No Kidding

Kirk Baird

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 | 8:27 a.m.

Fans and detractors of Mikalah Gordon take note:

Despite being eliminated from "American Idol" last week, the 17-year-old insists she isn't finished.

"I plan to work really hard," she said in a phone interview Monday afternoon from Los Angeles. "This won't be the end."

While the Las Vegan wouldn't divulge details on her post-"Idol" opportunities -- "the phone calls have been crazy, so it's still up in the air" -- Gordon would like to pursue acting.

"I think that, though I love to sing, I'm really going to see what's out there in the acting field right now," she said. "I love to be on the stage and to perform and talk. Just know that I'm a really hard worker and that you will see me on TV very soon. This is just the beginning."

As Gordon discusses her career plans, it's difficult to believe it was just Thursday night when the Cimarron-Memorial High School junior learned she was eliminated from Fox's "American Idol" in front of an audience of more than 30 million.

The youngest contestant on "American Idol" said she wasn't irritated by the telephone revote on Wednesday, when the results were to be announced. A second vote was needed because the show posted incorrect call-in numbers for three contestants.

"It wasn't really that bad," she said.

Nor does she have any regrets about her stint on the show.

"There were things that I could have improved on -- I'm not perfect by any means," she said. "But all in all, I stand by everything I said, everything that I've done."

Her indomitable attitude is typical of the sassy and spirited teen who often sounded like a cross between Barbra Streisand and Fran Drescher.

While Gordon's larger-than-life personality has suited her well in dealing with the "American Idol" elimination, the same traits may have contributed to her exit.

It was one of the show's judges, Simon Cowell, who commented that Gordon's vivacious character was likely to divide the audience into two groups: those who liked her and those who couldn't stand her.

"I'm not your average 17-year-old and I think people were really taken aback by that," she said. "I think sometimes people don't really get or don't understand someone like me and I might come off annoying to them.

"I came here knowing that not everyone was going to like me and that that was going to have to be OK."

Of course, Gordon couldn't resist playing up that image.

On a recent trip to Target with her mom, Gordon bought a $5 T-shirt in the boys department that read, "My Job Is to Annoy You." She proudly wore the shirt on Wednesday's episode.

Such theatrics have caused some critics to speculate Gordon's antics were calculated for the cameras.

It's an assertion she quickly dismisses.

"I know who I am and I'm comfortable with who I am. And I'm not right," Gordon said. "I think that I have a couple of screws loose, but that's OK."

It's been nearly six months since Gordon first auditioned for "American Idol" judges during Las Vegas try-outs.

At that time she was "just this girl going to high school, wrecking her car, going to her after-school job."

Then Gordon and "The Sirens of TI" performer Amanda Avila emerged as Las Vegas residents to make it as the final 24 contestants on "American Idol."

Avila was eliminated earlier this month, while Gordon made it to the top 11.

A shaky version of Taylor Dayne's "Love Will Lead You Back," however, hastened her exit from the show and prompted Cowell to comment that her performance was "a complete and utter mess."

Still, Gordon joked she's heard worse critiques.

"People forget that I'm in high school and that Simon's wrath does not compare to what some high school girls can say about you," she said. "It's ridiculous what they can say."

It's not surprising, then, to hear that Gordon isn't in a hurry to go back to school. While she returns to Las Vegas today for a brief visit, after that she will be living with an aunt in L.A. and continue her tutoring.

"That wasn't the plan. (And) if there's no offers, then of course I'm going to stay home (in Las Vegas)," she said. "But if there's things going on here, then I'm going to stay right here."

Even as Gordon looks to L.A. to possibly begin an acting career, she is appreciative of local support from her high school, as well as everyone in Las Vegas who cheered her on each week on "American Idol."

"Thank you so much and don't give up on me quite yet because there's going to be a lot more," she said. "I'm going to make Vegas real proud."