Milwaukee attorney Xavier Prather who made history on 'Big Brother' two years ago returns for spinoff show 'Reindeer Games'
Christopher KuhagenXavier Prather made history two years ago when he won "Big Brother."
Now, the Milwaukee attorney looks to add another achievement to his growing reality TV portfolio and bring home the perfect Christmas present as he returns to the popular CBS show this holiday season.
Prather recently joined eight other "Big Brother" legends and favorites for a first-of-its-kind version of the series called "Big Brother Reindeer Games."
The show that is full of festive-themed competitions inside a decked-out "Big Brother" house at the CBS Studios in Los Angeles kicked off on Monday. But unlike the summer version that typically runs for over three months, this version of "Big Brother" is only two weeks spread out across six episodes with a much different format.
Here's what to know about Prather and "Big Brother Reindeer Games."
Who is Xavier Prather on 'Big Brother'?
The recently engaged Prather won the 23rd season of "Big Brother" two years ago, making history along the way. Not only was he the first Black winner but he was the first contestant to win a grand prize worth $750,000 (previous winners received $500,000).
The likable Prather used strong social and competition skills to score a unanimous win that was backed by his powerful "Cookout" alliance. The group consisted of Prather and five other Black contestants who teamed up in an attempt to guarantee a Black contestant would win for the first time. While it wasn't always easy, they remained intact until they were the final six.
A year later, the show crowned its first Black woman, Taylor Hale, who is now an entertainment journalist, as its champion. Like Prather, Hale has returned to the "Big Brother" house for the spinoff.
"It's cool to see Taylor," Prather said in the season's first episode during the introductions. "We both made history for the Black community and are both from Michigan."
Prather is originally from Kalamazoo and Hale is from Detroit. Prather formed an alliance with Hale and two others on the first episode, but that didn't last. Hale was among a group who put Prather in jeopardy of leaving during Tuesday's show.
After Prather won his season in 2021, the former college basketball player competed in another reality-competition show, "The Challenge USA" in 2022. He was eliminated fourth in a show that featured an all-star cast of reality TV titans.
Is Xavier Prather still a lawyer? What law firm does Xavier from 'Big Brother' work for?
Yes, Prather is still an attorney.
Prather is an associate attorney at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.. He also worked for the firm when he was on "Big Brother" two years ago.
Prather, a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and Milwaukee Bar Association, received a certification in sports law from the National Sports Law Institute. He also served as the articles editor of the Marquette Sports Law Review and completed a legal internship for the Milwaukee Bucks.
But during Prather's win on "Big Brother" he wanted to lower his threat level by withholding his real occupation. Instead of revealing to his fellow houseguests he was an attorney, he told them he was a bartender.
"I feel like if I didn't conceal my identity from the rest of the houseguests I wouldn’t have made it this far," Prather said during the season finale in 2021.
There's no hiding who he is anymore in a game full of threats where everyone knows who he is.
How does 'Big Brother Reindeer Games' work?
"Reindeer Games" isn't your typical "Big Brother" that "Big Brother" fans have grown accustomed to over the years. There's no Head of Household, contestants don't vote who they want evicted and Julie Chen isn't the host. The show is also not live — filming has already wrapped up — and the contestants don't live in the house like players usually do during the normal "Big Brother." Players are also looking festive in their ugly sweaters and Christmas jammies.
The show still involves some social relationships but it's mostly all about winning holiday-themed competitions to stay in the game. Each episode involves three competitions concluding with "Santa's Showdown" that determines who goes "ho, ho, home." The series culminates with a head-to-head tournament called "Reindeer Games" featuring the final four competitors in the season finale.
Prather was already put on the "naughty list" as he faced elimination in the "Santa's Showdown" in the first two episodes Monday and Tuesday. He won both competitions to continue his shot at the big prize.
"I'll be damned if I'll be the first person to go home," he said on the show.
Back home from filming, he wrote on Instagram Wednesday: "Survived Santa’s Showdown (again 😅)! Y’all have no idea the chaos that’s in store for tomorrow."
'Big Brother Reindeer Games' cast; Who has been eliminated from Reindeer Games?
- Cody Calafiore, (runner-up in season 16 and winner of season 22), eliminated in the second episode of 'Big Brother Reindeer Games'
- Nicole Franzel (season 16, winner of season 18, and third place in season 22)
- Frankie Grande (season 16)
- Taylor Hale (winner of season 24 and America's Favorite Player)
- Cameron Hardin (America's Favorite Player in season 25), eliminated in the first episode of 'Reindeer Games'
- Britney Haynes (seasons 12 and 14)
- Josh Martinez (winner of season 19)
- Xavier Prather (winner of season 23)
- Danielle Reyes (runner-up in season 3, returned for 'Big Brother All-Stars' season 7)
What nights are 'Big Brother Reindeer Games' on? Time, schedule
- 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14
- 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18
- 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19
- 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 (season finale)
'Big Brother Reindeer Games' on TV, livestream
"Big Brother Reindeer Games" airs on CBS.
You can also watch it on many streaming services and on demand. Paramount+ is the official streaming service of CBS. Other services that offer the show include Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, The Roku Channel and Vudu.
Paramount+ offers two free episodes.
