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The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show

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The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
Other namesThe Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show
GenreHumor, Talk Radio
Running time5:00 - 10:15 EST (in Grand Rapids)
5:00 - 10:00 EST (syndicated stations)[1]
Country of originUnited States United States
Language(s)English
Home stationWGRD-FM
StarringGregg "Free Beer" Daniels
Chris "Hot Wings" Michels
Eric Zane
Joe "Producer Joe" Gassmann, Jr.
Original release2004-06-14[2] –
Present
Websitehttp://www.freebeerandhotwings.com
PodcastOfficial Podcast

The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show is a syndicated talk radio show based out of WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[3][4] [5] The show is hosted by Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels and Chris "Hot Wings" Michels[6] with Eric (Zeitunian) Zane and Joe "Producer Joe" Gassmann, Jr. The show is currently syndicated to 16 radio stations in the United States by Regent Communications.[7][8]

History

Daniels, Michels, and Zane all attended Central Michigan University.[9] While there, Daniels and Michels were roommates.[2] After graduating they worked at a radio show in Omaha, Nebraska. Before coming to Grand Rapids, Zane, Daniels, and Michels worked at radio stations in Knoxville, Tennessee. The show began with Daniels and Michels taking on the names "Free Beer" and "Hot Wings," respectively. When Eric Zane got fired from a rival radio station, he was hired as the producer and wasn't allowed to talk, only laugh off-mike. After the radio station wanted to fire Hot Wings, they all decided to quit and moved to Grand Rapids.[10] Eric Zane also worked at WKQZ in Midland, Michigan, on the "Joe & the Poorboy Show" before working in Knoxville. Producer Joe originally joined the show as an intern after interning for his uncle. The station did not have enough money to pay him so he offered to work for free and prove his worth.[11] Over time he became the producer and is now a permanent part of the show. The show was originally contracted for three years and they renewed it for two more years.[12]

Charity Work

The Holiday Break-In

Every December, the show organizes the Holiday-Break-In, which provide gifts, essentials and Holiday Cheer for a families in need. They make it a point to look for families that might have fallen through the cracks of other charities such as churches, Toys For Tots, the Salvation Army, and other such organizations. They try and find families that may have fallen on hard times recently, or simply wouldn’t think of themselves first.[13]Listeners are asked to nominate a family that they know who fits the description with the caveat that they cannot nominate themselves or their immediate family. After the nomination period is closed, the show hosts review them and select the families who will receive the Break-In in each of the affiliate locations.

On the day of the Holiday Break-In, teams of ‘hoodlums’ go to the homes of these families accompanied locksmiths and members of the police department. They decorate the home, leave presents and essentials (including gift cards for food and other necessities) and depart without leaving any indication of who had left the items. This is a key aspect of the Holiday Break-In: the giving is done completely anonymously. Some of the Break-Ins occur on the air; the majority do not, leaving listeners to guess exactly how many occurred. They occasionally receive feedback from the nominator (and in one rare instance, the recipient who figured who had done it) as to how the family reacted to their unexpected gifts. All items given are donated by local businesses and listeners; the show has also done things like pay lot rent for families having trouble making ends meet.

The A-T Children's Project

In 2006, Zane was approached by a former teacher of one of his children to raise money for the Ataxia-Telangiectasia Children’s Project [1]. The teacher has two children who have this disease and told Zane that they needed money for a clinical trial. Zane took the quest to the listeners and the radio show managed to raise $65,000 dollars, more than enough money to cover the trial.[14] Zane also followed through with his part of the deal, running the Detroit Marathon and getting the infamous Mr. 10 tattoo.

In 2007, Zane asked for volunteers to join the A-T Army, which was the radio show’s team in the 2008 Walt Disney World Marathon. Each member was asked to raise money and take part in the A-T Children’s Project’s events that weekend. Over forty people signed up and raised almost $50K. Zane is already organizing the Free Beer and Hot Wings A-T Army for the 2009 race.[15]

Awards

The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show won the Michigan Association of Broadcasters award for Best Morning Broadcast Personality/Radio Team in 2005[16] , 2006 and 2007[17].

Affiliates

Station Location
WGRD-FM 97.9 GRD Grand Rapids, Michigan[18]
WBUZ-FM 102.9 The Buzz Nashville, Tennessee[19][20]
WCHR-FM 105.7 The Hawk Manahawkin, New Jersey[10][21][22]
WDRK-FM 99.9 The Carp Eau Claire, Wisconsin[23]
WEGE-FM 104.9 The Eagle Lima, Ohio[24]
WEXP-FM 101.5 The Fox Rutland, Vermont
WHXR-FM 106.7/104.7 The Bone Portland, Maine
WQBK-FM 103.5 / 103.9 Q-103 Rensselaer, New York
WLRW-FM Mix 94.5 Champaign, Illinois
WQLZ-FM 92.7 The Rock Station Springfield, Illinois
WSFM-FM Surf 98.3 Wilmington, North Carolina
WWHK-FM 102.3 The Hawk Concord, New Hampshire[25]
WYAV-FM 104.1 Wave Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
WWYY-FM 107.1 The Bone Allentown, Pennsylvania
KZRV-FM REV 96.7 St. Cloud, Minnesota
KERX-FM 95.3 The Rebel Fort Smith, Arkansas

References

  1. ^ "Free Beer and Hot Wings Info". April 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b "June 2004 News and Notes". Michiguide.com. 2004-06-11.
  3. ^ Gross, Dan (2007-07-19). "Radio report". Philadelphia Daily News.
  4. ^ "WGRD Main Page". 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  5. ^ Epplett, Chris (2007-12-27). "'Free Beer & Hot Wings' climbs ratings". Grand Haven Tribune.
  6. ^ Hull, Peter (2007-01-10). "96 Wave changes programs". Post and Courier (Charleston, SC).
  7. ^ "Event Brief of Q4 2006 Regent Communications Inc. Earnings Conference Call - Part 1". Fair Disclosure Wire. 2007-03-02.
  8. ^ "Regent replaces Stern with Free Beer, Hot Wings and new format". The Business News. 2005-12-16.
  9. ^ Schwartz, Philip (2005-12-15). "Stern replacement set; QBK to change format". The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY).
  10. ^ a b Fybush, Scott (2004-06-14). "WBIX Sold (Again)". NorthEast Radio Watch.
  11. ^ "Free Beer and Hot Wings Info". 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  12. ^ "Regent Communications Inc Homepage". 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  13. ^ "Free Beer and Hot Wings - Holiday Break-In". Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  14. ^ "ACTP Updates November 2006" (pdf). Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  15. ^ "A-T Children's Project". Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  16. ^ "Michigan Association of Broadcasters". Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  17. ^ "Michigan Association of Broadcasters". Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  18. ^ "Affiliates Homepage". April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Slack, Chris (2006-11-24). "Red Meat and Boobies". Nashville Scene.
  20. ^ "The Buzz Homepage". April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "The Hawk's Free Beer and Hot Wings Page". April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "From Animation to Streaming Radio, Cable Interconnect to Web, Region's Diamond Specialist Takes to the Airwaves in a New Way for a New Generation". MyWire. 2006-03-03.
  23. ^ "The Carps Show List". April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Free Beer and Hot Wings Info". April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ Asmar, Melanie (2007-09-06). "He runs to save children". Concord Monitor. p. B01.
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