Category Archives: Dazzler of the Day

Making the Sexiest Man Alive keep all his clothes on for People’s annual award seems a bit of a bait-and-switch, but what can one expect from People magazine? They have chosen John Krasinski as Sexiest Man Alive, and while I don’t disagree with the selection, they should back it up with something more substantial. (For those in search of John Krasinski naked, look no further than this post.) Today Mr. Krasinski also earns this Dazzler of the Day crowning, long promised and fittingly delivered on a special week. 

Director of the most highly-anticipated film of the year, ‘Wicked’, at least in the giddy circles I frequent, Jon M. Chu brings an epic arsenal of film work to Gregory Maguire’s novel and the musicalized version that’s still packing in audiences on Broadway. To truly capture the wonder of Oz would take a visionary, so I’m confident that it landed in the right lap. Chu has helmed such memorable films as ‘Crazy Rich Asians‘ and ‘In the Heights’, as well as filmed concerts of Justin Bieber and the dance films ‘Step Up 2’ and ‘Step Up 3’. He knows his way around a musical dance number, and is genius at combining swirling camera work with dramatic visuals and compelling music. He earns this Dazzler of the Day for the trailers of ‘Wicked’ alone – and advance buzz is that this first installment absolutely defies gravity. 

When my Kristen says you are good people, it’s an absolute fact that you are good people, and so it was that I discovered Kelly Friel, and her wondrous work with yarn, the beauty of which immediately merits this Dazzler of the Day crowning. Friel heads up the Fashion School Dropout Yarn Company, and her work is exquisite. With an eye for color combinations that particularly speaks to anyone who adores vibrant color play, she crafts yarn that is a work of art unto itself, lending a gorgeous and unique product for all knitters, crocheters, crafters, and appreciators of beauty. See what’s available on her link tree here.

Currently turning in a riveting performance in the latest ridiculousness from Ryan Murphy – ‘Grotesquerie’ – Niecy Nash-Betts earns her first Dazzler of the Day crowning, and while the show itself is silly, showy, over-the-top gratuitous fun, Nash-Betts grounds it in her portrayal of Lois Tryon. It’s a master class of acting, running the gamut from the deepest pathos to the lightest whimsical hilarity, often in the whiplash span of a few minutes. She’s given a few monologues that start somewhere you think you know, and then she takes it into a totally different realm, and by the end you feel exhilarated and moved in ways you no longer thought possible from television. Check her out on FX’s ‘Grotesquerie’ and prepare to be marveled. 

We love a double dazzler, and with this crowning Joe Locke earns his second Dazzler of the Day honor. Thanks to the new season of ‘Heartstopper’ and his turn in ‘Agatha All Along’, Locke is on a bit of a roll. Couple that with a fun sense of fashion for the red carpet, and you have someone doubly worthy of this honor. (See his first turn as Dazzler of the Day here.)

It’s been a while since we’ve featured a Dazzler of the Day here (and your requests/recommendations are always welcome) and we are back with a great one. This is Joe Keery, actor and musician who came on the scene in a big way with ‘Stranger Things’ and has continued to mark a name for himself, such as his charming turn in ‘Free Guy’ (it’s almost impossible to steal a movie from Ryan Reynolds, but Keery managed to do it). We eagerly await what he’s doing next… 

Fresh off his recent MTV Video Music Awards performance (didn’t even realize that the VMAs were still a thing until I saw some social media posts about it – and who scheduled it on 9/11 anyway?) Benson Boone earns his first Dazzler of the Day thanks to some riveting showmanship and a killer set of vocals. He’s currently touring all over the world, and has a charming website here for all that’s happening. One of his social bios simply proclaims he’s “just a happy guy writing sad songs” and that’s an envious place to be. 

If I could have my choice of one person’s voice to narrate my life’s story, I would choose Morgan Freeman. One of the most prolific and popular actors of the past half-century, Freeman’s Oscar-winning body of work includes one of my favorite movies of all-time: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’. He’s also played notable roles in works as varied as ‘Se7en’, ‘Bruce Almighty’, ‘Amistad’, ‘The Dark Knight’, and ‘Driving Miss Daisy’. Today he can add Dazzler of the Day to that list of impressive accomplishments.