Tom Daldin’s Under the Radar Success

Nov. 9, 2014

When the auto industry crashed, it almost took Tom Daldin with it. Daldin, whose livelihood centered around producing automotive videos for the "Big Three" Detroit car companies, never expected to lose most of his income in 2010.

Jim Edelman, Daldin’s friend and the head of national sales for a large radio conglomerate, found himself in exactly the same boat when the radio industry took a similar hit and left him without a job.

"Here we were, two longtime friends, up the financial creek without a paddle," Daldin said.

Yet, along with adversity, can come innovation. According to Daldin, he and Edelman had to reinvent themselves to survive and that’s exactly what they did with a PBS show they dubbed "Under the Radar Michigan."

HOW ABOUT IT?

At first, their plan was to put together a TV pilot Daldin had created called "Bob’s Job." Similar to Mike Rowe’s "Dirty Jobs" television show, the aim of "Bob’s Job" was to demonstrate different careers to children, as well as "what it’s like to be an adult." Three episodes aired on Detroit Public Television, but when it came time to get more support from PBS, they were informed that kids’ programming wasn’t a priority at that time.

"Five minutes into the meeting, they were asking us point blank what else we had to propose," Daldin recollected.

"Jim and I are both huge fans of where we live and travel shows, so after a few blank stares and a couple of swift kicks under the table, we "˜Seinfeld-ed it.’ We said, "˜How about a Michigan exploration program where we travel the state discovering cool people, places and things that people don’t, but should, know about?’" Today, "Under the Radar Michigan" is a PBS hit and has snagged Daldin and Edelman three Emmys for Best Magazine Program (2010), Best Direction/Post-Production (2011) and Best Host (2013).

"It’s been an amazingly fun and rewarding adventure," Daldin said.

TRAVEL TIME

The aim of this off-the-cuff idea was to craft a Michigan discovery show with the energy and movement of the popular "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" program, but with Daldin’s own twist and personality.

"We talk to real people and tell real Michigan success stories," he said.

Using the Internet, including tips from their Facebook fans, to research picks for the show, the pair have trekked all over the state, visiting an enormous variety of locations, both the noteworthy and the just plain quirky.

So far, these hot spots have included America’s oldest family-owned grocery store (Doud’s Market on Mackinac Island), the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Mt. Clemens’ Weirdsville Records, Ocqueoc Falls in the Upper Peninsula and Traverse City’s The Cook’s House.

Daldin has ridden a luge in Muskegon, caught a football in Ann Arbor, picked peanuts in Lansing, and driven, biked, walked and boated around the state.

He’s even occasionally come close to a bit of trouble.

"In one episode, I thought it would be funny if I jumped off Black Rocks in Marquette into Lake Huron in a Superman suit," he said. "A 20-foot jump into 45-degree water and a 100-yard swim back to shore. Little did I know the cape would wrap around my arm, making that the craziest swim of my life!"

FIFTY MORE

Daldin recovered from the shaky incident just fine and went on to host over 50 episodes of "Under the Radar Michigan."

A companion guide on the show’s website gives viewers all the information they need to visit these sites themselves. The first 50 of these have been spun into yet another project: a new book, "Under the Radar Michigan: The First 50."

"The book is simply the first 50 episodes turned into book chapters," Daldin explained. "It’s a great way to hold Michigan in the palm of your hand and help you explore where you live. So many of us are unaware of what’s in our own backyard. So you can throw this book in your glove box or backpack, and off you go on your own "˜UTR’ adventure."

With a "mind boggling amount" to see in Michigan, a second book, "Under the Radar Michigan: The Next 50," is already planned. Daldin himself shows no signs of slowing down; he’s in the middle of another season of "UTR," as well as planning some author stops to get the book some well-deserved attention.

"We love it here and there are enough cool people, places and things in Michigan to keep us on the air until we can’t do it anymore," he said.

Tom Daldin will be featured at an author meet and greet at McLean & Eakin Booksellers in downtown Petoskey (307 E. Lake Street) on Nov. 15 from 2-4 pm and at Horizon Books in downtown Traverse City (243 E. Front Street) also on Nov. 15 at 6pm. For more information on Daldin and the show, visit www.utrmichigan.com.

Tom Daldin’s Up North Favorites

View: "The top of Pyramid Point in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore"

Food: "Cherry Pie and The Cherry Hut in Beulah"

Beach: "North Bar Lake Beach"

Summer Activity: "Hiking the Sand Dunes"

Winter Activity: "Fat tire biking"

Up North Souvenir: "Memories!"