The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show
 | |
| Other names | The Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show |
|---|---|
| Genre | Humor, Talk radio |
| Running time | 5:00 - 10:15 EST (in Grand Rapids) 5:00 - 10:00 EST (syndicated stations)[1] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English, Tazmanian |
| Home station | WGRD-FM |
| Starring | Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels Chris "Hot Wings" Michaels Eric Zane "Producer" Joseph Gasmann Jr. Assistant Producer Steve McKiernan |
| Original release | 2004-06-14[2] – Present |
| Website | freebeerandhotwings.com |
| Podcast | Official podcast |
'The Free Beer and Hot Wings (Morning) Show' is a syndicated talk radio show based at WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show is hosted by Gregg "Free Beer" Daniels and Chris "Hot Wings" Michaels with Eric "Zane" Zeitunian, "Producer" Joseph Gasmann, Jr, Assistant Producer Steve McKiernan, and Robot. The show is syndicated mostly throughout the Midwest and Eastern United States. The show is distributed by Compass Media Networks.
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show has also been guest hosts on The Dan Patrick Show on multiple occasions.[3]
History
The Free Beer & Hot Wings Show began as an afternoon show in Council Bluffs, Iowa (within the Omaha metropolitan area) at non-commercial station KIWR in March 1997. The Show consisted of two former Central Michigan University roommates, and was programmed by a University of South Florida graduate student, who eventually moved to mornings several months later where they remained until the summer of 2000, when they moved to WBON in Knoxville, TN. It was there that they met the show’s eventual 3rd member and fellow CMU grad, Eric "Zane" Zeitunian, who was, at the time, their direct competitor at WIMZ. When Zane was fired, he immediately drove across town, and joined The Free Beer & Hot Wings Show. The show then moved to New Jersey, where they were on WTHK in Trenton and WCHR on the Jersey Shore. The Free Beer & Hot Wings Show began full syndication in 2004 with the move to WGRD in Grand Rapids, Michigan and began syndicating to WTHK and WCHR. The show is now heard on 20+ radio stations.
Origin of names
The names "Free Beer" and "Hot Wings" were chosen by the hosts as "just stupid names that were easy to remember" early in their career, when they never really thought the show would last long. The guys have stated numerous times that they realize the names are not clever, but as of now, it's too late to change them. Since Eric Zane joined the show later, he does not have a "dumb food name", as stated by Free Beer, the moniker Eric "Jencum" Zane, was floated about.
Show Segments
| Segment | Description | Times |
|---|---|---|
| The Free Beer & Hot Wings Report | Biggest news stories of the day are discussed | Daily |
| Can't Wait To Talk About Blank | Listeners can call in and discuss any topic with the guys | Daily |
| Flashback | A look-back on a funny segment from the past | Daily |
| What Hot Wings Thinks | Hot Wings provides his own commentary about current topics | Daily |
| What Can Joe Do? | Producer Joe performs a stunt, and if he's lucky, for money | Fridays |
| Dumber Than Zane Trivia | Listeners get their chance to call in and face Zane in a game of trivia. Sponsored by Cat Footwear | Thursdays |
| Paired With An Idiot | Listeners are paired with the hosts in a game similar to Pyramid | Wednesdays |
| Name That Blank | Game where listeners compete against each other with questions that encourages them to "name that ____" of audio clips | Thursdays |
| Sounds of the Game | A collection of soundbites from college and pro football that, when taken out of context, sound dirty | Weekly during the football season |
| Dude Shadoway | The guys invite their esteemed colleague/legendary radio DJ Dude Shadoway in to do an interview with "flash from the past" celebrities and current events heroes | Every so often |
| Intern-view | A show intern conducts an interview. But here, the intern is set up to fail. The intern is told only moments before that they will be doing an interview and given minimal info about the interviewee. | Once in a while |
| OCTOSMASH | A parody game of "crazy morning zoo" radio shows, where eight different songs are played simultaneously and listeners must identify each level. | Once in a while |
Charity work
In 2006, Eric Zane was approached by a former teacher of one of his children to raise money for the Ataxia-Telangiectasia Children's Project. 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, more than enough money to cover the trial.[4] 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 $50,000. Zane recently participated in the 2009 half-marathon. While in Florida for the event, he presented the A-T Children's Project with a check for that amount. In 2009 Zane also participated in a triathlon for A-T, asking listeners to donate money for every minute he raced. Throughout the race Zane pulled/pushed a listener's daughter that suffers from A-T and the race was completed in just over 2 hours, raising nearly $75,000 for the charity.
Holiday Break-in
Each 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-in to 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.[5] They decorate and leave presents - in the past, the gifts have included toys for the children, gift cards, paid rent, appliances, and cars. A few of the break-ins occur on the air - most do not. No notification is left as to who the gifts came from; the recipients rarely determine who was responsible for the seemingly random act of charity.
Inspired by the work done by the show, in 2008 local high schools in West Michigan began conducting their own break-ins for needy families. In 2009, representatives of each school appeared on the show and shared stories about the recipients and how the break-ins went.
Awards
The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show won the Michigan Association of Broadcasters award for Best Morning Broadcast Personality/Radio Team in 2005[6] 2006,[7] and 2007.[8]
Robot
Robot joined the show on November 10th 2010 during the great "Barry, berry, bury" debate between Producer Steve and Eric Zane. He quickly became a fan favorite with his style of saying whatever comes to mind, similar to Eric Zane, and his Free Beer esque "word scrambles". He usually starts a statement with, "Hey everybody, Robot here...".
Interns
Loose Wendy. Wendy earned this moniker due to the number of guys she is alleged to have slept with.
Andrew the Well-Spoken Cuban. So named due to his clear speaking pattern, and he is Cuban. Internet Porn Jenny. Named due to her proclivity to look at porn during the show.
Lurch. Big guy who looks like Lurch. Terrible hair.
Benercrombie. Zane thinks he looks like an Abercrombie and Fitch model, and his name is Ben. Zane became really artistic and combined the two.
Frank Smalltalk. Guy who made inappropriate smalltalk. He also claimed to have urinated on food that he bought the show for breakfast. He was promptly fired.
Chewy. Well known for ridiculous sex noises on air and affinity for chewing ejaculate and hot dogs. She had an all beef this weekend.
IKB. Intern Kurt Busch. Filthy minger with fingernail grundle and a dislike for showering.
Pube Face Proudly sported a thick down of pubic hair on his face.
Show Bits
Zane has engaged in the following stunts, frequently not on air, but just for his own amusement: Kentucky Boxing Glove, Arizona Blowdryer, and has been the recipient of an Arkansas Snowman.
Producer Steve has competed in multiple Arkansas Rodeos.
While recently in London for the Royal Wedding, Producer Joe became a veteran of the British Breakfast thanks to Producer Steve.
Affiliates
Past affiliates
| Station | Location | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| KMXN-FM X 92.9 | Lawrence, Kansas | Station changed format in 2009 |
| WDRK-FM 99.9 The Carp | Eau Claire, Wisconsin[15] | Station changed format in August 2009. |
| WXTT-FM eXtra 99.1 | Champaign, Illinois | |
| WYAV-FM 104.1 Wave | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | Swapped morning shows with WKZQ-FM 96.1 KZQ |
| WODE-FM 99.9 The Hawk | Allentown, PA | |
| KERX-FM 95.3 The Rebel | Fort Smith, Arkansas | |
| WTHK-FM 97.5 The Hawk | Trenton, New Jersey | Station changed format in November 2006 |
| WEGE-FM 104.9 The Eagle | Lima, Ohio[16] | |
| KBZZ-AM The Big Buzz 1270 AM | Reno, Nevada |
References
- ^ "Free Beer and Hot Wings Info". April 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
- ^ "June 2004 News and Notes". Michiguide.com. 2004-06-11.
- ^ "Barkley, Simms, Harbaugh on tap for Thursday's DP Show". CNN.
- ^ "ACTP Updates November 2005" (pdf). Retrieved 2008-04-14. [dead link]
- ^ 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". Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ a b Slack, Chris (2006-11-24). "Red Meat and Boobies". Nashville Scene.
- ^ "Grand Rapids Rock Alternative 97.9 WGRD". April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ "The Buzz Homepage". April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (2004-06-14). "WBIX Sold (Again)". NorthEast Radio Watch.
- ^ "The Hawk's Free Beer and Hot Wings Page". April 8, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-03-08. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "The Carps Show List". April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08. [dead link]
- ^ "Free Beer and Hot Wings Info". April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-08.