THUNDER BAY – Laura Zaina and Brad Hilgers have known each other for more than 20 years, but they’ve never shared the airwaves together.
They knocked that off their radio bucket lists on Monday morning, launching Thunder Bay’s new favourite morning show, the Wake Up Crew with Brad and Laura.
For Hilgers, it was a chance for him to get back to doing what he does best – entertaining and informing listeners about what’s going on the in the community, while playing Thunder Bay’s best music. For Zaina, it’s a chance to build on her No. 1 morning show with a new partner in crime.
“We’re super excited about this,” Hilgers said, fresh off episode No. 1, coming off more than two decades as one of the city’s most trusted radio voices on sister station Rock 94.
“We’ve worked in the building together for many, many years, but is the first time we’re doing a show together, so we’re super happy about it,” Hilgers said.
Zaina said she wasn’t sure what to expect, though the new duo did do a couple of off-air trial runs last week, just to make sure they had the right on-air chemistry, not that she doubted they did for a second.
Judging by Monday’s debut, there’s no doubt CKPR will remain at the top of the morning show heap for years to come.
“We had a lot of fun,” Zaina said. “Sometimes you just grab the microphone and everything works.”
“We had a great show this morning for our first show,” Hilgers added. “It was fun. We’re going to have a great time.”
There will be plenty of fun and new features for listeners of the Wake Up Crew with Brad and Laura to look forward to each morning, Zaina said.
“We are packed full of different things to talk about,” she said.
“We have a lot of different features. We’ve rebranded a popular old contest called battle of the sexes. Now it’s new and improved. It’s Battle of the Bay, so anybody can play. You can either be on Team Laura or Team Brad and everybody has the chance to win the prizes,” Hilgers said. “It’s exciting that we’ve taken it up to the next level.
“We have other great features on the show, like Happy Headlines. After the year that everybody’s had, people need a little good news in their life.”
There’s the OMG file and Hilgers and Zaina promised there will be plenty of comedy on the show to help Thunder Bay start its day with a smile.
“We’re going to include bites of stand-up comedians every single morning – and that’s just a few of the new ideas.”
The Wake Up Crew with Brad and Laura airs each weekday at 6 a.m on CKPR, found at 91.5 FM.
Disclosure: CKPR is owned by Dougall Media, which owns and operates this website.
