Cliff Lipson/CBS
Why did you want to join the show?
We were watching season 19 nineteen and Julie Chen was like coming up next, it’s Celebrity Big Brother. And my son was [said], “You have to be on Celebrity Big Brother!” I said, “They’re not going to ask me, don’t worry.”
Did you reach out or did they call you?
They called me. It was an immediate yes. I got super lightheaded right when my manager was telling me. If my son found out that I was offered to do it and I didn’t do it, he would have killed me.
You used to be a co-host The Talk. What is your relationship like with Julie Chen?
I left on great terms. There was really no job for me left there. I feel like I was Julie’s choice [for Celebrity Big Brother]. I’ve decided that in my heart of all hearts because she knows that I’m such a fan of the show. I’ve sent her texts and emails about who I think should win. And when there was that saboteur season I said, “Rachel is the saboteur!” I’ve sent her crazy emails about it that she doesn’t reply to.
Have you talked to her about this yet?
No, I didn’t contact her. Once I found out I was doing it, I said, “Don’t be a crazy person and call her.” On social media I didn’t want to like too many of her things. I was scared if I liked too much people would be catching on.
You’ll get to see her soon. Before you enter the house, she greets you.
But you’re not allowed to talk. What if I was like Julie, “I’m so happy!” Everybody in the cast would hate me. They would say, “That girl is crazy.”
How do you handle confrontation?
I’m the first to roll over and be like, “No, I didn’t mean that!” To make people stop arguing, I’ll say, “Look at my boobs!” I’m hoping I don’t have to do on this because my son will kill me. Pulling my shirt up to make people stop fighting might make him feel uncomfortable at school.
Did you have any reservations about the show?
It’s more the competition that I’m terrified of. My friend, the one person that knew that I was going into the house [said], “I’m excited to watch you wearing short shorts and just like your flesh jiggling.” And I was said, “You know what? You’re an asshole.”
When you hear the phrase “floaters grab a life vest” what do you think of?
It’s like Victoria [Rafaeli] back in season 16, but she went far. That’s going to be my only strategy.
Do you know who coined that phrase?
Was it Mike Boogie?
No, Rachel Riley.
She’ one of my favorites. Other than the fact that I can’t win a competition like she can we have the same energy.
What do you think of when you hear the term Chenbot?
That’s what they gave Julie when she was acting like a robot host.
What do you think of when you hear the word alliance?
That’s going to be my only hope! I need a strong alliance. I would love nothing more than to be the first female alliance that actually keeps it together. If there is an odd number and there’s more girls than boys why doesn’t it ever work? It’s the year of the woman, right? Times up!
Do you think you’re going to win?
There’s not a chance I’m winning.
So why are you on the show?
It’s going to be fun! I’m playing to win, but I am the most unphysical person you’re going to meet.
What do you think of when you hear the name Dan Gheesling?
I know people think Derrick is the best, but Dan is one of the best. Dan was season two, right?
No.
No?!
Seasons 10 and 14.
Oh my God, who was season two?
Dr. Will Kirby. You’re not a real super fan.
(Laughs!) Look at that! No, I just screwed up!
Coming from a theater background and being a performer, how will you handle not being able to sing?
I’ve read the rule book twenty times. No singing. And then I signed something that said if I did sing that they owned whatever I sang. If I made a song up, they own it.
If you write a book they own it.
Stop it! Is that true? If I wrote a book about being on Big Brother, they own it? What if I don’t call it Big Brother and I just say call it, Living With Emotions? (Laughs!)
Who do you want to be joining you in the cast?
I’d love to see Tonya Harding [and] Monica Lewinsky. I’d be like, “Tell me everything!” I’d just eat popcorn and watch Monica talk. Matt Morrison, who is my best friend, is a huge Big Brother fan as well. I thought, “What if it’s just lme and Matty? He could win everything. I would love Omarosa to be in the house, that would be amazing, but I wouldn’t want to get involved with her. I would be so scared and so intimidated and I wouldn’t know even how to deal with it so I would just. . . eat popcorn. That would be intimidating to me. But I would figure it out with her. I’d be like, “Look, no one is going to think we’d ever like each other so let’s just be on each other’s team.” And then I would be so scared. People would understand you being terrified of her. My goal is I want to get to the final four. If I got to the final three I would lose the physical [competition], but then I could win the what’s going on in the game one.
Who would you not want to live with?
A really conservative guy who believes in no gun laws and people who are super aggressive, men who don’t respect women, that’s who I don’t want.
I’m pulling for you.
(Laughs!) No you’re not! You would totally not team up with me.
We’d have a secret alliance.
Yeah you’d be like, “We’re going to be friends but nobody is going to know about it.”
I’d win all the competitions.
I feel that. You go in the competitions and I’ll sneak around and figure out what’s going on. I mean that’s what I’m going to have to do. I have to find some guy like you who could win the beast competitions. That’s why I need someone like you to win all the physical and I’ll totally clean up the kitchen. I have no problem with that.
How do you think your fan base will compare to the other cast members’ fans?
My fan base is 40 year-old moms and gay guys. I don’t know where my fan base meets Big Brother. I didn’t actually do my research on that.
Big Brother 20, the next season will air in the summer. Would you ever consider going over to the normal version as a twist?
I would rather play with regular folks. Regular folks are less scary to me. I’m as regular folk as they come.