Recess top 5

5 The return of of-age drinking. With ALE trolling the streets of Durham, it's finally back in to have a legit ID.

4 Back in the U.S. of A. With telethons, celebrity concerts and multiple celebrity sightings, this is the first time in almost three years that celebs are finally showing the love for the home nation. Here's big props to hot mama Oprah and Co. for helping out the Red, White and Blue.

3 Unlikely musical empires. Three years ago, Mariah Carey was bonkers; Kelly Clarkson was the next Celine Dion; and the Black-Eyed Peas, a total snoozefest. Somehow these artists have clawed their way back up the charts and taken over radio. Our pick for next bizarro comeback: the Baha Men. Who let the dawgs out indeed.

2 News with balls. Anchors are the new junkyard pit bull as they bark at government officials for seeming inaction in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Kudos to Keith Olberman, Anderson Cooper and Ted Koppel for telling it like it is.

1 Baby one more time. Already garnering massive publicity cred with a reported upcoming Vanity Fair cover (with Mom), Preston Michael Spears is poised for big things, including a stint in the second season of Chaotic and perhaps a production credit on Mom's next album. Moreover, we predict his own reality show by toddler years and a Behind the Music segment before his tweens. Here's us saying: Move over Bit Bit.

And Out:

Greatest hits before musical puberty. B-Spears has done it. So has, surprisingly, Mandy Moore. Now, Hilary Duff is out with Most Wanted-a hits compilation that spans her post-Lizzie McGuire career-basically two albums-and bonus: three new popperific songs.