Simon Cowell mocks Paula Abdul

LOS ANGELES, April 28 (UPI) -- U.S. T.V. celebrity judge Simon Cowell has revealed that while "American Idol" contestants are singing he is bugging Paula Abdul.

"I'm taunting Paula throughout the performance," Cowell explained on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." "I'm saying to her, 'Try to say something interesting, try not to use the words mountain and lakes in your critiques because it's always: 'You'll climb mountains, you'll swim lakes, whatever.'"

He also revealed he can critique Abdul and see the show without missing a beat.

"I'll tell you a secret," he said. "I watch the dress run so I actually hear much, much easier what they really do sound like."

Cowell's favorite Idol picks include the popular Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle, but he said, "I wouldn't write off Blake (Lewis) or LaKisha (Jones)."