She is living proof that not all Republicans have a distaste for the truth. Nicolle Wallace worked magic for the most recent Bush administration, but has been finding less and less in common with the current GOP, moving away from their racist rhetoric and oppressive policies, and right onto MSNBC, where she has developed a sizable fan-base, including a friend who specifically requested Wallace as the Dazzler of the Day. Her erudite, razor-sharp dicing of the latest political news is a thing to behold, as is her own personal journey, a journey that continues as her original party moves further and further from the sane, sensible, and fair. She also has a wicked sense of humor, so if you have a chance to catch one of her appearances on late-night television, do tune in.
This Dazzler of the Day is dedicated to the owner of dp: An American Brasserie, whose adoration of Taylor Swift got me re-thinking my lackadaisical lack of enthusiasm for her early years. A performance with Madonna and two of the best albums of the decade, released just months apart, turned me into a die-hard fan. She’s now officially the Dazzler of the Day, an honor Taylor-made for someone with such multi-layered talents. For evidence of her musical dazzle, do yourself a favor and check out ‘folklore‘ and ‘evermore‘ – they’re the greatest hours of musical atmosphere we’ve had in a long time – and perfect for these trying days. Swift conjures a sonic land of enchantment while exploring ever-mounting emotional complexities that love and loss and the inevitable creep of time render into poetic form. It puts her previous musical efforts into clearer focus, making a revisiting of past work something you should put on your to-do list. (And then grab a bite at dp: An American Brasserie where you might find a cocktail named ‘Tis the Damn Season‘, ‘The Archer‘, ‘Bad Blood’ or ‘Lover‘ if you’re lucky.)
My FaceBook pal Sue made the brilliant suggestion that La Verne Ford Wimberly be named Dazzler of the Day, and I always honor brilliant suggestions. Wimberly more than deserves this little honor, thanks to her celebrated dedication to cheering up her fellow church-goers with a selfie each and every Sunday for the past year. When all of us have been stuck at home and unable to safely attend church services, Wimberly offered a glimpse back into the fabulous normality of donning your best Sunday clothes and sharing that with the world. Such a simple gesture, such a powerful effect, and such a dazzling collection of outfits!
This whole Dazzler of the Day feature was tailor-made for the likes of Billy Porter, who has been dazzling audiences for decades, and only seems to get better with age. It’s not just about his red-carpet envelope-busting appearances, or his impressively inspirational refusal to be anyone other than his authentic self, it’s about that superlative talent – the voice, the moves, the sheer star quality he brings to every project that’s fortunate enough to enjoy his involvement. Larger-than-life, he also manages to find that universal thread of humanity in his work, that essence of a genuine, compassionate soul which transforms every performance into a piece of art and a way of connecting us to each other. Witness previous posts here and here and especially here, when I got to see him onstage for the first time, check out his lengthy link tree of admirable causes, and embrace his ongoing reign as Dazzler of All the Days.
The majesty and magnificence of Tina Turner is in full display in the HBO documentary on her life, though by rights any single moment in her glorious career could have justified this Dazzler of the Day honor. Her reach and influence over the pop culture landscape looms large and widely varied, most recently as the backdrop for one of the most poignant scenes of ‘Schitt’s Creek’. Her energy, talent, and endurance – not to mention an uncanny knack for reinvention before it was de-rigeur for pop stars – combine in combustible fashion to make for one of the most legendary icons in music history.
When you get lampooned in a Beyonce skit on ‘Saturday Night Live’ then you have truly made it. Add to that a number of years of entertaining the masses in ‘Hot Ones’ and you have the makings of a Dazzler of the Day. This one honors Sean Evans, who helms the ‘First We Feast’ series, where his underrated skills as an interviewer (chicken wings have a way of obscuring true talent) belie a way of getting genuinely closer to beloved celebrities. That takes skill, along with a steel stomach and a formidable digestive tract. Evans has it all. Witness his episode with Awkwafina and then indulge in all the rest.
For the ‘Montero’ video alone, Lil Nas X deserves an instant crowning as Dazzler of the Day. Add it to his Hunk of the Day honor, and get ready to assemble a shelf for all the awards to come.
A majestic career that spans and conquers several decades is not something that happens often, particularly in the entertainment world, and those who manage to do so earn their place in the celebrity firmament. When that is sustained by talent as well as a knack for endearing yourself to the world, you instantly become a Dazzler of the Day – and today that honor belongs to Dionne Warwick. Her string of musical hits – culminating with the classic ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ – cemented her place in pop culture, and now she is conquering new lands with her hilarious Twitter feed, earning her a new generation of fans and enthralled adorers. Count me among them.
His previous appearance as Hunk of the Day merely set the stage for this breathtaking turn as Dazzler of the Day. Eugene Lee Yang has been dazzling audiences from behind and in front of the camera, starting with his work as one of The Try Guys. In what is often considered his most masterful work to date, his ‘I’m Gay’ video is a theatrical work of thrilling, powerful genius. Through image and movement and costume, wholly devoid of words, it tells a provocative and evocative story of coming out, of being brave, of being unreservedly who you are in a world that constantly hounds you to be someone else. That’s how you become a true dazzler.
There was something galvanizing and breathtaking about seeing Pete Buttigieg soon in as Secretary of Transportation while his husband stood beside him, and then to see them kiss and embrace at various moments of public life. That’s something those of us of a certain age never got to see as young kids growing up, and what a wonderful thing it is to see today. It seems like such a little thing, but the power and immensity of having that out there cannot be overstated. I wish I had seen it way back when… and I’m thrilled to see it now. For that reason alone, Pete and Chasten Buttigieg earn their first joint Dazzlers of the Day honor. Secretary Buttigieg has already been a Hunk of the Day here, as has Chasten Buttigieg here. Today, they share the spotlight.
She ends most of her online missives with these three simple mantras: “Be well. Be kind. Be true.” Carmie Hope has been an inspirational pillar of the LGBTQ+ community in Albany for decades. Easily one of the most positive and uplifting voices we have today, Carmie deservedly earns this Dazzler of the Day for her ongoing support and easy way of bringing people together. Through her live videos, her joyous participation as one of The Empire Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and her contagious spirit, Carmie dazzles on every level. Check out her FaceBook page here and be sure to pop back for her next live gig.
Jonathan Capehart checks all the boxes of what makes a Dazzler of the Day: he’s intelligent, dapper, erudite, compelling, fashionable, and engaging. With his new high-profile endeavor ‘The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart’ he is finally getting the exposure he deserves, and MSNBC is adding some grace and dignity to its Sunday offerings. Fun fact: he and his husband were married by Eric Holder, former U.S. Attorney General. He also has the most celebrated and beautifully-curated bookshelves in the world. ‘The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart’ airs on MSNBC on Sundays at 10 AM.
Now that spring has officially sprung, it’s just a matter of time before the seasonal flower-fest starts appearing on Kevin Bruce’s FaceBook page – and it’s one of the happier FaceBook pages thanks to Kevin’s indomitable spirit of positivity – something that transcends the boundaries of online limits. So irrepressible is his energy, I can hear his loud glorious peals of laughter now, though I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing him in person for far too long. With this post, he is named Dazzler of the Day thanks to that wonderful personality that comes armed with equal doses of talent and entertainment (see some of his enchanting work below). I won’t reiterate the accolades you can find at his original Hunk of the Day feature, but it bears repeating that Kevin is one of my favorite people in the world, and when the world goes dim, he maintains his inner-light, spreading it to the rest of us. That’s what a true Dazzler does.
As the first openly gay member of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly, Sims has championed LGBT Civil Rights in ways both powerful and personal, working in bipartisan fashion to draw support from both sides of the increasingly-divided political aisle.
Sims serves on the GLSEN Sports Advisory Council, the GO! Athletes Advisory Board, and the Campus Pride Board of Directors, and was the first and thus far only former NCAA football captain to have ever come out. His educational background (Sims earned a bachelor of science degree from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and a juris doctor degree in international and comparative law from the Michigan State University College of Law) has primed him for the legal intricacies on which a successful political career is so often predicated.
Best of all, he takes his own personal life journey with him wherever he goes, standing up for the rights of everyone, especially those who have historically been disenfranchised, neglected, and ignored. His efforts to preserve the environment while creating jobs and working toward sustainable energy dovetail not only with the interests of Pennsylvania, but with all of America.
Bonus points for his pulchritudinous pooch, as it’s always soul-enriching to see a guy who’s not afraid to let his dog show him up in the good-looking department.
