| Wednesday 28 February 2007 |
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Where does Britney rank in the history of flameouts?
 | Britney Spears is certainly not the first celebrity to go off the rails in full view of her once-adoring public. But hers is one of the most spectacular falls from grace in recent memory, meticulously documented by paparazzi and bystanders, and uploaded instantly for the titillation of the masses.
At 25 she's certainly young enough to resume her career after she regroups, and for perspective, we've compiled some of the most notorious celebrity flameouts of the past 10 years, along with the success (or not) of their efforts to get back on track. We've rated these 1-4 in ascending order of intensity:
4: A rough weekend - tacky and ill-advised, but easily surmountable.
3: A sordid chapter - a tabloid feast, distasteful but not disastrous.
2: At risk - a series of unfortunate events and decisions that require extensive career - and image - rehab.
1: Critical - career recovery unlikely.
By this measure, we give Britney a 2: It's been a very rough two years, but if she's able to regain her groove - a great album would be the best cure - her chances for a career revival seem strong. As for the others... Who: Mariah Carey
The Crash: One of the most successful artists of the 1990s, Carey began to lose momentum after she split from husband/mentor (also then-chairman of Columbia, her record label at the time) Tommy Mottola in 1996. Four years later, she signed a deal with Virgin Records - for a reported $80 million. Her first album under that contract, 2001's Glitter, was the biggest commercial flop of her career, and the accompanying movie was eviscerated by critics. Around the same time, Carey's public appearances became increasingly erratic and a series of bizarre messages on her official Web site created concern that she was suffering an emotional breakdown. Then, a dazed-looking Carey appeared on "TRL", handed out popsicles to the audience and stripped down to a pair of Daisy Dukes and a halter top. Soon after, she checked into a hospital to treat "extreme exhaustion" and took a break from public appearances. In 2002, Virgin bought Carey out of her contract for a reported $28 million.
The Comeback: Accomplished - all it took was a great album. While 2002's Charmbracelet helped her regain some balance, she came storming back with 2005's multiplatinum The Emancipation of Mimi. Bolstered by A-list material from hitmaker Jermaine Dupri, it was the year's best-selling album and earned the singer her 17th #1 single in the U.S. with "Don't Forget About Us", tying the record held by Elvis Presley.
Rating: 3 She's always been a bit kooky, but as long as her behavior doesn't overshadow her prodigious talent (and she's got songs worthy of it), her fans don't seem to mind. (excerpt from MTV News)
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