WE'RE DOING A SEQUEL:  Part of what makes Muppets Most Wanted work so well is that they don't feel the need to follow up every plot thread from the reboot--Gary and Mary don't make an appearance (except in a split second clip of them from behind from the end of The Muppets), nor is the idea of "Muppet Studios" addressed.  That said, pieces from the reboot remain--Walter continues to play a major role (and there is a great joke about how much time is devoted to Walter rather than other returning characters), and Bret McKenzie's songs remain a delight.  However, the most interesting change is that this time, the Muppets themselves are clearly the main characters, while humans are reduced to supporting roles--it mostly works, and Gervais and Fey acquit themselves admirably on the song and dance front.  (As do a couple of more unexpected folks in cameo roles.)  It's been a long time since I've seen Great Muppet Caper, but I'd be interested to see how this plays in comparison to that one.

PAGING DR. EVIL:  There were, after last check, only viable sixteen entries remaining in the Warren Buffett Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge (now none), which raises a pretty fantastic question: suppose it's the Final Four, so you're now three games away from $1,000,000,000.00.  Given that you've mathematically got a 1-in-8 shot to win it, in theory $125 million would be a fair offer for Buffett to buy you out. Suppose Buffett instead offers you $25 million, or less? How low would you go in accepting an offer?

Explain your reasoning; show all work.

ALOTT5MA FRIDAY GRAMMAR RODEO AND GUARANTEED OUTRAGE GENERATOR:  An update to the AP Stylebook now insists that it's totally ok to say "over [some quantity]" when previously only "more than" was acceptable; i.e., "I do not give over two shits about this news" is now just as good as "I do not give more than two shits."

Other changes are underway.

IS THAT MY MOTHER ON THE PHONE?  Ten lousy songs on otherwise-good albums.

Additions to the list: "Cover Me" (Born in the U.S.A.), "Computer Blue" (Purple Rain), "The Lady in My Life" (Thriller), "The Infamous Date Rape" (The Low End Theory).

PENNEH!!!  Remember Lost?  Jezebel ranks all its characters from most to least annoying.

Related: apparently the right age to start your daughter on Lost is not "almost 11."  She was loving the opening episode until Smokey showed up, and then when he visits the barely-conscious pilot in the cockpit ... yeah, she'd like to wait before seeing more.

RIVER WASH THE MOUNTAIN:  Vulture compiles twenty great Muppet Show musical performances.  (M.I.A.: Floyd Pepper f/The Electric Mayhem Band, "New York State of Mind")

WELCOME TO AGLOE, NY, POPULATION ... WELL, THAT'S TRICKY:  Welcome to the fake town that became real.

OH, FOR F .... ACTUALLY, ONE OF THESE SHOULD BE PRETTY GREAT:  Disney/Pixar working on The Incredibles 2 and Cars 3.

ORANGE?  BLORANGE?  MORANGE? I suspect there may be some desire amongst folks to discuss Veronica Mars, which, if you were interested in seeing a Veronica Mars movie, is pretty decent, but isn't likely to win new converts, I think, and has a couple of delightful cameos.  Two spoiler-y thoughts after the jump: