Julie Chen Moonves Reveals She Uses Big Brother’s Most Famous Catchphrase To Parent Her 16-Year-Old Son, Charlie!
NEED TO KNOW
- Julie Chen Moonves shares how Big Brother catchphrases like “expect the unexpected” have made their way into her personal vocabulary
- The host says she’d choose her 16-year-old son Charlie as her Amazing Race partner or even her Big Brother successor
- Big Brother season 28 premieres July 9 with a time-travel theme
After more than 25 years on the air, Big Brother has spawned plenty of iconic catchphrases and quotable moments.
And there are a few that longtime host Julie Chen Moonves has adopted into her own personal lexicon.
“‘But first’ comes in a lot, and it’s a little bit self-promoting, but I always make it a joke,” she told a group of reporters, including PEOPLE, during a recent preview of the show’s upcoming season 28. “And I use on my son, ‘Expect the unexpected.’ If you’re parenting a teen … just say that, ‘expect the unexpected.’”
Chen Moonves, 56, is mom to son Charlie, 16, with her husband Les Moonves.
The host also revealed that she would like Charlie to be her partner should she ever compete on The Amazing Race.
“He’s a water polo player,” she says. “We’ll be good because he’s like my personal bodyguard now. I’d probably slow him down.”
Though it’s hard to envision Big Brother without her, Chen Moonves said she’d also choose her son to replace her as the show’s host — though it might be a tough sell.
“I would love to see him do it, but I don’t think it’s his thing,” she says. “Bob Barker hosted The Price Is Right for, I believe, 55 seasons, and I’m a competitive person [Editor’s note: Barker hosted for 35 seasons]. I’m like, ‘Bring it, Bob Barker. I will do this to season 56, God willing.’ And then by that time, my son will probably be too old and not want to do the show. I have no idea. My grandchild? My grandchild would do it!”
That being said, she knows that the CBS competition series and the “Chenbot,” her longstanding nickname, are “kind of synonymous.”
“I know it was meant as an insult, but it made me laugh so hard because it was true,” she says of the name. “No one likes to laugh more than me.”
Big Brother’s 28th season is set to premiere on CBS on Thursday, July 9, with a special “time trip” theme. The twisty theme means competitions are inspired by iconic moments from history and from the show’s history, with time-bending elements that will directly impact the game.
This season will also feature the show’s 1,000th episode — and some “controversial people,” according to the host.
“If you’re a Big Brother fan, you’ll be like, ‘Ah ha!’ And I think a lot of people will be like, ‘Yes,’” teases Chen Moonves. “And I think some people are like, ‘What?’ But it’s good TV. And if you love reality television beyond Big Brother, you’ll be excited as well.”
Big Brother returns with a 90‑minute premiere Thursday, July 9, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The return of Big Brother: Unlocked is on Friday, July 10, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
