The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show is a syndicated morning talk radio show broadcast primarily from the Townsquare Media radio station WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show is hosted by Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels, Chris "Hot Wings" Michels, executive producer Steve McKiernan, producer Kelly Cheesborough and Maitlynn Mossolle. Phone-screener, Tommy McNeil joined the team in January 2024.[1][2][3] The show is syndicated throughout America, and is distributed by Compass Media Networks.
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| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Home station | WGRD-FM (Grand Rapids) |
| Syndicates | Compass Media Networks |
| Hosted by |
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| Produced by |
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| Website | www |
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show has also guest hosted The Dan Patrick Show on multiple occasions.[4]
| Former Members | Role | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Zane | Host | 2/17/2016[5] | |
| Producer Justin | Producer | 11/16/2018[6] | |
| Joe Gasmann | Host | 11/16/2022 |
Holiday Break-in
editEvery December, the show solicits the nomination by their listeners of needy families to be the recipients of the Holiday Break-in for those unable to buy holiday gifts. Once the recipients are selected, participating radio affiliates break into the houses of these families (with the assistance of the nominator, a locksmith, and local police) and bring the holidays where there would be none.[7]
Awards
editThe Free Beer and Hot Wings Show won the Michigan Association of Broadcasters award in 2005[8] 2006,[9] and 2007.[10]
Free Beer and Hot Wings won the RadioContraband Rock Radio Award for "Syndicated Morning Show of the Year" in 2013 and 2014[11]
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show is a nominee for the 2024 induction class of the Radio Hall of Fame.[12]
Controversies
editIn early 2018, producer Joseph "Joe" Gassmann was arrested in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage county, for two counts of domestic battery, which are Class A misdemeanors in Illinois. Townsquare Media released a statement:
"As you may be aware, Joe Gassmann of The Free Beer and Hot Wings show was arrested after a domestic altercation this past Saturday night. Joe has been suspended and will not be appearing on the show, pending resolution of the police investigation of the matter."[13] The charges were eventually dropped and Joe returned to the show near the end of May 2018.[14]
References
edit- ^ "The Free Beer & Hot Wings Morning Show".
- ^ "Free Beer and Hot Wings Cast and Crew". Free Beer and Hot Wings. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ "Free Beer & Hot Wings Show". Compass Media Networks. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- ^ "Barkley, Simms, Harbaugh on tap for Thursday's DP Show". CNN. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010.
- ^ "Eric Zane Departs from 'Free Beer & Hot Wings.'". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ Wings, Free Beer and Hot. "A Big Show Announcement (Video)". Free Beer and Hot Wings. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ Free Beer and Hot Wings embrace the Holidays
- ^ "Michigan Association of Broadcasters". Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ "Michigan Association of Broadcasters". Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ "Michigan Association of Broadcasters". Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ "Radio Contraband's Rock Radio Award Winners Revealed". Retrieved 2016-09-14.
- ^ "2024 Nominees Announced". radiohalloffame.com. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
- ^ "'Producer Joe' of 'Free Beer & Hot Wings' show arrested in Chicago area". Fox17. 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^ "'Producer Joe' going back to 'Free Beer and Hot Wings,' charges dropped". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-06-05.