Image Credit: Andrew Eccles/Oxygen
This week on Oxygen’s The Glee Project, viewers said goodbye to adorable Hannah McIalwain. The 20-year-old was sent home after doing a last chance performance of Taylor Swift’s “Back to December.”
“It was kinda hard [to watch], like I got a little upset,” says Hannah. “Thank the Lord it was months ago. I’ve had time to kinda get over it otherwise I’d be a hot mess right now. I tried my best with what I had. You can always try to look back and say, ‘I wish I would have done this differently’ but that will drive you crazy. I’m proud of what I accomplished.” EW talked to Hannah about her crush on Damian, her friendship with Cameron, and what’s next.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You and Cameron were my two favorites!
HANNAH MCIALWAIN: Well that’s awful! One right after the other!
Do you think it was because you weren’t as good of a singer, like Ryan said last night?
I hate to use excuses, but I wish I would have gotten a different song. I was super excited when I first heard that was the song because I love Taylor Swift, like she’s one of my favorites. But when I got in the rehearsal room and I started singing through it, I felt like it didn’t really show off my voice. I knew that Sam and Lindsay had stronger voices technically speaking. But I felt like if I would have had a different song, I would have had a better shot at being on the same level. Honestly, watching it back, I get why Ryan sent me home. I was kinda surprised though, because all along it’s been who he can write for, who is best for the show. He basically told me, “I really like you. You are the show.” The only critique I got was I needed to seem more confident and see myself in a better light. I was kinda surprised when he was like, “When it comes down to it, it’s about talent.” So well I guess that’s different. It’s whatever Ryan wants I guess.
Your crush on Damian kinda came full circle. Was that awkward to watch on camera? How do you feel about Damian now?
He’s a great guy. We’re still really close and he’s going to be one of my best friends forever. I think it’s kinda funny though: The way they portray it on the show it’s kinda like I’m a crazy fangirl that’s just absolutely in love with him. He totally admitted to liking me back on camera at one point. I’m not totally crazy. I might be a little crazy, but I’m not that crazy. Let it be known that Damian McGinty had feelings for this awesome ginger. He’s a great guy. I figure I might as well be honest. I’m done with the show so I’m not holding anything back now.
You had a really good friendship with Cameron too?
Absolutely. He was my rock throughout the whole thing. He offered a lot of guidance. We’d pray together a lot. He was just an amazing friend.
Were he and Damian your best friends on the show?
Yeah. I was also really close with Marissa and Emily but after they were gone I feel like I got a lot closer with Damian and Cameron. They’re like my brothers.
Have you been able to see them?
Yeah. We’ve been doing some promo stuff, like we got to go to the Glee [The 3D Concert Movie] premiere the other night.
How was that?
Oh my gosh, Tim! It was the bomb! You have no idea! It was basically the best night of my life. I couldn’t believe it. Someone made me a sign, it said, “MC Hannah, you make koala bears sexy.” It was the best night of my life. I was walking the red carpet next to like Harry Shum Jr. and all the other stars. It was crazy.
Looking back on the show, was it still a good experience?
Absolutely. It’s hard not winning, because I definitely wanted that role on Glee more than anything. But I’ve grown leaps and bounds since doing the show. I feel like it’s really molded me into someone I always kind of strived to be. I appreciate every moment on the show. I was pretty heartbroken leaving and it was definitely a sad moment for me but I really wouldn’t change a thing.
Where are you living now?
I live in L.A.
Are you pursuing acting?
Absolutely. I haven’t been able to do much. But now that I’ve been eliminated hopefully things will start happening for me. I’m so ready to just get out there and rock the world. I’ve been like a tiger in a cage for months, waiting to get out there. So who knows? This town isn’t gonna know what hits ‘em, I’ll tell you that much.
Follow Tim on Twitter: @EWTimStack
Read more:
Production execs on ‘Glee’ spinoff: ‘Plenty of time to resolve the issue’
‘The Glee Project’ producer ‘confident’ about renewal
‘The Glee Project’ Exit Q&A: This week’s eliminated contender says, ‘I’m glad I could shock some people’
Love her! Best of luck.
WHO ELSE DID A HAPPY BACKFLIP WHEN SHE SAID THAT DAMIAN LIKED HER TOO?!
I like Damian and Lindsay as a couple since they look cute together, but DANNAH FOR LIFE SNITCHEZZ!
I was disappointed to see Hannah go. I wanted her to win. She could have played Laurie Zizes perky little sister. They could have been polar opposites, which would have been funny.
This would’ve been a great idea! Hannah lights up the screen and her voice is beautiful – I agree, the Taylor Swift song wasn’t her best – odd song to sing without much range. Can’t wait to see you in the movies, Hannah!
Ryan Murphy is a coward. All kinds of big talk about it being about talent and who’s right for the show, followed by keeping the conventionally “pretty” people no matter how horrible the feedback from the coaches or how terrible their performance was that week. I would have looked forward to seeing Hannah on Glee. Damien I could live with so I still have hope, but I honestly don’t know if I will be able to watch the train wreck of a storyline they will have to cram in to accomodate Lindsay, Samuel, or Alex.
Felt Damien should of went home. He’s been on the chopping block so many times and the only thing he offers is the chance to play a foreign exchange student. Hannah had the bubbly personality and attitude which could have been shown through a character she was playing. Just because she was not the skinniest of girls dosn’t man she would be another Mercedez like people say. Two distinct characters. Samuel or Alex FTW in my book. Lindsay is disgustingly fake.
Damien _had_ to be on the chopping block so many times since his Celtic Thunder resume and international appeal would make him an easy winner and draw any suspense out of the show.
I can’t really believe that at all. Never heard of him before this show so maybe that’s why.
I know what you mean. I thought Hannah would have been perfect for Glee. I really cannot stand Lindsay, even though she does have a great voice, but she is seriously NOT what the show is about, but watch her win.
I guess I’m the only one who isn’t greatly impressed with Lindsay’s voice. She’s good, but not exceptional. Ellis and McKinleigh both sang her under the stage. The judges keep saying that Lindsay is the best actress. Really? Everyone who watches her says she comes off fake, so how good of an actress can she be?
Hannah’s elimination was the worst decision of the season – it ran completely counter to everything else shown in the show.
100% agree- I am so upset that Hannah is gone
I’d say Marissa’s elimination ties with Hannah’s for most idiotic and unreasonable. Above all, it is inconceivable to me that Alex is still on the show and they aren’t.
I want alex to go. He’s annoying
Yes, please. He needs to go. I hope he does not win the competition. He should have left long time ago.
I agree, after the crapfest of Glee last season if Alex wins I am not watching the show anymore, nail in the coffin
Alex has no depth. He can only be “Alex.” Samuel & Mattheus had to play characters opposite him. In fairness, Alex should have to play it straight for once. I doubt he could do it, but that’s beside the point.
Agreed. Alex would just be playing himself. Sure he’s got a great voice but really, what would they do with him? Glee already has 5 gay characters, there’s no need for a 6th. I don’t see what storyline could be developed that is different than Kurt’s or Santana’s or Karofsky’s.
I wouldn’t care if there were more gay characters, but they need to have unique personalities. Kurt, Blaine, Santana, & Karofsky are all very different, so it works. I don’t think Alex could bring anything new to the show.
LOVE Hannah! She and Cam were my faves too. All my faves are gone now except Damian. I just wanna say directly to Hannah that you rock. NEVER give up. You have that spark that will take you wherever you wanna go. The best of everything!!
I nearly cried! Hannah, you and Damian were the only two left with any real, humble, likable personalities and I think Ryan made a big mistake letting you go. You have something even better out there waiting for you and whatever it is, we’ll be watching!
My friends and I cursed out the TV when we saw that Hannah was cut. I’d say it’s Ryan Murphy’s loss, but it’s actually a loss for “Glee” fans. Hannah was perfect for the show.
I hope Ryan Murphy really considers his fans when he chooses the winner. He wants people to watch his show if Lindsey or Alex win the Glee Project he has a good chance of losing a big part of his fan base.
I doubt it. Rachel is one of the most beloved characters on the show. Lindsay is an adopted Broadway baby with an incredible voice and a full-of-herself attitude. What’s the difference?
“Rachel” is a fictional character. Lea Michelle’s portrayal makes her both annoying and sympathetic,which is an impressive accomplishment. So far, Lindsay hasn’t evoked much sympathy.
What makes me mad about Ryan Murphy is that he gets to be part of the decision at all. He sees these kids for about 5 minutes each week and only the ones that do the last chance performance. If he hadn’t met some of them before of course he is going to be rooting for the people he has seen and that is not fair. The competition has nothing to do with who will ultimately win because the person that will win will be the person he feels like writing a character for. This isn’t based on talent at all.
Ya, except he said he would could see a character for Hannah and kicked her out. I think Sam won in his good books by trying to play up the fact that he is Christian too like Cameron. (Which btw, you don’t need someone who is Christian already to play that character- it is called acting…). So it doesn’t seem like Ryan’s decisions are based on who he feels like writing for either…who knows what he is looking for now.
All my favorites keep leaving. I can’t stand Alex and Lindsy and Samuel have no personality. I hope Damien wins!
What personality does Damien have though??? Just the guy with the accent is all he can be labeled with. Haven’t really seen that much personality from him, Marrissa and other contestants.
Damian is FULL of personallity! I don’t know if it the editing or what, but I have been a big fan of his for 4 years, and I can promise you he is SO funny! He is one of the silliest guys I know.
Sticking up for his pals on the show (Matheus and Cameron)??…I’d say that’s personality. And a damn fine one at that.
@Amy: He is? Must be the editing because he doesn’t really come off as anything to me. Cameron was hipstery as they say, Hannah Bubbly, Alex a divo but I couldn’t say anything about Damien.
your really not paying attention then. most of the funny parts of the show involved damian, the dancing the eyebrows the rapping the booty pop the OMGs with hannahs tats the nose hair plucking… hes soo funny and a genuine nice guy he’s never been anyone but himself which defo cant be said for the rest of the remaining contenders
@Peanut: Hah, I’am watching and rewatch at least 3 times a week to make sure I didn’t miss anything. He’s not that much of a comedian more than any regular Joe. His personality doesn’t shine bright like the others in my opinion, in large amounts. Those little references here and there don’t really appeal to me. If it’s his personality then we should see it all the time because personality does not go away.
Samuel is very talented, but I can’t really picture him on “Glee.” He seems too mature to play a high school kid. I really do like him, but I don’t know where he might fit in with the show.
I love her attitude! I hope someone in Hollywood realizes her potential and uses it.
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In one breath he says Hannah is the show and Lindsay is not someone the viewers will root for and in the next breath he gets rid of Hannah? WTF!!! I better have a bucket handy for the final. If either Lindsay or Alex wins I’ll need to vomit into something.
Can’t believe Hannah was cut!!! She was both adorable and real. And her story line could have given Ryan Murphy the opportunity to do for teenage girls what he’s done for gays. Young girls, whether heavy or thin, have horrible body images. So many teens believe they have to starve to be attractive and popular when it’s really about so many other things. Hannah would have been perfect for such a role–she’s both a very good singer and actress, and no one on the show has worked harder or been more professional. Who cares about Samuel, who seems to have little personality, or Lindsay, who is only about winning?
True, but remember this is an acting role. Lindsay may not be the most likable person, but she can act and sing her ass off. I believed her performance for “maybe this time”. I didn’t, however, think Samuel’s perf. was anything special. He’s so one note compared to Hannah, who’s radiance shined through on the show. I wish her the best of luck!
Lindsay cannot act. She always looks fake.
I absolutely loved Hannah & hated to see her go. But I’m not getting the lack of love for Alex. Yeah, he can be a diva (or at least he’s portrayed that way), but he’s very talented and compelling!
I agree that Alex is very talented, but I feel like I already know what his arc will be. I feel like he will be a foil for Amber Riley, and I don’t think I can appreciate that at all. We don’t need a “diva-off” between the original, Mercedes, and a new character, it’s just not that compelling.
Agree with Christine. Alex blew me away with “And I’m telling you”, but how will his character be different than Kurt or Mercedes? Because so far that’s the only kind of character I can see him playing
I think he’s just written off because he has that soul kind of voice. It’s sad that people who have these voices are also grouped with similar singers and are said to be boring but those who have the broadway type voice don’t have that happening.
Alex is just an annoying kid, he has the same problem as a lot of gay people his age which is that his only experience with gay culture seems to come from cliched T.V. shows so he puts on all kinds of over the top diva attitudes because he thinks that’s what gay guys do, instead of just being himself who happens to like guys. I certainly don’t “hate” him, I just have no desire to see him go through this obnoxious phase on my T.V.
That is an interesting observation. It would be interesting to see if he is still working every situation in an over the top way 20 years from now.
Hannah, bravo for being so beautiful and so real — you won my heart. Plus your voice is like silk. Some of the other contestants are beauty pageant perfect or diva delicious or dreadlocked angst caricatures of real teens — you were always the real thing, girl, and I’m sure life has some fabulous surprises just waiting for you.
When showed Hannah’s name I yelled out NO! Then said out loud “you just got rid of the heart of the show” I think Damien is the only contest left that I like. The rest are talented without depth.
i dont get it, from the beginning they said this show wasnt about who was the best singer or whatever, it was about being confident in you uniqueness. so for them to cut hannah just becuz “she couldnt sing as well as the others” is ludicrous!