Category Archives: Dazzler of the Day

Dazzler of the Day: Anthony Nerada

Today is publication day for Anthony Nerada’s new LGBTQ+ Young Adult novel ‘Skater Boy’ and as such Nerada earns his first crowning as Dazzler of the Day. Most writers are dazzlers in their own way, and many will have their own dazzling write-up somewhere on their website. Here is Anthony’s:

Anthony Nerada became a writer after his fifth-grade teacher told him it was his destiny. Since then, he’s read too many books (if there is such a thing) and explored worlds far outside the reaches of his own. Anthony holds a BA in psychology and two diplomas (one in public relations, the other in publishing), which allow him to write the day away while simultaneously psychoanalyzing his friends. Anthony lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Coast Salish Peoples. Skater Boy is his debut novel.

Check out more dazzling merriment on Anthony’s website here, where you can also order his new book.

{Photographs by Jordan Doak Photography.} 

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Dazzler of the Day: Ryan Gosling, Again

Yes, we know, he’s Kenough.

And he has been for quite some time, which makes this Dazzler of the Day crowning intentionally redundant, since his star has been dazzling for a number of years, particularly this last one, which found him giddy surrendering to the phenomenon that is/was ‘Barbie’. (He also pulled an Oscar nomination out of it, even when some of the key players on that film didn’t – oh, you silly academy people…) Gosling has been turning in gritty dramatic performances in between all the pretty ones (witness the devastating ‘A Place Beyond the Pines’) and this second Dazzler is a long overdue honor, one promised in this previous shirtless post.

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Dazzler of the Day: Usher

While the nation comes under the indomitable grip of Super Bowl mania, the performer of the half-time show earns his first Dazzler of the Day crowning, so join me in congratulating Usher on this latest achievement. He joins the vaunted pantheon of performers like Madonna, Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Maroon 5 (and Adam Levine’s nipples), Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake on headlining the biggest field audience in the world. Usher’s career has easily won him the honor of Super Bowl stardom, and if history is any indication, he knows how to put on a scintillating show. 

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Dazzler of the Day: Trevor Lawrence

We are knee-deep in the end-zone of the final days leading up to the finale of the football season, the Super Bowl, and so we have another footballer being crowned as Dazzler of the Day, Trevor Lawrence, even if he’s not headed there this year. Vidal Sassoon, get this guy a sponsorship immediately – or at least get Garnier on the phone! His locks alone are enough to dazzle – throw in his on-field talents and you have all the reason for this crown. 

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Dazzler of the Day: Brock Purdy

It’s taking me all the restraint and editorial self-control I can muster not to make any cute references/puns/limericks regarding the last name of this Dazzler of the Day, so I’ll keep this brief for the sake of honoree Brock Purdy. He’s on his way to the Super Bowl as the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Once upon a time, not so long ago, I’m told he was deemed Mr. Irrelevant. I love a good comeback story. 

PS – Apparently he has another nickname, ‘Big Cock Brock’, which is reportedly more of a reference to his attitude than his actual stick shift. But supporting pictorial evidence is always welcome… 

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Dazzler of the Day: Jeannine M. Trimboli

Last year’s production of ‘End of the Rainbow’ as staged by Curtain Call Theatre and directed by Phil Rice found local leading luminary Jeannine M. Trimboli giving one of her trademark electrifying performances, in this case as Judy Garland. It was a role which pushed her to new heights, both in her acting prowess, and her own personal resonance to the woman she was portraying. A recent comic turn in ‘Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding’ proves her versatility, more than ample reason to highlight her as this Dazzler of the Day. She’s reached a point of wisdom and reflection in her life, as evidenced by this social media post she wrote, which speaks volumes more than any accolade I could conjure: 

Never would have thought I could have left performing for a lifetime plus and returned better than when I left. Yet it’s the lifetimes in me that’s given me my spark back.
Having lost so much keeps me humble and joyous for every moment I get to do this, wherever that is.
It’s important to love the work because it never ends. The preparation for a moment that might never come.
And that’s okay. Because there’s also the pure ecstasy of being a part of something. A show, a class, an audition. None of it is wasted time. None of it. ~ Jeannine M. Trimboli

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Dazzler of the Day: Shilese Jones

The Summer Olympics 2024, hosted by Paris, France, are still a few months away, but our road to them begins with this Dazzler of the Day, Shilese Jones, who hopes to bring home the glory and the gold for Team USA as part of our gymnastics team. That group has already won the gold medal at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships.  Summer is always special – but the summers of the Olympics have even more luster to them. 

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Dazzler of the Day: George Eads

The elusive idea of an American Everyman may have found physical embodiment in the form of George Eads, who has carved out a lifelong career as an actor, not an easy thing to do when you think about it. Eads has managed to do so with steadfast consistency, an under-rated but more and more exceptional component to any lasting career. He earns his first Dazzler of the Day here.

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Dazzler of the Day: Jordan Stolz

He felt the need… the need for speed, and Jordan Stolz took that need and turned it into a number of medals and record-breaking speed skates this past week. At just 19 years old, he niftily earns his first Dazzler of the Day for busting through the American record for the 1000m speed skate. Watch him fly, if you can.

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Dazzler of the Day: Jack Plotnick

Jack Plotnick has been dazzling me for years, from his hysterical show-stopping performance in ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ to a tender turn in the beautiful drama ‘Gods and Monsters‘ with Ian McKellen. His website offers a more comprehensive view of an impressive career in the business of show, and more than earns him this honor of Dazzler of the Day.

Jack has built a career as an award-winning actor, director and performance coach. He has performed in countless TV shows, commercials and feature films (137 credits on IMDB). You most likely will recognize Jack from his series regular and recurring roles on Grace and Frankie, Z Nation, The Mentalist, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Reno 911, Action, Ellen, and Drawn Together, and his appearance in the films Meet the Fockers, Down With Love, Rubber, Wrong, and Gods and Monsters.

Jack co-wrote and directed the Sony Pictures feature film, Space Station 76, starring Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler and Matt Bomer. He also co-wrote and directed the Broadway musical, Disaster!, to rave reviews (New York Times CRITICS’ PICK!)

Jack produced, directed and acted on the Lifetime Television comedy series Lovespring International. And he executive produced and starred in the feature film (and cult hit!) Girls Will Be Girls. (From JackPlotnick.com.)

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Dazzler of the Day: R. K. Russell

I love a Dazzler of the Day who has so many accomplishments that they’ve already been encapsulated on another website, which is the case with today’s Dazzler R. K. Russell. As they used to say on ‘Reading Rainbow‘, you don’t have to take my word for it. The following is from Russell’s website here:

R. K. Russell is a former NFL football player, a social justice advocate, published poet, essayist, and artist. In August of 2019, Russell made history by becoming the first out active NFL player to identify as bisexual. A decorated defensive end who has played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has sacked Hall of Famers and gone up against the fiercest competitors at the height of their game.

Since coming out, he has written about his experience as a Black queer man in sports for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Los Angeles Times, Out Magazine, and Queer Majority, among others. Russell has been advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in professional sports, spearheading multiple NFL Pride initiatives such as the NFL Pride panel and the NFL’s National Coming Out Day PSA. He has been honored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) by GAY TIMES (U.K.) as Sportsperson of the Year, and he was selected to the prestigious OUT 100 List in 2019. His short documentary, Finding Free, was nominated for best short documentary at the 43rd Annual Sports Emmys and won awards at the 2022 Webby Awards, the 60th New York Film Festival, and the 43rd Annual Telly Awards. His new memoir, The Yards Between Us, is available everywhere books are sold. He lives in Los Angeles.

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Dazzler of the Day: Brock Grady

Sometimes all it takes to be named Dazzler of the Day is a certain degree of beauty

Sometimes beauty is its own point, its own purpose.

Brock Grady possesses such beauty, and from all appearances seems like an overall good guy. More than ample reason to celebrate his power to dazzle.

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Dazzler of the Day: Colman Domingo, Again

Actor, director and writer Colman Domingo earns his second Dazzler of the Day thanks to his multifaceted arsenal of talent both behind and in front of the camera. With turns on stage that resulted in Tony and Laurence Olivier Awards, and television work that garnered him an Emmy Award, Domingo also appeared memorably in films such as ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’, ‘Selma’ and ‘Lincoln’. See his first crowning as Dazzler of the Day here.

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Dazzler of the Day: Robbie Manson

Olympic rower Robbie Manson provides scintillating fodder on his OnlyFans account, a method of money-making that many an Olympic athlete has fortuitously indulged in over the past year. Happy to see an acceptance of healthy sexual expression becoming more mainstream (and a tad regretful that it wasn’t around when my body was way more OnlyFans-ready). In this case, Manson earns his first Dazzler of the Day crowning for all that he’s been showing off, starting with that incredible talent. 

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Dazzler of the Day: Ayo Edebiri

Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, Ayo Edebiri recently earned the trifecta of Emmy, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice Award in the span of a single week. That’s impressive for an entire  lifetime of achievements, and this actress and writer has already set herself up for further glory to come. She may add Dazzler of the Day to those accomplishments, for whatever little might that may be worth. Watch her star rise…

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