Back when this website featured a Hunk of the Day category, Bryce Harper owned the category after his naked appearance in the ESPN Body Issue. Those shots are brought back now in honor of Bryce Harper as the Dazzler of the Day thanks to his performance on the Philadelphia Phillies this baseball season – and yes, his nude body issue didn’t hurt.
Currently treading the Broadway boards in ‘Merrily We Roll Along’, Daniel Radcliffe is no newcomer to the theatrical stage, as many of us recall his first splash in ‘Equus’ – and all its full-frontal male nudity. ‘Merrily’ comes from the brilliant canon of Stephen Sondheim, so Radcliffe completes that treacherous part of reaching theatrical royalty, but his lead turn in ‘How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ put any doubts to rest years ago. He earns this Dazzler of the Day crowning for continuing to defy expectations of what the boy who played Harry Potter would one day become. It’s good to see him here.
It was 1997 when I first fell under the theatrical spell Kristin Chenoweth casts whenever she takes the stage. Back then, she was featuring in the Kander and Ebb musical ‘Steel Pier’ and her role as Precious was a highlight of that under-rated show. Ever since then, I’ve been a die-hard Chenoweth fan, a status confirmed and solidified further when we got to see her bubbling away as Galinda in the original Broadway cast of ‘Wicked’. She recently released a new book ‘ I’m No Philosopher But I Got Thoughts’ – a reference to her scene-stealing turn in ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’. Check that out, as well as upcoming tour dates, on her website here. This marks a very overdue debut as Dazzler of the Day.
Broadway’s original Elphaba, as well as Disney’s original belter for their iconic ‘Let It Go’ from ‘Frozen’, Idina Menzel has imprinted her stamp on the pop culture legacy with those two distinct musical performances. That alone would more than earn her this Dazzler of the Day honor, but Menzel has created much more in her storied career, including her role as Maureen in the original cast of ‘Rent’ – the musical that put her on the map and into the hearts of many of us musical lovers. She recently released a dynamic album, ‘Drama Queen’, that perfectly encapsulates where she is now, and where she’s been for much of her amazing journey. Check it out through her website here.
Broadway aficionado, and theatrical showstopper in his own right, Seth Rudetsky has been dazzling audiences throughout his storied career. Not only has he performed in myriad Broadway shows, he’s written a number of books on the subject, and his passion for performance – and performers – is unparalleled. He handily earns this Dazzler of the Day feature for continuing to impress and astound – check out his website here for further evidence of his brilliance.
Being a Barbie is all about perfection, and even when such an impossible standard is set, it’s the trying that achieves wonders. Hari Nef has been succeeding in wonder and astonishment all of her life, which is why she earns this Dazzler of the Day. The actress, model and writer has appeared in ‘Transparent’ and ‘Barbie’, as well as ‘Assassination Nation’ and ‘The Idol’. She’s also walked on numerous runways for her modeling career, and appeared in several magazine cover moments.
“You’re going to love the priest,” Suzie texted to me as I was about to begin my ‘Fleabag’ journey. Portrayed by Irish actor Andrew Scott, the character was a highlight, and carries on a trajectory of indelible roles that merits this Dazzler of the Day. In addition to the brilliant ‘Fleabag’, Scott has appeared in ‘Sherlock’, ‘Black Mirror’, ‘His Dark Materials’, ‘Oslo’, and films such as ‘1917’, ‘Spectre’ and ‘Pride’. Check out his entire body of work for more thrills.
This Dazzler of the Day is dedicated to my pal Skip, who is entirely enamored of Josh Allen, who earns his first Dazzler title thanks to his fancy football footwork on the Buffalo Bills. Allen was all over the fantasy football scene (which means something totally different from what I originally thought when someone mentioned ‘fantasy football’, and let’s just say it was a bit of a let-down). Skip says Josh Allen showed the same sort of spark that Tom Brady once showed at the start of his career, and I trust in his opinion.
Australian Olympic gold-medal diver Matthew Mitcham has parlayed his sporting career into multiple career paths, spinning from acting roles to underwear model to dancer to this current crowning as Dazzler of the Day. A true Renaissance man, Mitcham thrills wherever his interests take him, including an OnlyFans account that thus far serves to titillate and stimulate without going too far – the perfect blend of coquettish tease and gratuitous please. Check out his website here for a comprehensive view of his accomplishments.
Nick Bosa is a football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers, and as a different kind of defensive end, I can almost completely relate. He earns this Dazzler of the Day for his footballing, and other attributes as seen below.
Capital Region culinary legend Yono Purnomo has been feeding this lucky section of New York State with delicious panache since the 1980’s, and while things have changed remarkably in the ensuing years, it’s clear that Yono still knows how to shine, hence this Dazzler of the Day honor. He and his restaurants have earned countless awards and accolades over the years, and throughout all that time he and his wife Donna have remained grounded, generous, and kind members of the community. Even beyond retirement, they could be seen helping out, because helping wasn’t something they did for money or praise – helping was in their nature. Now that Yono is in end-stage renal failure, a kidney transplant is the best option for keeping him going, so check out their FaceBook page to help spread the word on seeking a live donor.
Making a name for herself as the ‘Black Forager’, Alexis Nikole Nelson has amassed a loyal and notable following for her popular forging expeditions on Tik Tok and Instagram. Ending most of her posts with cheerful pluck and aplomb (“Don’t die!”) she is as entertaining as she is enlightening, sprinkling scientific names and information among more friendly explanations on how to forage. It ties back to a deeper and more profound connection to the land, and to a history of Black and Indigenous people and their relationship to the land. She earns this Dazzler of the Day for bringing foraging nearer to the mainstream, and getting me to try making tea from my own backyard.
While he’s made a musical name for himself in his own right, it took a little video by Troye Sivan to put him on the Dazzler of the Day map, and now he may reign. Ross Lynch is a darling of certain social media accounts (most all the gals and gays in the younger demographic). This Dazzler crowning is just another accolade in a year of accomplishments for him.
Gloria Estefan doesn’t get the credit she deserves for creating a body of music that has pervaded pop culture more than any of us realize over the 80’s and 90’s and early 2000’s. She’s kept creating music in the first two decades of this millennium as well, as fans and appreciators know, while pushing forth on endeavors like a Broadway musical and various philanthropic enterprises. She earns this Dazzler of the Day for doing it all with heart and soul, and staying true to herself and her heritage before such things were fashionable.
You have probably seen him dancing across you phone screen on Tik Tok or Instagram, where his moves have catapulted him to social media popularity, or perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to witness one of his on-stage performances in person – whatever the case, Christopher Rice-Thomson has earned this Dazzler of the Day for his winning way around a theatrical production. His talents run beyond performing, and he is about to open ‘The Little Mermaid‘ at the Franklin Performing Arts Center in the demanding roles of director and choreographer. That show runs from October 13 to 22, and tickets are available here.
