[1] Shapiro's first experience in the entertainment business came as a reality contestant on Blind Date (hosted by Roger Lodge) in 1999 when the American show had come up to Toronto to film 5 episodes, choosing their "daters" via CityTV's "Speaker's Corner" booths.
Over 10,000 people auditioned for spots, but 27-year-old Shapiro, a student at Seneca College's radio/TV program, stood out enough for the show's producers to call him back shortly after he recorded his video.
Upon completing his Humble & Fred internship, Shapiro continued working at The Edge in their promotions department where he met Dean Blundell, 102.1 The Edge's new acquisition from the Windsor market, brought in to host his own The Dean Blundell Show — station's morning zoo replacement for Humble & Fred.
The station also had Sandra Plagakis periodically coming on throughout the morning to read news and traffic reports[3] and the three show hosts would occasionally engage her in a conversation.
[2] His other notable moments from the show had him visiting his grandmother in her old-age home live on air for a round of juvenile questions about her sex life, walking around Union Station wearing only an adult diaper, and sneaking into Toronto hotels to pound on rival hockey players' doors at 6 a.m. before games against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
[2] In August 2010, after Barr got released via not having his contract renewed,[4] Shapiro assumed a bigger role on the show with expanded hosting duties while Derek Welsman a.k.a.
[5] After the announcement, 102.1 The Edge's Twitter and Facebook accounts were blasted by angry fans who wanted to know what happened with Shapiro's position at the radio station and demanded his return.