TV viewers will soon find out. Chicago attorney Andrew Savage, a contestant on CBS' "Survivor: Pearl Islands," used to be the in-house counsel for "The Jerry Springer Show."

His former boss, for one, likes Savage's chances.

Savage, 40, took a job with "Springer" producer Studios USA in 1998, not knowing he would be working for the notorious talk show. His primary duties were advising guests of their rights and reviewing individual shows for legal issues.

He also appeared with Springer before the Chicago City Council in 1999, when a city alderman launched an investigation into whether the fights on "Springer" were real. The hearing received loads of coverage locally, and Springer says he basically treated it as a publicity stunt.

"From my point of view, the whole thing was pretty silly ...," Springer tells the paper. "So I said to him, 'Let's really make this look official, so every once in a while, lean over and whisper in my ear, so we can look like the Army-McCarthy hearings.' "

"Survivor: Pearl Islands" premieres at 8 p.m. ET Thursday, Sept. 18 on CBS.