The Morning Brew with Chris Bennett

Chimney Fires, Christmas Trivia & Am I the Jerk? — A Wild Wednesday Brew

• Chris Bennett • Episode 157

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Bundle up — today’s Morning Brew starts with a blast of cold-weather reality as Fire Marshal JD Pepper from Timber Mesa Fire District jumps in with his Fire Marshal Minute. From real chimney-fire stories to the winter safety checklist you must follow (sweep the chimney, test the smoke alarms, check those batteries, and handle ashes safely), JD doesn’t sugarcoat it. It’s simple advice that could literally save your home.

Then the show takes a turn from sparks to sparkle: with Paul out, Kendra “the Best Friendra” steps in for “Are You Smarter Than a Redhead?” Spoiler: Chris absolutely is not. We also give a shoutout to Show Low’s tree lighting after the Show Low Shines Christmas Parade that starts at 6pm on Saturday— small-town magic at its finest.

Next up, Andrea returns with her Hallmark Christmas Review of Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story — fan-service cameos, a cozy mystery angle, and a three-hot-cocoa rating. (Last year’s Chiefs movie still holds the crown.)

Then it’s time for Am I the Jerk Court with Jineane Ford, where we tackle whether it’s caring or cruel to ask your partner to lose weight for attraction’s sake. The verdict lands right in the nuance: nobody’s a villain, but kindness counts.

We wrap with Chris’s Country News Minute — Cody Johnson’s new album lineup, the ACMs heading back to Vegas, and which country star has officially earned the title of “Best Hugger in Nashville.”

If you learned something, laughed, or argued with your steering wheel, hit follow and share the show — and remind a friend to get that chimney swept!

SPEAKER_00:

From the Horn Auto Center Studios, Chris Bennett and the Morning Brew. Good morning. It's the Morning Brew with Chris. Who's this?

SPEAKER_01:

Hey, good morning, Chris. It's JD.

SPEAKER_00:

Heck yeah, JD Pepper with the Timber Mesa Fire Department. He is our Fire Marshal. And here today with our Fire Marshal Minute. What you got for us today?

SPEAKER_01:

Hey guys, thank you so much out there for your support for Timber Mesa Fire. You know what? Uh yeah, hey, it got cold last couple nights. We had a fire. We had a uh a chimney fire like we've been talking about. It's so very important. Look, guys, if you have not had that chimney swept, please get it done. Uh uh the the creosote builds up in there, and you build a fire and you have a fire inside your your chimney, and that's gonna extend into the attic. It's gonna extend into the attic and uh you know cause your house to burn down. And most of the times while you're while you're asleep, very, very dangerous. So please get that get that chimney swept. Check your smoke alarms, uh, make sure the batteries are up to date. Call me if you need it. We will send one of our engine companies out there to get it done, or I will come out, or my staff will come out and we'll get it done for you. Uh those those batteries are so so important. Um, charging of your uh uh lithium battery, you know, your tools, your uh uh bikes and stuff like that. Just keep keep an eye on that. Um and also your ashes. Once you're done with those ashes, don't don't put them, make sure they're in a in a in a approved uh receptacle, a uh a metal uh ash bucket or something like that, and don't put it into the trash can outside.

SPEAKER_00:

Ooh, everyone, listen to these tips from our fire marshal, and let's do our best to keep you guys as bored as possible. And uh, if they need help with those uh those uh checking their uh smoke detectors, what's the number to call?

SPEAKER_01:

928-537-5100.

SPEAKER_00:

All right, and get those chimneys swept, best friends. Let's stay fire safe and fire wise. Thank you so much, JD. We appreciate everything you and the Timber Mesa uh Fire Medical District do for us.

SPEAKER_01:

You bet, buddy. Love you guys. Love you.

SPEAKER_00:

Bye. This is where we would normally do Are You Smarter Than a Redneck, but we could not get a hold of Paul from Beaumont today. So we have my friend Kendra, the best friend, filling in. And today it's gonna be Are You Smarter Than a Redhead? Uh today, uh, Kendra is the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting. Uh Boo, we're cool on that. Oh, definitely cool. Definitely cool. All right. Uh, we're gonna see who is smarter, you or me, with some Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting questions. If you know the answer, say your name. That's your buzzer. Here we go. When was the very first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree put up? Was it 1922, 1931, 1940, or 1955?

SPEAKER_02:

Kendra.

SPEAKER_00:

Kendra. A. A. 1922, nope, I'm gonna say 1955. Nope. Correct answer, 1931. All right, we're tied at zero. What was the first Rockefeller Christmas tree decorated with? Was it handmade paper garlands, berries and popcorn, cranberries and candles, or tinfoil and gum wrappers? Kendra. Kendra. Uh cranberries and candles. I'm gonna say tinfoil and gum wrappers. Uh, we're both wrong, Kendra. Holy moly! Handmade paper garlands. All right. Uh next question. How tall, and uh let's see, whoever gets the first question right is the winner. So we'll keep going until we get one right. How tall is the typical Rockefeller Center tree today? Is it 40 to 50 feet, B 60 to 70 feet, C 80 to 90 feet, or D 100 to 110 feet? Kendra. Kendra. Uh C. C 80 to 90 feet. You are smarter than a very handsome radio DJ, and I am not smarter than a redhead. Kendra, thanks so much for uh calling in and having fun with me today, and uh I hope you have a great day. And if you're looking for a tree lighting ceremony here on the mountain, uh the city of Sholo is having their tree lighting ceremony uh this uh Saturday following the Sholo Shines Christmas Light Parade, which will take place December 6th at 6 p.m. It's definitely beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. And now it's time for Chris's wife to give us her Christmas Hallmark movie reviews.

SPEAKER_02:

So today we're going to review Holiday Touchdown of Bill's love story.

SPEAKER_00:

Ooh, holiday touchdown. Oh, what do I think this is about? Uh I think uh this is about uh a guy who works security for the Buffalo Bills, and uh he ends up uh he hates Christmas and they end up playing a rival team, and the mascot comes and he ends up falling in love with the mascot. Uh, and everyone finds out when uh they his team scores a touchdown. Is that what this one is about?

SPEAKER_02:

There you go. But Omar really needs to make a mascot movie. I feel like this is a recurring theme for you.

SPEAKER_00:

Hey, the mascots deserve some love, man.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, no, that's not what it's about.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, okay. What's this one about?

SPEAKER_02:

So this one is about two lifelong friends that are major Bill fanatics, and they team up and they try to solve the mystery of who has been tending her uncle's secret bill themed gift every Christmas for decades. Um there's lots of Bills cameos, and so if you're if you're a Buffalo Bill fan, you'll like it.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, nice. Uh, how many uh cups of hot cocoa do you give for holiday touchdown of Bill's love story? So I gave it three. Three, okay, three out of five. So it's just right down the middle. Uh just an average love story, nothing great.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I liked last year's The Chiefs one. I like that one better. So if you didn't watch last year's, I think that one was a little bit better a story, but this one was good too.

SPEAKER_00:

All right, my wife says if you're looking for a Hallmark Christmas movie, maybe check out last year's Chiefs version. But for Holiday Touchdown of Bill's love story, she gives three cups of hot cocoa. I love you, my love. Have a great day, and I hope you have fun watching Hallmark Christmas movies.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, bye.

SPEAKER_00:

Bye. All right, it's now time for Am I the Jerk. The honorable Janine Ford presides on this Choose Women Wednesday.

SPEAKER_03:

Choose Women Wednesday.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, there we go. Uh, Janine, I'm gonna read the story and we'll get your ruling on whether this person is a jerk. You ready? I'm ready. All right, I need some advice on whether I'm overreacting or if my wife has a point. My BMI is about 26, and I'm only 11 pounds heavier than I've been for most of our relationship. I'm active, I eat reasonably well, and I'm not unhappy with how I look. I can still run a 10K at a good pace, but my wife told me that if I really cared about her, I would lose some weight. She says she's just being honest and that she'd want me to be honest with her if the w rolls were reversed, but I never would say something like that. It feels mean. Honestly, I'm pretty offended. I can lose the weight, but I love cooking for friends, entertaining, having a few drinks, and cutting back would take some uh take away something I really enjoy. At the same time, I love my wife and want her to be attracted to me. Am I wrong to feel uh hurt? And would I be a jerk if I don't lose the weight? What is your ruling?

SPEAKER_03:

Well, he only gained three eleven pounds since they met and that type of thing. But here, I take this on both sides, okay? I don't think he should be that offended. He should just maybe, you know, lose the 11 pounds. It's just 11 pounds, get himself in a little bit better shape. She might be and he might have been a teeny bit heavier, you know, than her, and she might be. And here's the way I look at it. Okay. You meet somebody, and I know everybody changes through the years, and you love them no matter what. I get all that stuff. But the attractiveness thing is a really big thing. If you know that, like, for instance, I say I love uh a sparkly red box with sparkly red bow on it, right? Right. And I go out and I buy that box because that's what I love, okay? So that was my husband and I married. I take him home and he turns into corrugated cardboard and falls apart on me. Do you see you follow me? You what you're kind of attracted to and you bought into, and this works both ways, men and women. I mean, when you go home and you totally let yourself go when you turn into a big old sloth, but uh he doesn't sound like a sloth, so it's only 11 pounds. Maybe she's being a little bit, but I think he should just, you know, maybe maybe just try a little harder, get in a little bit better shape, maybe, for her, but tell him, you know, I mean, I know it hurts his feelings a little bit, but it's kind of good that she said, Hey, I want to stay attractive to you, attracted to you. And I just don't want you to get that much heavier, okay? It's just being honest. And women should take this good too, if you're if you're turning into a sloth. And that's what I'm just saying. I'm sorry to be hard about this, but that's it.

SPEAKER_00:

There's no way that I like I don't think if a guy ever tells uh his wife, like, hey, I think you need to lose 10 pounds, I think that's uh gonna get your wife really mad at you. I think you should maybe like uh send it an anonymous letter and don't let her know it's coming from you.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, and and see, I think women are way too women and men are way too sensitive about that. Okay. They need to realize, hey, you know what? I bought into this. I bought into the red sparkly box with, I know this I this sounds horrible. I've had it happen to me. I'm just can you tell? I I took the red sparkly box home and it turned into corrugated cardboard and it fell apart.

SPEAKER_00:

Ugh.

SPEAKER_03:

And I'm like looking at him going, oh, you who are you?

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

So this guy is a little bit of a jerk for being offended?

SPEAKER_03:

Uh he no, I don't think he's a jerk. He just needs to chill and just say, you know what, don't take it personally. Maybe you just try a little harder. Take off your 11 pounds. I love you, hun. I'm willing to do what it takes, you know, because he wants her to be attracted. She's being honest. She's being and she's hey, I'm not as attracted to you, attracted to you anymore. You've got a gut.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00:

And 11 pounds is a lot easier to lose than if she waited till he was 50 pounds over.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, and then she just ran.

SPEAKER_00:

Right. Yeah, exactly. Awesome. Well, in the case of am I the jerk for being offended that my wife says she's not attracted to me because I'm too fat. Janine says, No, you're not the jerk. You're just a little bit of a baby in the world.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, be a b don't be a baby. And don't be a baby men or women. And so in this case, maybe I'm the jerk for saying this stuff, but hey, that's how that's how I feel. All right.

SPEAKER_00:

It's all right, Janine. We love you, best friend. Love you too, Chris. Bye-bye. It is now time for Chris's Country News Minute, and we're gonna start with some big album news from Cody Johnson. He just confirmed his next album, set for release sometime in 2026, is gonna feature major collaborations from Luke Combs and Brothers Osborne. Cody says that the album's pretty much done. He's heading back in the studio in January for final vocals, and these guest performances are just the last piece they need. Uh, fans actually got a sneak peek earlier this year uh of the collaboration with Luke Combs. Surprised the crowd during Cody's sold-out show at Bridgestone Arena. Turns out the moment was just hinting at the duet that's now officially happy. Uh, and Cody is uh also recovering from a burst eardrum that sidelined his tour, but he says he's healing and plans to be back on the road by February. And on the home front, he and his wife Brandy are soaking up time with their newborn son, JC Daniel, born in October. Uh, in other news, the ACM awards are heading to Viva Las Vegas. After three years in Texas, the 61st ACMs are gonna return to the MGM Grand Arena on Sunday, May 17th, 2026. Uh tickets go on sale early next year. Road trip. Sounds like fun. And finally, some fun from Dan and Shay. The uh duo revealed that Blake Shelton is not only the best hugger in country music, he's also the most affectionate. Oh my. That's right. According to them, uh Blake is a linger, he likes to spin his friends around uh during hugs and even plants kisses on top of their heads. They say they even have photos to prove it. And uh Blake's PDA streak checks out. He's been known to kiss Adam Levine on the voice, and uh Gwen Stefani just shared a Thanksgiving snack uh snap of Blake giving her a holiday smooch. Oh my. Hey, if you can't hug your friends and kiss your friends, who can you hug and kiss? I'm Chris Bennett. That was your country news minute.

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