Posted by Emily Exton on 12/16/2011 at 1:54 PM Videos

The Popdust Files: interviews, paula abdul, simon cowell, the x factor

Together for the better part of 10 years, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul’s television relationship has eclipsed the likes of TV’s most beloved couples—Chuck and Blair, Jim and Pam, Coach and Mrs. Coach. Between American Idol and The X Factor, the fluctuating state of their onscreen partnership has often stolen much of the attention from their aspiring pop superstars. To cap off the year X Factor breached our fair shores, Cowell was featured on Barbara Walters’ Most Fascinating People special Wednesday night, plucked for information about the evolution of his professional collaboration with Ms. Abdul, which he admits had a very rocky start. “I mean, the truth was, on the first two seasons, we couldn’t travel on the same plane together. We really disliked each other that much,” he explained. “I think it was sexual tension on her part.” Cowell devilishly added that he was “a million percent” certain Abdul wanted to take things beyond the judges’ table—because naturally every woman is just dying to see what’s underneath those low-plunging v-necks. “I considered it [laughs] but I don’t think the after would be as good as before,” he said. He claimed if they did have an adult sleepover, he’d make her leave in the middle of the night, without so much as the Derek Jeter-branded courtesy to give an autographed piece of memorabilia on her way out. Can’t have anyone risk disturbing his meticulous morning vitamin —VITamin?—routine. Watch his full interview below.