Survivorand Big Brotherhave remained reality TV adversaries for the past 25 years, which has only increased the competition between rival hosts Julie Chen Moonves and Jeff Probst. The rise in popularity of both shows in the mid-2000s consistently pitted Moonves and Probst against each other,with the beloved stars aiming to stay relevant as their respective programs evolve. Head-to-head competition naturally split fans between the two juggernauts, leading many to ask a question that’s seemed unanswerable for decades: who really is the better host?
Julie Chen Moonves Brings Quiet Composure — but Not Much Excitement — to ‘Big Brother’
Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves has a reputation for being the calm voice on a show that has become one of the most toxic environments in reality TV, and fans gravitate towards her level-headedness and respectful nature. Moonves approaches Big Brother with a quieter tone, allowing Houseguests to take the spotlight while she remains formal, providing necessary information to the audience at home. That said, she’s never been afraid to call out contestants when their behavior is out of line. Although the audience feels like they’re in capable hands with Moonves, her greatest flaws consistently prevent her from building a real bond with fans.
Where Jeff Probst is outgoing and overly enthusiastic, Moonves is heavily criticized for being too boring, one-dimensional, and robotic, with fans giving her the nickname “Chenbot” due to her lack of personality. Moonves addressed her critics in an interview with Entertainment Weeklyfive years ago, admitting that she deserved the nickname, especially during the early days of Big Brother. “Season 1, I was terrible,” she stated. “Let’s just say what everyone knows: I was the Chenbot. I deserved that name because I was robotic.” Coming from a news background, Chen was accustomed to delivering dialogue in a certain way, but decided to welcome “Chenbot” and keep the focus on the Houseguests.
Jeff Probst Has Grown Over ‘Survivor’s 25-Year Run, Making Him the Superior Host
Survivor‘s Jeff Probst is definitely the more outgoing host, having made a name for himself by being extremely passionate about his job for the past 25 years. Like Moonves, Probst is efficient at relaying important information and laying out ground rules. He often asks tough or personal questions. However, pressuring contestants for entertainment purposes is a double-edged sword. He gets the best information out of the castaways, but at times does so by being biased and sometimes arrogant. Although “mean Jeff” is still beloved by many fans,some find his criticisms of certain contestants to be unnecessary and often hurtful.
Probst is no stranger to asking personal questions, and particularly in earlier seasons of Survivor, this sometimes feels invasive and intrusive. He has also been in favor of men emerging victorious on Survivor, a stance that the 63-year-old has since admitted to saying, “Let me own my part. I am certain if I look back at all of the comments I have made over 20 years, I would find the exact same bias in me.” However, there’s no doubt that Probst has lightened up and become more empathetic throughout the last decade, especially in the “New Era” of Survivor.
So which host reigns supreme? The tribe has spoken, and it’s Probst. This is because of his irreplaceability. Although finding successors will be challenging, it’s been demonstrated that Moonves can be replaced as the host of Big Brother. When Jerry O’Connell stepped in last season, it was a smooth transition. Moonves has the comfort of a studio and screen, blocking herself from the Houseguests. Meanwhile, Probst is in the jungle with the castaways, experiencing the raw emotion from mere feet away. His connection with the players is more genuine, and when it comes to narration, especially during a challenge, Probst has Moonves beat. No matter who you prefer, there’s no doubt that the Moonves versus Probst debate will likely continue forever.
