It seems like the trick to getting Paula Abdul to talk is by tickling her funny bone.

As the American Idol judge made her way out of Hollywood hot spot Mr. Chow Wednesday night, one of the paparazzi managed to break through the gossipy questions that poker-faced Paula was ignoring by interjecting a humorous request.

"Tell Simon his chest hair is like a rain forest," said the photog. "Like a rain forest!"

"Now, that's funny!" Paula replied with a laugh, before taking a moment to wish everyone a happy Mother's Day.

Never has the use of the word mother, when lodged at the paps, sounded so sweet.