Optimal energy amplifications of quasi-streamwise structures are computed in the wake of a bluntbased axisymmetric bluff body and in a parallel mixing layer. Only moderate energy amplifications are observed in the wake of the axisymmetric body while they are large in the mixing layer. The maximum amplifications increase with the Reynolds number and with decreasing spanwise (azimuthal) wavenumbers. The optimally amplified structures are streamwise streaks. When forced with finite amplitudes, optimal streaks greatly reduce the unsteadiness in the wake of the axisymmetric bluff body. At moderate Reynolds numbers the wake unsteadiness can be completely suppressed if the optimal forcing is combined with uniform base bleed. In the case of the 2D ...