“This is a game of chicken” — Julie Chen Moonves on why she’s not ready to leave Big Brother

Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves spoke with Entertainment Weekly on July 9, 2025, about her future on the long-running CBS reality show. As the series marked its 25th anniversary on July 5, Chen Moonves reflected on what’s ahead for her as season 27 begins. When asked whether she has considered stepping down, she responded:

“This is a game of chicken. As long as Probst and Keoghan are there, so am I.”

She was referring to fellow CBS hosts Jeff Probst (Survivor) and Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race), both of whom have also hosted their respective shows since the early 2000s. Julie, who has hosted every season since the beginning, said she doesn’t see Big Brother without her and added:

“I can’t imagine my life without Big Brother every summer, and I can’t imagine Big Brother without me.”

As season 27 of Big Brother prepares to introduce a “very polarizing” mystery houseguest, Chen Moonves gave her thoughts on returnees and the future of Big Brother casting moving forward.

Big Brother host Julie explains her loyalty to the show and her CBS hosting peers

 

 

 

 

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Julie Chen Moonves described her commitment to Big Brother as deeply personal, saying she feels tied to the show’s entire journey. “I’m not a quitter,” she said, adding that Bob Barker hosted The Price is Right for 35 years and that she believes she can keep going.

“The Chenbot can hold her own. I can give the Energizer Bunny a run for its money,” she said.

Julie said she would only consider stepping away if Probst or Keoghan did first. She also spoke about the role of her catchphrases in the show’s identity, saying,

“Can you imagine someone else delivering ‘But first…’ or ‘Love one another’ or ‘Expect the unexpected’? I don’t think so.”

For her, the phrases are more than just lines—they are tied to her identity as host. Julie said she doesn’t want to see anyone else hosting Survivor or The Amazing Race either.

Reflecting on her journey from season 1, Chen Moonves mentioned, “I’m part of building it up.” She sees her relationship with the show as mutual and ongoing. While she confirmed she’ll be returning for season 27, she made it clear that she intends to stick around as long as her CBS reality colleagues are still in the game.

Julie opens up about returnees, Derrick, and hopes for new players

When asked whether returning players will become a regular feature again, Chen Moonves said she prefers seeing past houseguests return every five to seven years. She explained that while returnees can be entertaining, they often arrive more strategic and cautious, which can change the energy in the house.

Julie also noted that not all former players are ideal to bring back, especially if they were difficult during their original seasons. She said that the priority should be on creating new icons within each season.

“You always want the 16 new people to become the new superstars of this game. You want the new crop to become the ‘professionals’ of the game,” she explained.

Julie referred to past contestants like Janelle and Taylor as examples of standout players who emerged from fresh casts. She said she would like to see Derrick from season 16 return, now that his identity as a former detective is widely known. She wondered how his gameplay would change when his background is no longer a secret.

Julie also addressed speculation about characters like Jankie making a return. While she said there are no current plans, she acknowledged that “anything is possible,” though she added that Jankie’s return might only work as part of a twist like the Masked Visitor.

Stay tuned for more updates.