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Michael Johns Finds Attention 'Surreal,' Loves Whynattes

Posted: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 9:20 AM by Dan Fleschner
Filed Under: ,

Michael Johns was famously voted off "American Idol," much to the chagrin of, well, everyone, it seems.

The Australian-turned-Atlantan was a fan favorite and seemingly a frontrunner until his untimely demise last Thursday.

He stopped by the plaza today to chat with Matt, Meredith and Natalie. WATCH VIDEO

We'll have a vlog post here on allDAY soon, but in case you can't get enough of Michael Johns, I had a quick chat with him after his appearance on the plaza. He spent about 15 minutes talking to our crowd outside, posing for photos and signing autographs, and as we stepped inside, he said, "This is surreal."

Here's the conversation that followed:

DF: As you walked in from talking to the crowd, you said this is all "surreal"...how are you dealing with all the attention you're getting?

Michael Johns: It's day to day. Everyone's been so positive since I was voted off, and saying I was robbed and that I'm going to have a great career, to think about Chris Daughtry. So that's all so sweet.

DF: What's been the best part of this whole experience?

MJ: "Idol Gives Back," for sure. Amazing all the artists they had there, Annie Lenox doing that song, and being right there with her was a huge, huge honor for me, personally.

DF: I noticed you wore a whynatte shirt on an episode of "Idol" (see above)...what's been your experience with the whynatte?

MJ: We were in Atlanta one night in a bar, and I saw some guy mixing Jagermeister with espresso, and I'm like, "What the hell is that?" He was like, "Man, it's a whynatte!" They have them in about 30 bars in Atlanta. So I heard all about it, when online and read about it.

I ended up meeting one of the owners, Jesse [Kuniansky-Altman], and he told me all about it, what they were trying to achieve and do...what a product!

DF: So you're a whynatte fan.

MJ: Absolutely a fan.

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Comments

All you people can complain that MJ got booted off to early, but isn't it left up to us to vote to keep him in????
I think Michael Johns is awesome, and thank you to the Today Show for having him on. I wish he would have sang for us, though. I am so dissapointed with AI for the way Ryan Seacrest treated Michael. This was the first season I really had a favorite and now he is off the show. I did vote but obviously not enough to make a difference. I have pre-recorded all Ellen Degeneres shows so I don't miss his performance. Unfortunate for AI because Michael Johns was the whole package. Can't wait to buy his CDs.
and here is the thing with Chicago style voting, whether or not you think AI is manipulating the votes

just because David A has for example 10 million votes and David C has 5 million votes doesn't necessarily mean David A is going to sell more records than David C if David A's fans are voting thousands of times  in the voting period and David C fans are voting once or 10 or 100 times, one fan may be able to vote 2000 times but they can only buy one CD and one concert ticket, now when you have the AI machine behind you as the winner, you can reach the non AI audience and I suppose that AI fans will buy the winner's album or clearly a good portion of them do even if that person was not their favourite and with the Idol tour featuring the Top 10, you get the fans for all Top 10 contestants buying concert tickets anyway.

I confess however never having bought the album of an AI winner or a Canadian Idol winner, though I do like Kelly Clarkson and thought about getting her album once and I've seen Daughtry in  concert with Nickelback and I was more interested in seeing Daughtry but I will buy Michael John's album regardless and maybe David Cook as it stands and I might even buy a Hedley album, the lead singer, Jacob Hoggard, who was a Canadian Idol runner up and told his fans to vote him out on purpose before the finale, he is already stacking up to be the most successful Canadian Idol contestant of all.........
HOW AWFUL RYAN SEACREST HANDLED MICHAELS DEPARTURE...HIS ARROGANCE ON THE SHOW HAS REALLY DAMPENED OUR TUESDAY NIGHTS.......I AM SURE MICAHEL WILL FIND SUCCESS.........HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE ONE TO GO........WHO ACTUALLY SEES THE VOTES? AND WHY ARE PEOPLE ALLOWED SO MANY...KEEP IT REAL!!! KC
When will the judges wake up and realize that this is just merely a popularity contest.  It's no longer the talent contest that they thought it was.  The only reason Archuleta is still in there is because of teenage girls voting for him.
Travesty.  Johns is a latter day Otis Redding/Solomon Burke.

Whynatte is hilarious.  My friends and I were curious about it after checking out the website.  The drink is phenomenal.
I was speechless when Michael Johns was voted off.  I recall Simon's remarks earlier in this competition that he thought Michael had the capability of becoming a SuperStar.  Let it be so!  and let Ryan Seacrest be sent to the woodshed.  He is becoming so self-interested that I find him to be a distraction.
I absolutely LOVE Michael and think he has a brilliant carrer ahead of him. He is a star and should have won AI!
People, this is a TV show.  If you all cared as much about the general election and voted as feverishly this country would be a very different place.

American Idol is a popularity contest, and Michael Johns didn't win it.  Even though I agree that there are others that should have gone first (Brooke, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee) Michael Johns didn't have a chance in winning the competition unless a freak act of nature claimed the lives or vocal cords of David Archuleta or David Cook.  It's going to come down to the Davids.

I didn't enjoy how Michael Johns' facial expressions made it look like he was smelling an egg fart every time he sang, and that (or other reasons) kept me (and, apparently, lots of other people) from voting for him.  He was lackluster overall until about 3 weeks ago, so it's not shocking that he wasn't able to build up a huge fan base in such a short amount of time.

Stop crying, you and FOX both know that you'll keep watching.
Not watching AI, after this elimination...cannot imagine the rest of the season without Michael Johns...
some of the others are just so mediocre.......
AI needs to revamp voting method  it is not working...  
I still haven't gotten over that Michael Johns was voted off. He didn't deserve it at this stage of the competition. I'm sure he'll do better outside the American Idol just like Chris Daughtry. Move on, Michael! You'll do just fine. On a separate note, Michael Johns is HOT.
Ok, I cried like a baby when Michael was eliminated.  He's got the charisma, voice and looks to do very well for himself.  I will definitely buy his music and I think I may have to see him live too.

I hated that he was eliminated and how it was done.  But, in a wierd way it's been good for him.  The too soon exit has really upped his profile even more and has generated alot of good will and support for him.

I'll miss seeing him perform every week.  But now I have lots of time to do other things on tues and wed nights, since I won't be watching American Idol anymore.
MICHAEL WAS THE BRIGHT SPOT OF MY WEEK AND NOW THAT HE'S GONE, I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO AI, I WILL WATCH ONLY IF I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO AND WILL NEVER VOTE AGAIN.(I VOTED MANY TIMES FOR MICHAEL)....FROM WHAT I'M READING, IT SEEMS THAT THE VOTING MAY BE FIXED ANYWAY. MICHAEL BEING ELIMINATED IN SUCH A CRUEL WAY AHS MADE ME LOSE ALL MY FAITH.  I CAN'T WAIT FOR MICHAEL'S CD AND TO SEE HIM WHEN HE COMES TO CLEVELAND ON HIS TOUR.   HE IS BY FAR THE BEST ALL AROUND IDOL CONTESTANT THAT THEY HAVE EVER HAD.
   When Ryan announced Michael would be going home, his head dropped and he looked like a beautiful sad angel. And we all felt heartbroken- WE would be robbed of his talent, his looks and his expressive sensuality. What was so unnerving to so many women was his raw sexuality --yet it was that block of four women, who kept him distanced from the top. So we blame those women and the judges, who slighted against him and those texting teens. Now everyone is heartbroken. It's like going to a class on the first day and seeking out the cutest guys. Then after a week, you realize the cutest guy transfered to another class. Now there is nothing to anticipate. There is a deadness.
  Dear Michael, we will look to the future for your bright star, for surely this surging heartfelt disappointment of your exit will only raise you higher in our collective hearts. WE CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR SUCCESS!!!!
I was shocked when Michael was voted off.  He is so good.  But no worry, he's going places.  I like when I see Daughtry opening for Bon Jovi and actually singing with him on stage.  Fantastic! I think Michael is going to the same "places". My best to you Michael.
The voting on this show is wrong and it must change so a mistake like last week won't repeat itself again
 Micheal Johns was robbed but never fear I think somehow he will be the last man standing sorry Brooke Carly Syesha Kristy and Jason
Michael has a nice singing voice (a few voice lessons would make it fabulous), but OH, I'm going to miss that beautiful face!, those eyes!, that smile!, and that tall handsome bod! Michael has all the charisma of a super star! AI fans BLEW IT!
My interest in the show dropped 80% after Michael left.
(By the way, is it a coincidence that the one voted off had picked a song reflecting that? If so, then, look for Brooke to be going this week. The song she sang tonight was appropriate for the one to go).
Tonight was the first time since the show's inception that I didn't watch AI. I just couldn't-there was no Michael Johns. The rest of the "singers" just pale in comparison. You Tube has some great vintage MJ when he was lead singer in the band The Rising. The song "Cradle" is phenomenal!!!Y'all should check it out!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WquoHxNMo0Y
Also, I heard that Ryan had Michael on his radio show and apologized to Michael for the "knife twisting" way he announced that he was leaving. Yeah well....he blamed it on Nigel (the show's producer). If Ryan had any class or b**** he would have refused to do it that way. Whatever. Michael is gone and I can't wait to buy his CD!! Please people-I beg of you-if you still watch that mediocre excuse for a "singing competition" don't vote for the awww shucks teeny bopper!
I love michael and I LOVE WHYNATTES.  They are better than liquid gold.  I had 42 over the past 7 days and I already won a a scratch lottery ticket worth over 1,500 dollars.  They are right, life really does get better.  Great job Michael!  Can't wait for your first single!!!!
Michael Johns was the only reason I watched the show.  I have been a viewer since the first season.  Sad to say, I will no longer watch the show.  I could care less who wins now.  You go Michael...show 'em how it's done!
REALLY THE QUESTION IS WHO WILL SELL CDS....I JUST CAN'T SEE MYSELF BUYING DAVID A.S CD. HE IS A GOOD SINGER BUT NOT REALLY COMMERCIAL.
MICHAEL JOHNS WAS THE ONE I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO BUYING.
How rude of AI and SeacrestNOT TO APOLOGIZE AND NOT to BRING BACK MICHAEL JOHNS TUESDAY NIGHT! Clearly, he would have won hands down beating out David Archuforgetyourlyrics can do no wrong in AI's and judges minds. Archuletta is robotic and creepy with those puppy dog eyes (like Melinda Doolittle) and perfectly sculpted hair singing the same type of songs week after week. Boring! Bottom three, Jason "pothead-like" Castro, White, Syesha. Ideally, Idol should trade-up two of these and GIVE BACK MICHAEL JOHNS. SHAME ON AMERICAN IDOL, SIMON COWELL, AND RYAN SEACREST.
In past years, I noticed that when it's down to the final 8, it gets harder to register a vote for a favorite. This happened when I tried to vote for Elliott Yamin, and kept getting a dead connection. It happened before that with other candidates. So, it finally hit me that the final 2 had already been chosen. How else could I explain it happening every year?

I stopped watching now that Michael Johns has been cast off. I totally agree that Ryan Seacrest was cold and cruel when he did what he did to Michael.
Michael Johns was one of the best on the show. How can this happen...his fans apparently didn't vote. He clearly was better than the other guys (David Cook perhaps the exception) and all the women! I hope to see and hear from him again...The show sucks!
I hate that michael is going because I was looking forward to a final between him and the two davids.  This is surely a guys year.  I have found that when they want someone off, for some reason you can't get through to vote for that person - it was that way with Amanda Overmyer the week she was voted off - I tried and tried to vote with her but I didn't get a busy signal or through - the phone did something very weird.  It was the same way with Michael which is why I knew he was going.  I am disillusioned by American Idol and the voting process.  I agree they should do like Dancing with the Stars and limit the number of votes from any one number and even limit text voting as well.  This "contest" will never be fair until they do.
I hate that michael is going because I was looking forward to a final between him and the two davids.  This is surely a guys year.  I have found that when they want someone off, for some reason you can't get through to vote for that person - it was that way with Amanda Overmyer the week she was voted off - I tried and tried to vote with her but I didn't get a busy signal or through - the phone did something very weird.  It was the same way with Michael which is why I knew he was going.  I am disillusioned by American Idol and the voting process.  I agree they should do like Dancing with the Stars and limit the number of votes from any one number and even limit text voting as well.  This "contest" will never be fair until they do.
Michael Johns should still be in the top 7.  Unlike most...David A. needs to go...he only sings ballads  Where is the versatility...I would never buy a CD of his because he is BORING..(snooze, snooze).  I don't like rock but I throughly enjoyed watching Michael perform.  I think we will see a CD forthcoming.
It is absolutely mind-boggling to think that Michael Johns was voted off Idol.  He easily should have made the final three, along with David Cook and David Archuleta.  Jason Castro should have been voted off LONG ago!  He appears to be a nice young man and his voice is pleasant enough, but his vocal range and strength are very limited and he is quite frequently "pitchy," as Randy Jackson would say, yet none of the judges seem to acknowledge it.  I agree there should be (and easily could be) a system developed to limit the number of votes by an individual caller or "texter" for each of the contestants to help prevent teeny-boppers from skewing the voting results. And the number of votes per contestant should be made public!  I also did not like the way Michael John's elimination was handled; i.e., briefly giving him the false hope that he would be spared during Idol Gives Back week.
David Archuleta the "American Idol"!  I don't think so yet.  I agree that the voting is a joke!  Believe it or not, us 30, 40 and 50ish fans of American Idol would like to think we still know talent and would like our vote to count.  But, as mentioned, we also have lives, and better things to do than stay up for 2 hours casting votes......give us a break!
"American Idol" should be a package deal.  The talent is definitely with David A, Carly S. and David Cook, but who has the "stage presence"?  After Michael John's untimely dismissal, there is only one left with a real stage presence and that is David Cook.  Also,  what is it that makes the AI producers think that rudeness is the key to success?  It's okay for the judges to be critical.  That sometimes is helpful to the contestants, but where does Seacrest get off thinking it is his place to be cruel and demeaning to the contestants.  That's totally out of line, is not entertaining and very distasteful.  Surely, they could come up with someone more suitable and pleasant to watch.
I still say the show is rigged. What a complete surprise that Michael Johns was voted off. The show was pretty "cut and dry" up until this point. They had to do something for some attention. Michael was clearly one of the top two, the other being David Cook. I'm sure that David Archuleta is going to win...his dad is in show business and all the younger audience (who do most text messaging) will put him over the top.  He's a cute young guy but he is just to bland and safe in his song choices...all his songs sound the same. His youth sells and that's what Simon is seeing $$$$. David A. will win even though David Cook will go the furthest in his career.
The show is sooooo boring now.  At least we had a little "eye candy" and talent with MJ.  Not much left to watch or hear now.  Good bye Idol until you come up with something new.....
I agree with the ranks.. what are Kristy Lee, Brooke and Jason still doing there?!?! Each are flat, without real charisma and 2 dimensional. The only consolation I can offer Michael is to look at what getting voted off did for Chris Daughtry...........(whose cd I have worn out from play!)
First, Michael Johns is NOT better than David Cook.   Let's not fool ourselves there.   And, secondly, look out for Kristy Lee Cook.   I wasn't a fan of hers at first.   But look at her progression in choice of songs, performance and actual singing prowess.   She won't win - but she could easily be Top Three material with her improvement AND good looks!
Michael is so amazing and I love him so much!! I was heartbroken when he was voted off and I have sworn never to watch the show again. I'm sure he'll have a great career. I'm so excited for his next album! Go Michael!
Concerning Michael Johns being voted off:  Yeah, I liked him better than a couple of others on the show now.  But to all of you are screaming "He was robbed!", please remember it's the people calling in that decide.  It's the VIEWERS who booted him off, not American Idol.  Remember when Melinda was voted off last year?  She was - by far - the most talented of the whole group.  If you love your guy, you'd better call in your vote!
OMGosh, I can't believe MJ was voted off, but it's time we older people realize the majority of voters are pre-teens and teens.  MJ is/was my choice to win, he had looks and talent, not to mention he seemed like a genuine good person.  I'm to the point where I wish Ryan Seacrest would get voted off.  I'm tired of the way he tries to ake Simon look bad, he always has negative things to say to Simon but Randy has been bad mouthing people a lot lately and Ryan doesn't say anything about it.  I would love it if Ryan was voted off as the announcer, he was just plain cruel with the way he told Michael he was leaving.  For the life of me I can't figure out what people like about Ryan.  Oh well, I hope we hear some music from Michael Johns real soon.
CANNOT BELIEVE MICHAEL JOHNS GOT ELIMINATED!!!! THAT IS JUST NOT RIGHT!!! MICHAEL JOHNS AND DAVID COOK ARE THE BEST TALENTS THIS YEAR! TO SEE MICHAEL SENT HOME AND DURING THE IDOL GIVES BACK EPISODE IS REALLY NOT FAIR! HOPE HE DOES GREAT WITH HIS CD! THE NEXT CHRIS DAUGHTRY! DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO MICHAEL'S AND DAVID COOK'S CDs! THE SHOW HAS BECOME BORING WITHOUT MJ! THE ONLY INTERESTING PERFORMANCES ARE BY DAVID COOK! WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE A FINALE WITH DAVID COOK AND MICHAEL JOHNS!!!!!
Michael is overated. He sings in a band for a living like millions of other people whom never make it in the industry. He came to America to become famous which is what he accomplished. He was over confident and over rated. This is a good season and only one can win. Cook, castor and Brook deserve to be the top three.
I THINK MICHEAL JOHN ,WAS DONE A FAVOR BY BEING VOTED OFF ,FOR THAT YOUNG MAN IS GOING PLACES ,JUST WATCH AND SEE ,AND YOU DID NOT HAVE SOME VOTED OFF .CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT ,FOR MICHEAL JOHN ,HAS ALL IT TAKES TO DO GREAT
I started watching AI last year for the first time. I thought last year's singers were better than this year--Jordin and Melinda especially. I voted for Jordin every week because she had "star" quality to me. This year, I'm not sure anyone has. I don't think that Jason or Carly should still be on when Michael was voted off. My opinion is that Michael Johns should have been in the top 3.
I totally agree with Tom from Chicago.  It is the same situation as with Clay Aiken.  Clay was the real winner of AI.  Michael should not have gone home.  He sould have been in the top 3 and possibly the top 2.  I loved his voice from the moment I heard him sing the Otis Redding song.  Michael WILL be better off not being tied down to AI.  I haven't been this discusted with Idol since Clay didn't "win".
It is obvious that Michael Johns is a great singer and a good performer.  He definitely has some fans out there...but he failed to connect with everyone.  Personally, I thought he was too serious on stage and I kept waiting for something amazing that never came out of him....it was no surprise to me to find out that he was such an endearing, funny person, with a great personality and a such a connection to the other contestants---that is what was missing on stage!!  Good luck to him in the future and I hope his fans stay loyal (my husband is one of them).
Michael Johns was robbed.  Simon always complains about it being a poularity contest instead of a singing contest....well, the problem is the voting system that the show uses.  If Simon wants the show to have credibility, he needs to tell the producers that unless they change the system of voting that he is out.....the show couldn't survive without him....it should be one vote per phone line for the person who performed the worst.
Michael Johns and David Cook by far the best in this year's competition. it's becoming increasingly apparent that contest may be rigged - many people stated they could not get through on Michael's line -myself included.  I agree votes need to be handled more efficiently - limit votes per person as well as judge's votes counting toward the overall score.

Ryan came off as arrogant and rude which is becoming the norm for him.

I for one am weary of what American Idol has become.

Michael Johns is greatly missed, but his star will continue to rise.  I applaud him for following his DREAM!!!
Michael Johns should still be on Idol....I was completely surprised when he left.....but not being the Idol winner, he will win in other ways....Chris Daughtry did.....He's great.... and his band members, they all seem to be very nice men. What is with Jasons hair!!!!!!!looks very unclean..Elliot Yamin sure looks good now, and still has a great voice..was nice to see him on Idol Gives Back..  Really tired of Ryan's banter to Simon, give it up..  Good luck Michael Johns..............
It's ALL WRONG, but it's ALRIGHT, because Michael John's will be another Chris Daughtry!

Loved that performance Michael! I think everyone was surprised you got voted off.


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