While A-list guest star Britney Spears didn’t make it to the How I Met Your Mother bash at the Palihouse in L.A. this weekend, our spywitness at the event heard plenty of chatter about the troubled pop star’s time on set.

The show’s star Neil Patrick Harris said he was surprised that Brit was rather quiet. “When she was with us, she
 was rather shy and intimidated,” he explained. “Probably because she doesn’t have a lot of acting experience, especially sitcom experience.”

And as for reports that the 26-year-old mother of two was a nightmare on the set, Neil said, “I wouldn’t call her a nightmare. She’s living
 one.”

While Brit might have been surprisingly quiet around the set, Neil admitted that the hysteria surrounding her even made its way past studio security.”When she’s on set, it’s kind of chaotic, hectic,” he explained. “Even though she was quiet and behaved… She brings that energy with her.”

WENN

Neil Patrick Harris is “disappointed” Isaiah Washington’s derogatory comments towards gay co-star TR Knight keep making headlines. Harris announced publicly he was gay in November, after Internet reports speculated on his sexuality.

He tells TVGuide.com, “TR (Knight) has proven himself to be an incredibly classy, dignified guy. I’m impressed that Katherine Heigl said what she said. I was shocked that it all reared its ugly head again.”

Washington shocked cast members on Monday in the Golden Globes press room when he denied he had called Knight a “faggot” during a spat on the set in October.

Harris refused to comment on what form Washington’s “punishment” should take adding, “It’s impossible for me to make any kind of comment about that because I wasn’t there when it happened. It’s just disappointing that it’s cyclical.”

Washington issued a statement on Thursday, apologizing for his behavior, and admitted he needed professional help to deal with his issues.