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The Circus(TV show/series, 2016-2023)

TV-14
| 29min per episode | Genre: Documentary

Documentation in 8 seasons with 130 episodes

The CircusRating: 3.2/5 (with 8 votes)
The Circus is an American documentary television series initially following the 2016 presidential race, the Trump administration, the 2020 United States presidential election, and then the Biden administration. It was produced by Left/Right Productions, a North Road company, for Showtime. The docu-series premiered on January 17, 2016, and focused on the 2016 U.S. presidential election, January to November. It was renewed for a second season, which premiered on March 19, 2017, and focused on President Trump's first 100 days. It returned on April 15, 2018 for a third season, and focused on the mid-term elections, with CBS News anchor Alex Wagner stepping in as co-host to replace Mark Halperin, who was replaced on January 3, 2018, by the show, after sexual harassment allegations. Jennifer Palmieri joined as guest host beginning October 13, 2019, with season four episode twelve, Desperate Times, Desperate Measures, and joined as a permanent co-host in season 6. The first half of the fifth season premiered on January 26, 2020. The second half of the fifth season premiered August 16, 2020. The sixth season premiered on January 10, 2021. The seventh season premiered on March 6, 2022. The second half of the seventh season premiered on September 25, 2022. The eighth season premiered on... ()
Poster of The Circus

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About The Circus

Come one, come all to The Circus. This real-time documentary series pulls back the curtain on the current political stories, revealing the intense, inspiring and infuriating stories behind the headlines. Key characters and events are presented in real time, as they are happening.

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Trailer for The Circus + Featurettes/Teaser/Clips

THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH (2016) | Teaser Trailer | SHOWTIME Series(Trailer, 0:34)

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The Circus Seasons and Episodes

02/26/2023Season 8 - 12 episodes
With a power shift in the House of Representatives and score-settling on the Congressional agenda, hosts John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and Jenn Palmieri go beyond the headlines for an informative, inside look at the fluctuating political spectacle and the issues impacting us all.
#1 | 02/26/2023The Year of Living Dangerously
3.5/5 (with 1 vote)
The Circus is in Poland tracking President Biden as he stuns the world with a visit to the embattled capital of Ukraine to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Host John Heilemann talks with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the covert trip to Kyiv and the monumental challenges of confronting a nuclear armed Russia. Back in the U.S., Mark McKinnon speaks with Bush White House veteran Nicole Wallace, while Jennifer Palmieri sits down with former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis.
#2 | 03/05/2023Off to the Races
3.5/5 (with 1 vote)
The Circus is on the ground in Florida, South Carolina, Maryland and New Hampshire to mark the unofficial kick-off of the Republican Party's presidential nominating contest. The week begins as a leading potential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, launches his book tour and ends with CPAC, the annual conservative gathering that’s friendly territory for former President Donald Trump, who’s already in the race. John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri, Mark McKinnon and guest host Tim Miller examine the fault lines already emerging in the party.
#3 | 03/12/2023Kevin's House
3.5/5 (with 1 vote)
The Circus heads to Capitol Hill to cover the new Republican-controlled House of Representatives. John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, and Jennifer Palmieri follow two freshman members of Congress, Republican Mike Lawler of New York and Democrat Maxwell Frost of Florida, as they navigate a week dominated by Tucker Carlson's coverage of January 6th, hearings on the Biden Administration, and a fight that threatens to tip America over a fiscal cliff.
#4 | 03/19/2023Fake News?
4.0/5 (with 1 vote)
The Circus examines the $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News. John Heilemann speaks with legendary First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, Mark McKinnon with prominent journalists, and Jennifer Palmieri with Trump voters about the case.
#5 | 03/26/2023Wheels of Justice
3.5/5 (with 1 vote)
This week The Circus examines the multiple investigations facing Donald Trump that could lead to the first indictment of a U.S. president. Jennifer Palmieri speaks with former Justice Department prosecutor Andrew Weissmann about the hush-money probe. Mark McKinnon charts Michael Cohen’s journey from Trump fixer to star witness with Vanity Fair reporter Emily Jane Fox. John Heilemann talks with New York Times reporters Michael Bender and Katie Benner about the myriad investigations and their political fallout.
#6 | 04/02/2023Nothing but the Truth
4.0/5 (with 1 vote)
This week The Circus examines the historic indictment of Donald Trump, the nation's first former president to face criminal charges, and tracks the legal and political fallout from the bombshell development. In addition, John Heilemann and guest host Andrew Weissmann discuss the two special counsel probes focused on Trump, Mark McKinnon speaks with Mike Pence after the former VP was ordered to testify in one of those inquiries, and Jennifer Palmieri looks at the investigation into Trump’s election interference in Georgia.
#7 | 10/08/2023Exhaustion, Depression and Dread... Oy Vey
4.0/5 (with 1 vote)
Hosts John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and Jenn Palmieri go behind the scenes of the wildest political show on earth for an unbiased, inside look at the stories beyond the headlines.
#8 | 10/15/2023Piercing The Bubble
3.5/5 (with 1 vote)
In the wake of the shocking terrorist attack in Israel, The Circus tracks the political fallout as Republican presidential hopefuls respond to the ongoing crisis.
#9 | 10/22/2023The Crucible
3.5/5 (with 1 vote)
The Circus examines President Biden's high profile wartime trip to Israel, a nation reeling in the wake of the terrorist attack by Hamas. Meanwhile, House Republicans struggle to elect a new speaker, two weeks after ousting Kevin McCarthy.
#10 | 10/29/2023The Thing of His
4.0/5 (with 1 vote)
The Circus explores the legal threats facing former president Donald Trump as he seeks a return to the White House. Former Mueller team prosecutor Andrew Weissmann joins as guest host.
#11 | 11/05/2023The A.I. Election
3.5/5 (with 1 vote)
The Circus examines the impact of AI on the 2024 election, as world leaders convene an AI Safety Summit. The Circus team, along with guest host Jordan Klepper, explore the myriad concerns, including AI-enabled disinformation and deep fakes.
#12 | 11/12/2023Life During Wartime
03/06/2022Season 7 - 16 episodes
01/10/2021Season 6 - 16 episodes
01/26/2020Inside the Craziest Political Campaign on Earth - 21 episodes
01/27/2019Season 4 - 16 episodes
04/15/2018Inside the Wildest Political Show on Earth - 15 episodes
03/19/2017Inside the Biggest Story on Earth - 8 episodes
01/17/2016Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth - 26 episodes

Additional Information

Production country: United States of America (USA)
Made by: Left/Right
Original language: English (EN)
Spoken languages: English (EN)
Translated into 4 languages: English (EN), Korean (KO), Dutch (NL), Chinese (Mandarin) (ZH)
Status: Ended
First episode released on: 01/17/2016
Last episode released on: 11/12/2023
Presenter/Host: Mark Halperin, John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Jennifer Palmieri, Alex Wagner
Alternative titles in other countries (from previews, ads etc.):
"The Circus: Inside the Biggest Story on Earth"
"The Circus: Inside the Craziest Political Campaign on Earth"
"The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth"
"The Circus: Inside the Wildest Political Show on Earth"

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WatchPlayStream ID: SHOWS:2824, Added: 05/12/2018, Last updated: 04/24/2024