Follow Zap2it:
'Toddlers & Tiaras': Still the most disturbingly hilarious thing on TV, 4 seasons later
Guilty pleasures don't hold our attention for long. So after four seasons, we admit that we're not as diligent about watching "Toddlers & Tiaras" as we used to be. (Our love for psychotic parents and sexy babies is more easily satisfied by encore viewings of the Tom Hanks spoof anyways.)But maybe that's a mistake. Thanks to some well-chosen clippage on a recent episode of "The Soup," three-year-old Olivia has revived our love of exploited, spray-tanned youngsters in under two minutes.
While mother Karey praises Olivia's mature sensibility and "sass," we cut to shots of Olivia channeling that girl who crawled out of the well in "The Ring," creepily whispering "I don't like you" and calling mom a "crazy fool."
The source material gives "Toddlers" a lot to work with, but the editors behind the TLC series are long overdue for an Emmy, the nonexistent Pulitzer Prize for Humor or at least an advanced Presidential pardon for the federal charges that will one day fall on this franchise.
Predictably, a few moments with Olivia just wasn't enough. So after watching her entire episode, a trip down the "Toddlers" clip rabbit hole ensued. And now the obsession is revived.
It's Olivia's particular brand of fledgling sociopathy -- the Patty McCormack in heels and a weave -- that keeps "Toddlers" captivating so many episodes in, despite being overshadowed by the Eden Woods of this world, with their pop songs and rehearsed talk show appearances.
Still, the show is pretty messed up. And behind every laugh, we do feel a twinge of guilt for participating in something we don't actually condone.
"Toddlers & Tiaras" is kind of like ordering veal in that way. Sure, the calves led horrible lives. But they're on the grill now, so why let it go to waste?
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Photo/Video credit: TLC
Related pics
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Our Partners
stop watching & it will go away. do it for the children....
It is a creepy guilty pleasure. Especially since they pipe in the same audience noise every episode when they get to the pageant part. That just makes it even more bizarre.
Curious to see whether they find a way to do a sequel 10-20 years from now and see how these kids turned out.
That is one of the creepiest shows ever. Especially when you say "sexy babies", sick
Love this show. Take a look at the 'most beautiful' children...many times they are overweight and not that pretty, but they feel like it. Think it builds confidence...and spunk. It is the sad truth that pretty people are hired and promoted over their less attractive peers. The one thing that can sway in your direction is a great smile and confidence when you're less attractive...It's 'Toddlers and Tiara's' without the flipper teeth.
That video was one of the biggest pieces of crap I've seen in a while. I think I'll stay away from that garbage.
I'm actually keeping that episode on my TIVO, as it's the funniest one I think they've shown. Olivia's Mom states that Olivia is a "direct reflection" of her parenting skills--everyone agrees on that comment! LOL
It's amazing to see how many families are under the control of a 3 year old child. Mom and Dad are at these kids' beck & call and just shrug it off like, "Eh, what can I do?"
These are the kinds of parents who complain that their pre-schoolers "force" them to take them to McDonalds for unhealthy food, and somehow it's McDonalds fault.
So true! Like a train wreck. Don't want to watch but - have - to.
I saw clips of this show on The Soup and, Jesus, it's pretty damned hilarious and pathetic. How these women are allowed to ***** their kids out on this abortion of a show is perplexing.
But I think the funniest clip of this show was that one kid being accidentally pushed by her mother into the shrubs. Yeah, I know. I shouldn't have laughed, but I sure as hell did. Hard, too.
I'd rather the PTC put its efforts into going after shows like this than wasting its time and ours going after Playboy Club.
Definitely a train wreck. Want to look away, but you just can't. I keep trying to figure out WHY parents would do this to their children. Haven't they heard of pedophiles? Or all the messed up child stars out there? Just a creepy show all around - yet fascinating.