"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
This week: The movies people can’t stop talking about and celebs in town.
Whether or not the movie "The Social Network" wins an Oscar, it’s the movie people can’t stop talking about. Yes, Columbia Pictures and the producers of "The Social Network" are celebrating their treasure and all the Oscar buzz. (However, sometimes a studio might not want people talking about its film as in the case of "The Beaver". It’s been put on the back burner and producers are probably hoping people stop talking about one of its stars--Mel Gibson and his drunk, anti-sematic rants. Poor Jodi Foster, the Oscar winner who directed and co-stars in the film.) By the way, an accomplished business couple in the Valley told me about Jodi’s most recent Valley visit to their Scottsdale home. (Hint: They are, as is Jodi, fluent in French.)
But meanwhile, the fodder surrounding "The Social Network" is as fascinating as the Facebook phenomena. Perhaps it’s because it is based on a true story. Yet, so is the film, "The King’s Speech," which is also expected to garner several Oscar nominations. Perhaps I’m hearing more about "The Social Network" because it has not only affected most of our lives, but become a part of our lives, and people are intrigued by the story behind the Facebook phenomena and how Mark Zuckerberg ascends and abuses the hierarchy of power and becomes a billionaire.
I’d been hearing so much about this movie at holiday cocktail parties that I decided to do an unscientific survey. So when I returned calls to thank people for their Christmas and holiday cards, I polled them unscientifically about the movies they saw this year. Again, the one they were most captivated by was "The Social Network".
Other Movie Favorites
During the Christmas holidays, many people tried to catch up on the movies they’ve been hearing so much about. In fact, Jeff and Karen Hoffman saw two movies on the Sunday following Christmas. One of their favorite movies was Mark Wahlberg’s multi-year project, "The Fighter". It’s another favorite among moviegoers and is predicted to get plenty of Oscar nominations aw well. They also really enjoyed "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" series.
Jeff Hoffman and Zowie Bowie
By the way, Zowie Bowie, the popular entertainer who performs at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, headlined at a Scottsdale charity golf tournament. The Shoot for the Stars tournament benefitted Cortney’s Foundation. The wonderful grassroots center in Scottsdale offers programs for special needs young adult disabled children which foster independence and personal productivity. Fry’s sponsored the golf tournament benefit and Fry’s John Flora and professional golfer Tom Lehman were honorary co-chairs.
Coincidently Jeff Hoffman had hired Zowie Bowie, five years prior to the golf event to perform at his wife Karen’s 40th birthday party at the clubhouse at Scottsdale's DC Ranch.
Karen and Jeff Hoffman and Family at Christmas
Also, Jeff and Zowie, (his real name is Chris Phillips) went to high school together in Phoenix.
Other Celebs in Town
When Go Daddy threw its annual holiday bash they brought in a jewel of a performer. Jewel entertained at this year’s employee bash. She not only sang the national anthem, but a song prepared just for Go Daddy founder, Bob Parsons. About 6,000 partygoers turned out for the party for which the internet giant company reportedly shelled out $4.3 million! Bob Parsons says the company hired 400 new people and sales were up 25 percent.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
