NOT JUST THE CITY OF MURALS ANYMORE:  On top of Philadelphia's impending Joe Frazier statue—because real boxing champions deserve at least as much love as fictional ones—comes word that two true local heroes will soon be honored in bronze: William "Wild Bill" Guarnere and the recently deceased Edward "Babe" Heffron, both of Easy Company legend.

[In 2001, both men were profiled by Philadelphia Magazine as they visited the Band of Brothers filming.]

BINGE: So I guess I should start listening to Serial?

HOGGY WARTY HOGWARTS!  Spurred by last night's Harry Potter thread, the comments on Sepinwall's review of last night's Parenthood have become a spirited discussion of which Hogwarts House the various characters would be sorted into.  This gives us an opportunity to sort other pop culture figures into their appropriate houses.  Don't forget to justify your answer!

BOO:  Tell us how Halloween is going for you. Favorite candies? How many Elsas are in your neighborhood?  And do you like scary movies?

THAT PLACE WHERE WE WENT THAT TIME:  How do we feel about Seth Rogen attempting Sorkinese as Steve Wozniak in the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic opposite Christian Bale as Jobs?  I will say that for the mess that the Ashton Kutcher version was, Josh Gad was actually quite good as Woz.

GIGANTES!  GIGANTES!  GIGANTES!:  3 World Series in 5 years really is more than any fan of any team could hope for in a lifetime.  But, man, that was fun.  The Royals were terrific and to have the World Series down to a single swing of the bat is all a fan of this game should want.

Sorry that this is, likely, Pablo Sandoval's last game as a Giant, but fat guys always can find a home as a designated not-fielder in the American League.  I'll miss him.  And wish him well.

JACKIE ROBINSON, JAMES BROWN, KING T'CHALLA: Marvel Studios has announced Phase 3 of its cinematic universe, taking us through 2019.

BECAUSE HE PUTS AN ADDICTIVE CHEMICAL IN HIS CHICKEN THAT MAKES YOU CRAVE IT FORTNIGHTLY, SMARTASS:  How KFC cooks its chicken.

POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC DESK:  No, I'm pretty sure that San Francisco winning the World Series is not caused by Taylor Swift putting out a new album, but it's an interesting theory.  Maybe if Lorde releases a new album next year, that'll work for the Royals.

WHEN THE SONG WAS DONE, JOEL TURNED TO THE AUDIENCE AND SAID, “AND THEN WE GOT DIVORCED”:  It's critical reappraisal week for Billy Joel -- Nick Paumgarten in The New Yorker, and David Brusie gives Glass Houses another listen in the AV Club. From the former:

[H]e had thirty-three Top Forty hits. That’s an awful lot—about twice as many as Springsteen, the Eagles, or Fleetwood Mac. Some were schmalz, others were novelties, but a crate of them are songs that have embedded themselves in the great American jukebox and aren’t going away anytime soon. If you hate them, fine. A lot of people, even some rock snobs, love them still. I’m tired of “Piano Man,” too, but “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” gets me every time. “Summer, Highland Falls” is for real. As for derivative, Joel won’t deny it; he loved the Beatles, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, and Smokey Robinson, so why not try to sound like them? At his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, in 1999, he was introduced by Ray Charles. Joel said, “I know I’ve been referred to as derivative. Well, I’m damn guilty. I’m derivative as hell.” He said that if the Hall of Fame disqualified candidates on the basis of being derivative, “there wouldn’t be any white people here.” 

CHOOSE YOUR OWN VARIETY SHOW:  NBC has given a 10 episode, on-air commitment to a variety show hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.  The show's based on a British format including comedy sketches, audience members playing games and stunts, and variety acts.  It sounds like a glorious mess.

SNOT ROCKET: It turns out that Madison Bumgarner is good at baseball.  Eight strikes outs is cool, yes.  25 first pitch strikes against 31 batters faced?  That's insane.

I WILL TELL YOU FROM MY CAST IRON CHAIR:  Ok, maybe I'm just being crotchety, but even if it's being done ironically and for grownups only, can't we decide as a society that the cultural "redemption" of convicted rapist Mike Tyson need not involve his starring in a Scooby Doo-style cartoon show?