Julie Chen Moonves Calls Out Rick Devens' Big Brother Blunders While Praising Dee Valladares

Julie Chen Moonves didn’t hold back when discussing Rick Devens’gameplay on the current season of Big Brother. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the long-time host revealed that Devens’early strategic blunders—specifically revealing his alliance with fellow contestant Dee Valladares way too soon—quickly lost her support. Despite acknowledging Devens’success on Survivor and his background as a former morning news anchor like herself, Julie made it clear that Big Brother requires a completely different approach. She even referenced Survivor’s iconic torch-snuffing moment, saying she wanted to snuff out his flame after witnessing his loose-lipped gameplay. The contrast couldn’t be starker when comparing Devens’performance to Dee Valladares, another Survivor veteran in the house who Julie says“gets it”from day one.

What makes this criticism particularly interesting is that Julie initially had reservations about casting two Survivor veterans on the same season. She worried they might have an unfair advantage or throw off the game’s dynamics. Instead, she’s found herself rooting specifically for Dee because of her sophisticated understanding of Big Brother strategy. The message is crystal clear: experience on one reality show doesn’t guarantee success on another. Each competition requires its own skill set, and Devens is learning that lesson the hard way while Dee is thriving.

For fans of reality TV competition shows, this story highlights the importance of adapting your game plan to fit the specific format you’re playing. Big Brother’s house dynamics, constant surveillance, and social gameplay require a different mindset than the tribal councils and outdoor challenges of Survivor. The first eviction of the season was set for Thursday night, so the drama between these contestants will continue to unfold. Are you rooting for Devens to turn it around, or do you think Dee’s got this season locked down?