Michael Jackson's "This Is It" earned over an estimated $100 million dollars worldwide its opening weekend. Not surprising considering the hype around the film after Michael suddenly died in June. I was one of the MJ fans who contributed to the big box office weekend on Friday. So how was it, you ask?  In a word…Inspiring. And I don’t mean how the film was put together. I’m talking about what the film showed me about the man.

Michael Jackson was certainly a complicated guy – no movie has to be made to explain that to anyone. But what "This Is It" does is bring forth perhaps the part of the man we all want to remember – the guy who thrilled us with a show bigger than we could ever imagine.

“This Is It” doesn't have narration or a detailed look behind the curtain of this musical wizard’s mind. There's certainly no hint that Michael would've died within days of the footage that was shown except for the fact that he looked so skinny. It simply shows us a glimpse not only of what Michael wanted to give to fans in his London O2 Arena concert series, but also a vivid reminder of why he was the King of Pop.

In every segment of the film, you see music radiating from every part of Michael’s being. He can’t help himself by singing out or dancing while re-arranging one of his classic hits. And, perhaps, what was so revealing about this film was that you could see that Michael was never more at home than on that stage. On stage, surrounded by music is where he knew exactly who he was, what he wanted and his position among his peers. A chill shivered up my spine with every snap of his leg or burst of his pitch-perfect voice (are we certain he was just in rehearsal?).

At the same time, it didn't escape my mind that it was off stage where Michael became the little boy lost in a big, cynical world obsessed with tearing down the famous. He could have screamed from the top of his lungs that he was misunderstood, and no one would have listened. We didn't listen. In our world, he was a child-devouring monster (though, never convicted).

I have to say, as a die-hard fan growing up, my mind and my heart have been in conflict about MJ since he passed away. He's a sicko! Oh, but he was such a genius! Is it possible to separate MJ’s music from what he allegedly did behind closed doors? Can we do that for Chris Brown? R. Kelly? What about this man who was born a musical prodigy? Must I reluctantly erase “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” from the ipod in my brain after what he allegedly did? How can I reconcile that – especially now that he’s gone?

After seeing "This Is It," the 11 year old inside of me wishes she could've witnessed Michael's genius in person. The only thing this movie shows me is that Michael was it. He was the maestro who composed the soundtrack of my generation. I will always struggle with my feelings about MJ's bizarre and disturbing life choices and his alleged behavior with children... Ultimately, I don’t know that I could ever give him the benefit of the doubt and yet, conversely, I will never deny his musical virtuosity.  I guess, I’ll have to live with that conflict within me, because “This Is It” proves, Jackson’s music will never die.

As if there wasn't enough controversy surrounding Michael Jackson – the investigation into his death, whether the "This Is It" movie and album are attempts to capitalize on his demise, who wrote the title song, ad nauseum – you might think the last thing at issue is whether that's really Michael dancing and singing on screen.  But the late star's father, Joe Jackson (not the most credible source in the world when it comes to his sons), said recently the film would be "mostly body doubles."

Now, Michael impersonators are a dime a dozen, especially here in Hollywood, where you can't swing a sequined glove without hitting a moon-walking wannabe.  But using them in a movie called "Michael Jackson's This Is It"?  Could a movie studio really be that craven?

Absolutely not, says... the movie studio.  Specifically, Steve Elzer, Senior Vice President, Media Relations at Sony Pictures.  Here's his quote, which doesn't seem to leave much wiggle room for interpretation:

This story is pure garbage and there are no body doubles.  Audiences will begin to see the film tomorrow and every time they see the King of Pop they will know that every frame is unquestionably and undeniably Michael as he rehearses and prepares for the London concerts that were to have begun this past summer.

Good enough for me.  Pass the popcorn.

Tell us if you're buying tickets, what opening night looked like in your town and your review of the film here, on iReport.com.

So, how was your Monday?

Executives at Sony Music Entertainment thought it would be a big day.  After all, they were releasing "This Is It," the first Michael Jackson song since his death in June, the latest salvo in the media blitz leading up to "This Is It" the album, dropping October 26th internationally and October 27th in the U.S., and "This Is It" the movie, opening October 28th.  Except "This Is It"... isn't.

It isn't really a Michael Jackson song, or a new song.  Turns out Michael and singer-songwriter Paul Anka co-authored the ditty, way back in 1983, for an Anka album.  Latin hip-hop artist Safire recorded and released it in 1990 as "I Never Heard," and then it was "never heard" again... until some poor soul at Sony, whose name will probably never be revealed, unknowingly found the tape in Jackson's archives.  Add some Jackson brothers' backing vocals and orchestration to Michael's voice and Anka's piano, and you've got MJ's first post-mortem single.

Anka's being gracious, saying the producers did a beautiful job of completing the song, and calls the mess "an honest mistake."  Of course, after some no-doubt-frantic negotiating by the Sony folks, Anka now owns 50% of the song.  Monday was a pretty good day for him!

Now, let's get down to what's truly important: did you like the ballad?  Did you stay up until midnight to hear it online as soon as possible?  And does the revelation about its origins make any difference to you?

Tito and Marlon Jackson are planning a tribute concert for their late brother Michael Jackson. Shohreh Aghdashloo and Marcia Gay Harden are battling again, this time on the big screen. And John Turturro is letting his personal life interfere with his work. CNN's JD Cargill has more on these tidbits in today's buzz:

Update #10: Michael Jackson's funeral is over and his family has departed in their fleet of Rolls.  One can only imagine what they are thinking as they drive away from their loved one, after saying a final farewell to him.

At the service Gladys Knight performed; his father Joe Jackson made remarks and others came to the podium to speak spontaneously about him, according to the family's p.r. representatives.

Among the other stars in attendance: Mila Kunis, Corey Feldman, Jackson's former wife Lisa Marie Presley and Motown founder Berry Gordy.

The Jackson family hired a sophisticated video crew to record the event, triggering speculation that some footage may be included in the upcoming concert movie about Jackson.  It's supposed to come out next month.

Update #9: The Jackson family has arrived (most of them in Rolls Royces).  Michael's children have taken their seats.  They look composed, but Janet Jackson seemed to be bearing her grief more heavily.

Michael's parents, Katherine and Joe Jackson, are seated next to each other.

Update #8: The service still hasn't started.  There are empty chairs in front, reserved for Jackson's family members.

Macaulay Culkin is here.  Johnny Mathis is NOT.  I confused him with actor, singer and ordained minister Clifton Davis (they look a lot alike, at least to me).  Apologies.

Update #7: The burial service is delayed.  It was supposed to start 20 minutes ago.  We haven't seen any family members arrive.

Elizabeth Taylor was brought in by wheelchair.  Her hair is dyed black.

Update #6: More stars arriving now: Johnny Mathis, Chris Tucker(who imitated Michael in the "Rush Hour" movies).  Also here: Attorney Tom Mesereau, who defended Jackson during his molestation trial a few years ago, and Rev. Al Sharpton.

Update #5: Per Larry King, Elizabeth Taylor has arrived at Forest Lawn for the burial service.

The sun will be setting soon and it's down to 89.4 degrees outside. 

Update #4: T-minus 44 minutes until the service starts.  Limos are arriving, although we haven't seen who's inside.

Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Rev. Al Sharpton and Gladys Knight will be here, along with other friends and of course family.

The invitation sent to guests was nine pages long and includes these lines from Jackson:

    "In our darkest hour/In my deepest despair/Will you still care?/Will you be there?"

His family and friends will be there.

Update #3: It's down to 99.5 degrees.  Thank heavens for small mercies.  T-minus three hours and six minutes.

Update #2: T-minus three hours and 22 minutes.  It's 100 degrees outside.

No family or friends have arrived yet. 

It's T-minus four hours and 30 minutes until Michael Jackson's burial service begins. 

Jackson's body has been lying in a refrigerated mortuary awaiting this day.  Outside Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif., it's 99 degrees, according to a website I just checked.

A platoon of police officers is on hand to keep order, some of them skimming along the boulevard outside Forest Lawn on Segway-like scooters (they're called "T3 Motion" vehicles, one of the officers told me).  At least they're feeling a breeze.

Just inside the grounds a fountain shoots a beam of water into the air that diffuses into mist on its downward arc.  I suspect I'm not the only one who wishes he was standing underneath it.

The guest list for the burial service is being kept secret, but we do know Gladys Knight will perform.   There are reports Aretha Franklin will too.

We've seen the invitation that was sent to a select group of friends and family.  It includes this quote from Jackson's 1992 book "Dancing the Dream":

        "If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with."

Watch this space for updates!  And watch a special live edition of Showbiz Tonight at 11pm eastern tonight for an inside look at the service.

"Ooooh, that smell / Can't you smell that smell / Ooooh, that smell / The smell of death surrounds you..."      - Lynyrd Skynyrd

At first, I told myself it was a combination of coincidence and getting older: the longer you cover celebrities, the more of them you know and the more you know about them, so the more you notice.  But it can't be denied any longer: celebrities have dropped at an alarming rate this summer.  We lost Dom DeLuise on May 4 - you may not consider early May to be summer, but Hollywood does: X-Men Origins: Wolverine, this year's first "summer blockbuster," opened May 1 - and ever since, it's been an incredibly funereal season.  With both Michael Jackson's funeral and DJ AM's memorial service tonight, it seemed a good time to recap the Summer of Death.  In order of expiration:

• Dom DeLuise
• veteran basketball coach Chuck Daly
• basketball star turned jazz artist Wayman Tisdale
• blues legend Koko Taylor
• actor David Carradine
• guitarist Bob Bogle of the Ventures
• Ed McMahon
• Farrah Fawcett
• Michael Jackson
• TV huckster Billy Mays
• comedian/impressionist Fred Travalena
• actor Karl Malden
• NFL star Steve McNair
• Walter Cronkite
• author Frank McCourt
• dance legend Merce Cunningham
• writer/director/producer John Hughes
• guitar innovator Les Paul
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver
• political pundit Robert Novak
• "60 Minutes" creator Don Hewitt
• Sen. Edward Kennedy
• author Dominic Dunne
• Adam Goldstein aka DJ AM

Anyone who reads an entertainment news blog certainly remembers most of these figures, if not all of them, and while you can't equate the loss of a celebrity to that of a friend or loved one, their fame makes their passing something we can share as a society.  With hundreds of television channels, nearly as many genres of music, and the entire Internet increasingly fragmenting our common entertainment experience, I think it's worth noting the things we still share - and sadly, this summer's celebrity death toll fits that bill.

Day two of the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour started with lots of laughter thanks to Joan Rivers! There aren't a lot of people in Hollywood who keep it real when talking about others, but Joan Rivers does.  She sat down, got miked up to promote her new show on TV Land called "How'd you get so Rich"  and started offering her opinions on topical news.

Upon hearing the news that President Barack Obama invited Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cambridge Police Sgt. James Crowley to the White House for a beer to hash things out, she said, "Obama needs to stay out of local politics."

Rivers dropped the F-bomb this week while touting her new show on "Good Day Sacramento."  The host asked Rivers if she ever ran up to someone and said "Hey how did you get so rich?" and have the woman say "by riding on my mom's coattails." It was a dig at her and her daughter Melissa.  Joan reacted saying, "I don't think so. Don't get so (expletive) smart. I think we are going to end the interview right now."  Joan told me that host crossed the line and the comments were inappropriate. She added, the last time "Good Day Sacramento"  made news was when one of the Shriver clan got new teeth. Yep Joan is, if nothing else, always funny.

But Joan wasn't the only funny one at the TCAs today. Mr. Kevin Nealon who is the voice of the traveling dentist, Dr. Glenn Martin, on the new Nick @ Nite animated series "Glenn Martin, DDS" refused to let our interview end without cracking me up. He said he not only thinks it's a great idea for President Obama to invite the Sgt. Crowley and Harvard Professor Gates over for beer, but he should take it a step further and invite Joe Jackson over along with the doctor of the late Michael Jackson, Dr. Conrad Murray. He thinks they could perhaps talk things over.

I've covered the TCAs for years for CNN and I can count the times on one hand that a celebrity has surprised me by saying something I found intriguing. I'll add today to that list. I interviewed executive producers Matt Damon and Howard Zinn about their new series on the History Channel called "The People Speak" where celebrities read and perform stories about ordinary people who have changed history. Well after the interview about their project, I asked for Matt's reaction to President Obama inviting the police officer and professor over for a beer. He confided in me that his good buddy Ben Affleck actually knew Sgt. Crowley. He was Affleck's contact for a film he was shooting in Boston called "The Company Men." That was before Sgt. Crowley and Professor Gates made headlines.

Wow!! The things you learn at the TCAs.

At first I thought it had to be a joke: making diamonds from the DNA of Michael Jackson? Following his recent death, entrepreneurs rushed to get unauthorized biographies, memorabilia and other Jackson-themed items to market. But diamonds from DNA? It sounded macabre.

Apparently, it's possible.  LifeGem "specializes in creating diamonds from locks of hair," and according to founder Dean VandenBiesen, the company plans "to give people an opportunity to own a diamond made from Michael Jackson's DNA."

You may wonder how they came to possess Jackson's DNA. Remember the Pepsi commercial, and the excruciating video where Jackson's hair catches fire and crew members surround him and snuff out the flames?  Executive Producer Ralph Cohen apparently used his Armani jacket to extinguish the fire, and subsequently picked up a lock of the famous charred hair off the ground.  Both the jacket and the hair were sold to John Reznikoff. He collects hair. He counts follicles from Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Albert Einstein and Marilyn Monroe in his collection. Reznikoff is keeping some of Jackson's hair; the other portion is being used by LifeGems to create the Michael Jackson diamonds.

The company "anticipates great interest" and says this will be a "limited collection."  Perhaps I'm limited in my imagination, but the thought of owning a diamond made from Michael Jackson's DNA has very little appeal.

Would you buy one?

More on this fascinating story tonight on Showbiz Tonight on HLN – 11pm ET/PT

***BREAKING NEWS***

The lawyer for Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor who was with Michael Jackson when he died, just released this statement to Showbiz Tonight.

“We can confirm that a search warrant was executed today on Dr. Murray’s offices in Houston, Texas. We reviewed the warrant and remained on the premises while the search was being executed. The search was conducted by members of the DEA, two Robbery – Homicide detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department and Houston Police officers. The search warrant authorized law enforcement to search for and seize items, including documents, they believed constituted evidence of the offense of manslaughter. Law enforcement concluded their search around 12:30pm, and left with a forensic image of a business computer hard drive and 21 documents. None of the documents taken had previously been requested by law enforcement or the L.A. Coroner’s office.” -Ed Chernoff

Watch Showbiz Tonight at 11pm ET/PT for the latest on these fast breaking developments in the investigation into Michael Jackson's death!

I saw the just released video of Michael Jackson’s 1984 accident on the set of his Pepsi commercial before I left work yesterday.  I had to leave early for a doctor’s appointment and when I got there, the waiting room was packed and the wait to see the doctor was a long one.  People were hanging out in the waiting room watching CNN on TV.

 As we were all sitting around the video of Jackson’s accident came on.  Since I had just seen it I knew what was coming, but I knew that this was the first time anyone else would be seeing it. As soon as Wolf Blitzer teased it the room became silent and anyone who wasn’t watching before was watching now.  The clip began and people literally gasped when the pyrotechnics went off at the wrong time and Michael, unaware that his hair had caught fire continued to dance. 

As soon as the clip ended people started talking- people who, until moments before, had been absolute strangers.  I was struck by how many people seemed to change their opinion of Michael Jackson’s drug use just by watching that clip.  One woman said to me, “You know, you kind of understand it now.”  It made me wonder, if people had seen this tape before Michael had died, would they have thought differently of him while he was alive?   

Tonight on Showbiz Tonight we are going to look at some of the disturbing, brand new questions that the release of this video has raised.  Be sure to tune in to Showbiz Tonight at 11pm Eastern and Pacific on HLN- Don’t miss it!