Christmas came early for one contestant on the first ever Big Brother Reindeer Games after a winner was crowned and given $100,000 in prize money during Thursday’s finale.
The spinoff reality series ran for six episodes across two weeks on CBS, featuring nine Big Brother veterans competing in holiday-themed challenges. And taking that theme one step further, the house was named Santa’s Lodge and the goal of the season was to “save Christmas.”
The show — which has been a huge hit with fans of the franchise — was hosted by former Big Brother houseguests Derek Xiao, Tiffany Mitchell and Jordan Lloyd, and the cast included Xavier Prather, Taylor Hale, Nicole Franzel, Frankie Grande, Cameron Hardin, Cody Calafiore, Danielle Reyes, Josh Martinez and Brittany Haynes.
In the end, it was Hale and Franzel facing off to determine a winner, so here’s what happened and what viewers had to say about it.
Reindeer riches
For the finals, Franzel and former Miss Michigan Hale had to climb a pile of foam pieces, go through a maze and build a tower out of snowflakes to attain merry objects like Magic Mistletoe, Ancient Antlers and the Sacred Snowflake.
In the end, it was the stacking of the snowflakes, which was a difficult and precise challenge, that determined the winner. And that winner is, Franzel. This marks her third Big Brother appearance and her second victory after winning season 18 of the show.
After earning the show’s $100,000 grand prize, Franzel admitted that she had “doubted” herself but was ultimately very happy with the outcome.
“This really is the merriest time of year,” she said.
The real winner: Reindeer Games
Franzel will walk away from this spinoff experiment $100,000 richer and with another BB title to her name, but judging by viewer reactions on social media Thursday, the real winner was the show itself. It was trending with many people all agreeing that given the pace and the competition, this could be the best version of Big Brother.
Okay honestly BB Reindeer Games might be better than regular BB 🤣 so swift and cut throat I love it
— Lex (@lexi_foote) December 22, 2023
reindeer games was the best bb season of all time oh my god…
— kody (@geminifeeds) December 22, 2023
@CBSBigBrother this years new Reindeer Games was the best of all the BB. Way to go. Loves the games and the format
— Mickeedee (@debbywheeler4) December 22, 2023
We really thought Reindeer Games was going to be a cheesy and boring show yet here I am wishing it was longer. #BBReindeergames
— Reindeer Games Sleighed ❤️🎄🎁 (@TeamAmerica28) December 22, 2023
@CBSBigBrother this years new Reindeer Games was the best of all the BB. Way to go. Loves the games and the format
— Mickeedee (@debbywheeler4) December 22, 2023