Julie Chen Moonves to miss ‘Big Brother’ Episode; Jerry O’Connell to Fill In

Julie Chen Moonves has announced that she will miss the Sept. 12 episode of “Big Brother” due to an illness.

The host, who has led the CBS competition show since it premiered in July 2000 and has never missed an eviction episode, shared an update with fans hours before the live episode. Chen Moonves usually appears on every Thursday episode of “Big Brother” to interview the latest evicted houseguest, but she will be absent tonight and a guest host will fill in. 

She explained her absence in a statement shared on Instagram Thursday. “Friday morning I woke up with a sore throat and went to see my good friend who is an ENT,” she wrote. “That night he called to say I have Covid. Thankfully this is only the second time for me and it’s been very mild! No fever and just a sore throat.”

Chen Moonves continued, “Unfortunately, I am still testing positive as of this morning… despite feeling good, strong and my cough being gone, I must sit tonight’s Big Brother live eviction show out.”

She revealed that actor and talk show host Jerry O’Connell, who shared her statement on his page, will step in to lead the episode and eviction. 

“Thank you to Jerry O’Connell for filing in for me,” she said. 

Chen Moonves then joked, “I hope Jerry fits in to my dress, has a ball and tells the houseguests I miss them but will be watching from home.” 

She added one more quip before ending her statement. “See? Chenbot is human after all!” she wrote, referring to the funny nickname some “Big Brother” fans call her.

She concluded her message with a similar send-off she gives at the end of each eviction episode. “Love one another and enjoy tonight’s show,” she said, adding a robot and blue heart emoji. 

Beneath Chen Moonves’ post, friends and “Big Brother” fans wished her a speedy recovery and also welcomed her temporary replacement. 

Andy Cohen wrote, “Feel better! And break a leg Jerry.”

One fan said, “Mr. Bing Bong is going to crush it! Get well soon, Julie. @mrjerryoc.” 

“Big Brother” Season 26 contestant Brooklyn Rivera, who was evicted in Week 5, commented, “Prayers for a speedy recovery!! We will miss you and I know the houseguest will be so sad to not see your face tonight.” 

The official “Big Brother” Instagram account posted Chen Moonves’ message on its Instagram story and wrote, “Feel better mama Julie.”

The account also shared a video from O’Connell’s page. 

“Jerry O’Connell here,” he said in the clip. “I’m one of the hosts of ‘The Talk,’ but tonight I’m going to be the substitute teacher for ‘Big Brother.’”

He held up a script for the episode. The front page had “Stay right there” written on it, seemingly a nod to Chen Moonves saying “Stay with us” each episode. 

“Julie Chen Moonves is a little under the weather,” he said in the clip. “We love her.”

He also revealed that Chen Moonves would make her grand return to “The Talk,” which she co-hosted before departing in 2018, on Sept. 12. 

“We got an eviction tonight. Let’s get to it!” he said. 

Chen Moonves called in to “The Talk” and jokingly offered O’Connell advice: “When you go into my dressing room, go into the bathroom. On the second drawer to the left, there is a corset. I’m telling you, Jerry, there is no way you’re going to fit into my dress tonight without the corset.”

O’Connell has big shoes to fill, as he will not only have to oversee the eviction, but he will also have to carefully interview the evicted houseguest without spoiling details from the season. The houseguest evicted tonight will have the honor of becoming the first jury member of Season 26.