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The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show

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The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
Country of originUnited States
Home stationWGRD-FM (Grand Rapids)
SyndicatesCompass Media Networks
Hosted by
  • Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels
  • Chris "Hot Wings" Michels
Produced by
  • Steve McKiernan
  • Kelly Cheesborough
Websitewww.freebeerandhotwings.com

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.

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

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Every 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

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The 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

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In 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

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  1. ^ "The Free Beer & Hot Wings Morning Show".
  2. ^ "Free Beer and Hot Wings Cast and Crew". Free Beer and Hot Wings. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Free Beer & Hot Wings Show". Compass Media Networks. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  4. ^ "Barkley, Simms, Harbaugh on tap for Thursday's DP Show". CNN. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010.
  5. ^ "Eric Zane Departs from 'Free Beer & Hot Wings.'". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  6. ^ Wings, Free Beer and Hot. "A Big Show Announcement (Video)". Free Beer and Hot Wings. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  7. ^ Free Beer and Hot Wings embrace the Holidays
  8. ^ "Michigan Association of Broadcasters". Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  9. ^ "Michigan Association of Broadcasters". Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  10. ^ "Michigan Association of Broadcasters". Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  11. ^ "Radio Contraband's Rock Radio Award Winners Revealed". Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  12. ^ "2024 Nominees Announced". radiohalloffame.com. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  13. ^ "'Producer Joe' of 'Free Beer & Hot Wings' show arrested in Chicago area". Fox17. 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  14. ^ "'Producer Joe' going back to 'Free Beer and Hot Wings,' charges dropped". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
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