'Toddlers and Tiaras' 2011 Week 4: The Demon Child Goes to Vegas

"Toddlers and Tiaras" 2011 resumed January 19 on TLC with week 4 of the newest season. The latest episode profiled queen-wannabes Cassidy, Kiara and Ellisyn as they prepared for and then competed in the Viva Las Vegas pageant. Wondering how many fits were pitched and how nutty things got? Read on.

Bad girl 8-year old Cassidy from California and mom Julie were up first. Julie revealed that since their last appearance on the show, Cassidy had been diagnosed with ADHD. Julie was pleased to report that Cassidy no longer "beat up inanimate objects". (My husband, who'd never before watched an episode of "Toddlers and Tiaras", looked at me in horror. Real horror. Yes honey, these people are real.)

Kiara, age 5, was up next on "Toddlers and Tiaras" 2011 week 4. Kiara's mom, Kyle, asserted that her daugther would be a "show stopper" in Vegas and likened her to Diana Ross. The family held bake sales to raise money to fund Kiara's pageant habit. A common fundraising tool with an uncommon goal.

Five-year old Ellisyn, who got started in pageants at 6 months old, was last to be profiled. Dad Christian admitted to being proud of his pageant dad status.

In Cassidy-land, the tyke visited with an acting coach to help her learn about monologues. Er, not great. But she wants to be a horror movie queen, so it may well work out for her. She can certainly scream well enough to make the cut. Elsewhere in the USA, Kiara was featured bustin' a move at her dance class. Her dance teacher said she'd "blossomed" as a result of her dance training.

At a nail salon, Ellisyn bargained for little flowers on her pedicure. Shockingly, dad, who admitted that his daughter has her wrapped around his finger, gave in and made it happen. Go figure!

In one of the more alarming and bizarre clips I've ever seen on "Toddlers and Tiaras", Cassidy and her parents were pumped to watch her role in a horror movie. Mom noted (very seriously) that she'd been type-cast as a "little demon". Who the heck says that about their own child?

Back at Ellisyn's place (and it was quite a relief to get away from Cassidy talking about how much she'd enjoyed the idea of whacking some guy with a shovel, dad asserted that if his daughter competed in a glitz pageant against his wife, Ellisyn would win "hands down". Just a little odd. But moving on, Kiara tried on her glitz dress and her mom wasn't pleased with it. What to do? Rent one. Good plan.

At home with Cassidy, Ellisyn's Auntie and Grandma, who are involved sponsors for their little princess, were deemed winners after a mock competition. It's like playing house or school for little pageant gals.

On Cassidy's end, mom admitted that she'd "spend every last" bit of money on glitz dresses, despite the fact that dad noted that sometimes they have trouble paying other bills -- like for food -- because of the pageant habit. Well, at least their priorities are straight.

With the prep work done, it was high time to head to Vegas for the big show on "Toddlers and Tiaras" 2011 week 4. The pageant coordinator explained that the categories for the day were Formal Wear, Vegas Wow Wear and Talent. Kiara was predicted to shine in talent. Ellisyn is "the one to watch". The pageant coordinator, when referencing Cassidy, sighed and quipped "are the meds working?"

While Cassidy and Ellisyn were spray tanned (and Cassidy was sassing her mom), Kiara worked on her make-up. Back in Cassidy's room, she pitched a fit as her mom tried to fix her nails and repeatedly sassed her. (Really. She actually said "quiet wife" at one point. Seriously?) Meanwhile, self-proclaimed "nail expert" Christian affixed his daughter's nails in what he called his favorite part of the process. Mmkay.

Oh, and Cassidy pitched another fit. Her mom handled it by buying her candy. Awesome.

The Viva Las Vegas pageant started with the Formal Wear category. Ellisyn was up first in her white dress. She looked like a little doll. Cute. Kiara, decked out in a yellow and white $50 rental dress, trolled the stage next. Cassidy's prime competition, 8-year old Lindsay, modeled next in her pink gown. I've never seen a kid look more like a Barbie doll. Ever. Cassidy followed in her controversial pink dress, as mom looked on wearing the bunny ears that her daughter insisted she wear. (Yes. She actually wore bunny ears. Tool.)

The Vegas Wow Wear segment of the pageant followed. Ellisyn shook and shimmied in a mottled black and brown outfit, while Kiara did her own thang in a very, very pink western ensemble. As Cassidy prepped for her time on stage, her mom noted that when the medication wears off, she'll... "run". Egads. Mom went on to stress that Cassidy wasn't prepared enough for her showgirl routine, and drooled over how well Lindsay, who also had a showgirl act, trolled the stage. (Cassidy was fine. I guess.)

The Talent portion of the Viva Las Vegas event ended the competitive portion of "Toddlers and Tiaras" 2011 week 4. Ellisyn, decked out in a red and white get-up, shook her stuff on stage. That was about it. Kiara took a similar approach, doing a princess and the frog routine that had actual content. Wow. Cassidy's mom was less than pleased to see that another girl within her age group was also doing a magic act, but Cassidy got up there and did her routine anyway. And she looked stern and pissed off the whole time. Maybe she would've been happier if she'd been holding a shovel?

With all of the mumbo jumbo out of the way, it was time to hand out the prizes. Ellisyn was a big winner, taking titles for Gold Coast Charter, Formal Wear, High Point Winner and more. Kiara took the 2nd runner up title in Talent, while Ellisyn edged her slightly by taking 1st runner up in the same category.

Cassidy was "sad" when she failed to win a talent competition prize. She was even sadder when adversary Lindsay won a bunch of titles. In fact, she received only a 4th runner up title.

So did Ellisyn win the big prize, the Overall High Point title? Yes indeedy, along with $500 in cash. And it just fed her parents' fire; her mom declared "competition is good for the soul" as she affirmed that Ellisyn would continue competing in pageants.

So that's it for "Toddlers and Tiaras" 2011 week 4. If you can take the insanity, tune in next week for another dose of madness.