Big Brother 20 interview: Julie Chen teases past houseguest involvement

Big Brother 20 is premiering on CBS in America and Global in Canada come Wednesday, June 27 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern — it’s just over a week away! With that in mind, and with us a few days removed from the cast reveal, we were thrilled to spend a little time this week talking with someone who knows this franchise very well: Host Julie Chen. She spoke to us a little bit about this season, about how players have used goodbye messages as of late, and also about how she never plans on leaving the show as long as it’s on the air.

Check out our interview with Julie below, and note that you can read all of our individual Big Brother 20 cast spotlights by visiting the link here.

CarterMatt – These interviews preseason are always fun because it’s a tightrope of what you can and can’t say, but what excites you about this season in particular?

Julie Chen – Ultimately, you can change up the house and have some intriguing twists, but it’s always about the houseguests. While I haven’t met them, and technically I don’t meet them until they get evicted, after watching videos they have me excited. I think it’s a great group; it’s all about the group of people we get.

And, because of it being the 20th anniversary, we’re going to see houseguests from all 19 previous seasons throughout the season, and memorable moments from past seasons will be folded into the show. You’ll see how.

Your interviews are, in some ways, a chance to curry favor with America to either themselves or their allies with a future twist. Do you think that plays into their behavior?

Oh, yeah. They are always somehow trying to curry favor, whether it be with me or the viewers at home. They always have some sort of product they’re pushing, like some dot-com or happy birthday to grandma or ‘Julie, you look so pretty tonight.’ They’re like Eddie Haskell — I don’t know if you’re old enough to get that reference. On air, they’re like apple-polishers, but then we get off the air and it’s not like they think the cameras are off them, but their true colors come out (laughs).

We’ve seen these past few seasons goodbye messages play an important role in determining the winner. As someone who’s seen so many people react to those messages in-person, how do you think is the ideal way to deliver one?

You know, with humor — and don’t be a phony. I always feel kind of bad for the person who’s being insulted sitting next to me. It’s an emotional rollercoaster from the minute they walk out with their bag in hand being rejected and evicted. It’s embarrassing.

Looking far ahead, is hosting this show something you still imagine doing five years from now?

Twenty years from now! I can’t let the show go on without me being a part of it. I was there since season 1!

Reminder – Check out spotlights for all of the players this season

The new season premieres on CBS in America and Global in Canada with a two-night event on Wednesday, June 27 at 8:00 p.m. and Thursday, June 28 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Following the premiere, new episodes air Sundays at 8:00 p.m., Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m., and Thursdays at 9:00 p.m.

Check out our cast preview in the video below, and subscribe to CarterMatt on YouTube for more.

What do you most want to see on Big Brother 20? Share right now in the comments!

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