Phil Mcarten / FOXHe came. He sang. He made us laugh. A lot.
Of course, we're talking about American Idol's Heejun Han, one of season 11's most polarizing contestants, who seemed to put just as much focus on making America laugh as he did on winning the competition. Unfortunately, Heejun's Idol journey came to an end last night after receiving the lowest number of votes and not receiving the judges' one save. But Heejun tells us that Jennifer Lopez tried to persuade Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler to use the lifeline on him!
Plus, Heejun dishes on his bromance with Phillip Phillips and compares Idol to The Hunger Games. Seriously!
Heejun reveals that Lopez tried to get the other judges to use their one save on him. "She came up to me, with the teary eyes, and said, 'I was convincing them to save you, but I lost,' " he says. "But only her vote counts for me I guess, but Randy and Steven can just...whatever."
The singer says he wasn't surprised that the judges decided not to use their save to keep him in the competition: "It was too early. It was way too early to use their card. I'm pretty sure they're saving it for some other people. It was fair and square."
Heejun and Tyler had a difference of opinion after Heejun's performance of Billy Joel's "My Life" last week. "We had our different perspectives. I was trying to give a fun time to America because I thought it would be entertaining and fun," Heejun says. "Maybe he took it wrong, but I can't please everyone." Still, despite the harsh criticism from the judges, Heejun says "My Life" was his personal favorite performance.
Heejun has some advice to future Idol hopefuls. "Do not try this at home. I'm just kidding. Singing competition, model competition, anything, when it comes down to competition, it's literally just saying you're competing against each other," he says. "It's The Hunger Games, but it's not killing each other. Why do you always have to be so serious when only one person is going to survive? You might as well have fun and have a thick skin and stay true to yourself."
Phillip, Heejun's BFF, was sad to see Heejun go, even shedding some tears. "I think he was faking it. I'm kidding," Heejun says. "We were best friends since day one and I really, really wish him the best of luck because he has what it takes. I'm pretty sure he's going to do well. I didn't cry because I didn't want to cry, so I left the mansion really early on purpose because I knew I was going to be emotional."
When asked why he and Phillip bonded so quickly, Heejun jokes, "I thought this interview was all about me, not Phillip!" before saying, "Phillip and I had a different perspective toward the competiton. He really, really loves music and he really, really wanted to make a career out of it because he loves the music itself. I started off this competition to help my kids out, so our goal was not to become ultimate, huge, successful mega-superstar; our goal was really humble, so that's where we connected I guess."
After the results show, Jackson told Heejun he should think about going into TV. "He grabbed me and said, 'Dude, you are a great singer, but, dawg, you have to be in a sitcom!' "
So what does Heejun think his sitcom should be about? "It should be an Asian guy who's trying to go out with really pretty blonde girl. [Laughs.] Of course, I'm not going to be picky about anything. I really want to make something out of this."
Well, that's a lie. There is one thing he won't do: another reality singing competition! "I'm not doing any more competitions...except for America's Next Top Model."
Were you sad to see Heejun go? Would you watch his sitcom? Do you think the judges should've used their save on him? Sound off in the comments!