THE LATE SHIFT
IT’S THE WEDNESDAY before Easter and The Ray Hadley Morning Show has entered its final half hour. There’s no cruising to the finish line today, however. Behind his trio of producers, I’m watching Hadley through soundproof glass as he handles a maelstrom of late-breaking COVID-related stories.
As a broadcaster, Hadley mightn’t be your cup of tea. He’s opiniated, uber-confident and quick to judge – a shock jock, broadly. But he’s also a consummate pro. What look to me like the ingredients for an on-air meltdown, Hadley gathers up, blends and spices, and serves as a dish called compelling radio. After years spent in the shadow of former giants of local radio, Hadley can nowadays lay claim to being king of the airwaves.
