Scott Savol Fan Club

2005-05-09T14:13:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, will be posting some new pics here soon. In the meantime, check out this "letter to The Editor" from today's USA Today:

"Idol" critics go to far

The apparent American Idol bashing by USA Today critics Edna Gunderson and Ken Barnes is getting very old (Idols on, off track," USA Today.com).

I realize that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but to make assumptions about participants - contestants and voters - in this process is a little ridiculous. Barnes' latest rant questions voters' tastes. He asks, "Are you blind?...Are you deaf?.. . Are you dumb?" This is insulting.

Sure the opinions of USA Today's staff may differ from my own, but to question voters' tastes or motivations is baseless. I vote for the performer I enjoy - not out of sympathy or because of a website. Please be more responsible and respectful of others.

2005-04-22T15:06:00.000-04:00

Scott Savol - Superstar!

2005-04-22T15:02:00.000-04:00

Anwar: Scott is a very very, very nice individual. He lightens the atmosphere. It is a shame people don’t get to see that. He would have us in stitches. Very witty, very spiritually strong young man. That is a good thing and he would deserve to win like the other five

- Anwar on Fox 8 News

2005-04-21T14:11:00.000-04:00

Scott Savol: Dancin' Machine

2005-04-21T14:10:00.000-04:00

Scott Savol: The Original Rocker

2005-04-21T14:09:00.000-04:00

Oh Yeah!

2005-04-18T10:58:00.000-04:00

She's Gone - Wow!!

American Idol 4: Scott Savol, This Year’s Model by Sting7 -- 04/22/2005 No American Idol contestant this season has had a tougher time than Scott Savol. But, is all the criticism heaped in his direction justified, or is this the echoes of seasons past? It seems everyone has some opinion about Scott... but how much of that opinion is actually his fault? Is it Scott that bothers people so much, or is it something deeper?

A well-known news website blared the headline, "How Is Scott Savol Surviving?" It reminded me just how vicious the fame machine can be. The answer to that question is simple to anyone who actually took the time to watch American Idol all season long. He’s surviving because the kid has a wonderful singing voice.

So why is this even a question? Every season of American Idol has had someone (or someones) who overstayed their welcome. Season one featured Nikki McKibbin, who seemed to advance to her own astonishment all the way to the Top 3. When she finally fell to the unconquerable popularity of Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, audible sighs of relief could be heard from the offices of 19 Entertainment. Nikki later would claim she too was offered a recording contract, but says she refused to bow to the pressure of doing an album that "wasn’t her."Season two featured Josh Gracin, the affable marine. In this post-9/11 season, just anybody in a uniform would have been embraced, or at least judged on a curve by the viewing audience. By top seven, Josh was clearly outlclassed. Yet he continued to go on, prompting Simon to openly challenge viewers as to why. Josh seems to have had the last laugh, as he is enjoying a flourishing country music career as we speak. He even has a hit single on the pop charts.

Season three seemed to be dominated by green teenagers, doing their best, but falling woefully short of benchmark set by reigning Idols, Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard. Undoubtedly talented, but just not mature enough to shake off the pressure of doing what being an Idol contestant demands. I would never say Leah LaBelle, Camile Velasco, or even that season’s whipping boy, Jon Stevens, can’t sing. They made it as far as they did for good reason. But Idol is also a grueling competition. Having a pleasant singing voice is not all that is required. I’m sure if they had a chance to do some of those performances again, they would do remarkably well. This is not the case – you get one chance per week, and the chips fall where they may. Ironically, season three a winner unique and savvy enough to prompt 19 to start crowing about a long-term career vs. the average shelf life of a pop star that they were perfectly willing to accept.

So with this history, the uninformed have good reason to expect there to be another contestant who just does not belong. The problem is, in season four, that contestant does not exist. No Nikkis, no Joshes, no Jons. But, the media seems to insist on creating one where one isn’t.

Enter Scott Savol.
Scott is likely candidate. He had those troubles with the domestic abuse incident. Of course, he was not convicted of that at all. He was upfront about the whole thing, and American Idol continues to assert that Scott is not a domestic abuser, and feels not a tremor a trepidation of featuring him on Fox’s preeminent family program. Perhaps, he’s a destroyer of phones, so maybe a job as a Verizon spokesperson is out of the question, but call it what it is. For many media outlets, why let something like facts get in the way of a good story?American Idol continues to carry astonishing ratings. Folks, media outlets know that putting Idol in a headline is a good way to draw readers. That doesn’t mean what they are saying is true. Or fair. Those things aren’t necessary anymore. Balanced journalism? Ha! What are we, the Wall Street Journal?But why not pick on Scott? He had a dark past, he seems to have chip on his shoulder – I cannot even tell you how many emails I get that say, "I don’t like him, he looks like a serial killer." Scott is not asking to marry you. He’s only asking you to judge his singing. He’s not deluded. He has said to Ryan that he felt like he could have done a better job. Other times, he’s felt like he did the job, and said so in a non-confrontational way. Why is that wrong?

What is most funny is that I find myself pulling for Scott. I honestly do. He is the guy who seems like he has never had a fair shake his whole life, and there seem to be forces conspiring to keep him from getting one here. Scott has a beautiful singing voice. He has nuance, he has depth, he has some vocal tricks under his belt, he has a gorgeous slow-rolling vibrato that when used in the right song is stunning. He is American Idol’s most passionate remaining contestant. When he sang "Against All Odds," regarded as his best performance to date, you could feel he was injecting his whole life into the song, and it was moving. And effective. That is art. That is a performer. So, as Scott is performing on American Idol, and you feel the bile rising in your throat, ask yourself. What did he do to you? Do you hate Scott or do you hate the Scott you see in yourself?

Sting7 has been a respected published writer for many years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He also has a curious love for pro-wrestling! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com.

Statement from Shaker Heights Police Chief Walter Ugrinic regarding Scott

2005-04-11T16:29:00.000-04:00

"Scott Savol was not a problem in our community. He made a couple of immature judgment decisions at a young age," said Shaker Heights Police Chief Walter Ugrinic. "I don't consider these things should cancel his opportunity."

IDOL MEDIA

2005-04-08T21:01:00.000-04:00

Great sites for AI media:

http://www.idolmedia.tv (takes a little while to load, but well worth it)

http://www.watchidol.com

Statement from Scott's Aunt Janet

2005-04-08T09:48:00.000-04:00

This is my 'official' statement regarding the Smoking Gun report that was posted on the Internet today. This is my one and only comment regarding this subject on these message boards. I will not be responding to any posts made in this thread or on this subject.

First and foremost, American Idol was and is fully aware of this incident. Scott was very up front with any information regarding his past - American Idol asked and Scott bared his entire past, keeping nothing hidden from them.

Taken from the Smoking Gun story: "At that point, according to the police report, Savol shoved Martin, pulled a phone from her hand, and then threw it at Martin, striking her in the chest."

Michele states that the phone did not hit her in the chest but the phone hit the wall. When the police came the following day to take pictures, they took a picture of the damage done to the wall. Michele does not remember them taking a picture of anything other than her hand, which did not show any injury.

Taken from the Smoking Gun story: "Martin, then 21, initially said she did not want Savol to be prosecuted, but rather sought a "restraining order on him." The following day, however, she signed a warrant for his arrest."

Taken from the police report: "She also stated that she did not want to prosecute the suspect" Michele is very adamant about the fact that she did not want Scott prosecuted. She says the police prosecuted Scott without her support. She wrote a letter to the court on Scott's behalf and the charges were then reduced to a misdemeanor.

Scott began working for the Cuyahoga County Department of Corrections in December 2000. When the above incident occured, he immediately informed his superiors who investigated the incident. Scott never heard any more about this incident at work.

In April of 2002 Scott became a State Certified Corrections Officer. In June of 2004 Scott was hired by a security company to work as a security officer. Scott made a mistake, paid his dues, changed his life for the better and moved on.

- taken from the community forums on idolonfox.com

We Love You Scott! - Fox Statement

2005-04-08T09:45:00.000-04:00

Many of you have written to Fox about Scott. Below is their response:

No one associated with American Idol, the production or the network support domestic violence. In fact, a conviction for domestic violence would not be acceptable in a contestant's background. Mr. Savol was not charged with Domestic Abuse, he was charged with Disorderly Conduct. No one associated with the show was present during the incident to determine if or what level of misunderstanding occurred. Further, there is additional information about the incident which we will not disclose since it is private information . The facts surrounding the matter were fully considered by the network, the production company and American Idol before allowing Mr. Savol to participate. In this country, we believe people are assumed innocent until they are proven guilty. Mr. Savol was never proved guilty of domestic violence. If all potential contestants are disqualified from participation on this show based on any allegation ever made against them, then many, many innocent people would be denied a fair chance.

- taken from the community forums at idolonfox.com

Enough Bashing

2005-04-08T09:15:00.000-04:00

I'm really getting pretty sick of all the tabloid gossip and negative hype surrounding Scott Savol. It appears that the american media is just lazy.

It's amazing how many people believe what they are told and never even bother to see the whole picture. Scott has been given a raw deal since this whole American Idol tghing began and people are out to destroy him just because he doesn't fit the Disney Channel charicature that they have been fed as a model for the "American Idol".

About 4 years ago, Scott had a fight with his girlfriend. They were young & had a baby much too early. The living arrangement wasn't working and he was moving out. He wanted the child and maybe he thought he would be a better parent. There was no hitting and apparently all he diid was try to prevent her from calling 911 and he left. She filed charges and had him arrested later. People file charges and look for restraining orders all the time. The problem is that many are filed a manipulatitve tool (to help with child custody matters, etc.). I'm not saying that this is the case with this misdemeanor (4th degree!). Yes, he did take a plea, but that is very typical in cases such as this. The guy, especially when he is Scott's size is very often fighting a losing battle and the woman still is given the benefit of being judged the better parent whether it is true or not.

What I do find disturbing is how the media and his shallow detractors start making him out to be a "Wife beater" "Domestic abuser" The fact is none of us were there when this happened (4 years ago!) and who are we to judge?

I hope that people really get to know what Scott is all about. I see him as quite, fun, religious, kind, and misunderstood. I wish him the best and I will definitely keep voting.

2005-02-17T16:13:00.000-05:00

"Don't you remember you told me you loved me baby...."

2005-02-17T16:10:00.000-05:00

GREAT SCOTT!

2005-02-17T16:04:00.000-05:00

I am so happy that he was chosen as a semifinalist. He definitely deserved it. I hope people get the opportunity to get to know him. He seems like a nice, humble, young man. I hope the voiceovers and creative editing that AI did for creative effect don't hurt his chances and that people give him a chance.

From itsmehun

2005-02-16T10:26:00.000-05:00

Submitted to forums at idolonfox.com by: itsmehun ~ official Dawg Pound cuckoo (itsmehun)

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worth cause, who at best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Author: Theodore Roosevelt

Welcome

2005-02-13T21:56:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Scott Savol Fan Club Blog. More to come soon!