It's been four years since Janet Jackson shocked-shocked!-our genteel country with her infamous nip-slip at the 2004 Superbowl, prompting the FCC to slap CBS with a $550,000 penalty that sent the major networks into a puritanical tizzy. Thankfully time has given us all a little perspective on the incident, and a federal court yesterday threw out the fine, saying that the FCC had acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" (translation: stoopid) in its response. The decision is another setback for the FCC in its crusade against indecency, setting the stage for more debate about how tough the agency ought to be against stations that air accidental nudity or expletives. I tend to fall into the "It's Just a Boob" camp, and would even argue that the only real and lasting damage from the whole debacle was the introduction of the term "wardrobe malfunction" to the pop lexicon. But what do you think, PopWatchers? Was anyone really harmed by a fleeting glimpse of Miss Jackson's oddly accessorized bosom? And hasn't her nose-diving career been punishment enough for us all?

Like judge and Grammy-nominated songwriter Jeffrey Steele (Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts the Most"), I was dreading original song night on Nashville Star. So much, in fact, that when I remembered it was original song night at the end of the workday yesterday, I let Slezak someone convince me to "prepare" for the impending heinoustry with a mojito, which eventually led to me watching the show on my DVR at a painfully late hour. Imagine my surprise then, when the remaining five contestants' songs didn't suck. At all. Let's break it down, in reverse order.

Shawn Mayer (pictured): Had I gotten home in time to vote, I would've dialed in for her. All the contestants had their best performances of the season last night, but Shawn blew me away. I actually applauded when she ended her Faith Hill-style power ballad, "I'm Not Lookin' Back," written about the love of her life that she left behind to chase her dream in Nashville. It made Jeffrey, who doubles as her mentor, say, "John Rich is a fool... You know, I'm a publisher." It made me wish she had performed her own material every week. She sounded great, she looked hot, and she was strong and dangerous (yet still vulnerable and approachable). I think she may have just sung her way into the finals.

After the jump, we review the four remaining performances, and the crazy lyric I'm really hoping I misunderstood.

Ashlee Hewitt: Ashlee, who joined Shawn in the bottom two, cried when she got sent home. Ah. I'd feel bad for her if Jewel hadn't said that she'd love to write songs with her and help her cut a album. Even though I agree with the judges that she has a commercial, stylized sound - think Jewel meets Julie Roberts minus the maturity- her track wasn't my favorite of the night. The naughty original, "Mike's Hard Lemonade," was about a girl who goes too far with a guy because her cowboy left her and she had a little too much to drink. A bit trite, no?

Gabe Garcia: I'd say Gabe looked about 80 percent comfortable last night, which, as John noted, is still a major problem since it keeps him from fully connecting with the crowd. But as with all the contestants, I liked Gabe even more after hearing his sound: the track "Lost Weekend," about a couple trying to find the spark again, made me think less of George Strait and more of Jason Michael Carroll. Maybe Gabe should sing "Livin' Our Love Song" next week. If he could pull that off, flirting with the audience, Jewel would be so happy.

Melissa Lawson: Melissa admitted that she's only been writing songs for a few months, but according to John, who can't hide the fact that he's pulling for her, she's a natural. Her empowerment anthem, "Ready to Stand," was something Martina McBride would record. I thought Melissa over-sang it, but the judges loved it.

Coffey: He opened the show with his song "Southern Man," something I imagine the Barenaked Ladies would've written had they been Texan instead of Canadian. I've said before that I love Coffey's voice and would like to hear it on country radio - but John, who (angels sing) actually liked this performance, said he didn't think Coffey could get airplay. Since John has to take the winner into the recording studio, and wants a radio hit, he said he needs to think about that. Though, I kinda wish he didn't.

So, whose original song was your favorite? Can you hear Coffey on country radio? And did anyone else mishear this lyric of his?

Country boy style, with the country boy tone/
Holla from the porch, 'cause we don't use the phone/
Down in the South it's all about love/ We don't shake hands, I greet a Jew with a hug.

* After much rewinding, I'm thinking he said I greeted you with a hug?

You remember how the PopWatch Duel works: We ask two people for their picks on a certain topic. You decide whose list is better by casting a vote in the comments section. They try to tell themselves that they don't care who wins.

In honor of today's DVD release of Robot Chicken: Star Wars - which just received an A- review in EW and, oh yeah, an Emmy nomination - we asked creators Seth Green (left) and Matthew Senreich (right) to each name The Five Geekiest Pieces of Pop Culture I Own.

It's on after the jump.

Seth Green

1. The Muppet Show on DVD. I was on location in Canada, up late with insomnia - saw the ad & bought the entire series.

2. Lincoln Hawk action figure (pictured, in a photo Green took himself). From the movie Over The Top - the best father-son, borderline homoerotic, arm-wrestling redemption movie.

3. Fred 'Rerun' Berry signed photo. Made out to 'sweet j,' an inside joke and an amazing item.

4. GI Joe lunchbox. Yes, I have the thermos.

5. Lobby card from Superman. The villians, trapped in the flying glass thingy from the Donner cut of Superman II.

Matthew Senreich

1. Over 100 original Atari games including Ikari Warriors, Warlord, Adventure and that crappy E.T. game.

2. A super signed Buffy the Musical poster.

3. A page of Joe Madureira's original art to his first contracted work from Marvel Comics in Marvel Comics Presents #89.

4. Every issue of Wizard magazine ever. Specials included.

5. All the original Kenner Star Wars action figures (all of which have been opened). Including the C-3PO carrying case. Plus, eight Master Replica lightsabers including Darth Maul's.

Okay, who's the bigger geek (a term of affection)? Seth Green or Matthew Senreich? Vote now!

I was sure I had last night's mystery cracked before the first commercial break, but they faked me out. Love that in a cop show! And even better, while the episode lacked dreamy Jason O'Mara, it was otherwise so much stronger and smarter than last week's fizzle of a season premiere.

Is it my imagination or are the writers trying to steam things up between Brenda and Fritz? I'm still not really feeling it, but I admit it was fun to see Brenda with a major afterglow, tramping around the scene of the hit-and-run in that radioactive fuchsia trench coat, in case we missed the point. 

The dead guy was a dirtbag, which is always fine with me. As soon as I heard Roy Wilkinson's sordid backstory, I thought for sure we were getting a classic revenge narrative. He killed a girl -- he didn't just kill her, he strangled her during sex! -- and only served eight years? Well, duh, someone wanted him dead. When the Mayhans walked into the office for the courtesy visit with the cops, I disliked them on sight: Rich, entitled, resentful. I know, I know, they lost their daughter, but I thought the writers worked overtime to make them unsympathetic. And so even when Brenda visited the frumpy caregiver bearing the good life-insurance news, I was sure this was but a sly red herring. That the devious Mayhans had somehow rigged the policy to implicate a sad, lumpish prole...

So was I the last person to figure this one out?

Click through to the jump for the rest of my recap, and a burning question I need answered.

Least favorite moment of the evening: Brenda twitches her behind while leaning into the candy machine and talking on the phone to Fritz -- then notices slimy Pope smirking about a foot away. Ewww.

Favorite moments: Provenza gunning a car over the dummy in the alley like a little boy with a new Tonka truck. Tao sashaying down the street repeating, "Walk with me!" like he stepped out of a David Lynch movie. What was that about?

But, of course, the real highlight was when Brenda finally headed into the box to work her stuff on the suspects. Here, I felt the show hit its stride for the first time this season. The Closer is best when Brenda is working her stuff -- her professional stuff. Sorry boys, I like her vastly better in the interrogation room than in a camisole.

Finally, a question: I glanced away from the TV for about 7 seconds and missed whatever it was that happened with the bottle of booze at the very end. Had Fritz been drinking? Or was Brenda thoughtfully moving the alcohol out of easy reach? If you caught what I missed, do share (along with your thoughts on last night's episode) in the comments section below!