Julie Chen Moonves reacts to Jerry O’Connell hosting Big Brother during her absence

Julie Chen Moonves praises Jerry O'Connell's hosting of Big Brother during her COVID-19 absence

Julie Chen Moonves, longtime host of Big Brother, missed her first episode in 26 seasons due to COVID-19, and actor Jerry O’Connell stepped in as her temporary replacement. Reflecting on the experience, Chen Moonves described her time off as “like a staycation,” joking that her “watch party” was a party of one according to Entertainment Weekly.

When asked about O’Connell’s performance, particularly his delivery of her signature line “But first,” she expressed her approval, saying, “I love Jerry, and I loved how he did the ‘But first!’ He made it big, and it shows he gets the joke part of it. Hysterical. He made it his own and he did awesome!” Talking to Entertainment Weekly.

O’Connell’s temporary hosting stint came during a critical episode where Big Brother contestants continued to use the Veto to save Angela, a recurring trend in the competition. Chen Moonves commented on this strategy, warning viewers that Angela might be underestimated, much like Will Kirby was in season 2. “Angela knows this game and knows how to stir it up when she wants,” she remarked.

Chen Moonves also weighed in on the decision to evict Quinn instead of Kimo, calling it a smart move, as Quinn’s clever gameplay and charm could make him a strong competitor in the final stages of the game.