Tennessee Skydiving

The Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show

History

Daniels, Michels, and Zane all attended Central Michigan University. While there, Daniels and Michels were roommates. 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. Eric Zane also worked at WKQZ in Midland, Michigan, on the "Joe & the Poorboy Show" before working in Knoxville. Producer Joe joined the show in March 2005. Gasman said, "...I just started talking to them over the phone and eventually it got to the point where they said, 'Well, we don't have a budget, and we don't know you, so you come work for free on our show - and, if it all works out and we have a budget, then (we'll hire you).'" 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.

What Can Joe Do?

One of the show's most popular segments is called "What Can Joe Do?"

In an article from the Grand Haven Tribune, Gregg Daniels said,

"When he (Producer Joe) first interviewed for the job, we said, 'Hey if you're hired, part of your duties might be...a weekly stunt. Joe was like, 'That's cool.' I mean, hell, he was going to be a skydiving instructor - he's fearless...We kind of came back to 'The Wheel of What Can Joe Do?' idea with stunts. That's when we added the points value and gave him a chance to make some money in addition to it, out of our own pockets. Joe's made the rest."

The wheel has forced Joe into eating a hair sandwich, yelling at restaurant drive-thru intercoms, giving a public "I am not gay" speech, performing a street lounge act, and squirting lime juice in his eyes.

The "Producer Joe Walks Through a Car Wash" stunt was instrumental in the team winning a Michigan broadcasting excellence award for 2006.

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. 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.

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 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. 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. 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.

Awards

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

Affiliates