Here’s a Big Brother first. After 24 years of hosting the reality competition show, Julie Chen Moonves is finally taking a sick day. She’s down with Covid because yes, that’s still a thing. She’s having Jerry O’Connell fill in for her while she recovers.
Get well soon, Julie
Julie shared the news about her Covid diagnosis on social media. She typed up a message on a black screen with white text, which is how you know it’s serious.
“Friday morning I woke up with a sore throat and went to see my good friend who is an ENT,” Julie wrote. “That night he called to say I have Covid.”
Fortunately, Julie assured Big Brother fans that she just has a mild case of the virus. Her only symptom so far is a sore throat. We’re hopeful that it stays that way because we all know that the virus is no joke. However, she explained that she is still testing positive, so she has to sit out the upcoming episode. She can’t be getting everybody else on set sick.
“Unfortunately I am still testing positive as of this morning,” Julie continued. “Despite feeling good, strong, and my cough being gone, I must sit tonight’s Big Brother live eviction show out.”
Julie added that Jerry, her CBS colleague, would be filling in for the hosting duties, a job that he’s more than capable of handling. Who knows — maybe this could be a new gig for him once Julie is ready to retire. For now, Julie just expressed her gratitude that she had someone to fill in for her at the last minute.
“Thank you to Jerry O’Connell for filling in for me,” she wrote. “I hope Jerry fits in to my dress, has a ball and tells the houseguests I miss them but will be watching from home.”
Big Brother 26 airs on CBS and Paramount+ on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9/8c.
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON JULIE MISSING HER FIRST LIVE SHOW? DO YOU THINK JERRY HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO FILL IN FOR HER?
