For the better part of a decade, Britney Spears has enchanted onlookers with her gradual breakdown - the brilliant combustion of a star into a supernova. Recently, however, she seems to be turning the corner, without a single child in her lap.

For a fleeting moment at the onset 2004, after annulling her ill-fated 55-hour marriage to Jason Alexander after a mixture of booze, sloppy signatures and hopeless idealism had brought the union about, it appeared Spears knew the difference between smart and downright stupid (or at least when she was sober). However, eight months and one man-child of a husband later (oops ... she did it again?), a proud Mrs. Federline proved the sheer volatility of her judgment to the world.

After this second shotgun wedding, and until only recently, it seemed as though Britney had seated herself for a round of Milton Bradley's "Game of Life" with the intention of losing in every way possible. She helped extend Kevin Federline's bloodline (against the law in seven states), put one of their infant spawn in her lap while operating a motor vehicle (against the law in every state), turned herself into Mr. Clean with the help of an electric razor and more than a pinch of crazy, treated rehab like a revolving door, and stumbled and mumbled her way through an attempted comeback at the 2007 VMAs.

Thanks to the unabashedly curious American tabloid industry (both for their chronicling of and considerable responsibility for Britney's devolution), her turbulent existence has played out in real-time for millions of Americans, providing a breadth of insight similar to that in "The Truman Show." Spears became many a person's hobby, filling the void for a mesmerizing collapse in millions of lives.

So now, amid the release of an album, "Circus," a slew of hit singles and an impending new fragrance, it seems Spears hopes to emerge from the annals of infamy to reclaim fame: the fame of MTV interviews, pin-up posters and actual fans (not voyeurs) she once enjoyed. She just may: In September, her single "Womanizer" became her first No. 1 hit since 1999's "Baby One More Time" and her recent guest appearance on "How I Met Your Mother" was well-received.

If nothing else, Americans love to dole out second chances - and it doesn't hurt that she's attractive and can sing and dance.