The radio hosts who were suspended from their jobs last month after they mocked New Jersey's attorney general as "turban man" returned to the airwaves Monday.

Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco said they learned a lot for their remarks about Gurbir Grewal, the nation's first Sikh attorney general, who they referred to as "turban man" and "the guy with the turban" late last month.

"We had a tough week but I do want to say that we learned a lot this week," Franco said as the duo returned to their show on New Jersey 101.5-FM.

Franco and Malloy thanked their listeners and the show's advertisers, who they said both sent encouraging messages of support during their suspension.

"Unbelievable," Malloy said. "Humbling."

Franco added: "We want to get back right away to doing what we do."

And with that at the top of their daily show, the pair were back in their normal routine.

"I couldn't be happier to be sitting at this microphone," Franco said.

Their original comments sparked controversy prompted the station to suspend them for 10 days.

Within hours of their comments, Gov. Phil Murphy accused them of spreading hate speech in a statement that sharply condemned them.

"I'm outraged by the abhorrent and xenophobic comments made earlier today mocking Attorney General Gurbir Grewal on "The Dennis & Judi Show" on New Jersey 101.5," Murphy said at the time.

"Hate speech has no place in New Jersey, and it does not belong on our airwaves," he said. "Station management must now hold the hosts accountable for these intolerant and racist comments."

Since then, United Sikhs, a nonprofit advocacy organization, has offered to meet with the radio hosts and other employees at NJ101.5.

United Sikhs proposed the meeting be held this week at Guru Singh Sabha Sikh temple in Glen Rock, where Grewal is a member.

But the meeting is not likely to take place until the fall when representatives from the attorney general's office would be able to attend, said Megan Daly, spokeswoman for United Sikhs.

"We have been working with their schedulers and it seems right now that it's likely to happen in the fall," Daly said.

The governor's statement came after the hosts were about to discuss Grewal's move to tell municipal prosecutors not to pursue charges for marijuana arrests.

"I'm never gonna know his name. I'm just gonna say the guy with the turban," Malloy said. "Listen, and if that offends you then don't wear the turban and maybe I'll remember your name."

Malloy acknowledged his comment could be offensive. But the pair then quickly brushed the notion aside and agreed it wasn't.

"Is that highly offense? Could be. But if you call me 'baseball hat man' in a culture where nobody wears baseball hats, and they call me 'baseball hat man,' should I be offended?" Malloy continued. "No."

Franco agreed: "No. I would say no."

Malloy apologized shortly after the suspension was announced in a video posted on Facebook.

Grewal is a first-generation New Jersey resident, born to Indian immigrant parents in Jersey City and raised in Hudson and Bergen counties. He is a practicing Sikh and wears the turban headdress common in the religion.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.