Idol's George Huff Keeps Smiling

The last man standing on American Idol — New Orleans native George Huff — was forced to leave the competition to his femme fatale rivals last week. But he's not bitter. No, this grinning, gregarious guy always looks for the silver lining, even when he's dissed and dismissed. Still, the 22-year-old crooner has a few regrets to share. Here, Huff faces TV Guide Online's grilling about his perky 'tude, wacky dance moves — and his true feelings for Jennifer Hudson.

TV Guide Online: When you made the final 12, your mom and sis wept on TV. How did they react to your elimination?
George Huff: Aren't they precious? I told my sister Monica she's a national crybaby. But I thanked her for crying as hard as she did, 'cause that makes people go, "Awww..." We were all grateful just for me making the final five. I was the only alternate callback, the only Wild Card and the only male left in the top five.

TVGO: You sure loved to dance in your performances!
Huff: [Laughs] I did, even though I can't dance. I throw out my lil' bounce. You can get sidetracked and have no fun at all if you worry what the judges are going to say and try to please them. I did exactly what I felt on the stage and had a good time. Man, I just couldn't help myself.

TVGO: You're always so happy. When was the last time you got really mad?
Huff: During the Barry Manilow week, I drank some hot tea in a very cold atmosphere and I lost my voice. That performance was going to be much smoother than what it was on the television. I was very, very upset with myself. I knew you're always supposed to drink room-temperature water in whatever case you're in.

TVGO: During the results shows, Ryan kept toying with you about which group you'd land in. It seemed cruel.
Huff: For two weeks in a row, they left me on the couch by myself, thinking Ryan would tell me I'd been eliminated. I was completely thrown off. My head was mixed up and confused. I can only think they wanted to see my reactions if they put me in that situation — what you see in my facial expressions in what you get!

TVGO: How did everyone get along back at the house? We didn't get to watch you like on The Real World.
Huff: There were never cameras in the house. We all got along pretty well. We didn't have much time to spend together because we were always shopping, rehearsing and things like that. [Chuckles] They don't get along on other reality shows as well as we did — because we were never in each other's presence!

TVGO: Do the AI contestants get any compensation for doing those cheesy commercials?
Huff: [Nervously] I'm not sure; I don't even know what we get. I'm not allowed to say. I'll take it as it comes!

TVGO: Let's talk about your pal, Miss Jennifer Hudson. You were bummed when she left.
Huff: Jennifer was by far one of the better singers we had on the show. She emotionally and vocally put so much into it. When she opened her mouth, all your hair fell out of your head! I put her on a pedestal. She was my pick for the winner since early on.

TVGO: She speaks just as sweetly of you. Is there a crush going on?
Huff: No. I can feed into it because I know y'all like that kind of stuff, but Jennifer is happily boyfriended. I am single with my eyes and ears open. I got my radar detector on. Like we say down in New Orleans, "Shake it for your 'hood if you know it's all good!"

TVGO: If Jennifer had no beau, would you go for her?
Huff: No comment! We'll let y'all make your own decisions and assume and decide. Isn't that wonderful?