Jerry O'Connell Calls Filling in as 'Big Brother' Host 'The Scariest Night of My Life'

"Good evening, I'm Jerry O'Connell . Welcome to Big Brother ."

That sentence seems like something written by AI (fitting given the theme of Big Brother 26 ). But indeed, during last night's eviction episode, fans of the CBS summer reality series were hit with an absolute shocker when they saw the actor and co-host of The Talk center stage instead of usual host Julie Chen Moonves . As mentioned to the audience, as well as on social media earlier that day, Julie had been testing positive for COVID for the past week. And so, for the first time in Big Brother history, the veteran emcee was forced to sit out an eviction night. Instead, the houseguests were shocked to find Jerry's smiling face greeting them from outside the house.

"My first reaction was definitely fear," Jerry tells Parade in an exclusive interview. "But you know what? Julie Chen Moonves immediately started texting me and surrounded me with her staff. And I cannot say enough how kind Julie Chen Moonves. I don't think it exists anymore where people are this kind. Forget about in the business, in the world. I mean, she obviously couldn't physically take my hand because Julie's got COVID. But through text messages and the phone, she took my hand and gently guided me through what ultimately was the scariest night of my life, but ended up being the best night of my life."

Related: Everything to Know About Big Brother 26

Despite the suddenness of the host switch-up, it proved to be a fitting twist for the evening due to the evicted houseguest Quinn Martin . In his final speech that was full of Big Brother references and impassioned pleas, he noted that he was named after Jerry's character in Sliders . He even opened his monologue by shouting out one of his alleged films Kangaroo Jack . And so, despite Quinn's quite muted reaction to getting evicted, there was a palpable energy to his talk with Jerry, which ended with the latter even copping a feel on the evictee's long locks.

The night truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime event for not only Jerry, but Big Brother fans as well. And the mystery of a new host brought fans in to experience the live event. According to CBS, the Thursday episode averaged 3.31 million viewers, up 12% from its standard average among Total Viewers, and was the number one entertainment program of the night among the Adults 25-54 demographic. Additionally, live streaming via Paramount+ was up 14% from the standard Thursday average, and was up 31% from the comparable episode that aired a year ago.

Parade got the chance to talk with Jerry about the timeline of discovering he would be emceeing the evening, how Julie stayed involved through the process, and his approach to his interview with Quinn.

Related: Meet the Full Cast of Big Brother 26

Hey, Jerry! How are you doing today?
Oh man. What a whirlwind. I can't believe Wednesday night, I'm in my bed, and I'm upset. Because these are the jury weeks, so I didn't find out who the veto was used on. And then I wake up Thursday morning and they let me know that Julie Chen Moonves has COVID, and I'm going in. And by the way, my first question was, "Who was the Power of Veto used on?"

[ Laughs .] You're a fan through and through! So talk me through your first reaction to finding out you would be filling in. Because it sounds like you had less than 12 hours' notice.
My first reaction was definitely fear. But you know what? Julie Chen Moonves immediately started texting me and surrounded me with her staff. And I cannot say enough how kind Julie Chen Moonves. I don't think it exists anymore where people are this kind. Forget about in the business, in the world . I mean, she obviously couldn't physically take my hand because Julie's got COVID. But through text messages and the phone, she took my hand and gently guided me through what ultimately was the scariest night of my life, but ended up being the best night of my life.

So you find out you're filling in, and you film your episode of The Talk, where Julie calls in to give you some advice. And then you go off to get ready for the eviction. Talk to me about what that process was like.
I'm very familiar with the show. I watch every episode, and I'm very familiar with this season because I just think it's a terrific season. I mean, I know all the lines: "But first," "Stay right there, "Quinn, by a vote of 4-2, you have been evicted from the Big Brother house." I mean, I know, I know all the lines, but I did not know technically how much goes into it. And it just goes to show you somebody like Julie is not just a performer. They're actually there's so much that goes on.

It ended up working out that, of all times, to fill in as host, it would be the eviction of the person who shouts out Kangaroo Jack in his eviction speech and reveals that he was named after your character in Sliders . What was your reaction to finding out about your surprise connection to Quinn?
I could not believe it. I mean, I can't believe Kangaroo Jack was mentioned on Big Brother . Let's just put it that way. And for those reading this who don't know what's happening, Kangaroo Jack was a movie I did with Anthony Anderson and a kangaroo 20 years ago. So it was crazy that he was mentioning that. From a personal standpoint, I was kind of shocked Quinn got voted out. I would have broken up that trio. He really only needed two [votes]. If I were two of the other ones voting, I would have voted Kimo out. But now I'm fully in on Angela winning that whole thing. The fact that Angela survived another week, I'm all about Angela winning now.

As you mentioned earlier, you certainly knew your share of "Julie-isms." But you seemed to bring your own energy to it, as opposed to the unique delivery of the "Chenbot." Talk to me about your approach to that.
Well, none of those lines are iconic unless Julie Chen Moonves is saying them. Julie Chen Moonves should have an Emmy for hosting that show. Everyone else on that show should have an Emmy for producing it. I was in awe of the moving parts of that show. It was, hands down, the hardest, most technical thing I've ever done. And actually, it's probably a good thing I only had three hours to prepare. Because I would have had a nervous breakdown.

Talk me through your approach to the eviction interview with Quinn. Were you the one prepping the questions ahead of time? Or were you more so coming up with them in the moment, as shown by your asking to touch Quinn's hair?
Touching Quinn's hair was definitely not from the production team; that was on me. So, if anyone was offended by me stroking Quinn's hair, that was 100% my call. The other questions come from the production staff. Listen, they knew they were dealing with a rube when they had me coming in there. But I think desperate times called for desperate measures. So they were giving me questions to sort of steer toward. For example, when he ran out of that house immediately, the producer Curtis said, "He is running out of that house fast." And so then I knew that was going to be my first question. "Why'd you run out of there so fast?" You could just get a vibe from him that he was upset, you know. But, yeah, the questions came from production. They were very helpful in guiding me, very helpful. And, by the way, it's also a testament to how well that show is run. They got some jerk with three hours preparation to come in there who did a passable job. And that's a testament to how well that show was run, and it should be winning all the unscripted Emmys, all of them.

Finally, as a big fan of the show, how has getting this glimpse behind the curtain changed the way that you'll view Big Brother from now on?
Just an appreciation for the crew and for Julie Chen Moonves. Listen, if I'm ever fortunate enough to be a part of a show for 26 seasons, I'm gonna tell you right now, come Season 26, I am phoning that in. I am showing up to work at the last minute. I am I'm phoning it in. It was so funny. When we were going through the dress rehearsal, and going through the beats, and everyone was sort of taking me through mostly the technical stuff. Because you don't realize how technical that show is. There's people in a house, in isolation, that you're talking to. There's just so many technical things.

I said to the stage manager, "Oh, thanks a lot for doing this with me. I'm sorry I'm taking so long." Because I kept messing up in the rehearsal. I said, "I'm sorry I'm taking so long. You must never have to do this." And he went, "No, Julie always does the dress rehearsal." And I'm just in awe of how hard everyone works there, and just how, in 26 seasons, they haven't taken their foot off the gas pedal. And that's why the show has lasted so long and been better than ever before. Iit's a testament. And really, I just want to thank Julie Chen Moonves for being not only the kindest person in Hollywood, possibly one of the kindest people in the world.

Next, check out our interview with Quinn Martin, who was evicted in Big Brother 26 Week 8 .