It was a triumphant weekend for Michael Jackson. And how fitting it was that the man who gave us the Thriller masterpiece saw victory during a weekend devoted to all things Halloween.

According to early estimates at Box Office Mojo, Michael Jackson's This Is It, distributed by Sony (NYSE: SNE), grossed about $21 million at domestic theaters, good for the top slot. The total tally for the film is over $32 million once the Wednesday opening is taken into account.

The lead singer might be gone, but the Jacksons are still planning to go ahead with a series on A&E about their preparations for some kind of reunion.

A&E confirmed the planned series on Tuesday but was quick to point out that it had been in the works prior to Michael Jackson's death. Jodi Gomes, an executive producer with the production company behind the show, told the New York Times that the show will feature Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon, Randy and Tito "as they reunite as brothers, obviously underneath a cloud of tragedy."

The administrators temporarily in charge of Michael Jackson's estate are looking for ways to maximize value for one of the most complex post-death financial situations in recent memory.

The administrators chosen by Mr. Jackson in his 2002 will filed a request with the court to give some money to his mother and his children -- who are apparently without any means of financial support in the weeks since his death.

While Michael Jackson is referred to affectionately by fans as the "King of Pop," he could have just as easily carried the title "The hardest working man in show business" except for the fact that elder statesmen of the music world, the late James Brown earned that title first.

While recriminations are being thrown around about the specific cause of Jackson's death, the primary reason he passed away may really have been overwork. In truth, his sleep disorder, eating disorder, drug dependency, and seemingly bizarre behavior at times may have all stemmed from his obsessiveness. He truly gave his fans everything he had in him right to the very end.

We live in amazing times. Consumers are earning more; at least the ones with jobs. They are also saving more than they have in the last 15 years. The savings rate, which was hovering near zero in early 2008, surged to 6.9 percent, the highest level since December 1993. I think that is fantastic!

Ben Franklin said, "A penny saved is a penny earned". If that is true, then people are improving their economic condition day by day. Strange as it might seem, the government is troubled by this.

The government and many economists are worried that without greater spending by consumers any economic recovery will be stalled that much further. During our recent manic economy, over the past decade, consumer spending was responsible for about 70% of the GDP.

I say to all my readers, let others spend -- YOU KEEP SAVING -- and reducing debt. You will be glad you did. The consumer led economy was a false economy. The world is mourning the sudden death of Michael Jackson who passed away yesterday from yet to be determined causes leading to cardiac arrest, reportedly $400 million in debt. You think he was under any stress?!

Sony (NYSE: SNE) closed at $25.51. Five of Michael Jackson's solo Albums -- "Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad," "Dangerous" and "HIStory," all with Epic Records, a Sony Music Label -- are among the top-sellers of all time. SNE July option implied volatility of 42 is below its 26-week average of 53, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Leave it to private equity to try to bring back Michael Jackson.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that "Colony Capital, which owns the Las Vegas Hilton and is a major shareholder in closely held Station Casinos, is in discussions with Mr. Jackson to get him back onstage and in the spotlight via a long-term stand in Las Vegas."

Colony Capital may just have the leverage to get something done with Mr. Jackson: he owes them $25 million after the firm acquired the debt from Fortress Investment Group.

The plan is to try to revive Jackson's career with a stint in Las Vegas and, eventually, build a Thriller-themed hotel-casino there. I'm not so sure. Las Vegas has resuscitated -- or at least prolonged -- the careers of a lot of entertainers, but it's hard to think of anyone who carries as much baggage as Michael Jackson.

Similarly, a private equity firm might be able to turn around a struggling brand but, to my knowledge, the industry has never attempted to work its magic on a brand that a large percentage of Americans believe has molested children (with the possible exception of Chrysler). And legal system be darned, that's what many people associate him with.

Vice-President Dick Cheney, he of the fourth branch of government, may be getting a new neighbor at his St. Michaels, MD estate -- he of the second branch of homo sapiens, Michael Jackson.

The Washington Post confirmed yesterday that that Thriller has been shopping the tony East Coast for a possible holiday home, a place to get away from the stress of Dubai. The St. Michaels area is already home to another public pariah, Donald Rumsfeld, who owns the all-too-appropriately named estate Mt. Misery (aka Guantanamo North).

I expect the local residents would open up their arms to Jackson and his entourage, if only to hold him securely while they apply New Jersey boots (the cement kind) to his feet. (And his little monkey, too). If that doesn't work, look for the Vice-President to invite him out for a little hunting.

Probably not coincidently, Jackson is due to release a new album later this year, his first in many years, under his own label.

Perhaps Jackson would be better advised to build his own gated community so he can hand-select his neighbors. I'd think O.J., Robert Blake, and Gary Glitter would be up for a time-share.

A memorabilia auction of "thrilling" proportions kicked off in Las Vegas today, as more than 1,100 items related to the Jackson family (that's Michael, Janet, and the rest; not Andrew, Alan, or Kate) hit the auction blocks at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Fans and collectors from around the globe are expected to descend, with millions of dollars in hand to scoop up some of the King of Pop's mementos.

Called a "once-in-a-lifetime occurrence" by the president of Guernsey's auction house, the list of items includes a 1987 inked contract for Michael Jackson's $30 million purchase of his "Neverland" ranch and the handwritten lyrics for Jackson Five single "ABC." One of the singer's famous militaristic red jackets is also available for the right price, as well as with a frilly dress worn by an eight-year-old Janet Jackson (I'm assuming this item is free of wardrobe malfunctions).

Two weeks ago, Jackson's team of attorneys stopped its attempt to block this auction from occurring. Mr. Jackson was seeking the return of many items he deemed personal property, but which luggage transportation company Universal Express currently owns. Universal bought the collection for $5 million from a New Jersey businessman, but now projects the materials could fetch about $50 million.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

Interested in an ornately decorated pseudo amusement park that was the site to controversial slumber parties and one of the most colossal mental collapses in American celebrity history?

You snooze, you lose, and you may now have some steep competition. According to that benchmark of journalistic integrity, The New York Post's "Page Six," Michael Jackson may finally be unloading his infamous Neverland Ranch in an effort to pay down a reported $200 million in debt Is he willing to acknowledge his dire financial straits now?

The reclusive pop star originally put his 2,700-acre Santa Barbara estate on the market several years ago (and fled the premises in 2005), but it may have attracted a buyer in the form of Bill Huff. Sources indicate that Mr. Huff is willing to pay roughly $20 million for the property, which was originally listed closer to $50 million, which includes a zoo, a movie theater, carnival rides and all of that fun pop-culture history.

Compared with what the Beckhams are shopping for, that's a steal.

Representatives for the King of Pop refute the report, however, stating that Neverland is not, in fact, for sale and that reports of negotiations with Mr. Huff are "not true."

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and watch out for more Battle of the Brands posts.

Some people drink Pepsi, some people drink Coke,
The wacky morning DJ says democracy's a joke.
-- Cake, Comfort Eagle

Unless you are a rare RC Cola drinker, your carbonated beverage decision in the supermarket comes down to the two heavyweights: the flagship products from the Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo Inc (NYSE: PEP). But the battle between these brands spans much further than the supermarket shelves. From which brand restaurants stock, to what countries each operates in, this rivalry is all-encompassing and global. But instead of a list of countries or restaurant chains, lets take a deeper look at the actual products.

Cola and Beyond

We don't have space to list, nor would you have time to read, every different variant of Coca-Cola and Pepsi, which would force me to include failed ideas such as Crystal Pepsi. Suffice it to say, you won't find many original ideas here, and when a successful idea comes from either company, an imitator just as quickly appears from the other. Coke/Pepsi, Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi, Cherry Coke/Wild Cherry Pepsi, Coke with Lime/Pepsi Lime, Coke Zero/Pepsi One, Coca-Cola Blak/Pepsi Cappuccino. Had enough yet? Because that was just a list of comparable colas. Both companies also make lemon-lime sodas, orange sodas, and other similar carbonated and noncarbonated beverages. So then what differentiates them? Certainly not their product arsenal, but taste and marketing.