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Michael "Mike" Zahalsky is a contestant from Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers.

Known for his neurotic personality, Mike was initially on the outs on the Soko tribe after being caught looking for a Hidden Immunity Idol by Joe Mena on Day 1, Mike managed to salvage his social game after the tribe switch. At the merge, Mike again found himself on the outside, but managed to survive the Pagonging of his original tribe to witness the eventual cannibalism of the majority alliance. At the final five, Mike finally seemed to be in a somewhat comfortable position until Ben Driebergen played a Hidden Immunity Idol for an unprecedented third time in a row and Devon Pinto cast a stray vote against him, which caused a 1-1-0 tie between himself and Devon. At the revote, Mike found himself eliminated 2-1.

Profile[]

Retrieved from CBS.com

Age: 43
Hometown: Parkland, Fla.
Current Residence: Parkland, Fla.
Occupation: Urologist
Hobbies: Archery, watching Game of Thrones, and fishing.
Pet peeves: Double dipping because I am a germaphobe.
Three words to describe you: Intelligent, enthusiastic, and determined.
Who or what is your inspiration in life? My wife and my children inspire me to be a better version of myself every day.
If you could have three things on the island, what would they be and why? A photo of my kids because I love them, a deck of cards to play with, and an extra pair of underwear.
Which Survivor contestant are you most like? Boston Rob—because he was smart and socially strategic.
What's your reason for being on Survivor? To teach my kids to follow their dreams wherever they take you. When opportunity comes knocking, answer the door.
Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor? I've been a fan since Season 1 so I understand how the game has changed. I am smart, I am strategic, and I am social. People will be hugging me as I vote them off.[2]

Survivor[]

Mike was placed on the Soko tribe. On Day 1, he attempted to search for the Hidden Immunity Idol, but was caught by Joe Mena. Joe then put a target on Mike's back, though on a personal level they stayed on good terms and joked around. Mike appeared to be on the bottom of the tribe although the tribe grew more suspicious of Joe over time. The Healers remained in tact as they didn't face Tribal Council during the original tribe phase. He was switched to Yawa after a Tribe Switch where he found an idol with the help of Jessica Johnston, formed a friendship with Ben Driebergen, and grew annoyed with Cole Medders's antics. He appeared the be the swing vote between the newer Soko members and his original tribemates, but those developments were left untested as Yawa won the next three challenges.

Mike reached the merge, where he regrouped with his fellow Soko tribemates and became a part of the Soko Alliance. However, the former Yawa and Levu members formed a coalition to take out Mike and his allies, leaving Mike in the minority. Mike saw his allies leave one by one, though he remained temporarily safe due to his connections with Lauren and Ben. He tried to use his idol to get Ben out at the final 10, giving a heart felt "Statue of Liberty" speech, but it proved to be an idol wasted. Things would change in the following vote as the majority alliance began to crack, and at that Tribal Council, Mike and his last ally Joe were spared as Ben, Lauren Rimmer, Ashley Nolan, and Devon Pinto sided with them and blindsided JP Hilsabeck, though Joe was blindsided at the following Tribal Council leaving Mike as the last former Soko remaining.

Despite being the last outsider remaining, he was not the main target as Ben and Chrissy Hofbeck became bigger threats. He met his wife Bari at the loved ones. When Chrissy won the Loved Ones Challenge she shared the reward with Mike, Ryan Ulrich and Ashley. On Day 33, Lauren gave him her second half of the idol to build trust, but he threw it in the fire at Tribal Council. Mike tried to help the majority in voting out Ben, but his plan was thwarted by Ben's idol plays. On Day 37, Mike along with Chrissy and Devon, planned to use her powerless super idol to convince Ben that she found the idol which would prevent him from looking for another idol, though unaware that Ben already had the real one. At Tribal Council, Chrissy gave the idol to Mike, but Ben shocked everyone by playing the real idol, negating the 3 votes cast against him, resulting in a 1-1 tie between Mike and Devon. In the revote, Mike was voted out in a 2-1 vote.

During the Final Tribal Council, Mike told Ben he played one of the best games in Survivor history, he would be a legend of the game, and asked him to explain why he believed he should win. He voted for Chrissy which allowed her to become the runner up as Ben won the title of Sole Survivor with five votes.

Episode Tribe
Affiliation
Challenge Challenge Type Sit-Out? Result
1 Soko Race to Shore Reward No 1st
Tracks of My Tears Immunity No 1st
2 Crossroads Reward/Immunity No 1st
3 Block in a Hard Place Reward/Immunity Yes 2nd
Switched Tribes, Day 9
4 Yawa Tangled Up Reward No Won
The Color and the Shape Immunity No 1st
5 Head Long Flight Reward No 2nd
Rice Race Immunity Yes 1st
6 A-Tension Span Reward Yes 2nd
Discy Business Immunity No 1st
Tribes Merged, Day 17
7 Solewa Will It Go Round Immunity Lost
8 Air Raid Reward No Lost
Ten-Foot Pole Immunity Lost
9 Hear About It Ladder Reward Won
Squatty Probst Immunity Lost
10 The Game is Afoot Reward Lost
Bermuda Triangles Immunity No Lost
Kenny Log-Ins Reward Lost
Driving Wheel Immunity Lost
11 Love on the Rocks Reward Invited
This Much Immunity Lost
12 The Bottom Line Reward Lost
Franklin's Tower Immunity Lost
13 Might as Well Jump Reward/Immunity Invited1
Voted Out, Day 37
Notes:
^1 Chrissy shared her reward with Mike.

Episode Mike's
Votes
Voted Against
Mike
1 Soko Tribe Immune
2 Soko Tribe Immune
3 Soko Tribe Immune
4 Yawa Tribe Immune
5 Yawa Tribe Immune
6 Yawa Tribe Immune
7 Chrissy -
8 Joe;
Joe1
-
9 Cole Chrissy, JP2
10 JP Ben, JP, Ryan
Ryan3 -
11 Ben4 -
12 Ashley Ashley
13 Ben;
Ineligible5
Devon;
Chrissy, Ryan5
Voted Out, Day 37
Voted For
Sole Survivor
Chrissy

^1 In "Playing with the Devil", the vote ended with a 4-4 tie between Desi and Joe, forcing a revote. Mike did not change his vote on the revote.
^2 In "Fear of the Unknown", Mike used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating 2 votes against him.
^3 In "Buy One, Get One Free", Ryan used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Mike's vote against him.
^4 In "Not Going to Roll Over and Die", Ben used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Mike's vote against him.
^5 In "Million Dollar Night", Ben used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Mike's vote against him. Also, the vote ended with a 1-1-0 tie between Mike and Devon, forcing a revote. Chrissy and Ryan changed their votes to Mike on the revote, eliminating him from the game.

Post-Survivor[]

Trivia[]

  • Mike is the oldest member of the original Soko tribe, and the oldest man to compete on Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers.
  • Mike, along with Cole Medders and Jessica Johnston, are the first contestants to win every pre-merge challenge.
    • Mike, Cole, and Jessica are tied with Randy Bailey (in Gabon) for the most consecutive tribal challenge wins, with 10.
  • Mike is the highest-ranking member of the original Soko tribe.
  • Mike is the first person idoled out after a revote, unless counting Kimmi Kappenberg's consensus elimination in Survivor: Cambodia.
  • Mike is tied with Baylor Wilson and Lauren O'Connell for the latest day being idoled out, having been so on Day 37.
      • Mike is the only male with this distinction.
  • Mike lost 17 lbs. during his time on Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers.[5]

References[]

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers Castaways
 Alan
Levu
S35 alan t
 Ali
Yawa
S35 ali t
 Ashley
Levu
S35 ashley t
 Ben
Levu
S35 ben t
 Chrissy
Levu
S35 chrissy t
 Cole
Soko
S35 cole t
 Desi
Soko
S35 desi t
 Devon
Yawa
S35 devon t
 JP
Levu
S35 jp t
 Jessica
Soko
S35 jessica t
 Joe
Soko
S35 joe t
 Katrina
Levu
S35 katrina t
 Lauren
Yawa
S35 lauren t
 Mike
Soko
S35 mike t
 Patrick
Yawa
S35 patrick t
 Roark
Soko
S35 roark t
 Ryan
Yawa
S35 ryan t
 Simone
Yawa
S35 simone t
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