Kelly Clarkson: Dating is like 'American Idol'
>>> back now at 8:10 with paula abdul , the former " american idol " judge is reuniting with simon cowell for "the x factor " gives contestants a chance to win a $5 million recording contract. paula abdul good morning.
>> good morning, ann.
>> you're a real girlfriend and you made sure i didn't have lipstick on my teeth. why would you say yes to simon cowell , your former arch nemesis ?
>> maybe because i'm a glutton for punishment.
>> ooh.
>> maybe it's just because we've established quite an amazing friendship.
>> you call your relationship with him demented.
>> it is.
>> you act like an old married couple. he says it's more like " exorcist ii ." which one is right?
>> both. we're like an old married couple without the sex by choice.
>> would he raise his hand to that one as well?
>> we both raise to say by choice. we get along well. i mean, it took ten years to understand each other.
>> uh-huh, so what is it that you understand about simon cowell now that you didn't understand about him before or what does he understand about you?
>> he's been my best teacher. he's been my best teacher. he's taught me -- i've always known i'm a strong woman. he always provoked me and challenged me and the more i stood up for myself and stood up to him the more he embraced me.
>> so you call him your best teacher.
>> yes.
>> meantime, meantime he also apparently has learned something from you.
>> he has. he has warmed up a little bit.
>> because on this new show "the x factor " he's not mr. tough guy quite as much, is that right?
>> it's kind of disturbing in a way.
>> what is?
>> it's disturbing that i see him soften up and i sometimes have to take a double look, and he goes, "i know, i know i'm crossing over to your side, a little bit."
>> you're saying simon cowell has gone paula abdul ?
>> he'd never admit that. you know what it is? he's in his element and it's rather charming and it's exciting to see him so happy. it's a big thing for him. we're all there working hard and we're excited about it.
>> the premiere is only a day away i understand so essentially the difference between this and " american idol " is that you lowered the age. there's kids as young as 12 can participate.
>> and the 12-year-olds are fiercely competitive. just as passionate and their work ethic is like unparalleled and you know, there's no age limit, going upwards, so we have, it's nice. it gives people a second or third chance.
>> my name is rachael crowe.
>> the prize is $5 million, you can enter as there are four categories, girls 12 to 30, boys 12 to 30, the overs which are many women combined over 30 and groups. it's the first competition that invites groups in. and the prize is $5 million.
>> it's a big draw .
>> and they get a pepsi commercial campaign in the super bowl as well.
>> i see.
>> it's insanity here.
>> insanity, i know because you think about when this first idea started of " american idol " and where it's taken television today, it's got to blow your mind .
>> absolutely, and what a blessing for me to have been part of, from when "idol" first started and now at the beginning of "the x factor " i feel tremendously blessed and grateful.
>> after all of the years you're happy and excited and you can't believe you're doing this again? you're thrilled?
>> i'm passionate. this is a job where it is totally in my wheelhouse because i started my career behind the scenes mentoring, coaching and you know, working with ron taptant right at the beginning and also iconic stars and doing their stage tours and just helping them really create something very special and "the x factor " is amazing because people say what is it? i say it's hard to articulate. it's not so tangible but it's something that you witness when someone walks in and you know it's something important and you're emotionally connected.
>> it's the "t" people have.
>> just like my relationship with simon.
>> always comes back to your relationship with simon. we'll see it all happening on television. pew laabdul thank you so much.
>> thank you, ann, fun to see you.
>> good morning, ann.
>> you're a real girlfriend and you made sure i didn't have lipstick on my teeth. why would you say yes to simon cowell , your former arch nemesis ?
>> maybe because i'm a glutton for punishment.
>> ooh.
>> maybe it's just because we've established quite an amazing friendship.
>> you call your relationship with him demented.
>> it is.
>> you act like an old married couple. he says it's more like " exorcist ii ." which one is right?
>> both. we're like an old married couple without the sex by choice.
>> would he raise his hand to that one as well?
>> we both raise to say by choice. we get along well. i mean, it took ten years to understand each other.
>> uh-huh, so what is it that you understand about simon cowell now that you didn't understand about him before or what does he understand about you?
>> he's been my best teacher. he's been my best teacher. he's taught me -- i've always known i'm a strong woman. he always provoked me and challenged me and the more i stood up for myself and stood up to him the more he embraced me.
>> so you call him your best teacher.
>> yes.
>> meantime, meantime he also apparently has learned something from you.
>> he has. he has warmed up a little bit.
>> because on this new show "the x factor " he's not mr. tough guy quite as much, is that right?
>> it's kind of disturbing in a way.
>> what is?
>> it's disturbing that i see him soften up and i sometimes have to take a double look, and he goes, "i know, i know i'm crossing over to your side, a little bit."
>> you're saying simon cowell has gone paula abdul ?
>> he'd never admit that. you know what it is? he's in his element and it's rather charming and it's exciting to see him so happy. it's a big thing for him. we're all there working hard and we're excited about it.
>> the premiere is only a day away i understand so essentially the difference between this and " american idol " is that you lowered the age. there's kids as young as 12 can participate.
>> and the 12-year-olds are fiercely competitive. just as passionate and their work ethic is like unparalleled and you know, there's no age limit, going upwards, so we have, it's nice. it gives people a second or third chance.
>> my name is rachael crowe.
>> the prize is $5 million, you can enter as there are four categories, girls 12 to 30, boys 12 to 30, the overs which are many women combined over 30 and groups. it's the first competition that invites groups in. and the prize is $5 million.
>> it's a big draw .
>> and they get a pepsi commercial campaign in the super bowl as well.
>> i see.
>> it's insanity here.
>> insanity, i know because you think about when this first idea started of " american idol " and where it's taken television today, it's got to blow your mind .
>> absolutely, and what a blessing for me to have been part of, from when "idol" first started and now at the beginning of "the x factor " i feel tremendously blessed and grateful.
>> after all of the years you're happy and excited and you can't believe you're doing this again? you're thrilled?
>> i'm passionate. this is a job where it is totally in my wheelhouse because i started my career behind the scenes mentoring, coaching and you know, working with ron taptant right at the beginning and also iconic stars and doing their stage tours and just helping them really create something very special and "the x factor " is amazing because people say what is it? i say it's hard to articulate. it's not so tangible but it's something that you witness when someone walks in and you know it's something important and you're emotionally connected.
>> it's the "t" people have.
>> just like my relationship with simon.
>> always comes back to your relationship with simon. we'll see it all happening on television. pew laabdul thank you so much.
>> thank you, ann, fun to see you.