Say what you will about his vocal talent, but American Idol's Jon Peter Lewis has spunk and likability in spades. Still, is that enough to carry the contest's latest reject into a successful music career? Simon Cowell doesn't think so. The feisty Brit — who told us JPL didn't even belong in the final 12 — suggested singing lessons. Here, the Elvis-lovin' 24-year-old Idaho native faces the criticism, and tells TV Guide Online what's next for him.
TV Guide Online: Your swan song was very classy. You left on an upbeat note, dancing with your dad and all that.Jon Peter Lewis: That really makes me happy. To feel that I've gone out on a really high note is cool for me.
TVGO: Were you surprised to go?JPL: Yeah, I was surprised. I hadn't been in the bottom three at all! And then, to be voted off all of a sudden was pretty shocking. You expect those who have been in the botread more
Of all American Idol's Wild Card picks, finalist Jon Peter Lewis can legitimately call himself the viewers' choice. The rest of 'em — Jennifer Hudson, George Huff and Leah LaBelle — were tapped for second chances by the judges, while Lewis snagged the phone-in vote. "It's great," he enthuses to TV Guide Online. "Positive attention is very good."
Positive feedback is a rare commodity from Simon Cowell, who told Party Boy that Lewis didn't deserve to make the cut. Although he tries to let Simon's jabs "roll off his back," the 24-year-old admits, "I won't say I don't care."
So how to cope with the Brit's harsh criticism? "Simon's pretty dramatic in everything he says on the show," Lewis says with a smile. "I look for the [lesson underneath that]. If I agree with it, then I take it to heart and try to apply it. When he told me I looked like a pen salesman, I was wearing a whiread more