Survivor: VIP – Season 4 (2020, Israel)

Survivor: VIP is the celebrity version of Israel's adaptation of the American Survivor franchise. Contestants live in an isolated tropical setting, are divided into tribes, compete in challenges, and face successive eliminations until a winner remains.[1] The fourth VIP season aired on Reshet 13 in 2020 and was filmed on an island in the Philippines.[1][4]

The 2020 season introduced a distinctive tribal-division mechanism. Rather than using a random draw, the production conducted a sociometric exercise in which the 18 contestants ranked their colleagues based on prior familiarity and perceived popularity.[2] The nine contestants rated more favorably were placed together, while the remaining nine formed a second tribe, embedding an explicit social hierarchy into the opening stage of the game.[2][1]

The season opened with 18 contestants split into two tribes of nine.[2] The more popular "Kapra" tribe comprised Idan Haviv, Yarden Gerbi, Ilana Avital, Adi Bity, Israel Oglebo, Semyon Grafman, Ido Kozikaro, Lital Samedja, and Nicole Reznikov.[1] The less-popular "Anting Anting" tribe included Zohar Strauss, Benny Baruchim, Ella Ayalon, Dana Ron, Nava Boker, Assi Buzaglo, Regev Hod, David Dvir, and Alina Levy.[1]

The lineup ranged from athletes and musicians to actors, models, and public figures. Opening coverage presented Gerbi as the strongest woman on the island, Grafman as a potential strategist, and Buzaglo as an early source of influence within Anting Anting.[2]

The opening challenge was modeled on the Israeli game show The Golden Cage and required contestants to secure essential camp supplies, including a tarp, a firestone, and other equipment, for their tribes.[2] Idan Haviv distinguished himself by obtaining an individual immunity idol while also gathering supplies for Kapra. Within Anting Anting, Buzaglo began organizing opposition to Nava Boker.[2]

Not all contestants adapted smoothly. Dana Ron searched through mud for a bag of rice and later broke down emotionally after arriving on the island with clothing unsuitable for the conditions.[2] The first episode's tribal council ended before the elimination was resolved, extending the suspense into the next broadcast.[2]

After the tribes merged, the combined group took the name "Tondo" and included Assi Buzaglo, Idan Haviv, Yarden Gerbi, Ella Ayalon, Israel Oglebo, Regev Hod, Alina Levy, Benny Baruchim, Lital Samedja, and Ido Kozikaro.[1] Buzaglo navigated the merged phase with an alliance that included Oglebo, Hod, and Ayalon.[5] The first finale broadcast reduced five remaining contestants to four when Levy was eliminated and joined the jury, leaving Buzaglo, Gerbi, Oglebo, and Haviv as the finalists.[5] In a post-win interview, Buzaglo described his late-game decision to face Haviv and Gerbi in the final rather than remain with all his earlier allies as the most important choice of his game.[6]

The finale was divided into two broadcasts, and its first part drew disappointing ratings relative to the publicity surrounding the season. The season had run for 67 episodes over approximately four months and attracted substantial viewership.[3] Walla described it more broadly as one of Reshet 13's longest and most successful seasons, with a high average rating and frequent victories over competing Keshet 12 programs.[4]

The initial jury vote produced a deadlock: Israel Oglebo and Assi Buzaglo each received two votes, while Idan Haviv and Yarden Gerbi each received one.[4] A second vote was held between Oglebo and Buzaglo, with Haviv and Gerbi joining the jury. Buzaglo secured the majority and was declared the winner.[4]

Buzaglo, a former footballer and star of the Israeli television series The Buzaglos, won the NIS 1 million grand prize.[4][5] He had also been selected by viewers as the season's favorite contestant, for which he received a luxury vehicle.[5]

After the finale, Buzaglo said: "The truth is that I'm only now beginning to digest it. It's crazy. I didn't believe this was what would happen; it's amazing, the most amazing thing that has happened to me in my life, and I'm proud."[6] He said he hoped to put the prize money toward buying a home, while leaving his options open.[6]

Buzaglo and runner-up Oglebo subsequently attended the same press event but reportedly did not speak or make eye contact. A person present said: "You could see the tension between them. They didn't get close to each other, not even with a look."[7]

Shortly before the live finale, the production investigated an allegation that Israel Oglebo had offered fellow contestant Benny Baruchim NIS 100,000 in exchange for his jury vote.[3] Reshet stated that, after examining the matter with the participants and notifying the international format owner, it had determined that Baruchim's ballot should be invalidated under the program's rules.[3] The original handwritten ballots were not shown to viewers; replacement ballots in uniform handwriting were presented instead, with the production stating that they accurately reflected the remaining valid votes under legal supervision.[3]

Contemporary reports treated the purported offer as an allegation investigated by the production rather than as independently established misconduct.[4][3] Despite the season's ratings success, it also drew criticism for the frequency of aggressive arguments and violent language shown during its broadcasts.[3]