So as not to spoil the “surprise” in this clip, I shant go into what is really going on in this vid … but I will say that it is a very sweet and very poignant moment in Britney’s rehabilitation that might move you just a little. While the surprise is really fun, my fave part of the clip is her confusion for the first half of the video. After the jump, check out the bonus clip titled Day 57: A Surprise from Britney: For The Record in full …

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Britney: For the Record will be released in the US on April 7th! The DVD includes some never before seen footage as well as six bonus MP3 remixes of ‘Circus’ and ‘Womanizer.’

While I am a bit intrigued by the notion of “never before seen footage”, I don’t necessarily think that I really need to own this DVD. However, I am very interested in the bonus CD with 6 remixes of Womanizer and Circus … so I may be ponying up for this disc after all. I suppose it was to be expected that this documentary, which many people felt didn’t delve deep enough into Britney’s troubled past, would be released on DVD. I’m sure all the Britney Spears completists will be clamoring for their DVDs come April 7. Will YOU be among the throngs of fans lining up to buy this DVD?

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Britney Spears’ life has been filled with speculation and scrutiny over the last few years. In “For the Record,” a documentary that aired on MTV on Sunday night, the pop singer finally opened up about her life in the spotlight. “I have good days and I have bad days,” she said in the special. “Sometimes it’s too much. No subject was off limits, and Spears talked about being a mom, her public breakdown and her breakups with Justin Timberlake and Kevin Federline. “For the Record” also gave an all-access pass to her return to the pop scene as she worked on promotion for her album Circus, which included video shoots for “Womanizer” and the title track. Explaining her breakdown, Spears said that she had let the wrong people into her life. “[It was] a really bad time in my life. … I’m not gonna sugarcoat it and say I was OK,” she admitted. “Maybe I had traumatic stress. I just remember I did not want to be at home. When I was in my car, I was driving and I was going somewhere.” Despite the hard times, the singer said she tries not to let them get her down. “Normal is different for everybody,” she said, later adding, “It could be a lot worse. There are people out there who have it a lot worse than I do.” She also admitted that even though her life seems hectic, what with constantly being surrounded by assistants, handlers and the paparazzi, “I choose to be a happy person. If I have a bad day, I get angry with myself.” Britney’s dad, Jamie Spears, and her longtime manager, Larry Rudolph, were also featured in the documentary, as well the pop singer’s mentor, Madonna. “I admire her as an artist,” the Material Girl said, adding that she sees a lot of herself in the young singer. But Spears isn’t just a pop star, she’s also a mother to her two sons. And they are the people in her life that help her hold onto her faith. “I see my babies and say … you have to believe in God,” she said. “How can these two babies be here without there being a God?” At the end of the documentary, she said she hoped that people would understand that she’s just like anybody else. “I love what I do. I love my babies,” she said. “And I work really hard.” She added, “It’s weird. You can see the cruelest part of the world and then on the other side you see the most beautiful. … But they’re worth it. … I’ve been to both places.” In order to stay on that beautiful side, Spears said she’s avoiding the people and things that hurt her: “Now I try to avoid situations from the past that may threaten me. … I go through life like a Karate Kid.”

Many folks have commented that Britney looked sad thruout the documentary … to me, she appeared guarded and very reserved. I imagine that she is not used to baring her soul in such an open fashion. Despite her immense fame, she has never been afforded the opportunity to talk so openly about her life — the good and the bad — on such a grand scale. While there may have been tinges of sadness in the piece, I think the overwhelming tone was a guarded one (think of an injured bird that has had both of its wings broken and, in the course of the healing process, has to trust an outstretched hand that she is being helped and won’t be hurt again). I was very impressed with how much Britney opened up to the cameras … I found it wholly fascinating to see what her life is like on the inside. I must admit, it doesn’t look fun. But it appears to be all she’s ever known … she even talked a bit about how she isn’t complaining about how her life turned out, she’s just trying to deal with the realities as she deals with very strong personal issues at the same time. It’s a great sight to see her surrounded by her close friends and family members (Jamie Spears, Brett Miller, Larry Rudolph) — it’s a far cry from the days when she was running around with that lecherous trash that almost led her to her destruction last year (Lutfi, Sims, Ghalib). I’m sure some people will complain that there were many things she did not discuss in the doc but, for me, I was impressed that she even agreed to talk about her life at all. This doc totally feels like a Larry Rudolph idea. It is not meant for Britney’s very loyal fans … she will always have those people. This doc was made for the haters, detractors, critics and all around a-holes who take pleasure in ripping the poor girl apart. It’s basically a stripped down look at her as a real person … good or bad, this is who she is. Will it silence her critics? I doubt it. Will it change a few minds? I think so … but in the end, I suspect the act of being so open, so publicly is an integral component of Britney’s rehabilitation (if you will). She fell so far and has to recoup so much that, I think, she needed to (on some level) start over from scratch — baring so much on world-wide television prolly seemed like a good place to start. Again, I was very impressed with this film (and very surprised that Madonna agreed to sit down to be interviewed — that was a very well-kept secret). I just hope that her life continues to level off and that she is better equipped to handle the stresses that come along with being Britney Spears. I believe she can do it.

Britney Spears: For The Record will premiere in the UK on SKY1 tonight and will reair here in the US on MTV today, tomorrow and Wednesday (at least). I’m not sure if the film will be viewable online (at this point, it is not) but if it does become available, I’ll be sure to pass along the info.

UPDATE: Here is Part 1 of the doc:

At long last, we will finally be able to see and hear from Britney Spears in her own words, from her own perspective after months and months of watching her life from the outside. Tonight’s documentary is an absolute MUST-SEE for all Britney Spears fans and, I suspect, a great many critics and detractors will be tuning in as well. Folks in the UK will be able to watch the documentary when it airs on SKY1 tomorrow night but the doc world premieres on MTV here in the US tonight. It shant be long now, y’all. Make sure you leave your comments about the program after it airs right here on the blog. I’m anxious to see the documentary myself but I’m equally anxious to hear what y’all think of it yourselves.

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Two days before her latest album “Circus” drops, Britney Spears’ biggest fans and toughest critics will get a behind-the-scenes look into the life of the mega-star as she mounts what can only be described as a comeback of epic proportions. In the “Britney: For the Record,” an exclusive 90-minute documentary airing Sunday on MTV, the creators (a production house called @radical.media, known, quite interestingly, for heady historical works like the Oscar-winning documentary “The Fog of War”) were given unprecedented access to Britney for three months to document her day-to-day life. The film is beign billed as Britney’s opportunity to tell her side of her story in her own words. The filmmakers claim no topic was off-limits, so viewers will get a rare glimpse at what has actually been happening in the “Overprotected” pop princess’ life for the last several years and first-hand scoop about her aspirations for the future. Thing is, this television event sounds suspiciously similar to a few of the pop tart’s previous biographical projects, all of which depicted the superstar in the worst possible light. Can “Britney: For the Record” really set the record straight? Needless to say, we’re beyond skeptical. Previous attempts to show the world the real Brit leave us wondering whether or not this documentary truly marks her comeback. (Plus, wasn’t her “Blackout” album billed as a comeback in 2007?) Back in the summer of 2005, the now defunct UPN network aired the reality series “Britney & Kevin: Chaotic,” that chronicled the unlikely couple’s courtship and engagement leading up to their wedding. The show included personal video footage shot by Britney and K-Fed while on tour in Europe and as they lounged around “preparing” for their nuptials. The show was hard to watch as Kevin often struggled to put coherent sentences together and Britney was rambling about their sex life, going as far as to share the number of times they got busy during yet another lazy day. Coming out of “Chaotic,” Britney’s so-called “real-life” was nothing short of a narcissistic celebrity already bored with her fame. The following year brought a rapid sequence of negative publicity: Tabloids reported that Britney’s marriage was on the rocks and that she was a bad mother, she was caught speeding down LA’s Pacific Coast Highway with her son Sean Preston on her lap, and then she nearly dropped her baby in New York while holding the tot in one hand and a cocktail in the other. At the end of the PR nightmare, Britney was desperate for some damage control and sat down for a candid chat with “Today” show host Matt Lauer on “Dateline.” Despite her tears and her plea for the paparazzi to leave her alone, viewers were stunned and abhorred by her ragged and dishevelled physical appearance, which did nothing to improve her image. She chomped on gum throughout the entire interview, her makeup looked pitiful at best, her denim skirt was too short, her top was too low, and her hair looked over-bleached and in need of a good brushing. She was seeking the public’s empathy via one key message: She was just like any other ordinary woman. Unfortunately, all people felt for Britney after the interview was pity. Britney delivered her latest public debacle at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, where she butchered the opening routine. Her performance was lackluster and the entire presentation was atrocious, prompting fans to long for her heyday, when fabulous VMA numbers were second nature. It seems every time Britney tries to explain herself, she only makes things worse, so can you blame us for having our reservations about the special? Trust us, we’re not exactly Ms. Spears’ biggest fans, and we were certainly prepared to poke fun at what we thought would be another catastrophe courtesy of the former Mouseketeer, but when MTV and Britney’s longtime manager Larry Rudolph screened 30 minutes of footage from the documentary for the press Thursday night in Santa Monica, our eyes were glued to the screen in fascination as the jaded star finally admits that her rise from country girl to international celebrity came with a painful price tag she could have never imagined. As if to start with a clean slate and to mark the beginning of her latest comeback, the first day of filming for the documentary happened to coincide with the night Britney took home her first three VMA awards at the September 7th show. Before arriving at the VMAs, her father Jamie Spears (who has taken over management of her affairs following the infamous head-shaving fiasco of ‘07 and has since helped get his daughter’s life back on track) cooked her Velveeta cheese grits, every Southern girl’s favorite breakfast. We also get to tag along as Brit and her entourage (Rudolph, another manager, her father, her personal assistant, bodyguards, and various folks ranging from make-up artists to hair stylists) into the recording studio… to her favorite boutique… to dinner with friends… to a Broadway show in Manhattan… to her mansion in Malibu… and everywhere in between … Filled with candid interviews, laughter, and tears, this intimate (and oftentimes hilarious) backstage pass should indeed provide unrestricted access to the world’s most-gossiped-about girl and clearly solidifies her status as the pop culture icon of her generation. We were captivated with a mere sneak peek, so we’ll definitely be tuning in to see the rest of the documentary, which we’re betting will end up as one of the year’s top television moments.

This doc is not to be missed, period. Fans, haters, the devoutly loyal, the pesky nay-sayer — they will all be tuning in to watch this film … of that, I have no doubt. It shant be long now … this doc will air on MTV this coming Sunday — I can’t wait. After the jump, check out the extended trailer in full …

Regarding the way that some fans were shafted at yesterday’s screening, I’m not really that surprised. These things happen all the time. PR companies tend to over-invite people in order to make sure they have enough people to fill seats AND they do like putting the prettiest people in prime positions, especially if they are filling an audience that will be recorded for TV. Now, about the way Britney acted at the screening … well, this has got me worried. By reading all of the fan reports (posted HERE), it does feel like she didn’t want to be there in the first place and was in no mood to interact with anybody — not a good sign. It is really beginning to sound like she is moving too fast with all of this work on her comeback, which can’t be good for her. If she’s not ready and still presses forward, she risks having another breakdown. At this point, I think it’s far too late for her to call things off completely but I am starting to get worried, especially in light of this new behavior. Regarding the actual documentary itself, despite the fan/Britney drama, it was screened yesterday and People magazine has a review of the 90-minute Britney Spears: For The Record film HERE.

Even still, Britney’s manager Larry Rudolph insists that she is ready to make her comeback and spoke to People magazine about her readiness. After the jump, check out a new promo video for Britney’s album Circus and read some of Rudolph’s comments about Britney and her comeback …

You landed your big break on The Mickey Mouse Club aged 11. Have you ever felt that you lost your childhood?

That I was just able to put a smile on people’s faces. That saw me in a movie and they left the movie theater feeling good, or they saw me dancing and it inspired them.

She sounds great … it’s really amazing having her back to this cognizant point again. I am really loving all this new stuff we’re getting from her directly. It’s a relief hearing her speak for herself again. BritneySpears.com has offered up a few screencaps from her new MTV documentary Britney Spears: For The Record as well as a new video clip where Britney talks, in her own words, about her upcoming new album Circus. After the jump, check out the screencaps from both …

Since the doc was filmed over a 3 month period, I suspect we’re gonna see a whole range of emotion from our dear Britney … as is hinted at in these varying screencaps. Britney was all smiles in the new video clip that has been posted to her official site where she talks about her new album:

My fave part is when she refers to a womanizer (like the guy portrayed in her video of the same name) as a butthole — LOL! It is SO great to have our girl back. I love it!! I suspect that there will be more Britney interviews on the way before and after her documentary Britney Spears: For The Record debuts on MTV on November 30. Gimme more!!

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Yeah, this is a very fun pic. Yesterday we got to see two new 30-sec promo vids, courtesy of SKY1, for the new documentary Britney Spears: For The Record and today we get to see a different one courtesy of MTV. After the jump, check it out in full …

Britney Spears says that since her breakdown, her life has been worse than a jail sentence – but that she’s slowly healing one day at a time. “I have really good days, and then I have bad days,” the singer, 26, admits in a new fly-on-the wall, 90-minute documentary, Britney: For The Record, to air in the U.S. Nov. 30 on MTV and in the U.K. Dec. 1 on Sky1. Struggling to gain control of her life again after her public meltdown earlier this year, she says candidly: “Even when you go to jail, y’know, there’s the time when you’re gonna get out. But in this situation, it’s never ending. It’s just like [the Bill Murray movie] Groundhog Day.” She adds, “I’m having to pay for it for a really long time.” Spears was hospitalized for mental evaluation in January, which resulted in her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, being granted sole custody of their sons, Preston and Jayden. Her father, Jamie Spears, also gained legal control over her affairs. “If I wasn’t under the restraints that I’m under right now, I’d feel so liberated,” she says in the film, which follows the singer as she records and promotes her new album Circus. “When I tell them the way I feel, it’s like they hear me, but they’re really not listening.” A camera crew followed the singer for three months as she moved to pull her life back on track. “I wanted to make this film because I started to feel like I wasn’t being seen in the light that I wanted to be seen in,” Spears said. “This is an opportunity to set the record straight and talk about what I’ve been through and where I’m headed.” Overall, she says, “I think I’ve learned my lesson now, and enough is enough.”

Wow. I can’t even begin to imagine what Britney Spears’s life is like, especially in the wake of her breakdown, but from the outside looking in … I can’t imagine that her life now is worse than it was when she was spiraling down in a tragic mess all last year long. When she was under the control of Sam Lutfi, Alli Sims and Adnan Ghalib she looked hopeless and lost. These days there is a sparkle in her eye and a sense of purpose. I realize that she may think she is still “paying for” her breakdown but, to me, it looked like she was in a deep, deep hole. You can’t just climb out of something like that and expect to be 100% free again. Again, I can’t profess to know what her life is like but I know that I am thankful that her parents stepped in to take control of her life and her affairs after her breakdown. Who knows what her life might be like if she were allowed to continue on her tragic course towards travesty.

Her life is far from tragic these days … with a new album about to drop and plans for a new world tour, she really does have something to keep her active … something to work towards. After the jump, check out a few dance rehearsal photos that have been recently added to BritneySpears.com as well as a photo that was snapped on the set of her new music video Circus …

While I’m anxious to see this new MTV documentary, I’m a bit sad to think that she may not be as happy as she appears. I will always root for Britney Spears in the hopes that she will be able to find true happiness in her life. Click HERE and HERE to watch two short promo vids for Britney Spears: On The Record and remember to tune in when the film airs on 11.30 on MTV.

UPDATE: Sky1 is offering up two different, longer video promos for this documentary. In the first, Britney talks about her marriage:

Additionally, a new Circus promo pic has made it’s way to the Internets … this one looks like it is an outtake photo that was taken during Britney’s album cover photoshoot:

That’s a lot of weave she’s got goin’ on in this pic. I’m not totally feelin’ the photo but I am quite pleased with the way the promo for the album is coming along overall. I’m hoping that we’ll get to see some vibrantly colored, very fun photos too … scary clowns need not apply.

After the jump, check out a short but very cute video clip taken from the upcoming MTV documentary Britney Spears: For The Record, set to air at the end of this month (be warned, the video after the cut autoplays) …

The clip shows Britney actin’ a fool on the set of her Womanizer music video … she is doing her best impersonation of her father Jamie Spears: