No hard feelings! X Factor judges Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell still love each other!

X Factor judges Paula and Simon hug and Kiss
It’s been a tough road, but Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell are professionally still together. They’re so ecstatic about their new entertainment union on the American X Factor that they hugged, kissed, and Paula put her leg all up on Simon in front of a bevy of photogs Sunday, after it was confirmed at the last minute that Paula would join the show as a judge.

I REALLY missed these guys. I had no idea how much I missed them until I tried to watch a few episodes of this Season’s American Idol. J. Lo and Steven Tyler are pop culture icons, but they go waaaay too soft on the contestants, and even Steven Tyler’s eccentricities and J.Lo’s sexiness can’t quite live up to Paula’s zany, breathless aura.

In 2009, there was quite a stir when Paula bowed out of her long-time run as a judge on American Idol, reportedly over money issues, which Paula denies. Paula was replaced with Ellen Degeneres, but ratings took a bit of a dip when the funny talk show host with a heart-of-gold joined on.

Simon Cowell quickly followed Paula’s departure from Idol because he was busy developing an American version of his British talent search competition show The X Factor, which will air on Fox, just like American Idol.

Idol’s ratings are currently high, but seeing these two together again is like a breath of fresh air. Cowell seems to be expanding the market for singing competition shows, not dividing it.

Abdul almost didn’t make it to be an X Factor judge because of legal language in her contract with CBS for her short-lived dance competition show Live to Dance. Thankfully, for the good of pop culture, that issue was resolved.

Antonio “L.A.” Reid, and Cheryl Cole are the other two judges on The X Factor panel.



PHOTO: Whittle/Brewer/Splash