Britney the 'Vampire Slayer'

Aug. 2, 2000 -- The belly-button-baring singer had been in talks to guest-star on Dawson’s Creek, but the deal never came off. Since the “Oops! … I Did It Again” songstress is a pal of the slayer herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar, a guest shot on the vamp drama was a no-brainer.

No word on the supernatural plot line that would hook up the two blond teen dreams in TV land, although producer Gareth Davies tells Entertainment Weekly that the former Mouseketeer can do “just about anything she wants to, I suspect.” How are the die-hard fans taking it? One hilarious fan posting to the official Buffy site: “I do not care if Britney Spears is on the show next season, as long as she dies a really horrible death. Or, at least her character does. Her breasts may be indestructible, [however].”

Ratings PloySo … do we start accusing Buffy of pandering to pre-teens? Coupled with the addition of 14-year-old Michelle Trachtenberg (of Harriet the Spy fame) next season — it does look like the 4-year-old cult show is losing its edge.

No time like the present, then, to bring back fan fave Drusilla, who’s been missing since the second season finale. Martin Landau’s daughter Juliet, who plays the deliciously evil British vamp, is in negotiations with Whedon to return, TV Guide reports. Whedon says he’s interested in bringing Dru back to Buffy or its spinoff, Angel, but says, “I can’t make any promises” that she’ll definitely materialize on either show.

Her vamp boyfriend, Spike (James Marsters), has been kicking around Sunnydale since Drusilla dumped him. It should be interesting to see what kind of fireworks her return brings. Landau says, “There’s so much dimension to the character — it’s not just playing a straightforward villain. For instance, her relationship with Spike has a sweet side.” In her absence from Buffy, Landau’s shot two independent films (Carlo’s Wake and Citizens of Perpetual Indulgence) and made a guest appearance on USA’s La Femme Nikita.