Julie Chen Moonves Slams ‘Survivor’ Alum Rick Devens’ ‘Big Brother’ Gameplay: ‘Go Back to the Island’

For 28 seasons, the host of CBS’ long-running reality show has seen her fair share of contestants and strategies.

But before the current season kicked off earlier this month, Julie said she was hopeful Devens, 42, would wow her.

“I’m like: ‘OK, I was rooting for you in the beginning because you’re a former morning news anchor, as was I,’” she told the publication. “But then with his loose lips, he quickly lost me. I thought: ‘No, dude.’ And then when I saw Dee [Valladares] look at him like, ‘You did what?!’ I was like …”

In the first weeks of competition, Devens decided to tell fellow contestants Angela Murray and Drew Campbell about another alliance he was in with Dee, 29.

“Oh, it was terrible. I was like, ‘Go back to the island, dude! I’m gonna snuff out your flame,’” Julie said. “I’m surprised how little Rick Devens gets this game and how much Dee gets it and got it right away.”

Back in June, Us Weekly had the opportunity to catch up with Dee and Devens at the Newport Beach TV Festival. When asked what reality shows they would like to compete in after Survivor, both competitors kept fans guessing.

“You know what? I would test my luck on Traitors and maybe Big Brother,” Dee teased to Us. “On Big Brother, I’m eating, so nothing would be worse than Survivor in terms of harshness on your body. Any game is so much fun. I test my luck in any game, just because it’s so fun to play games.”

Devens didn’t even mention Big Brother in his answer when he said, “I’d love to do The Amazing Race with [Survivor costar] Christian Hubicki, or with my wife, Becca. That’d be a fun one.”

While it’s still very early on in the competition — the first eviction of the season is expected to happen Thursday night — Julie continues to have her eyes on the contestants who have some reality TV experience up their sleeves.

“You know, I was kind of against two former Survivors coming in,” she said, “and now I find myself pulling for Dee because she gets it.”

Big Brother airs on CBS Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.