… ‘s mom. Had you going there for a moment, didn’t I? No, I never met Britney. But I did meet her mom, Lynne. And actually spent chunks of time with her over two days in New York City.
“How did this come about?” you ask. Well, let’s do one of those nice wiggly dissolves back in time, to about 11 or 12 years ago. So, pre-meltdown, possibly even pre-K. Fed. Lynne and Britney “co-wrote’ a book, called “A Mother’s Gift.” I’m not going to comment on the book here. You can read it if you want. I can lend you my copy.
So anyhoo, I get a call from Nelvana’s offices in the US, asking if I’d be interested in adapting said book into a TV series. I said sure, and worked up a pitch. Then they asked if I’d be willing to fly to NYC and have two days of meetings – with Lynne Spears. I said, “Let me think about it.” No I didn’t. I said, “Hells yes!” I confess, I was really nervous about meeting Britney’s mom. I mean – at that point in time she was still the biggest pop star going. I think I figured Lynne would be seriously stage mother. But in fact, she was an awfully nice person. Seemed really decent and surprisingly down to earth.
Case in point: After our first day of meetings (where, at every stop, we played a video of Britney telling the execs how thrilled she was to develop this project, then sing and dance), Lynne – who’d chosen to stay with her son Jamie (who I also met, briefly) in Soho instead of at a hotel – took the subway with me, in the sweltering August heat, down to Soho, where we then checked out some clothes shops together before she met up with her kid.
Then – those who know me well knew it was coming – I kind of blew any bond we might have been developing, on Day 2. After that day of meetings she offered me a lift with her driver in full air conditioning. I accepted. As we drove I marveled at how talented Britney was (remember, we’d watched that video over and over) – then I said something like, “I don’t know how she manages to do all of those amazing dance moves and sing without sounding breathless at the same time!”
I swear to you, I could see the invisible walls come slamming down around Lynne … I was dropped off shortly afterward … And the car squealed away into traffic (okay, it didn’t, but that sounded more dramatic). I don’t think I was trying to be a bitch, I really don’t. I think I was honestly in awe. But possibly also just a little … curious?
I’m trying to remember if they ever got a development deal happening. I know they didn’t with me attached! I did read at some point that it was being developed into a movie, but I don’t think it ever got made.
Um. I’m sorry, Lynne. You seemed like a really nice person, who was doing her best for her kids. Me, I was left with a good story – and this:
It says: To SusIn (I changed the “a” to an “i”): It is so good to know you. Look forward to working together. Lynne Spears.” (she wrote this before that fateful car ride).
