Paula Abdul: Bruno Tonioli's a More "Accommodating" Judge Than Simon Cowell

USMagazine, Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 4:15pm (PDT)

Paula's getting handsy!

Sitting alongside Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli on Monday's Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars, Paula Abdul told Us Weekly she felt right at home at the judges' panel, and that her one-night-only stint couldn't have gone more smoothly.

"I hope you could see how much fun I was having," Abdul, 50, gushed to Us Weekly after critiquing Kirstie Alley, Bristol Palin and others during the performance show. "It felt like home and was very natural."

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Especially impressed with Shawn Johnson's fancy footwork, the X Factor and American Idol veteran (and seasoned dancer, choreographer and former pop star) couldn't help but get flirty with judge Tonioli during the taping. Critiquing Johnson's mambo with Derek Hough, Abdul reached for Tonioli and began rubbing his chest to illustrate the sex appeal she felt the couple exuded through their routine. "While I'm giving my critique, I'm just going to touch him," she mused.

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Having sat next to Simon Cowell on both The X Factor and American Idol, Abdul naturally compared her chemistry with Cowell to her chemistry with Tonioli. "He's very accommodating," she said of Tonioli. "If it was the guy I used to sit next to, Simon, it would have been like 'I'm sorry my fingers are stuck in a mass of hair.' And he probably wouldn't have let me [rub his chest]."

Abdul told Us that she was only approached to appear on DWTS for one night only, but if she has her way, she'll return to the panel again very soon.

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"I've been such a fan since season one and I was fortunate enough to be a part of Idol [which taped] next door. During commercial breaks I'd run over here and catch what was going on with this show and then I'd run back to my seat. It's been a decade plus and they're like an extended family," Abdul said. "I [was] here for one night only and it was a blessing being here, that's all I can tell you for now!"

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Paula Abdul: Bruno Tonioli's a More "Accommodating" Judge Than Simon Cowell