Julie Chen Moonves, the host of Big Brother 26, is facing criticism for not being as involved in the show as expected. Moonves has been the host of Big Brother since it first aired in July 2000. Before the new season started on July 18, 2024, she claimed that her role would be larger than ever.
However, as the season progresses, viewers notice that Moonves is mainly appearing during the Thursday night live eviction segment. Blogger Reality Steve pointed out that Moonves is doing the same things she has done for the past 25 seasons of the show.
Moonves has been a key part of the Big Brother franchise. She sets the tone for each episode and interacts directly with the contestants. Fans are unhappy that her role is not being fully utilized.
Is “Big Brother” star Julie Chen Moonves moving on?
This situation has led to speculation about Moonves’ future on the show. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Moonves considered whether it might be time for her to leave Big Brother and pursue other projects.
She said she would not step down as long as Phil Keoghan and Jeff Probst continue to host The Amazing Race and Survivor, respectively. Keoghan has hosted The Amazing Race since 2001, and Probst has been with Survivor since 2000.
Despite what viewers see, Moonves’ role does extend beyond her usual hosting duties. She helped create the AI theme for Big Brother 26. During the same interview, Moonves shared that she will share her role with the BB AI, which is designed to be her robotic counterpart.
The AI twist in Big Brother 26 introduces new challenges for the contestants. One of the twists includes the AI Instigator, which can spread rumors and misinformation about other houseguests. Each week, the audience votes for a contestant to receive this power. CBS stated:
“The AI Instigator Power, when used, allows, for one week, the user to create virtual avatars of other current houseguests, instruct what they’ll say and to whom.”
New episodes of Big Brother air on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9 PM on CBS in the US. The show is also available to stream on Paramount Plus.
