When Britney Spears was careening toward train-wreck territory, she took to wearing a hot pink wig, a wacky accessory that was a clear sign that craziness -- and possibly a Cockney accent -- would soon be on display.

So, we were a little worried when the still-conservator-controlled and once again Starbucks-sucking popster stepped out Wednesday night styling a severe Louise Brooks brunette bob.

The good news is that Brit hasn't started to wig out again. The faux helmet head was just part of the video for "Womanizer," the first single off her forthcoming album, "Circus."

(Listen to the just-released "Womanizer" here and let us know what you think in the comment section.)

People reports she's playing a waitress in the video, which is being shot in the lounge of a Los Angeles sushi joint. Dancers done up in waiter uniforms -- white shirts, ties and black pants -- are also part of the production, which continued on Thursday.

An on-set source tells Us that the video has lots of "erotic" choreography, including a scene in which Spears sucks face -- and cherries -- as she straddles a guy in a suit. But she apparently didn't mind the job-related friskiness.

"She seems to be all business," says the spy. "She'd just do one thing after another and then on to the next."

Brit juggles her three moonmen in the VMA press room.

The video will likely prove to be another rung on her surprisingly quick climb up the ladder of career resurrection, a trek that includes collecting three moonmen at the MTV VMAs earlier this month.

And there may be more highs in the immediate future. Among them: a possible performance on Britain's "The X Factor," Simon Cowell's "American Idol"-esque music show.

"We're absolutely thrilled to have her," the dream-crushing "AI" judge enthuses to "Extra." "I've always said this about Britney: that she's a hugely talented person. Everyone wants to work with her because she's a star. She's the number one booking in the world at the moment for a show."

If Simon sounds uncharacteristically kind towards Spears, don't worry -- his tactlessness remains.

"The fact that she goes a bit crazy occasionally makes her more interesting," he opines. "If she wants to shave her head before she comes on the show, she's welcome to. I don't care."

Someone who would care is Britney's dad, Jamie, who People reports has received the court's permission to put her paparazzi-staked-out Beverly Hills mansion on the market (that breeze you feel? It's her property value-concerned neighbors in the gated community breathing a sigh of relief).

For just $7.9 million, you can own the 7,500-square-foot, six-bedroom, six-and-a-half bath Italian-style villa, which received plenty of media coverage when Spears was hauled out of it on a gurney last January following a standoff with police.

In addition to that rich history, you'll also get a gourmet kitchen, a "romantic" master bedroom, a grand foyer, a wet bar, a library, pool, media room, three garages, a spa and an arbor.

"Having more privacy and wide open spaces for her to raise her boys has been a goal for some time," a source tells the mag, with a rep adding to "Access Hollywood" that she wants a "fresh start."

Britney impulsively purchased the home fully furnished in early 2007, and she's reportedly offering it up for sale with some of the décor tossed in.

(See pictures of the pad here.)

She's now believed to be focusing her house hunt further north, in the swanky area of Calabasas, Calif.

And because no Britney item would be complete without a left-field rumor, here's a doozy courtesy of the National Enquirer, which claims she and ex-husband Kevin Federline are working on a reconciliation.

(We'll give you a minute to stop laughing before continuing on ... Ready? OK ...)

According to the tab, the parents of Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden James, 2, are seeking couples counseling with an eye toward rebuilding their epically dysfunctional family unit.

"Part of their therapy involves going on formal dates, and Britney is so excited," purports a source. "She's never stopped loving Kevin or hoping they'd get back together."

Federline, who won sole custody of their tots and receives $20,000 a month in child support, "still loves Britney, too," asserts the mole, adding oh-so-optimistically, "If all goes well, after six months of counseling they'll move back in together with the boys."