Report: Les Moonves Trims Wife's Big Brother Pay

Julie Chen, Les Moonves

When CBS announced Sept. 7 the first U.S. celebrity version of Big Brother, veteran host Julie Chen let it slip to The Hollywood Reporter that her husband, CBS chief Leslie Moonves, strong-armed her into taking a pay cut because of the edition's shorter run.

"If you know one thing about my husband, it has to make economic sense. He comes home for dinner and says in a very Godfather, mafioso-style, 'Jules, you tell your lawyer this is not a negotiation. This is what the deal is and you're going to accept it.' And I said, 'Is that the way you speak to your wife?'" she laughed, before continuing, "He said, 'You tell your attorney this is not a game we're playing. Everyone's taking a haircut. This is the only way it will make sense financially. You shouldn't be expected to be paid as if it's a full series. It's a condensed version.'"

The twist: Chen's lawyer is none other than Les' brother, Jon Moonves.

The reason Les wanted his wife to take a hit to her wallet is due to the season's shorter schedule, which will require less time for both her and the stars that they get to participate. Though a schedule has yet to be announced, it's expected to be significantly shorter than the typical 90-plus-day summer broadcast of Big Brother. One thing that won't change: The installment will still invite viewers in for their 24/7 unfiltered live feed.