Darren Criss has declined an offer to host The X Factor, according to E! Online.

A show insider tells the site:

“They were after him. But there’s no way he could have done it with everything he has going on.”

The 25-year-old Glee star would have replaced Steve Jones, who was fired after the show's first season.

Criss' rep has yet to issue a statement.

As for the judging spots, The X Factor producers are close to nabbing pop star Britney Spears. She was offered $10 million for the spot, however she is reportedly demanding $20 million. Also being considered ... country cutie LeAnn Rimes.

Janet Jackson will not be joining the judges panel on X Factor, according to TheInsider.com.

The 45-year-old "Control" singer tells the site that she's “very flattered that X Factor let me know that I was being considered for next season, but it just wouldn't be possible."

Just last year, judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger were reportedly fired from their spots on the hit Fox show.

Now that Janet has declined, singers like Britney Spears, Mariah Carey and Avril Lavigne are rumored to be gunning for the spot.

We would have loved to see Ms. Jackson on the panel!

Britney Spears wants to join Simon Cowell on X Factor, according to Us Weekly.

A source tells the mag that the 30-year-old mama of two has reached out to the Fox production.

The newly engaged pop star would be one of the replacements for former judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger who were fired after last season.

Britney's been in the music business for twelve years now, so we have a feeling she has lots of advice for the show's contestants.

So far, Janet Jackson and Black Eyed Peas' Fergie are in the running to join the hit show as judges.

Melanie Amaro of Sunrise Florida was crowned the very first winner of X Factor US, beating out 30-year-old singer Josh Krajcik of Wooster, Ohio.

The 19-year-old couldn't hold back tears as her name was announced -- she also landed a $5 million recording contract and a starring role in a Pepsi commercial!

Amaro was too choked up to give a thank you speech after her win, so Simon Cowell spoke for her, saying: "I want to say, America, thank you for giving this girl an opportunity."

The new winner then struggled through tears to cover Beyonce's hit, "Listen," and thanked fans for their support, gushing: "Thank you so much! OMG, I don't know what even to say... God is good... Thank you America!"

But while Amaro cried tears of joy on stage, there was some major drama behind the scenes! Two crew members sustained head injuries, and another was hit in the elbow, as a stair riser came unhinged just before rapper 50 Cent took the stage.

Paramedics rushed to the scene within minutes, and all three were taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to receive treatment for their injuries.

Upon leaving the studio for the hospital, one of the injured crew members expressed: "I'm fine! ... on the f--king last night of the show!"

Congrats to new X Factor winner Melanie Amaro!

X Factor has been known as a reality series featuring live performances ... until now.

The hit FOX show is admitting that some of the performers do get vocal assistance from pre-recorded tracks.

In a statement, FOX says:

"All survival songs are performed live, with just a backing track. For the group ensemble performance, the vocals are prerecorded to allow acts to concentrate on preparing for their own live competitive performances on Wednesdays—this is also no different to what other competition shows do for ensemble performances."

The controversy surfaced after viewers noticed a group number, as well as contestant LeRoy Bell, were lip-syncing during several X Factor performances. Yikes!

Audiences got more than they bargained for when X Factor contestant Geo Godley dropped trou on Wednesday night's premiere show, and now the Parents Television Council are stepping in.

The streaker, who claimed to be a classically trained pianist, dropped his pants to fully expose himself on stage while singing the lyrics, “Let’s get nude, don’t be a prude,” and repeatedly announcing, “I’m a stud.”

The contestant's private parts were censored with a huge "X", but that still wasn't good enough for the PTC.

The Council has filed an indecency complaint stating that the blurred nudity aired shortly after 9 p.m. ET, when indecent content is prohibited on broadcast television.

PTC president Tim Winter in a statement:

“Families were led to believe the X Factor would be family-friendly programming and instead were assaulted by graphic nudity. Perhaps the ‘X’ in X Factor stands for the MPAA rating. No wonder PTC Seal of Approval winner and judge Paula Abdul walked out during the performance, apparently becoming physically ill by what happened."

Winter added, "If Godley performed his act in public, he would have been arrested. But if he performs it in front of a Fox camera, his act is beamed via the public airwaves into every home in the nation."

The performance forced judge Paula Abdul to actually run off the stage, holding her mouth to prevent herself from vomiting, while co-judge L.A. Reid vented: “That was offensive, disgusting, distasteful, upsetting … get him out of the building, please.”

The PTC has also spoken out against MTV's Skins, Toddlers & Tiaras and Glee.

Check out the entire (censored!) video, after the jump ...

X Factor/Fox

The X Factor premiere kicked off last night with Rachel Crow ... a 13-year-old singer who belted out Duffy's hit "Mercy" (click through to watch the clip).

After her powerful performance, judge Paula Abdul said, "You opened up your mouth to sing and blew us away."

Simon Cowell added, "We're going to hear a lot about you."

The teen is hoping to win the show's $5 million prize ... to help her family buy a new house. Crow told the judges, "We live in a two-bedroom house, and I have six people in my family. I'm a girl. I need my own bathroom."

Sassy!

Meanwhile, a slightly less-talented contestant surprised Paula with HIS X Factor, almost exposing himself on stage and causing Ms. Abdul to walk off ...

Simon Cowell had a smokin' hot time at The X Factor premiere with girlfriend Mezghan Hussainy despite rumors that the two had called off their engagement.

X17online caught up with the reality show's main man at the ArcLight Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles Wednesday night, and we asked him if he was still dating the 38-year-old makeup artist.

Simon looked confused, turning around and pointing down the red carpet towards Mezghan.

The question shouldn't have come as a big surprise, as last week Simon told Howard Stern: “I'm not sure [if we're still engaged]. I get embarrassed talking about things." After opening his admittedly big mouth, the 51-year-old said he wanted to keep his relationship private from here on out.

Reports have also surfaced that Mezghan has moved out of Simon's Beverly Hills mansion and into one of his nearby properties. "Yes, she is living here. She is here now," a member of the house staff told the Mirror.

Mezghan also did not wear her engagement ring to the premiere last night, as seen in the pic below. However, the two put on a united front throughout the evening.