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Milwaukee's Xavier Prather advances to 'Big Brother Reindeer Games' season finale before being eliminated by eventual winner Nicole Franzel

Christopher Kuhagen
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

UPDATE: "Big Brother 23" winner Xavier Prather was eliminated early during Thursday's season finale of "Big Brother Reindeer Games" when he lost a head-to-head competition to Nicole Franzel.

Franzel, a 31-year-old from Ubly, Michigan, and former winner of the CBS reality TV show, then defeated another former "Big Brother" winner Taylor Hale in the final showdown to win the inaugural holiday-themed spinoff.

Hale had eliminated Frankie Grande in their semifinal showdown to set up the finals between Franzel, who won "Big Brother" season 18 in 2016. Franzel takes home the $100,000 prize for her victory.

Milwaukee attorney Xavier Prather is looking to unwrap the perfect gift this Christmas.

That present would be a $100,000 cash prize on "Big Brother Reindeer Games," the holiday-themed version of the long-running CBS reality TV show.

Prather, who won "Big Brother" two years ago in a unanimous vote, has advanced to Thursday's season finale and will take part in the show's reindeer games competition, a head-to-head tournament featuring the final four, to determine the winner.

"I'm in reindeer games," Prather said on Tuesday's episode. "It's been an uphill battle from Day 1 but we made it. It feels good."

Here's what you should know about Prather on "Big Brother Reindeer Games":

The "Big Brother Reindeer Games" finale is 7 p.m. Thursday. Milwaukee attorney Xavier Prather, far right, defeated Brittany Haynes (middle) in the most recent episode on Tuesday to advance to the final.

Xavier Prather has been a competition star on 'Big Brother Reindeer Games,' part of season finale

The 29-year-old Prather has been a target from the get-go. But unlike typical "Big Brother," competitors don't get voted out. They're put into "Santa's Showdown," the competition each episode that determines who stays and who goes.

And Prather has found himself often in "Santa's Showdown." In fact, there's been only one episode in which Prather didn't face an elimination. But every time, he has survived to see another day in "Santa's Lodge," the name of the holiday-decorated "Big Brother" house.

"Apparently, I can only win when my back is completely against the wall," Prather said before Tuesday's "Santa's Showdown." "It's about winning when it matters most and, right now, it's never mattered more."

In the most recent showdown on Tuesday, Prather defeated Brittany Haynes in "Candy Cane Forest," in the backyard of the house. The competition entailed the two hanging from a zip line and knocking down puzzle pieces from three "billboards." Using the pieces, they then had to assemble a puzzle on the ground that read a Christmas message.

After another victory, Prather is ready to "save Christmas."

"There's no doubt it's going to be a battle, but honestly I'm ready for the fight," said Prather, an associate attorney at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. in downtown Milwaukee.

Prather is looking to become the first winner of the inaugural spinoff, two years after he became the first Black winner of the regular "Big Brother."

Xavier Prather, "Big Brother" season 23 winner, is a contestants on "Big Brother Reindeer Games." He has survived four "Santa's Showdowns" to advance to the season finale on Thursday.

'Big Brother Reindeer Games' cast, elimination order

Five Big Brother legends and favorites have already been sent packing. Prather will compete against two other former winners in Taylor Hale (season 24), Nicole Franzel (season 18) and fan favorite and fellow comp beast Frankie Grande (season 16), a brother of pop star Ariana Grande.

Who has been eliminated so far?

  • Cameron Hardin (eliminated in the first episode)
  • Cody Calafiore (eliminated in the second episode)
  • Danielle Reyes (eliminated in the third episode)
  • Josh Martinez (eliminated in the fourth episode)
  • Britney Haynes (eliminated in the fifth episode)

'Big Brother Reindeer Games' schedule 2023, time of season finale

The six-episode spinoff series concludes Thursday, beginning at 7 p.m. Central time.

"Big Brother Reindeer Games" has aired three episodes each week. Thursday night's finale is one hour.

What channel is 'Big Brother Reindeer Games' on tonight? TV channel, livestream

"Big Brother Reindeer Games" airs on CBS, which is WDJT-TV (Channel 58) in Milwaukee.

Paramount+ is the official streaming service of CBS. You can also watch the show on Hulu + Live TVYouTube TVfuboTVThe Roku Channel and Vudu.

Paramount+ offers two free episodes.

Who won Big Brother 2023, season 25?

Jag Bains, a gas truck company owner, won a record number of competitions on his way to his victory in season 25 He was the first Sikh-Punjabi contestant to compete on the U.S. version of "Big Brother," something he took great pride in during the season.

"Big Brother" season 25 ended in November, two months later than normal. CBS altered its schedule due to the writers' strike.