Staying power

Wanting it counts for something
What Savol has is two assets; his voice and his determination. To give him credit, he has known since day one that he can't afford a single awful performance, and he hasn't given one. He's never great, but he never gives any of his core fans a reason to skip a week's vote because of his performance.

And the one part of his personality that he puts on display every week is his sheer, raw, unadulterated hunger for a career in music. From the first time he met the judges in Cleveland, when he revealed that his father had told him he was never going to be anything, Savol has laid it all on the table.

He needs this competition badly. Nadia Turner, last week's victim, has enough talent and spark to be heard from again. If Carrie Underwood or Constantine Maroulis gets kicked off next week, they'll still get future shots at stardom. On Tuesday, Maroulis even responded to a Simon barb comparing his performance to a Vegas act with a quick "I'd take that gig."

Given Savol's personality and dour nature, it's easy to see that he doesn't feel like that option is going to be presented to him should he be the next to go. For Savol, it may well be a choice between a record deal and a descent to obscurity that would make Justin Guarini seem incandescent by comparison.

Savol kept that from happening once again this time around. He'll again be one of the favorites to be sent home next week, and each time out it becomes tougher to see a scenario where he hangs around much longer. Then again, if Ryan Seacrest can get his own Walk of Fame star, anything can happen.

Craig Berman is a writer in Washington, D.C.

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