HOLLYWOOD - Britney Spears' acting career has been given a boost--she's among studio favorites to land a role opposite former Friends star Matthew Perry in a new sitcom.

In a remake of 1960s TV series, Perry will play a businessman who finds a pretty girl and asks her to pretend to be his wife to better his career.

Daily Variety columnist Liz Smith reports bosses at NBC like the idea of troubled Spears playing the part of the fake wife.

A TV source tells Smith, "There's something about her that just connects with the audience."

http://www.hollywood.com/news/Spears_Set_for_Sitcom_Role/4895281