“The Chenbot can hold her own” — Big Brother host Julie Chen reveals she does not see herself quitting the show

Julie Chen Moonves, the longtime host of Big Brother, has confirmed that she is not planning to step down from her role on the iconic CBS reality series. The host addressed her future with Big Brother during a July 9, 2025, conversation with Entertainment Weekly, stating that despite the show celebrating its 25th anniversary on July 5, she has no plans to end her involvement.

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

Season 27 premiered on CBS on July 10, 2025. Julie Chen Moonves once again returned as the host. She has served in this role since the show's first season aired in 2000, spanning 26 seasons, one digital edition (Over the Top), and three Celebrity Big Brother seasons. As the show marks more than two decades on air, Chen Moonves discussed her legacy and the future of the franchise.

Julie Chen Moonves on her future with Big Brother

During the Entertainment Weekly interview published in July 2025, Chen Moonves compared her continued presence on Big Brother to a “game of chicken” with other veteran CBS reality hosts Jeff Probst (Survivor) and Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race).

“As long as Probst and Keoghan are there, so am I,” she said.

All three hosts began their respective series in the early 2000s and have remained consistent figures on CBS's unscripted programming slate. Chen Moonves emphasized her dedication to the role. “I'm not a quitter,” she said, also referencing former The Price is Right host Bob Barker, who held his post for 35 years.

“It goes two ways,” she added. “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.”

Chen Moonves highlighted her signature contributions to the show, pointing to her iconic phrases like “But first,” “Love one another,” “Expect the unexpected,” and “The power is up for grabs.” She expressed doubt that anyone else could deliver them the same way.

Emphasizing her commitment, she said she not only wants to remain part of the show but also values consistency across CBS’s reality lineup. She added that she wouldn’t want to see new hosts for Survivor or The Amazing Race either.

Looking ahead to season 27, which premiered on July 10, Chen Moonves teased the arrival of a “very polarizing” mystery houseguest during premiere night. Although it has been five years since former players returned to the house, she was asked how often returnees should be reintroduced.

“I think every five to seven years feels right,” she said. “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.”

Chen Moonves said she supports letting new houseguests rise to prominence, calling them the future “professionals” of the game. She also revealed she’d like to see Derrick return to the Big Brother house and questioned how he might play differently now that his past as a detective is common knowledge. She wondered what kind of strategy he could use when everyone knows he once solved crimes for a living.

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Big Brother will air on CBS every Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 8:00 pm ET.

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