Monday marked a rather interesting day in the Britney Spears saga. It's Britney's first appearance on television since . well, since the unassuming Louisiana blonde turned into an emotionally crippled, psychologically impaired, hair weave-depending, paparazzi swarm-inducing, 26-year-old divorcée and mother of two. In other words, it's been a while since Britney did something that fit the role of "performer" and not "three-ring circus." The Britney debacle has been approached from every angle-sociological, economical, astronomical. In her downfall, Ms. Spears has garnered just as much, if not more, attention for being her crazy self than she did dancing, singing and being obnoxiously chipper. Where are the outcries for her unsubstantial stardom now? Whereas so many were keen on criticizing Spears for her minimal singing ability and her transition from "innocent" highschooler (Please, she was in a Catholic schoolgirl uniform) to sex kitten, nowadays everyone is distracted by the car crash being caught on tape. It seems while a part of the American public's sympathy has been roused, another's apathy has been left untouched, and still another's cynicism has been let loose-and all these various sentiments unleashed by Britney's media coverage. Is this going to change as Britney is taking steps back to "normal" and functioning celebrity? Is all of the compassion we felt for her going to sour into scorn for her mediocrity? Then again, maybe Britney will never retain the image she once had (and I don't mean the one she had during her wholesome era; that's a pretty hefty task for a woman with post-child-bearing hips). What is to become of Ms. Spears in the years to come? Most can predict a reclamation of her children, and maybe a decent review of one of her performances, but otherwise, will she be able to outlive her infamy? There's plenty of commentary to be made, a lot of Jerry Springer-type "final thoughts" that could be conceived, but much like The Jerry Springer Show, the Britney Spears extravaganza is just a series of ridiculous events that prompt the entrance of shady characters, drawing the audience into a frenzy and requesting the assistance of body guards. But Jerry eventually breaks things up. After all, it's only a half-hour show, and there are only so many chairs on stage. And besides, nobody actually bothers with the final thoughts.