X-Factor

Sometimes, but not often ... someone says no to the Kardashians -- just ask super mom-ager Kris Jenner who recently tried to hire "X Factor" finalists Emblem3, but the boys said no.

Sources close to the K-clan tell TMZ ... Kendall Jenner is obsessed with the Cali boy band and wanted them to play a gig at her recent 17th birthday bash. We're told her famous fam stepped in to help -- Khloe (who is hosting "X") got the band's contact info and Kris made the call. Problem is ... the boys declined.

According to our sources, since Wesley, Drew and Keaton are still competing on the show, they couldn't find the time in between rehearsals to do the party ... though we're told they would have loved to.

Despite the set-back, little Jenner still had a great time ... prolly 'cause her super rich parents turned their pool (ya know, at their giant mansion) ... into her own personal ice-skating rink.

A letter containing a suspicious white powder -- addressed to Khloe Kardashian -- was sent to CBS today where "X Factor" is taped and the FBI is investigating ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us ... the letter arrived to the studio this morning ... and we're told the FBI arrived to inspect the mystery substance. Sources tell us ... law enforcement determined the powder was harmless.

We're told a letter was also inside the envelope ... we do not know what was written.

This is the 3rd instance we know of where a suspicious white powder was sent to the CBS studio -- two letters were sent to Bristol Palin, and just as in this case the white substance turned out to be harmless talcum powder.

Mario Lopez couldn't get enough of that teleprompter on "X Factor" this week, because he was reading Khloe Kardashian's lines and screwing her up in the process ... but sources tell us it wasn't his fault.

Sources connected with the show tell us Khloe got "really upset" because Mario jacked her lines several times, reading his lines and then reading some of hers ... and screwing up her timing in the process.

Khloe forced the issue with producers after Thursday's show, wondering aloud if he was doing it on purpose. After a short discussion, it became clear to Khloe that Mario was on the up and up -- there were glitches in the production that confused everyone and things got a little out of control during the live broadcast.

Now here's what's really interesting. Khloe has heard what we've been saying -- that producers were insane to make her read a teleprompter, because it robs her of her personality. Fact is ... it's hard for a novice to read a prompter.

We're told Khloe is open to leaving the hosting duties to Mario, and taking on the personality-driven interviews without a teleprompter.

Khloe Kardashian says she can't really blame Simon Cowell for pointing out her nipple situation during a live taping of "X Factor" ... 'cause things would've been even more awkward if he ignored 'em.

As we previously reported, Simon made a couple comments about Khloe's enthusiastic areolas during Wednesday's show ... suggesting the air conditioner was on a little too high.

But on her way out of Boa Steakhouse in Hollywood last night, Khloe told us, "I think if he didn't say it, it probably would have been awkward ... because that was pretty noticeable ... that's live TV."

We also asked Khloe how she felt about working with record producer Damon Thomas -- who happens to be Kim's ex-husband. Awkward, right?

Tonight's "X Factor" live show is being sabotaged by tuna sub sandwiches that left several contestants vomiting -- and now one's even been rushed to the hospital ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the production tell TMZ, Drew from the group Emblem3 went to the set, but had to be hospitalized within the last hour because he couldn't stop heaving up his guts. We're told he's currently on an IV drip at an L.A. hospital, and may not be back for the live broadcast.

We're told the vomit-fest started last night when a bunch of contestants and crew members ordered take out to their Hollywood Hills pad -- and almost everyone who ate the tuna salad subs were up sick all night. We'll spare you the details.

Total casualties: 6 crew members out sick, Camilla from the group 1432 is on set, but yacking non-stop ... and of course, Drew is down for the count.

Khloe Kardashian's boobs stole the show on "X Factor" last night ... this according to Simon Cowell who said he was so distracted by KK's tatas ... he could barely focus.

During Khloe's debut episode as a co-host -- along with Mario Lopez -- it became very apparent that KK wasn't wearing a bra underneath her extremely sheer top.

At one point, Simon pointed out that Khloe was pointing out ... saying, "May I say Khloe, you're looking very sexy tonight ... I think the air conditioning is on high."

Khloe shot back, "You love it" ... Simon, "It's very distracting."

The 16 finalists on "X Factor" better not get any ideas about biting their fellow contestants -- because it's specifically VERBOTEN in their new digs ... along with a bunch of other really random things, like exposing your genitals.

TMZ has obtained a list of the "house rules" in the new mansion where the "X Factor" finalists are shacking up -- and in addition to outlawing biting and indecent exposure ... here are some more crazy laws of the land:

-- No intermingling in bedrooms
-- Coasters must be used WITH ALL DRINKS
-- No loud music
-- No physical altercations of any kind (not just biting)
-- No guests
-- "Be sensitive to others"
-- No drinking or drugs
-- No diving into the pool
-- No use of fireplaces
-- Make your own bed

FYI -- if the house looks familiar ... that's because "American Idol" used the same pad to house its finalists last season. It was also used as a sex compound for Playboy TV's bone show "Swing."

The cocky guys from "X Factor" who make up the band Emblem3 were partying their faces off in Los Angeles last week ... so much so that the hotel they're staying in threatened to kick them out.

Emblem3 -- who made their name on "X" singing original songs (below) -- is made up of three guys, ages 15 to 19. We're told the boys threw a massive party in their hotel room this week partying, which included other "X" finalists.

According to our sources, it got so loud that hotel guests complained and called security ... who then shut down the party, and threatened to kick the boys out.

We're told "X" producers -- who are footing the bill for all the contestants -- had to swoop in and save the day, by begging the hotel to let them stay.

A source close to the show tells us, "All the partying Emblem3 is doing is distracting the other contestants and they've been warned to behave."

Teenagers. What are ya gonna do?

An all-girl singing group featured on "X Factor" is scrambling to change their name ... all because they were threatened by Bruno Mars' sisters ... TMZ has learned.

Bruno's 4 female siblings make up the girl band, The Lylas ... an R&B singing group that also happens to have a major modeling deal in the Philippines. Translation -- they're super hot.

Problem is ... there's another group of singing chicks calling themselves The Lylas ... and they're currently kicking ass on "X Factor." In fact, Simon recently chose them to compete on his team.

When Bruno's sisters found out about the other band of Lylas ... they were pissed ... and trashed the "X Factor" Lylas all over the web, claiming the new Lylas hijacked their name.

Sources connected to "X Factor" tell us ... the contestants were shocked by the accusations ... and insist they weren't trying to hijack the name. They simply didn't realize someone else had already laid claim to it.

Reality TV can actually do some good in the world ... just ask "X Factor" finalist David Correy who found his birth mother after 25 years of separation ... all thanks to the show.

The 26-year-old David -- who is in the final 16 -- told the judges during his first audition that he was singing for his birth mother -- whom he'd never met -- who gave him up for adoption from Brazil as a baby.

Sources close to David tell TMZ when his episode of "X" aired in Brazil, a woman named Luciene Lima recognized the baby pics shown in David's segment and had a gut feeling he was hers.

We're told Luciene went through the Brazilian court system to trace her adoption -- and her findings led her back to David. Luciene, not knowing how to reach out to her long lost son, contacted the local media.

Our sources say a local paper was able to track David down in the U.S. and tell him about his mother.

We're told a DNA test has not been performed, but so far everything matches: the birth certificate, the orphanage David came from and the timeline.

Kris Jenner single-handedly SEALED THE DEAL to make Khloe Kardashian the new co-host on "X Factor" ... right when negotiations were on the verge of imploding ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the deal tell us ... negotiations had come to a grinding halt because E! and FOX couldn't seem to work out a deal that would allow Khloe to appear on both networks.

We're told "X Factor" was getting ready to pull the plug on talks with Khloe ... when Kris Jenner got word of the hold up and decided to take the bull by the horns.

Sources say Kris "stepped in over the agents ... over everyone" and forced both networks to sit down with her and hash out a deal ... which they eventually did.

As one source puts it, "She just knows how to make sh*t happen."

It's official ... Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez will be the new co-hosts of "X Factor" ... TMZ has confirmed with sources connected to the show.

We broke the story ... Khloe and Mario had been thiiiiiiis close to a deal for months ... but now we've confirmed they've both signed on the dotted line ... it's a done deal.

We're told the duo's salaries will add millions to the budget -- on top of an already enormous talent budget ... with Britney Spears in the lead at $15 mil.

"X Factor" producers tried to pull the wool over your eyes last night -- because TMZ has learned Simon Cowell and Britney Spears' mansions on the show weren't their homes at all ... in fact, one actually belongs to MLB star Alex Rodriguez.

In case you missed last night's episode, groups of contestants were invited to perform at four different homes around the country -- each allegedly belonging to one of the show's four judges.

But it was ALL A LIE -- "Simon's" Miami pad actually belongs to A-Rod. The baseball star listed the home in August for $38,000,000, but it's still on the market. Simon's real house is in Beverly Hills.

It's unclear who really owns the Malibu home Britney appeared in last night, but one thing's for certain -- Britney does NOT own that Malibu home. Her real home is in Calabasas, many miles away.

As for the other two homes -- we can't say for SURE if they're bogus, but we're betting none of the judges wanted their real homes on public display.

Britney Spears was in rare form yesterday -- she was actually chatty and friendly!

Not surrounded by hoards of security and paparazzi for a change while shopping on Robertson Blvd., our photog actually got to ask Miss Spears a few personal questions -- about her new gig on "X Factor," her kids, and Madonna -- and the usually tight-lipped pop star answered them.

In just a matter of hours, Khloe Kardashian went from a makeup-free natural woman to a polished and shellacked glowing orange babe in Miami.

Early on Wednesday, the sleepy and blemished 28-year-old soon-to-be "X Factor" host was spotted au naturel heading to the gym ... but just a little while later Kim's little sis was almost unrecognizable.

Her transformation -- refurbished weave, spray tanned skin, and the girls pushed up and into a form fitting strapless dress -- was nothing short of awesome.

Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez will join the payroll of "X Factor" -- TMZ has learned, Khloe and Mario will be the new co-hosts of the show.

We're told the final, tiny finishing touches are being put on their deals, but the announcement will be made some time this week.

We're told the duo's salaries will add millions on top of an already enormous talent budget ... with Britney Spears in the lead at $15 mil.