American Idol

Kevin Covais has been to “College.”

Now the 17-year-old is back in high school, wrapping up the final weeks of his senior year and hoping to make a career in acting. The Season 5 “American Idol” finalist just finished about two months of filming in New Orleans, La., for the upcoming “College.” The Lionsgate comedy is expected to be released in September.

“I think people came to know me as a personality while I was on the show,” Kevin said. “And that wasn’t a bad thing.”

The singer, who may better be known by his nickname, Chicken Little, said there was post-”Idol” interest in his singing, but he also started getting a lot of scripts for roles agents thought fit his personality. “College” was the first one Kevin said he thought was right for him.

“Immediately, I thought it was one of the funniest things I’d read,” he said. Already having missed much of his junior year for “Idol,” Kevin left Island Trees High School once again for filming. He plays Morris Hooper in the story about three high school seniors who visit a college as potential freshmen. Kevin stars alongside Drake Bell (”Drake & Josh”) and Andrew Caldwell.

“These last two years of high school have been really crazy,” Kevin said. While on the set of both “Idol” and “College,” he had to squeeze in a few hours of school on weekdays. The “College” experience was a little different, though. “It was pretty much the same deal as with ‘Idol,’ but there was no Lisa, no Paris,” he said, referring to fellow “Idol” finalists Lisa Tucker and Paris Bennett.

Speaking of Paris, who is credited for giving Kevin his nickname, the two still are friends. Kevin even is featured on “Lemme Rap,” an interlude track on Paris’ debut CD, “Princess P.”

“We do a little rap talk, and we do a little singing on the chorus,” he said. “She, to this day, is one of my best friends. She’s incredible.”

Kevin said he also still talks regularly to Lisa Tucker, as well as several other contestants from his season. He said he has made several special appearances alongside Melissa McGhee since his season finished.

“As far as the others, I still talk to Ace (Young),” he said. “He was an older brother to me. Having said that, Mandisa, she was like an older sister to me.”

In late May, Kevin turns 18. He’ll graduate in June, and this fall he expects to go to a college near his hometown of Levittown, New York. “Had it not been like this, odds are I would have gone away to school,” he said. “Given the events that have happened, it’s definitely important for me to stay close to home.”

“Idol” served as his college experience, he said. Now he’s just trying to make the most of what’s left of high school.

“It’s so incredibly tough,” he said. “I try my hardest to make it be normal, but it’s really impossible.”

So, what about Season 6? The Sanjaya Malakar comparisons?

“Whenever a young male has had success on this show, there’s always people talking about it,” Kevin said. “There are always people talking about why we’re there.”

Still, he said he completely understands the comparisons of Sanjaya with himself. “Sanjaya has a lot of courage,” he said. “People don’t understand how much pressure and how much courage it takes to get on that stage and perform in front of millions and millions of people.”

At 17, it seems Kevin certainly understands a lot more about the entertainment business than many, much older entertainers. But what about the music?

“For grown men, I know your voice doesn’t fully develop until you’re 22,” he said. “So I’m in no big hurry for that.”

He does still perform on Long Island with a band, and he said his fans still are there.

“The fans always come out,” he said, noting it often includes the “12-year-old girls.” “They’re very supportive.”

That’s OK with him, too.

“It’s good to be remembered,” he said. “The nickname helps.”

To find out more about Chicken Little, er, Kevin Covais, visit his official Web site at www.kevcovais.com.

Kevin Covais with fellow “Idol” finalist Mandisa. Kevin said Mandisa was like an older sister.

FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS WITH KEVIN COVAIS
1. What word or phrase do you catch yourself saying far too often?
“I don’t know. Maybe Holy Cow.”

2. If you had to survive on just one food, what would it be?
“KC Masterpiece Lays. Love them.”

3. What CD have you been listening to lately?
“Let me say The Fray.”

4. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
“My girlfriend made me go see ‘In the Land of Women.’ … And it wasn’t half bad.”

5. Who is the musician you most admire?
“I gotta say, especially after having the privilege of meeting him, I gotta say Stevie Wonder.”

American Idol, Kevin Covais, Paris Bennett, Lisa Tucker, Ace Young, Mandisa