The Big Brother spinoff, Big Brother Reindeer Games, was a welcome departure for fans of the long-running series. Host Julie Chen-Moonves announced the Christmas-themed competition show during a Big Brother 25 live eviction episode, calling it a “holiday surprise” for fans. At the time, CBS was dealing with scheduling concerns due to the WGA Strike, leaving a hole in programming for unscripted shows to fill. The Big Brother spinoff ran for one season in the winter of 2023 but did not return the following year.
BB fans loved Reindeer Games and have been vocal about their desire to see the show return. We don’t know much about the show’s future, but producers have dropped a few hints. Here’s what we know.
What is Big Brother Reindeer Games?
Big Brother Reindeer Games aired on CBS from December 11, 2023 – December 21, 2023. The short-lived series featured nine returning players who competed for a $100,000 grand prize. Additionally, three more beloved players returned to host the series. Derek Xiao, Jordan Lloyd, and Tiffany Mitchell served as “Elf Ambassadors,” who guided the players through a series of challenges.
A November 2023 press release described the show as “a new game with a new set of rules and a cast of BB legends who will compete through the most Holiday-riffic competitions to win the grand prize and save the holidays.”
Will Big Brother Reindeer Games ever return?
Fans loved the holiday-themed season and we’re hoping the series would continue, but sadly, the competition show was cut after Season 1. Big Brother producers told Entertainment Weekly that CBS’ packed schedule is the reason the spinoff could not return.
“Because we started so late this season and CBS’ fall schedule starts so late this season, everything just pushes back,” Executive Producer Rich Meehan told the outlet. “So if there’s not airtime, there’s not much you can do for that.”
However, it is possible the show will return in the future. Producers told EW they would like to bring the show back if scheduling allows for it.
“Reindeer Games is one of our favorite things that we’ve done recently,” he said.” It was really fun and we thought it worked really well.”
Executive Producer Allison Grodner echoed Rich’s sentiment, telling the outlet “Maybe next year.”
“Hopefully, we’re in a new year and everything looks like it’s going to be smooth sailing and everything’s worked out, so hopefully, maybe next year. That’s the goal,” she said.
Who won Season 1 of Big Brother Reindeer Games?
Big Brother 18 winner Nicole Franzel took home the $100,000 grand prize on the December 21, 2023 finale of Reindeer Games. The Michigan native won an impressive number of competitions that helped her eliminate her targets and get to the finale.
She spoke about her win in a December 2023 interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying the victory felt “special.”
“I feel like the Reindeer Games was so special because I had to do it completely myself,” she said. “There was no one. I had to win competitions. It wasn’t a vote. It wasn’t down to who’s friends with who. There wasn’t any really lying or backstabbing. It was just making genuine friendships and trying to win competitions when you needed to.”
She shared that the fast-paced nature of the series made it more challenging than a regular BB season.
“It was way harder than an actual Big Brother. I played [Big Brother] three times and the Reindeer Games was so fast and so much that it took a lot more on emotionally — especially because I loved everyone in there too, so it was really hard not having an enemy,” she said.
What Big Brother alums should appear on the show?
Fans have kept busy during the show’s hiatus by creating their dream cast list for Season 2. Big Brother winners Derrick Levasseur and Dan Gheesling regularly pop up on those lists. The aforementioned players are known as being two of the best BB players of all time, so it’s no surprise fans want to see them on the spinoff show. In addition to Dan and Derrick, fans want to see BB17 mastermind Vanessa Rousso and fan favorite Da’Vonne Rogers test their competition skills on the series.
Big Brother is available to stream on Paramount+.
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