Category Archives: Dazzler of the Day

After being completely enamored of his fragrance, I wasn’t sure Richard Grant could do anything to make me love him more, and then his performance in ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ goes and blows that foolish inclination up in a glorious puff of sparkle and pizzazz. As the mentor to a budding drag queen, Grant imbues his character with the world-weary, battle-scarred beauty of an aged performer perhaps slightly past their prime, and just waiting for a second act of inspiration. After a lifetime of secondary, though scene-stealing roles, Grant once again nimbly makes shreds of all surrounding scenery, and in a movie of memorable characters, he accomplishes the impossible by rising to the challenge of standing out. For all that, and a few decades of memorable roles (hello ‘Gosford Park’ and ‘The Age of Innocence’), Richard earns this Dazzler of the Day. 

Picking up from the previously-named contingent of marvelousness that is Rachel Brosnahan and LeRoy McClain, this Dazzler of the Day is noted for her performance as Rose Weissman in ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’. In many ways she is my favorite character, probably because I feel she is the most like me, in every failing and character foible. Her intent is never wrong or ill, and she retains a nobility and grace and elegance in the face of the world around her crumbling apart, and I admire that too. On some level she realizes she is less than perfect, but her belief in everything she does imbues even her mistakes with a sense of poise and refinement. Hinkle has a history of impeccably embodying real, complex and often hilariously-comedic characters, such as in her work on ‘Once and Again’ and ‘Two and a Half Men’. As the mother to Mrs. Maisel, she’s at the top of her game. 

Sometimes all it takes for a television show to move from a pleasant enough diversion to classic sitcom status is the right character played by the right actress. Such was the magical alchemy that happened when Nancy McKeon joined the cast of ‘The Facts of Life’ as Jo Polniaczek and immediately started sparring with blonde centerpiece Blair Warner. After whittling the cast down to its star quartet, the show found its footing, thanks to the gruff girl from the wrong side of the tracks with a broken heart of gold. Bringing a depth of feeling and emotional complexity to Jo, McKeon – and the chemistry she shared with her co-stars – put ‘The Facts of Life’ on the sitcom history map. She channeled her talents throughout her lengthy career in Hollywood, including a memorable stint on ‘The Division’ and multiple television movies. For most of us, it’s her indelible role as Jo that made the most lasting impression, and so she earns this Dazzler of the Day for giving her heart and spunky grit to all of us in the 80’s. 

Lest anyone forget, before George Clooney kissed Julianna Margulies and Jennifer Lopez, he kissed Mindy Cohn at the end of an episode of ‘The Facts of Life’. More people need to be aware of that, and so Mindy gets this Dazzler of the Day honor, thanks also to her tireless work as an LGBTQ+ ally, as well as a steady stream of film and television work since her days as Natalie on ‘The Facts of Life’. She also makes appearances with the Beekman Boys from time to time, because she has great taste. 

Fresh from this re-immersion into ‘The Facts of Life’ I was led to the fabulous Kim Fields for our current Dazzler of the Day. With three indelible and unforgettable roles to date (for her work on ‘The Facts of Life’, ‘Living Single’ and ‘The Upshaws’) Fields also did a quick stint on the Real Housewives, but wisely kept it to a single season. For many of us she will always and affectionately be remembered as Tootie, where for nine seasons she honed and sharpened her comedic acting skills, preparing her for a long career in Hollywood. 

It was on a recent rerun of ‘The Facts of Life’ (a comfort from my childhood) where I was reminded of the 80’s magnificence of Michael Damian, and re-familiarizing myself with where ‘Flyman’ went on his career trajectory offered reason enough for Damian to earn his first Dazzler of the Day. Surviving in the business of show is no easy feat, and that he’s still producing and acting and directing is evidence of a certain sort of brilliance.