of her performance.

Some of the lines seemed a little forced, but admittedly, Britney does have good comedic timing. 

Reportedly, show regular Neil Patrick Harris delivered a tepid response to Britney’s being on set, but by most critics’ accounts, this was a good move for the bedraggled singer.  She has, after all, spent much of new millennium in a vortex of controversy. 

The Meltdown (I’m capitalizing for a reason) can be summed up in several oh-so-famous snippets: Makes out with Madonna.  Marries for 55 hours. Has second wedding to pregnant-girlfriend-leaving backup dancer. Shaves head. Forgets underwear. Enters rehab. Rehab. Rehab. Has mental breakdown. Loses custody of kids. Etc.

In the last few months, though, she’s been under her dad’s thumb, and his supervision seems to be steering her in a more sane direction.  Her appearance on the sitcom boosted her cred, not to mention the viewership; 1 million extra people tuned in to the show.  (Let’s bet some did, gleefully expecting a train wreck of a performance.) 

And they’ll get to see her again, because it appears Britney has signed on for another episode next week.

Now, Lindsay Lohan, Britney’s former partner-in-crime (for 24 hours, anyway) is scheduled to appear on “Ugly Betty.” It’s been reported that she may be on for five episodes. 

Lohan, who has a mighty misfortune list of her own, also seems to be looking for career resurrection on television.

Whether these appearances can actually right the sunken ships that have become their careers is still the question.

I mean, let’s not be tricked into thinking the networks are doing them favors.  They booked these stars because of their famous follies, and because it will make them – the networks – mucho deniro.  It gives them star power during sweeps, and is most obviously “stunt casting” — luring big stars on for bit parts to boost ratings.

Will these television appearances help BS and LL personally?

Who knows?  I can imagine it will boost their self-esteem to have good reviews.  On the other hand, I think that no press is good press for these young women.  I still support the idea that they should each find a rock somewhere and hide under it awhile – with a team of therapists.  And no TV.