Category Archives: Dazzler of the Day

In those glorious days before the former guy took his sham of entry into the highest office, Rachel Maddow was a pleasant and refreshing breath of intelligence on MSNBC, often ending her early programs with a cocktail recipe and toast. As the former guy’s nonsensical but dangerous brand of hate and sleaze worked its way into a rotting of America’s soul, Maddow became a voice of reason and defiance, and her role took on more and more weight as the world struggled to right the sudden proliferation of open and outright racism and evil. Throughout it all, she retained a steady and studied thoughtful guide through those treacherous waters. Her ratings reflected our hunger for such substance and stability, growing and expanding as the right and the reasonable did their best to resist. I’m not sure how we could have made it through that wretchedness without her. She easily earns her first Dazzler of the Day honor for helping keep us all sane at 9 PM. 

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. 

Kudos to Matthew Rettenmund and his Boy Culture blog which continually inspires and amazes, for this post on Rico Starr and the fabulous Eric Alán. It’s about time the Dazzler of the Day returned to its sexy hunk roots, and no one better exemplifies that than Renaissance man Eric Alán. Check out his Rico Starr products and prepare to be dazzled. 

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. 

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. 

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.