“Big Brother” is typically thought of as a summer show, but in recent years, CBS has played around with winter spin-offs, including “Big Brother Reindeer Games” and “Celebrity Big Brother.” Unfortunately for fans, Entertainment Weekly reported there will likely not be any winter season of the CBS reality show.
“Big Brother Reindeer Games” Explained
“Big Brother Reindeer Games” aired its only season in 2023. Using iconic former “Big Brother” players, “Reindeer Games” was a more competition-focused version of the classic CBS social experiment. The entire show was winter-holiday themed and lacked the nominations typical of the flagship “Big Brother.”
Each episode featured three challenges. The first challenge gave the winner an advantage going into the second, more important challenge, and a disadvantage to the player of their choosing. The second game determined who had safety from elimination. Finally, some of the losers went into “Santa’s Showdown,” an elimination competition that determined who went home.
Entertainment Weekly spoke to a source “close to the network,” who confirmed there are “no current plans to air Reindeer Games in 2025.” Given the show also didn’t air in 2024, it’s possible (albeit currently unknown) that “Reindeer Games” will never return to CBS. However, the producers would like to see the spin-off return.
“Oh my God, we would love it to come back,” Allison Grodner said. “We think it deserves to be out there, whether it’s in the winter, whether it’s summer games, spring games, or, you know, Halloween Horror Games, or whatever.”
According to producer Rich Meehan, airing a spin-off may simply be a matter of timing. “I think ultimately just it comes down to schedule availability,” Meehan explained. “CBS has a successful scripted business and ultimately, it’s like, ‘When do they need stuff?’ But we love it, we’re always asking about it, and from talking to them, it’s not like it’s gone forever. It’s just when is the right time and when do they have the airtime for it? Everybody at CBS loves it.”
Is ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ Returning?
In the United States, CBS has aired three “Celebrity Big Brother” seasons. The most recent season aired in February, 2022. Now, the “Big Brother” executive producers have said another “Celebrity Big Brother” season is unlikely, at least in the next few months. “I think it would be fantastic, but it’s just other factors beyond our control,” said Grodner.
Although “Big Brother” has yet to be officially renewed for season 28, casting is underway, and people can apply here.
