Susie explains the doctoring, which also happened to other photos within:

Now those of you who have purchased CDs know how much trouble it is to take that plastic wrap off. And then to remove the front insert and especially removing the back insert from the CD case without breaking the plastic case can be tricky. So what it all boils down to is that the Saudi government is actually paying religious police members of the Committee for the Protection of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CVPVP) to remove the plastic wrap from these CDs, open up the CD cases, remove the front and back inserts, and carefully and painstakingly color in with a marker any photos baring exposed female flesh that is deemed objectionable. Hence, while the general public is protected from such vulgarity, the CVPVP members get to view photos with women’s flesh abounding and then get to stroke on colored markers over the exposed women’s skin. I wonder what they are thinking or how they feel as they stroke those markers onto the smooth female flesh in the photos. I wonder if it makes them feel good that they are shielding young teenage boys from such crude displays of the nubile female form.

I’m going to leave that question up to Susie, since she knows a lot more about the ins and outs of the committee. What I’m really curious about is the whole notion of whether or not the version of Boys that made it to shelves over in Saudi Arabia is lyrically censored, since I would imagine that barbs like “you PMS like a bitch, I should know” would make the morality cut—never mind that whole fake-lesbian thing. Is it a sign that Perry’s music isn’t as “sexy” as she would like, or is it just harder to sell CDs that have bits scratched out?

X-Treme Censorship [Susie's Big Adventure via Current; HT Christopher R. Weingarten]

^* Not to get all morality-police, but do you want to talk about questionable parenting decisions? Sheesh.

Anyway, all this has resulted in next week being extra-suspenseful, because now the bottom two will be sent home instead of just the lowest vote-getter. It is also “disco week,” which garnered the predictable grousing from Simon at show’s end. Were this crop of singers a little better overall, I would probably try to be contrarian toward Mr. Cowell and say that while the whole concept of a “disco week” that doesn’t have James Murphy involved in 2009 is probably going to come off at least a little dated, the genre has been historically undervalued, and that even Idol’s inept licensing team will be able to find at least a couple of diamonds for the kids to sing. But then the image of Danny Gokey flapping around to “Disco Duck” takes over my mind, and, well, yeah.

American Idol [Official site]

Note, also, the recurring theme of “jealous of lesbians” that runs throughout the clip. Someone’s feeling inadequate!

Eminem – We Made You [OnSmash via Rap Radar]

There was one pleasant surprise in last night’s mess of affairs—Jesse Langseth, who proved to be something of a corker in her initial performance, was granted entry to the Wild Card round. I was somewhat surprised that last-minute replacement Felicia Barton didn’t sneak her way in, either; maybe the producers realized that a 33% worship-leader quotient would have been too much?

And now, my odds for tonight’s show, which will feature one performance by each contestant and be capped by the judges sending three people through to the finals:

Anoop Desai. EVEN. Something tells me that the judges carried over the whole “pimp spot” concept to the Wild Card announcements. I have no problem with this at all, honestly.
Megan Corkrey. 2-1. I like her. The judges like her. She got the secondary pimp slot. She’s pretty much golden.
Jasmine Murray. 5-2. I have a bad feeling about her, to be honest. She can’t sing very well and her personality is blander than bland, but Kara can’t stop going on about how she’s a “package artist,” and how she should sing Rihanna because they look vaguely alike. Plus, I suspect the producers are nervous about the male-female balance, since right now the top 12 has six men and three women. (Dear Idol: Can you please stop calling them “girls”? Thanks.)
Matt Giraud / Ricky Braddy. 3-1. One of them will make it. Not both.
Jesse Langseth. 5-1. Love her, but she’ll probably only break through if both Megan and Jasmine really blow their performances tonight.
Tatiana Del Toro. 10-1. She’s definitely going to be the last person eliminated, though.
Von Smith. 30-1. Sorry, dude. Here’s hoping you get a copy of Punch-Out!! as a consolation prize.

American Idol [Official site]
[Grab courtesy MJ's video rip]

• “But anyone who thinks her lackluster would do well to remember what she really is: a burlesque performer, a carny’s dream born a century or so too late to be fated to ply her art upon the midway, but able to fulfill the spectacle of blond ambition now.” [Ann Powers, LA Times]

• “When she wrapped the concert about 90 minutes after emerging, she seemed more relieved than anything that it was all over.” [Chuck Arnold, People]

• “And by the time she said good night with another great one-two wallop (’Womanizer’ and a reprise of ‘Circus’), dressed in a sexy policewoman outfit, she looked exhausted. But happy. And why not? She brought the circus to her hometown, and it was a huge, sold-out, screaming success. It probably just would’ve benefited from a little more Britney Spears, that’s all. ” [James Montgomery, MTV]

• “But all the sex, fire and stomp-and-slither choreography can’t disguise the fact that the production needs a bigger, purely musical core (a few more songs from the current album would have helped) – and some spontaneity. It wasn’t until Spears finally called out “Thank you, New Orleans” after finishing her Womanizer encore that the crowd got a glimpse into the heart of their homegirl from Kentwood.” [Jerry Shriver, USA Today]

• “woah.” [Andrew Kuttler, [britneylive @ Twitter]

What began as a boyhood passion as he saw actor Fess Parker portray Davy Crockett now is a full-time pursuit for Collins, 58.

“He’s very well read,” said Jim Guimarin, who owns the History Shop and has traveled with Collins to battle sites.

Last year, standing under a moonlit sky among the walls at Mission La Bahía in Goliad, it was as if he and Collins had been transported back to 1836. Collins was given a private tour of the San Jacinto battleground, where the Texans defeated Mexico and won independence April 21. This year, they may visit a historic site near Corpus Christi where 35 Texans were killed or captured.

Collins also plans to attend Friday’s commemorations of the Alamo battle and is set to speak to the Alamo Defenders Descendants Association on Saturday.

Some Alamo history enthusiasts who weren’t familiar with Collins’ hits – such as “In the Air Tonight” and “One More Night” – didn’t know who he was when he appeared unexpectedly at last year’s events on the battle’s March 6 anniversary.

Tom Jackson, president of the Travis chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, was a featured speaker that day. He said he knew who Collins was, but was shocked to see him there.

Jackson said Collins’ zeal could help stimulate an interest in Texas history in others.

“Phil has a strong passion, and I think that’s wonderful. There’s a great deal of well-written history for anyone with a desire to learn,” Jackson said.

Collins is narrating a 13-minute “diorama light and sound show” at the site’s attached shop, as well as working on a collection-themed book, at least one chapter of which will be devoted to the making of the book.

Alamo is new passion for singer Phil Collins [My San Antonio; HT bg5000]

Faryl Smith:

Mark E. Smith (”Exploding Chimney” from Imperial Wax Solvent):

You know, this could result in a life-changing moment for some poor kid whose ears were used to nothing but tear-jerking melodrama. I’m just saying. (Also, how great would it be to get Mark E. in front of Simon C.? So much chest-rubbing! So many bleeps!)

[The Sun via Jon Solomon / Matablog]