Simon Cowell Finds Out About Paula's Nose on Jay Leno

No sooner did Simon Cowell get comfortable Monday night on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno than someone came out and handed Jay an article that said Paula Abdul broke her nose, tripping over her Chihuahua. Simon said it was the first he ever heard of it, and deadpanned that it was 'good," as "Pauler" wouldn't be able to talk during the American Idol season finale. Jay Leno said that he was 'cruel.'

Paula's mishap occurred over the weekend. Abdul told the TV show "Extra" that she tore cartilage in her nose and fractured her toe, trying not to hurt her dog.

"I took a nasty fall .... I bruised myself on my arm ... my chest, my waist all the way down to my hip. All from my little chubby Tulip," Abdul said.

Jay Leno then asked Simon what he talked to Paula Abdul about during the breaks. Simon said he talks to her about "utter and complete rubbish." He told a story how once, when one of two contestants were facing elimination, he made up a fortune cookie saying and told Paula to say something to the effect of "the moth who finds the corn flake always finds the melon." Paula somehow garbled this up and Simon admitted that at the time of the incident he didn't confess to being the inspiration behind the remark, and let Paula Abdul wallow in embarrassment alone. He owned up a year later and apologized.

Jay Leno asked Simon why he, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest didn't invite Paula out with them. Jay wanted to know if it was a "boys night out" thing, or if it was because they really didn't like Paula. Simon compared Paula to an annoying younger sister that you don't want to be around anymore than you have to, but you love anyway. "Everyone has one," he said.

When asked how he feels when the audience boos him, Simon Cowell remarked that during this season, they've been booing him as soon as Ryan asks him what he thinks. He said it's bad enough with Paula's interruptions, but now he can't even open up his mouth before the booing begins.