Julie Chen addresses ‘Big Brother' retirement plans
The television personality, 55, has hosted the long-running CBS reality show since 2000. And in honor of the competition series' 25th anniversary, Chen Moonves revealed if she sees retirement in her future.
'You know what?' she told Entertainment Weekly on Wednesday. 'This is a game of chicken. As long as Probst and Keoghan are there, so am I.'
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10 Julie Chen Moonves hosts 'Big Brother.'
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Jeff Probst, 63, has hosted 'Survivor' since 2000, while Phil Keoghan, 58, has led 'The Amazing Race' since 2001.
Chen Moonves won't be the first one to bow out.
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'I'm not a quitter,' she continued, before pointing out that the late Bob Barker hosted 'The Price is Right' for 35 years. 'The Chenbot can hold her own. I can give the Energizer Bunny a run for its money.'
10 The CBS series 'Big Brother.'
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When it comes to her fellow hosts, Chen Moonves stated, 'I don't want to see someone else host 'Survivor' or 'Amazing Race' either. I really don't.'
The former talk show host has a great deal of affection for 'Big Brother,' which enters its 27th season on Thursday.
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'It goes two ways,' Chen Moonves noted about the series. 'I can't imagine my life without 'Big Brother' every summer, and I can't imagine 'Big Brother' without me. It's kind of like we go hand in hand. I'm part of the show from season 1 and part of building it up.'
10 'Big Brother' Season 9.
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Along with being a fixture on the show, the news anchor's mantras are also a staple of the summer.
'My catch phrases! Can you imagine someone else delivering 'But first…' or 'Love one another' or 'Expect the unexpected' or 'The power is up for grabs'? I don't think so,' Chen Moonves said.
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Over the seasons, many houseguests have become fan favorites across America. Chen Moonves, meanwhile, would love to see players re-enter for a second go-around after enough time has passed.
10 'Big Brother: Celebrity Edition.'
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10 Julie Chen hosting the season finale on 'Big Brother.'
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'I think every five to seven years feels right,' she expressed. 'There are mixed emotions internally and externally about bringing back past players because they get a little bit jaded and they're more sophisticated, and some of them you don't want to bring back because they were difficult the first time around.'
On Sunday, Chen Moonves celebrated the 25th anniversary with a sweet Instagram tribute.
'Twenty-five years ago, a new show arrived on our screens,' she penned. 'It was a social experiment like never before. We rooted for our favorites, watched epic blindsides, watched showmances blossom, were locked in for the live evictions, and so much more. So, thank you for these amazing 25 years of Big Brother. We wouldn't be here without all of you.'
10 Julie Chen Moonves during evictions on 'Big Brother.'
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Chen Moonves has been at the helm of 'Big Brother' since Season 1 debuted in July 2000. She has also hosted all three seasons of 'Celebrity Big Brother.'
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Along with hosting the summer project, she co-anchored several 'CBS Mornings' segments from 2000 to 2011.
In 2004, Chen Moonves tied the knot with the former CEO of CBS, Les Moonves. The two welcomed their son Charlie in 2009.
10 'The Talk' has on Burt Reynolds.
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10 Julie Chen Moonves on 'The Talk.'
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A year after giving birth, Chen Moonves began moderating the daytime talk show, 'The Talk.'
She held the position for eight years before exiting in September 2018.
Chen Moonves announced her departure after Les, 75, stepped down as chief executive of the network when several women accused him of sexual misconduct.
10 Julie Chen Moonves and Les Moonves.
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Les denied those claims, and no criminal charges were ever filed against him.
'Right now, I need to spend more time at home with my husband and young son,' Chen Moonves said on-air at the time. 'I know this show, and the sisterhood it stands for, will live on for many, many, many more years to come. You ladies got this, and I cannot be more proud to call you my friends.'
After the scandal, the celeb began going by 'Julie Chen Moonves' instead of just 'Julie Chen' while hosting 'Big Brother.' She also signed off with a new catch phrase: 'Love one another.'
10 Julie Chen Moonves and Les Moonves at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
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In her 2023 memoir 'But First, God,' Chen Moonves revealed it wasn't her decision to leave 'The Talk.'
While promoting the book on 'Good Morning America,' she revealed, 'That was a hard time. I felt stabbed in the back.'
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