Julie Chen: It's Cool If You Call Her Chenbot

[Dewey Decimate]

24 minutes ago, Nashville said:

And this was Julie’s answer - it wasn’t a shout, but it wasn’t a submissive whisper either.

Maybe, and so be it.  But is it any stretch of reasonable to expect Julie (or any other spouse of an accused, for that manner) to publicly disavow their sworn life mate, for the sake of accumulating some PR brownie points?

If JC had done the standard "Julie Chen" sign-off, I don't see that as disavowing anyone or sucking up for brownie points. It would have been totally neutral (as all good bots should be), and identical to what she's done for what, almost TWENTY years now? Instead she went for an ACTIVE stance on defending her possibly despicable husband. I actually thought she was more engaged in this episode and thought "cool, she's getting to escape the hell I'm assuming her life has become", and was disappointed to hear she signed off in a way that BROUGHT the scandal right into her BB sanctuary. Completely intentional. (Like when a defendant brings his/her good character into the testimony and opens him/herself up to a morass of witnesses contradicting it. D'oh!)

I'm wondering if she knows she's not returning to BB and did it as an act of defiance. Which, heck, is her choice, but bummed me out. I would have liked to have seen her continue on, but I'm not married to her as host. (No pun intended.)

Edited September 14, 2018 by Dewey Decimate

[mooses]

38 minutes ago, Nashville said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the behind-the-scenes conversations this week didn’t include some pretty high-up CBS honchos whispering in Julie’s ear, “Look, kiddo - Les is gone, pure and simple, done deal.  So keep your mouth shut and your head down, just do your fucking job, and maybe you won’t be headed out the door right behind him.”  

And this was Julie’s answer - it wasn’t a shout, but it wasn’t a submissive whisper either.

Maybe, and so be it.  But is it any stretch of reasonable to expect Julie (or any other spouse of an accused, for that manner) to publicly disavow their sworn life mate, for the sake of accumulating some PR brownie points?

Eh, I don't expect her to publicly disavow him. It's fine on The Talk that she said she supports him, and it make sense in that context since they're a talk show where they talk about things.

But she didn't have to say anything on Big Brother - it's neither the time nor place. She didn't have to disavow or avow or acknowledge him at all, just like every other Big Brother show she's done. But she suddenly uses Moonves. She knew what she was doing. It's not being professional. It's bringing your personal life into the workplace. 

I think everyone agrees CBS shouldn't have treated her job any differently because of her husband's actions (although, obviously, whatever influence she had within the network because of her connection disappeared with Les Moonves). But now she's the one that decided to make the connection herself, and I can't really blame CBS if they're not cool with that.

He wasn't treated unfairly. She should have just done her job. But, I'm assuming she's not interested in that anymore.

Edited September 14, 2018 by mooses

[DB in CMH]

Maybe she's not returning to The Talk and this is a middle finger to CBS. Plausible. Frankly, I don't see how she can return to The Talk after this and the discussion that had gone on on that show. Once BB  is over, an announcement will probably be made

Edited September 14, 2018 by DB in CMH

[Nashville]

1 hour ago, Dewey Decimate said:

If JC had done the standard "Julie Chen" sign-off, I don't see that as disavowing anyone or sucking up for brownie points.

Depends - if some CBS flunky got up in Julie’s face and told her, “Don’t make ANY references to the current situation OR ELSE”, then I wouldn’t fault her one damn bit.  Julie normally sets the standard for calm reserve - but I got a strong hunch if someone tries too hard to push Julie, she’s going to push back - hard.

Besides, wtf they gonna do?  It *is* one of her legitimate names, after all.  :)

And by the way: if there’s a queue forming up for people to kiss the ChenAss, save me a spot in line - I gotta go make a quick Chapstick run....  ;>

[ShaNaeNae]

I had to stop it to rewind for 2 things.  The infamous, "I'm Julie Chen-MOONVES" but right before that, she said, "...outside the Big Brother house, along with Brent.."  She must have been nervous knowing what she was going to say and flubbed his name.  It's Brett.

[Jel]

I think Julie was very likely treated differently at CBS because she was the boss's wife. 

And now that he has left in disgrace, her experience as the "disgraced former boss's wife" will likely be much different than it was when she was queen of the network (by marriage). Buh bye sucking up and deferential treatment; hello snickers and whispers. 

I think she'll leave of her own volition if she hasn't already been told her BB botting duties will no longer be required.

[Skycatcher]

18 minutes ago, Jel said:

I think Julie was very likely treated differently at CBS because she was the boss's wife.

 It also has to do with how she treated people around her. She has a very gracious public persona but what was she like dealing with her husband's workers. Pay back can be a real bitch.

[Jel]

Did she treat her coworkers poorly? Do tell, please, Skycatcher!

[Tachi Rocinante]

12 hours ago, Skycatcher said:

I thought it was a classy way to make The Statement everybody, especially the media, was waiting to hear. "Will you stick with him or leave?"

That was the opposite of class. 

Did it take guts?  Sure.  But there have been stories about Moonves going around for years, and standing behind Weinstein Jr. makes her look like an ass.

[marie]

I'm kind of wondering if a reason we haven't gotten a renewal announcement is that they likely knew this was coming and it's easier to just not renew her contract because there technically ISN'T a show after BB20 yet, than to push her out after the fact. Even if they didn't know for sure Moonves was leaving, there had to have been murmurings for months about the possibilities.

Anyway, good riddance. That was a pathetic move last night that pushed me from "she's not responsible for her husband's actions" to "let her go down with that ship then". 

That said, I don't see CBS trusting an amateur with a major hosting gig, so I don't think it'll be any former houseguests. They'll want someone stable and reliable. Mark McGrath is about the only possibility I see from past houseguests. But I find it more likely that they find a Julie 2.0, an up and comer looking to move beyond co-anchoring the 10:00 news in Dallas. 

[Mahamid Frauded Me]

2 hours ago, ShaNaeNae said:

I had to stop it to rewind for 2 things.  The infamous, "I'm Julie Chen-MOONVES" but right before that, she said, "...outside the Big Brother house, along with Brent.."  She must have been nervous knowing what she was going to say and flubbed his name.  It's Brett.

Yes, I caught the Brent as well and he was like WTF... I honestly thought she did a good job, could not tell anything was going on in her private life during the show, but then the Zingbot must have gotten a hold of her and did her sign off  Im Julie Chen Moonves...ZING

[CrazyDog]

She has stood by him publicly since she first released that tweet about how she loves him and believes he's a moral and decent man. Ugh.

I guess she'll stick with him until the eventual divorce settlement. Whatever, her choice, but I'll be glad to see her exit with him. 

[backformore]

On ‎9‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 5:51 PM, jumper sage said:

 

I agree with you on this.  I have heard that Moonves is stepping down but will get a huge parachute $120mil and will be kept on as a consultant.

probably not.

Quote

Moonves’ most recent contract, which was due to expire in 2021, made him eligible to receive an exit deal valued at about $180 million — but now that won’t happen. The CBS board plans to negotiate a financial settlement after the conclusion of an investigation by two prominent law firms into the allegations against Moonves

Moonves leaves without a severance package.

[jumper sage]

@backformore - your article is way out of date.  Things have been happening in the last few days.  

[backformore]

58 minutes ago, jumper sage said:

@backformore - your article is way out of date.  Things have been happening in the last few days.  

WAY out of date?  Sept 9?

OK - But everything I've been reading says he may or may not get severance, it has been put aside pending results of an investigation.  

All articles from this past week. 

Edited September 14, 2018 by backformore

[Sandiscot]

None of the things that Les Moonves has, so far, been accused of doing happened during his marriage to Julie Chen, or even during the time she has known him. Why would she not stand by him? 

I have read that Les will be a consultant to CBS and will have an office in New York and LA. Has that changed? CBS has been very successful under his leadership. I'm sure the board doesn't want their lead to disappear. I still question the timing of decades-old revelations and Shari Redstone's desire to merge CBS and Viacom. She got rid of the person who stood between her accomplishing that and failing to do so. It's just too coincidental, IMO.

[Vixenstud]

7 hours ago, ShaNaeNae said:

"...outside the Big Brother house, along with Brent.." 

It was hysterical looking at Brett's eyes when she said that....an extremely quick raise of the eyebrows then back to defeat.

[Gemma Violet]

17 hours ago, mooses said:

I wonder who the next host will be. It won't be the same without Chenbot flubbing every Thursday night.

I'm wondering if the new head of CBS will keep Big Brother on at all.  Sure, it's a cheap show to produce, but whoever comes in may have a totally different outlook as to what a network's schedule should look like.  According to the Linda Bloodworth-Thomasin article, Moonves came in hating Designing Women, a show about strong and out-spoken women, and started filling the slots with crime shows.  Maybe a new CEO will do something similar.  I hope not.  I don't want Big Brother to end up as an online-only series.

[IndyMischa]

29 minutes ago, Gemma Violet said:

I'm wondering if the new head of CBS will keep Big Brother on at all.  Sure, it's a cheap show to produce, but whoever comes in may have a totally different outlook as to what a network's schedule should look like.  According to the Linda Bloodworth-Thomasin article, Moonves came in hating Designing Women, a show about strong and out-spoken women, and started filling the slots with crime shows.  Maybe a new CEO will do something similar.  I hope not.  I don't want Big Brother to end up as an online-only series.

Even if the new head of CBS kills it - and they'd be stupid to do so, but stupidity abounds - another network would pick it up immediately. It's cheap(!) and fills three hours / week of summer air time, with solid ratings.

[Merrilin]

I think it's pretty much a combination of what you all have said.  She's being treated differently, told to keep quiet about the situation, "taking time off" from The Talk so she can't vent there..  Overall I thought she did well the whole show (aside from Brent) & I was looking for cracks in the veneer.  One of the reasons she may have been able to hold it together was because she knew she was going to throw that bomb at the end.

[mikewho]

Oh yeah. I think she couldn't wait to drop that figurative F-bomb at the end. No wonder her mood was so good throughout the show.

[Nashville]

1 hour ago, IndyMischa said:

Even if the new head of CBS kills it - and they'd be stupid to do so, but stupidity abounds - another network would pick it up immediately. It's cheap(!) and fills three hours / week of summer air time, with solid ratings.

And we could finally get a new House!!!  Bonus!

[IndyMischa]

5 minutes ago, Nashville said:

And we could finally get a new House!!!  Bonus!

... preferably one that's not a janky disaster, held together with fucking staples and post it note glue. 

[RedheadZombie]

6 hours ago, marie said:

I'm kind of wondering if a reason we haven't gotten a renewal announcement is that they likely knew this was coming and it's easier to just not renew her contract because there technically ISN'T a show after BB20 yet, than to push her out after the fact. Even if they didn't know for sure Moonves was leaving, there had to have been murmurings for months about the possibilities.

Anyway, good riddance. That was a pathetic move last night that pushed me from "she's not responsible for her husband's actions" to "let her go down with that ship then". 

That said, I don't see CBS trusting an amateur with a major hosting gig, so I don't think it'll be any former houseguests. They'll want someone stable and reliable. Mark McGrath is about the only possibility I see from past houseguests. But I find it more likely that they find a Julie 2.0, an up and comer looking to move beyond co-anchoring the 10:00 news in Dallas. 

I'm all for one of the women that Julie forced off of The Talk.  My vote is for Leah Remini.

[Nashville]

13 minutes ago, RedheadZombie said:

I'm all for one of the women that Julie forced off of The Talk.  My vote is for Leah Remini.

God, no; let one Scientologist HG in the door, and they’d have to take Leah off the set in restraints.  :>

[RedheadZombie]

2 hours ago, backformore said:

WAY out of date?  Sept 9?

OK - But everything I've been reading says he may or may not get severance, it has been put aside pending results of an investigation.  

All articles from this past week. 

It seemed like they were going to reward him with $120 million.  That was before the most recent woman came out that talked off her ruined career and being thrown up against the wall.  And Linda Bloodworth-Thomason just wrote an essay about Moonves destroying her career (she was set to be the Norman Lear of her time - Designing Women, Evening Shade, and an unheard of deal for five new series - then Moonves was hired ), ending what had been a very pro-woman network, and turning it into dude-bros, cop-bros, and torture porn.

I posted weeks ago that I believed Julie could stay at CBS if she left her husband.  The very fact that she's singing Tammy Wynette means she is calling the accusers and the brass at CBS liars, and accusing them of unfair removal of Moonves.  I think there's no way she can stay, and I don't want her to.  I try to have some sympathy, because it's quite possible she was one of his victims.  But the arrogance I've witnessed in the history of The Talk leads me to believe she lorded her husband's power over the heads of others.  I've posted this before, but on the day of the Casey Anthony verdict, The Talk was told to go to network coverage.  Julie not only refused, she announced it on air, and said her "husband" could talk to her if it was a problem.  In that moment I realized she was untouchable and she abused her husband's power.

2 minutes ago, Nashville said:

God, no; let one Scientologist HG in the door, and they’d have to take Leah off the set in restraints.  :>

I would like to think that $cientologists would not be cast.  Plus, $cientology is out to destroy Leah, whereas she's simply putting the truth out there.  I love her, she's funny, and has filled in on Dancing with the Stars, so she's good with live shows.  It would also prove that Moonves' era is over.

[green]

I thought the $120 mil was to be held in trust until the two law firms finish the investigation.  After that it would be decided what amount that creep gets.  CBS also denoted some guilt money to Me Too ... I think it might be $30 mil maybe.  The $120 mil should go to them too.  Not one penny to that pervert and bully.  Enough is enough with those types.

OT: And yeah scientology is a sick sick horrible thing that has destroyed many lives and families and kudos to Leah Remini for taking it on.  But I think she has better career choices right now than BB.

[Rachel RSL]

7 hours ago, Sandiscot said:

 

None of the things that Les Moonves has, so far, been accused of doing happened during his marriage to Julie Chen, or even during the time she has known him. Why would she not stand by him? 

 

That’s not entirely true. They’ve been married since 2004 and started dating before that, back when he was still married to his first wife. I don’t know all the dates/accusations without looking them up but, off the top of my head, Julie was definitely with him when he torpedoed Janet Jackson’s career. (I’m not even a huge Janet fan but I always thought she got such a raw deal. Now I know who’s to blame. Jerk.) 

[Merrilin]

It would be different if she could work through the stages of grief in private; I think she'll eventually be angry with the person she needs to be angry with but since it's all happening in real time with two live shows to worry about she's at a disadvantage in a way.  I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt of course, don't really know her. 

[Joimiaroxeu]

Quote

I'm all for one of the women that Julie forced off of The Talk. 

I'm throwing Aisha Tyler's name out for consideration for the new BB host. Apparently she stayed in CBS' good graces since they gave her a recurring role on Criminal Minds. It might conflict with her job on Whose Line Is It Anyway though.

[LoveLeigh]

On 9/13/2018 at 11:07 PM, Alice Mudgarden said:

I kind of admire the balls on Julie. Whatever I feel and whatever I would or wouldn't do is irrelevant; Julie's got 'em the size of grapefruits.

Balls? She is just a woman who wants to stay married because she probably does not want to be alone and single. I think she is a needy coward. That was a message to her husband, not CBS. She was publicly telling her husband she is sticking with him. 

On the Golden Globes, she was draped all over him to show him affection as if even in their relaxed moments she has to please him. She has validated how important she thinks sex is. She is the programmed Chenbot who probably would have lower self esteem without a man. She probably thinks if a man leaves her for another woman, she was "lacking" in some area. THAT's why she said she was Chen-Moonves. Anything to keep the man mindset. 

[legaleagle53]

Passive-aggressive much, Julie?

[dizzyd]

From the moment I heard her sign off on Thursday till now, I don't feel by adding the one word "Moonves" that Julie was saying FU to CBS or to any of her husband's victims. This was her 1st appearance in a public forum since his termination and the subject was an elephant in the room that she had probably been bombarded with questions about from the media and fans ever since. So she gave a clear and simple answer that she's sticking by her husband to put all the questions to rest. I don't see any malicious intent. I respect that she chose not to do an interview or comment to the pap about it. It's her life and her decision to make on her marriage and her future career. Whether CBS views it differently is up to them. FWIW, I'm watching football on CBS right now and they just played an old Julie ad for The Talk, so I don't think they took offense either or they wouldn't have aired it.  

Edited September 15, 2018 by dizzyd

[Wings]

I am not convinced Julie did a fuck you to CBS; I saw it as a message to her following that she was supporting her husband so stop asking me on Twitter.  

[Alice Mudgarden]

On 9/15/2018 at 12:14 PM, DakotaLavender said:

Balls? She is just a woman who wants to stay married because she probably does not want to be alone and single. I think she is a needy coward. That was a message to her husband, not CBS. She was publicly telling her husband she is sticking with him. 

On the Golden Globes, she was draped all over him to show him affection as if even in their relaxed moments she has to please him. She has validated how important she thinks sex is. She is the programmed Chenbot who probably would have lower self esteem without a man. She probably thinks if a man leaves her for another woman, she was "lacking" in some area. THAT's why she said she was Chen-Moonves. Anything to keep the man mindset. 

Yeah, I do think it's ballsy. I believe I said what I felt or would/wouldn't do didn't matter; fact is, she went on live TV and sent a message - whether you like the message or not - to the network she's taping the live show on. That takes balls and she had them.

At the end of the day, it's her life and her relationship. I'm not in it and I don't feel it's my place to tell her how to feel, what to think or what to do, or to cast judgment.

Edited September 17, 2018 by Alice Mudgarden

[HartofDixie]

Julie has left The Talk.

[sharkerbaby]

Wow, where is that reported?  I've only seen that she hasn't returned, not that she or anyone else has announced a departure.

[Nashville]

35 minutes ago, HartofDixie said:

Julie has left The Talk.

From what little I’ve seen of it, leaving that show might be a significant career-enhancer.  ;>

[Skycatcher]

16 minutes ago, sharkerbaby said:

Wow, where is that reported?  I've only seen that she hasn't returned, not that she or anyone else has announced a departure.

 If you Google "Julie Chen The talk" , there are a couple of "D-list-type" entertainment sites that report it. So far ( 6 PM, Mon.) none  The major entertainment mags have picked it up yt

[ChiCricket]

3 minutes ago, Skycatcher said:

 If you Google "Julie Chen The talk" , there are a couple of "D-list-type" entertainment sites that report it. So far ( 6 PM, Mon.) none  The major entertainment mags have picked it up yet

Radar Online has it too (consider the source.)

[Nashville]

6 minutes ago, Skycatcher said:

 If you Google "Julie Chen The talk" , there are a couple of "D-list-type" entertainment sites that report it. So far ( 6 PM, Mon.) none  The major entertainment mags have picked it up yt

...and they probably won’t unless/until they can corroborate with a reliable (to them) source.

[IndyMischa]

The "best" source I found was Page Six. Until it hits Deadline or The Hollywood Reporter, I don't buy it. (Having said that, I do think she will leave, and I think she should leave.) 

[PhoneCop]

TVLine. Close enough, Indy?

So I'm guessing this means Julie's chances of staying on BB are officially <5%?

[IndyMischa]

Yes, thank you for that! (I'd searched a few hours ago and didn't see that one.) I'm giving her 50/50 on finishing up this season, but I'd say her prospects for BB21 onward are DOA. 

[mojoween]

CNN has said she is not leaving BB but obviously that could change too.

How weird that the hamsters in jury and still in the game have NO IDEA.

[enchantingmonkey]

Quote

"She has decided that her main focus needs to be clearing her husband's name from accusations made 25-30 years ago and tending to her son," one of the sources said.

https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/17/media/julie-chen-leaving-the-talk/index.html

[HartofDixie]

https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/17/media/julie-chen-leaving-the-talk/index.html?utm_content=2018-09-18T02:31:39&utm_source=twCNN&utm_medium=social&utm_term=image

[ByaNose]

I do wonder what the difference of leaving/staying between The Talk & Big Brother is? Les was the president of both CBS shows. Although, there is a different president of daytime I think. Is it because on The Talk she can’t avoid topics of subject matters like this & Big Brother is a stupid reality show where she’s just a host? I guess with Big Brother winding down she might just want to finish it out and then quit that, too. It should be interesting.

[Nashville]

...or, cutting Julie from The Talk while accomplishes a corporate goal of delivering a public Moonves-related rebuke, while leaving Julie in place on BB deflects criticism of corporate persecuting Julie for her husband’s actions.

And when it comes to the all-important CBS corporate bottom line, Julie leaving The Talk will almost certainly have less negative impact than Julie leaving BB.

So Corporate may be ok with Julie staying on in some capacity - question is, would Julie?

[Lonesome Rhodes]

Take the money and run, girl!  She made millions herself, and her husband made something like $650 million since he was made CEO in 2006.  There will be some additional and significant separation/buyout which most are reporting is worth $100 million to Les, after a donation he has pledged.

I think, and hope, she'll finish out the BB season.  

https://www.thewrap.com/heres-how-many-millions-les-moonves-made-during-his-tenure-as-cbs-ceo/