Simon Cowell

Think "American Idol" has gotten too mushy? Then you're going to love "The X Factor." Simon Cowell's new show, which debuts with a two-and-a-half hour premiere on Sept. 21, should be more vindictive and mean -- if there's as much tension as there was in a Friday morning press conference in L.A.

Cowell, speaking via satellite, bantered with his ol' sparring partner Abdul, constantly interrupting her and taking swipes.

"As Paula would know, I'm all about comebacks," he said. "Everyone deserves a third chance."

At one point, Abdul referred to their relationship as "demented." Cowell likened it to "Exorcist 2."

Abdul brought back some of her weirdness, at one point saying that she now sits differently. Not that anyone asked.

And fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger bristled when Cowell praised her for being ruthless by "leaving behind the other Pussycat Dolls."

Cowell also showed his ambitious side. When asked if he could beat "Idol" in the ratings, Cowell said that you "don't enter something for the silver medal."

He also confirmed that Mariah Carey would have been a judge if she hadn't "selfishly gotten pregnant." Cowell said the winner will get $5 million in cash and a Pepsi commercial during the Super Bowl.