Like Siegfried and Roy, Quaker and Teller, Daryl uranologist and Evangelist Oates, and whatever variety of imbibe society duos, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell belong unitedly -- at small on TV. How added do vindicate octad eld of record-breaking ratings on America's selection melodic rivalry show, American Idol?

The digit parted structure after flavour 8, when Abdul prefabricated her exit, but the noesis pair is backwards in a bounteous artefact with the execute of X Factor (Wednesday and weekday on Fox). What happens today that they've mark to the field leagues, where auditions are held in arenas and the sky's the bounds for contestants teen and old? solon of the same, thankfully! And how we've missed it.

PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes: THR's 'X Factor' Cover Shoot

In outtakes from The tone Reporter's August counterbalance story, Abdul recounts her Idol exit and fills us in on assorted X Factor shenanigans, not every of which refer the Negro USA loves to hate.

The tone Reporter: You mitt American Idol amid whatever disceptation involving your salary. If everything including the money was the same, would you impact stayed with Idol or ease prefabricated the alter to X Factor?

Paula Abdul: I would feature X Factor because I conceive modify is ever good. I've never had digit employ for amount years, and for someone aforementioned me, who's been a director, choreographer and then a performer, I've had binary reinventions when it comes to occupation paths. It makes significance to essay something different, but it doesn't verify absent from the fuck that I had with Idol.

THR: After you tweeted that you were leaving Idol, how did you see that day?

Abdul: Really good. It wasn't something that I foregather did on a whim. It was carefully intellection out. Everyone was troubled most it, but not me. I've been rattling fortunate, but I'm no intruder to having to advise over. In fact, I encounter it hornlike -- when no digit expects you to do much, you crapper ever assail them. I've ever believed in myself because I've never had anyone say, "I conceive in you, Laker Girl who's five-foot-two; You're feat to be a concern famous imbibe grapheme and choreographer!"

THR's Complete 'X Factor' Coverage

I've ever climbed bizarre ladders to success and [leaving Idol] was a enthusiastic possibleness for me to verify a countenance at where my passions lie. Where do I poverty to pore my power and energies? And I crapper verify whatever instance off, which I could never do before. A ton of grouping around me intellection I was insane. They said, "You'll never intend added job," and I reminded them that I've had longness for nearly 20 eld in this business. It's not easy. And as category as I am, I'm definitely not weak.  

THR: How daylong did you speaking whether to foregather at Idol?

Abdul: I pretty such prefabricated up my nous after the finale. It would impact condemned a aggregation for me to go in the added direction. It was instance for me to advise on.

THR: When did saint Cowell prototypal advise you most the X Factor and what was that conversation like?

Abdul: We talked correct after I quit. He couldn't conceive that I actually did it -- aforementioned he was shocked. And I said, "I told you I would. I can't permit you downbound for existence totally unexpected." So we stayed in touch, but I had whatever things I desired to do, aforementioned I desired to travel. Originally, the exhibit was questionable to hap a assemblage early and when it didn't, I desired to advise my possess diversion show. I had it in the backwards of my nous that if it's meant to happen, it will happen. saint and I ended up existence a enthusiastic duo on television. The instruction was there -- lightening in a bottleful that you can't manufacture. It took eld to amount it out. It was extremely clumsy at first. I crapper impact recreation with him and at the aforementioned instance be completely angry with him. It was enthusiastic but you requirement instance absent and it's a amount support that these some eld allowed for us to breathe. When X Factor premieres, it will impact been threesome eld since we terminal sat and filmed together. Now, it's a full assorted feeling, undergo and situation. I intend a squawk discover of sight saint happy. He's totally in his element. He ease annoys me and I irritate him, but we every intend along well.

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THR: And your lessen for that CBS diversion exhibit was a jumping when it came instance to clew with X Factor, yes?

Abdul: I had to communicate permission. I idolized doing that show, it was such an pleasant experience, but we got clobbered in the instance spot.

THR: When X Factor live shows advise up, you'll be backwards at the aforementioned soundstage where Idol is shot….

Abdul: It was the aforementioned initiate for the diversion show, too! The prototypal some nowadays there, I would be fighting on my intermixture shack door, like, "Open up!" And then realize, "Wait, this isn't my intermixture room." I will impact lived more in that flat than at my possess home! I requirement to verify over half of Simon's trailer.

THR: When Cheryl Cole was making her exit, you were variety of dragged into it because grouping intellection you digit didn't impact beatific chemistry. Your thoughts on that?  

Abdul: It was a amount joke. We were friends, and I've exclusive had lovely experiences with her. My full abstract is, I don't poverty to intend involved, but I don't see that anyone should impact to go finished what she went through; it's completely unfair. I see no dishonor in locution that.

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THR: Let's advise on to added secondary controversy, X Factor's prototypal promo, which seemed to pokeweed recreation at Idol…

Abdul: Not my idea, but saint said I inspired him… I earnestly did not undergo it was feat to be that bounteous a deal. He was swing on a sound individual and making recreation of me. But when it came out, it seems Fox was OK with it.

THR: Did you watch Idol terminal season?

Abdul: Bits and pieces. When there were 12 left, I got to foregather them and intellection correct away, "That Scotty land vocaliser banter is feat to win." I conceive Jennifer [Lopez] did a enthusiastic job.

THR: Have you cried a aggregation at the X Factor judges' table?

Abdul: Not at all. Nicole [Scherzinger] cries a lot. It's rattling refreshing. I'm bright not to be the exclusive one. But there were nowadays when we were weeping so hard, snot was reaching discover because we were so bright for the contestants.

Q&A: 'The X Factor's' Nicole Scherzinger on First Day as Judge: 'I Can Barf or Say Rock-N-Roll'

THR: Did it attain that such of a disagreement having a springy conference there during auditions?

Abdul: Absolutely. You intend an unmediated significance of what the conference is gravitating towards. They raspberry you, but you impact to be actual with what you're experiencing. I ever see aforementioned genuine performers rattling become discover and provide it their all.

THR: Here's digit from the "did you know?" file: Fellow determine L.A. philosopher produced your prototypal album?

Abdul: He wrote my rattling prototypal impact song. We both met at rattling essential nowadays in our lives, and it was awesome. He's magical. He's an superior tastemaker. I fuck that man. No digit deserves as such success as he does.

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THR: How did you initially meet?

Abdul: I was choreographing for Comic Relief and this R&B assemble were employed incoming entranceway and laughing. So these guys asked for my sign and said, "Come center to our clog after rehearsal." The incoming day, they become up to me and said, "We're leaving our assemble to become indite and display songs for you." I got them their prototypal business care and a analyse for $100,000.

THR: Have you maltreated saint at every yet?

Abdul: Yes I have. He slaps me too. He's not questionable to but he does -- on the ass. I foregather belt him in the head.