In what can only be considered an elaborate out-of-town opening of Britney's comeback, Ms. Spears tested her canned "Womanizer" performance at the Bambi Awards in Germany ahead of her December 2 Good Morning America stint:

Some of the commenters are livid that the audience is dead (they definitely are!) but I would ask: What exactly is supposed to make them jump for joy? Britney looks fantastic, like her old self, and there is a nice spectacle going on with the ring of fire and the ball. But other than that, she is moving only competently—can even her greatest fans argue she is doing more than going through some easy motions here?—and is, as ALWAYS, lip-synching 100%.

It's ridiculous that she has boosters who will be thrilled that she's "back!" with the definition of "back!" being that she is again lip-synching songs she was handed and has no connection to. Um...YEAH!

"Please, come closer...not THAT close!"

But I don't wanna be an anti-Britney blogger (and you'll never catch me leaving messages on pro-Britney sites...that would be very "lamb" of me)—the reason I posted this is to ask: Why on earth would Britney's  team think it's a smart idea for "the new queen of pop" to copy the old queen of pop so closely? The sheer black outfit and top hat are strikingly similar to Madonna's Sticky & Sweet look, the very look she was wearing when Britney was just on stage with her. (The circus theme is all very Girlie Show to me, but that was 15 years ago and let's face it—Madonna's done so much that most female performers who've followed can't help but do so in her wake to some extent. No points off for that!)

Britney dancing to Black Eyed Peas and Madonna.

Depending on your empathy for Britney, it's either sweet and endearing or cringe-worthy to see the expression of "I dood it!" at the end, when she seems to thrilled to have made it through the song without embarrassing herself. Except, you know, in the usual and acceptable ways.

P.S. Can't someone do a send-up of "Womanizer" called "Breathalyzer?" (Oops...someone already "Beat" me to it and did it again!_