SPOILER ALERT: This story contains details on who won the competition.
CBS’s Big Brother Reindeer Games, a six-episode spinoff of the reality series featuring holiday-themed competitions, held its grand finale tonight.
The two-week show, which launched Dec. 11, kicked off with nine Big Brother veterans vying to make the final four. The show was hosted by former Big Brother HouseGuests Derek Xiao, Tiffany Mitchell, and Jordan Lloyd. The objective: save Christmas.
As might be expected from the title, the Christmas theme was everywhere. The house was named Santa’s Lodge, and its entryway was decorated with flying reindeer and gold-wrapped presents. The living room has a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments and wreaths, and the kitchen, aka “Mrs. Claus Bakery,” was adorned with gingerbread men.
The battle threw aside season’s greetings and became fierce. In the end, Nicole Franzel was the winner over former Miss Michigan Taylor Hale, copping the show’s $100,000 grand prize.
Franzel has participated on Big Brother three times, and won Big Brother 18. She beat Hale in a three-part head-to-head showdown that saw them both competing to complete a puzzle.
“Oh my gosh, I just won the Reindeer Games!” said Franzel. “I can’t believe it, I saved Christmas!”
“I doubted myself but I’m never doing that again,” added Franzel. “I’m so excited for the grand prize, $100K, there’s no feeling like this in the entire world. This really is the merriest time of year!”‘
Hale was a good sport about it.
“It’s a little heartbreaking to come so close to winning all of Reindeer Games, but Nicole is an absolute beast, and has proven herself time and time again throughout this entire competition,” said Hale. “Congratulations, you earned this win.”
