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Tishala
Member
08-01-2000
| Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 11:47 am
He could have gone to trial and been found not guilty by a jury of his peers, the same way most people prove innocence, rather than plead out on a lesser charge. He should be grateful the DA offered him such a good deal for his "immature judgment decisions at a young age" [heard of redundancy much, chief?!]. I'm happy he's still in the competition, though. I really like his voice. Well, except for last week.
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Azriel
Member
08-01-2000
| Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 11:59 am
Maybe he didn't have the money to get a good lawyer. Maybe he couldn't keep taking the time off work and losing pay to go to court because he had a new baby that he wanted to help support. Maybe the stress of going through a trial was too much for him. Maybe he didn't want to put his girlfriend through the trial because he didn't want to see her accused of lying or exaggerating about what happened in the police report. Maybe when they said we will reduce it to a charge that he really was guilty of instead of the one that he wasn't, he took it because he was ashamed of the way he lost his temper and knew he was guilty of disorderly conduct and he wanted to make amends and get the whole damn thing over with. Oh no, it couldn't be for any of those reasons. He had to be guilty. He couldn't actually be innocent. His girlfriend couldn't have lied or exaggerated because women never do that. He had to be guilty, nothing else will do.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 11:59 am
I am not going to presume whether he was guilty or not but...........yes I am. Look at this guy from the get go, he wouldnt cooperate with groups and always had an angry look about him. He still has an angry look about him. Wouldnt surprise me one little bit if you see him hit with a gun charge in a year or two. The jails are full of talented people with great voices. They grew up rough and just because you become successful doesnt mean it changes your personality. Heck, you have a rapper about to go to jail for committing perjury, you have actors getting thrown in jail for failing repeated drug tests and beating up their girlfriends, you have actors who beat murder raps and everyone knew they did it. I dont like the guy, he has a great voice but I dont like him and if he wins this thing I can bet you all that he will screw it up, he will get into fights, and will be busted almost as often as Bobby Brown.
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Azriel
Member
08-01-2000
| Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 12:13 pm
Maris, he has never had any trouble other than this incident and the trespassing at high school. In the trespassing incident he was going to the high school to see his girlfriend. There was no violence at all involved in that. The rest of the contestants seem to get along great with Scott now. Every week one of the girls is hugging him or crying on his shoulder. The guys smile at him and slap him on the shoulder. He sits on the sidelines and cheers and encourages the other contestants. I don't see how you can predict such a dire future full of violence for him.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 12:18 pm
Az, just a gut feeling no more.
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Azriel
Member
08-01-2000
| Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 12:34 pm
Local finalist's already idolized Wednesday, March 16, 2005 Julie E. Washington Plain Dealer Reporter "American Idol" finalist Scott Savol has a foot on each side of the color line. Like Elvis, he's a white man who sounds black. His R&B style appeals to the Usher crowd and to Britney fans. That, his supporters say, is why Scott will be the next American Idol. "He has white skin and a black voice. Do you know how many doors that can open?" said Darrell Scott, pastor of New Spirit Revival Center, where Savol sings in the elite choir. "He can have a bigger impact than any of the other winners." Last week, Savol became one of 12 "American Idol" finalists. The competition, which will eliminate one singer each week until a new Idol is crowned, airs at 9 tonight on Channel 8. Savol's style is not that of a white guy trying to act black. The Cleveland native has always loved R&B and gospel, and he has always hung around black people, friends say. His sister-in-law is black. So is the mother of his 4-year-old son, Brandon. Some "Idol" fans insist that Savol is biracial; he's not. Savol even feels comfortable worshipping with the predominately black congregation at New Spirit, which now cancels meetings on "Idol" nights. The pastor thinks it's more important for members to be at home, one hand on the cell phone and one hand on the land line, casting their votes. "We want him to win," Scott said. And church members aren't the only ones. Savol's local fan base is big. It includes the inmates at the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center, where he worked as a corrections officer; parents and kids at his son's preschool; and clerks and customers at the places where his parents shop. Before he attained reality-show fame, Savol was famous in Shaker Heights. He was the guy who sang in the school hallways, sang while listening to headphones and riding his bike, sang while blasting music from his car radio. Savol, 28, is the oldest son of Cathy and Eddie Savol, who live in Shaker Heights. The couple signed an agreement with "Idol" producers that prohibits them from talking to the press. (They can appear on Fox's Channel 8 because "Idol" airs on the Fox network.) Savol can't give interviews until he's eliminated -- or until he wins. Savol's aunt, Janet Brott of Euclid, recounted the family's history: Cathy and Eddie Savol met at Euclid High School and married in 1974. The couple lived in Cleveland, where children Stacy, Scott, Michael and Patty were born. At Patty's baptism, Scott sang, and Brott accompanied him on guitar. Six-year-old Scott wasn't nervous at all. When Scott was 10, the family moved to Shaker Heights for its integrated neighborhoods. Cathy Savol eventually realized the school system wasn't a good fit for her kids. The schools emphasized college prep; her kids were more interested in working with their hands. In high school, he was mostly invisible, though former Shaker choir director Ron Morgan can still see Savol in his aisle seat in the tenor section, singing with passion and losing himself in the music. Savol turned up one credit shy of graduating with his class in 1995. He didn't want to make it up in summer school and earned a GED instead, Brott said. He worked a number of jobs, sang at weddings for friends and wrote his own songs. But he was unhappy. In 2001 he and his girlfriend, Michele Martin, had a boy, Brandon. It bothered Savol that he and Martin broke up after the birth, his relatives say. A co-worker at the county jail, where he worked from 2000 to 2003, invited Savol to New Spirit in Cleveland Heights. He took the stage after an evening service and sang a song made famous by his favorite gospel singer, Fred Hammond. "It was silent," said music director Tim "Bo" Clinton. "When he opened his mouth, I was like, oh my goodness, who is this guy?" Savol soon joined the church's elite Praise Team choir. Those close to him say he found peace and a church home at New Spirit. The singer's life will never be the same as it was before "Idol." Savol and Martin, who also attended Shaker Heights High School, are again discussing marriage in phone calls from Hollywood.... To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jwashington@plaind.com, 216-999-4539 I have a gut feeling you are wrong, Maris 
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Tishala
Member
08-01-2000
| Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 1:00 pm
I'm sorry that my answer to the question "How could Scott ever prove he was innocent?" was insufficient. I thought it was an honest, legitimate response, not one worthy of a series of conjecture-filled "maybe" formulations. But we know what he was charged with, we know he accepted a plea bargain, and we know he was "ordered to complete a domestic violence or anger management program" and received a 20 day suspended sentence. Happily Mr. Savol is still in the competition so viewers can decide whether he deserves to stay or not.
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Jimmer
Member
08-30-2000
| Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 1:36 pm
I hope that Scott has permanently turned things around for himself. That aside, I just don’t find him an appealing performer. Yes I know it is a singing competition and he is a good singer. But IMO being successful in the business goes beyond being a good singer (though being a good singer is obviously a good starting point). There are lots and lots of really good singers that for various other reasons don’t break out and become stars.
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Puttergirl
Member
08-11-2000
| Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 3:37 pm
I agree, Jimmer. Lord knows the world is full of very talented people and most of them won't get anywhere with it. It takes alot more than the talent to get sufficient recognition; it takes that famous "it factor" that Simon talks about. You know it when you see it- someone who just draws you in immediately. I think Scott does not have that for most of us! Every time I watch Scott, I find myself thinking that he would fit well into a band. He doesn't have what it takes to break out as a star, but could make it as part of a larger group. It really hits home if you compare him to Ruben. They are very similar- large men, good but not perfect singing voices. But when Ruben comes on stage, you just want to smile. He makes you feel good; he draws you in even before he sings. Scott just doesn't do that for me.
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Sadiesmom
Member
03-13-2002
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 8:33 am
I don't want to get into evaluating whether Scott is guily, innocent, repulsive or fine. I just want to add some input to this discussion without coming to a conclusion. Don't believe everyuthing you see on TV, editing is a wonderful thing. Some of the contestants had said that the delay in practice between Scott and his team was miniscule and not the big deal it was show on Televison - it is a reality show and they need drama. At a TAR convention a few years ago (TARCON), I met an arguing couple from the amazing race and all the other racers said it was amazing how horrible these people wre made to look. Yes, they did have arguments, but it was like every arguement was shown and none of the kindness or affection. This couple was in a loving relationship, were a delight to meet and the toher raqcers were teasing them about their "fighting" most of the night. People agreed that it was edited to be shown in the worst light. The woman fell off the bike and her husband yelled at her. Yes, he yelled for a moment out of frustration, but he also apologized immediately, kissed her and gave her a hug and none of that was shown. Secondly, accepting a plea. Many people take a plea to avoid the consequences of losing. The jusidcial system pushes people to accept pleas to reduce the limits of the court system. I know someone who took a plea on child abuse because if they fought it and lost they could have lost custody of their child, but if they said they did it, they would still have their child. Pleas are taken if the gamble is not worth it, not neccessarily anything connected with guilt or innocence. The worst case I know about is a man whoul agreed to plead guilty to molesting a child. There wa only the childs word on it, his wife was in the room with him and swears it did not happen, but you don't know what the courts will do, so he pled guilty to avoid jail time for a suspended sentence. The lawyer told him he could not promise this man that he could get off. I have heard many warnings from little league coaches to never be alone with any child, always have a witness.
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Sassynegal
Member
01-21-2005
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 11:37 am
Gosh there are way to many perfect people in this world that are ready to cast stones without knowing all of the facts. I have never done anything to intentionally hurt others, I have never been convicted of a crime and so on, but if I was suddenly a household name due to a reality show I am sure there are things in my past that could be brought out and twisted however needed to make me sound as if I am an awful person. AM I??? NO, WAS I EVER??? NO but I have made mistakes and have made decisions that weren't the right ones at the time and those who know all the facts and know me understand I'm not a bad person but I made mistakes. My point - Who are we to judge these people???
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Babyboo
Member
06-16-2003
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 12:06 pm
It's just something for people to talk about, I wouldn't get all worked up about it, it's hardly worth it.
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Roxip
Member
01-29-2004
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 12:35 pm
Doesn't make a difference to me. I wasn't voting for him anyway.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 1:16 pm
Who are we to judge these people??? Are you kidding? They beg us every week to judge them. If it is too hot, they never should have gone in the kitchen
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Tishala
Member
08-01-2000
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 1:22 pm
LOL Maris! So true. And to top it off, a person named "judge"--how appropriate--judged him too! And what did Scott say? "Guilty, your honor." LOL. 
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 1:28 pm
well you know tish, if you look at certain people with arrest records in the music industry: Mick Jagger John Lennon Whitney Houston Pete Townsend Jim Morrison Jerry Lee Lewis Puff Daddy Who is to say he isnt american idol material?
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Tishala
Member
08-01-2000
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 1:37 pm
Yes I agree with you 100%. I think the whole issue is silly.
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Willsfan
Member
09-04-2000
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 2:58 pm
How about the ones that did prison time? Country western music singers have a hard time staying out of jail too. However, I do think wife or girlfriend abuse is a little different. Movie actors or singers that mistreat their wives go too far and I grow to really dislike them.
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Azriel
Member
08-01-2000
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 8:02 pm
This was posted on the AI message board by one of the moderators, Stevo47. 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.
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 8:11 pm
I think we judge each time we spend our money. I have personally not seen a Woody Allen movie since he chose to betray the trust of his children. That's my way of voting. And it is up to each of us to decide if this was "nothing", "no big deal" or enough to make us turn away.
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Tishala
Member
08-01-2000
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 8:57 pm
Well, that statement from AI is just bogus. Anybody can look at the police report and see he was charged with domestic violence--it's right on the police documents on the Smoking Gun site. He copped a plea for disorderly conduct, but the fact of the matter is that the statement "Mr. Savol was not charged with Domestic Abuse, he was charged with Disorderly Conduct" is false (besides the fact that it's a run-on sentence). It is, however, correct that he "was never proved [sic (how do people who can't conjugate verbs write press statements?)] guilty of domestic violence"; this is, in part, because he decided to plead out for a lesser charge. Now that AI has obviously decided they can lie and blatantly misrepresent the facts, I'm actually hoping this blows up. ETA: Jeez. I just noticed they have a subject-verb disagreement in the first sentence, too! "No one...support domestic violence"?! Who writes this stuff? And a writer would never say "support" in conjunction with domestic violence; a writer would say "condone" or something like that. I have a sneaking suspicion that statement is fraudulent....or AI hires people with poor English skills to write their statements.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Monday, April 04, 2005 - 9:07 pm
Ahhh....Tishala, again you make me snicker. That said, I wish I had YOU around when I'm trying to cite sources, rather than the MLA Handbook. Whenever I'm looking for the way to cite something, it almost NEVER falls under a specific rule.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 2:58 am
Tish I agree and I can bet you any amount of money no lawyer for a network would say something like, Further, there is additional information about the incident which we will not disclose since it is private information, they just wouldnt go out on a limb like that.
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Jimmer
Member
08-30-2000
| Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 7:06 am
quote:No one associated with American Idol, the production or the network support domestic violence.
Whew! I agree with Tish. I was relieved to hear that!
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 8:55 am
On Jay Leno, Paula dismissed it with a wave and said "it was only a misdemeanor!". Discussing her own recent brush with the law, she made a joke of it and bemoaned the fact that her driver got in an accident on the way to Leno.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 9:02 am
well she ought to stop boozing with her driver.
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Fruitbat
Member
08-07-2000
| Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 11:59 am
Sea, I am not surprised that Paula or any of the judges would wave off the Scott expose. They do not want it to reflect poorly on the show in general or let their personal stance be known. I am sure production has gotten a rash of emails complaining about letting him compete.
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Madelane
Member
08-20-2001
| Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 4:08 pm
An arrest is not a charge. The police decide what to arrest for. The State decides what to charge. If they say he was never charged, then he was never charged. Lots of people, every single day, get arrested for things they are not eventually charged with. Some of you seem to be getting a little out of control with your allegations. I'm glad there are checks and balances in our system because it's very dangerous to make assumptions without knowing all the facts. I have no earthly idea what the facts are, because the police report only lists one person's statements. You can call the police right now and make a statement and they will type it up for you. You come home and someone broke into your house and took things, YOU tell the police what they took.
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Lori
Member
04-18-2003
| Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 4:14 pm
I too wasn't voting for him...won't make a bit of difference to me. LOL Seamonkey...I do exactly the same thing re: Woody Allen.
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Watching2
Member
07-07-2001
| Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 4:46 pm
Me too, Lori!
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Justalittlebean
Member
08-15-2003
| Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 4:57 pm
Ditto, Lori & Watching2, I haven't been voting for him either. My Mother always says there are 3 sides to every story, his side, her side and the truth. LOL 
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Puttergirl
Member
08-11-2000
| Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 5:28 pm
I'll stand by what I said above. If you look, I didn't mention his legal woes and didn't work it into my argument at all. I just don't groove to his beat, man!!!!
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