"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
This week: The dish on George Lopez's paycheck, the Earnhardt family horsing around and more...
Comedian George Lopez is the best selling artist in the history of the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix. So how could he possibly lose his paycheck for next week’s performances (June 12 and 13)? After all, Live Nation Southwest execs- Chairman Danny Zelisko and President Terry Burke (pictured above) just presented him with a commemorative dish for selling out three more shows at the Dodge in April.
Well, here’s the dish. It depends on George’s performance off stage - on the golf course. Because the three will be hitting the links. “Beat us, or don’t get paid,” challenges Danny.
George is an avid golfer. But I’ll let you know if he has to forfeit his Phoenix paycheck. Either way, George is seeing green these days. He received rave reviews as the voice of Papi in the box office hit “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.” The ratings are high for the syndicated reruns of the “George Lopez” show, and he’s got two more movies coming out. Not to mention he’s headed to enter the late night TV race with his own talk show. TBS has signed George for a late night variety show set to air in November.
Meanwhile, you can catch the funny man at the Dodge this weekend. It’s a five star stand up performance.
Britney Spears at Harkins’ house?
On the wall of soon to be ASU freshman Danielle Harkin’s bedroom (as in the Harkins family of the Harkins Theatres with screens in 5 states) hangs a picture of the premiere of the Ricky Schroder film “Black Cloud.” Danielle is pictured with one of the guests on the red carpet that night - actor Jon Heder (star of the hit movie “Napoleon Dynamite.”)
So when a guy showed up at Danielle’s graduation party saying he was Napoleon Dynamite – she knew the difference. But her guests took double takes. Yes, her parents Dan and Karen Harkins, in show biz fashion, hired a few celebrity impersonators for the not so small party.
That’s the Britney Spears impersonator posing in the picture above with Danielle, Dan Harkins and the Napoleon Dynamite look-a- like.
Over 200 graduates turned out at the Harkins home in Paradise Valley for dancing to a live DJ, swimming, volleyball, and video games. About 30 girls slept over for a post pajama party and Dan and Karen served up bagels and cream cheese for breakfast.
Who’s horsing around?
Car dealer king Hal Earnhardt (son of Tex Earnhardt who are both known for their catchy line “that ain’t no bull” in their commercials, in which they’re sitting on a bull) has a new blessing. She’s a thoroughbred named Indian Blessing.
Hal, his wife Patti Earnhardt and their two daughters recently returned from Dubai where Blessing was in the spotlight. Their horse was the only mare in the 'The Golden Shaheen” race and took second place. The purse for first place was $2 million dollars. Hal’s pictured below with Blessing, his jockey and groom.
“The track at Dubai is the only one in the world with a straight away for that distance,” notes Patti.”That race is one of a number of races that make up the Dubai World Cup. It’s like our Breeders’ Cup races here in the US.” Pictured below are Patti, daughters Dream, 18 years and Daisy, 27 in Dubai.
Hal and Patti Earnhardt – who like Tex and Pam Earnhardt – have horses and bulls at home and other animals. But one animal is not always a welcomed one. You see, when Hal and Patti were leaving for their Saratoga Springs trip to New York – Hal was sprayed by a skunk! “He stunk up the first class section, “admits Patti. “Even though he showered and stripped off all the sprayed clothes.”?
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 .
