Julie Chen Moonves is a prominent American television personality, producer, and news anchor, best known for her long-standing role as the host of the hit reality competition series Big Brother. Joining the show in 2000, she became a staple of the franchise, famously concluding her sign-offs with the signature phrase, 'But first.' Prior to her reality TV success, Chen Moonves had a distinguished career in broadcast journalism, notably serving as a co-anchor and moderator on CBS's daytime talk show The Talk and as a news anchor for The Early Show. Throughout her multi-decade career, she has transitioned from traditional hard news reporting to becoming a major figure in pop culture and television entertainment. Her longevity in the industry has cemented her status as one of the most recognizable faces on network television.
10 hours ago : Julie Chen Moonves Continues Hosting Big Brother and Commenting on Reality Show Gameplay
Host Julie Chen Moonves remains a prominent figure on CBS's Big Brother, recently providing commentary on contestant gameplay strategies and highlighting the impact of contestants from various regions on the long-running reality competition.
January 6, 1970: Birth of Julie Chen Moonves
On January 6, 1970, Julie Suzanne Chen Moonves was born. She would go on to become a prominent American television presenter, news anchor, and producer.
1987: Graduation from St. Francis Preparatory School
In 1987, Julie Chen Moonves successfully completed her secondary education by graduating from St. Francis Preparatory School.
September 1991: Beginning of Broadcasting Career
In September 1991, Julie Chen Moonves began her professional career as a news assistant for ABC News in Los Angeles following her graduation from the University of Southern California.
1991: Graduation from the University of Southern California
In 1991, Julie Chen Moonves graduated from the University of Southern California, having earned a degree with a double major in broadcast journalism and English.
1995: Began tenure as a news reporter at WDTN-TV
Starting in 1995, Julie Chen Moonves moved to Dayton, Ohio, to begin a two-year position as a local news reporter for the television station WDTN-TV.
1997: Conclusion of reporting role at WDTN-TV
In 1997, Julie Chen Moonves concluded her tenure as a local news reporter at WDTN-TV in Dayton, Ohio, a role she had held since 1995.
July 2000: Debut as Host of Big Brother
In July 2000, Julie Chen Moonves began her tenure as the host of the American version of the reality television series Big Brother, a role she has maintained since its inception.
2000: Hosting Big Brother and the Chenbot Moniker
In 2000, Julie Chen Moonves began her tenure as the host of the American version of Big Brother. During this inaugural season, she faced significant criticism for a rigid and scripted hosting style, which led the public to bestow upon her the nickname "Chenbot."
2002: Start of The Early Show Tenure
Beginning in 2002, Julie Chen Moonves began her role as a co-anchor for the CBS program The Early Show, a position she would hold until 2010.
2002: Transition to The Early Show
In 2002, Julie Chen transitioned to a new role as a co-host of The Early Show on CBS, where she would remain a staple of the morning program until 2010.
April 22, 2003: Divorce Filing Initiated
On April 22, 2003, Nancy Wiesenfeld Moonves filed for divorce from Les Moonves in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, which occurred shortly after Les Moonves signed a major contract with Viacom.
December 10, 2004: Granting of Early Divorce
On December 10, 2004, a court granted an early divorce to Les Moonves and Nancy Wiesenfeld Moonves, deferring decisions on child and spousal support to a later time.
2004: Marriage to Les Moonves
In 2004, Julie Chen married Les Moonves, who was an executive at CBS at the time.
September 24, 2009: Birth of Charlie Moonves
Julie Chen welcomed her son, Charlie, into the world on September 24, 2009, marking a significant milestone in her personal life.
October 18, 2010: Premiere of The Talk
On October 18, 2010, the CBS Daytime talk show titled The Talk premiered, featuring Julie Chen Moonves as a moderator and co-host alongside Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Leah Remini, Holly Robinson Peete, and Marissa Jaret Winokur.
2010: Departure from Daily Hosting Duties
As of 2010, Julie Chen stepped down from her daily co-hosting responsibilities on The Early Show, though she maintained a relationship with the program as a special contributing anchor until the show was ultimately canceled.
2010: Commencement of The Talk
In 2010, Julie Chen Moonves took on the role of co-host and moderator for the new CBS Daytime talk show, The Talk.
September 2013: Disclosure of Plastic Surgery and Career Pressures
During the first week of the fourth season of The Talk in September 2013, Julie Chen Moonves revealed she underwent blepharoplasty early in her career. She explained that she felt pressured by a news director and an agent to alter her appearance to look less Asian, a choice that caused significant family conflict, though she ultimately expressed no regrets about her past decisions.
2015: Disclosure of Plastic Surgery and Career Challenges
In 2015, Julie Chen Moonves revealed on the program The Talk that a former news director once told her she would not succeed as an anchor due to her "Asian eyes." Following professional advice from an agent, she underwent blepharoplasty surgery to reduce her epicanthic folds, a decision she discussed publicly for the first time in 2015.
September 13, 2018: Adoption of Married Name on Big Brother
On September 13, 2018, Julie Chen Moonves departed from her long-standing sign-off style on Big Brother by using her married name for the first time, ending the broadcast by saying, "I'm Julie Chen Moonves, goodnight."
September 18, 2018: Departure from The Talk
On September 18, 2018, Julie Chen Moonves announced via a prerecorded message that she was stepping down as a co-host of The Talk, citing a desire to prioritize her family life and support her husband, Les Moonves, following his involvement in sexual assault allegations.
November 27, 2018: Confirmation as host of Celebrity Big Brother
On November 27, 2018, CBS issued a press release officially confirming that Julie Chen Moonves would return to her role as the host for the second season of Celebrity Big Brother, specifically using her married name for the announcement.
2018: Publication of When I Grow Up
In 2018, Julie Chen Moonves expanded her professional repertoire by authoring her first children's book titled When I Grow Up, a work she specifically dedicated to her son, Charlie.
2018: Conversion to Christianity
In 2018, Julie Chen Moonves experienced a significant spiritual shift and embraced Christianity, noting that she had never attended a Sunday church service prior to this point in her life.
September 19, 2023: Release of But First, God: An Audio Memoir of Spiritual Discovery
On September 19, 2023, Julie Chen Moonves released her audiobook, But First, God: An Audio Memoir of Spiritual Discovery, in which she reflected on her personal spiritual transformation and character growth.
2023: Release of But First, God: An Audio Memoir of Spiritual Discovery
In 2023, Julie Chen Moonves released her audiobook titled But First, God: An Audio Memoir of Spiritual Discovery, in which she revealed that she was forced out of her role on The Talk following the ousting of her husband at CBS. She disclosed that in 2023, she reflected on how two unnamed co-hosts threatened to boycott the Season 9 premiere if she returned to work, leading to her unexpected departure.
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