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.
Cast: John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Jennifer Palmieri
TV-14HDCC
26 episodes
1. The OutsidersThe campaigns of three "outsiders" - Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump - are given behind-the-scenes attention on the road to the Iowa caucus. Series premiere.TV-14CC29minJan 17, 2016
2. Prisoner's DilemmaThe second episode follows Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Chris Christie, former Gov. Jeb Bush and Gov. John Kasich as they prepare for the all-important, first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire.TV-14CC29minJan 24, 2016
3. Tension CityThis episode follows the angst and drama leading up to the Iowa caucuses, with a showdown brewing between Democrats Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton and the GOP's first real test of outsider candidates versus the establishment.TV-14CC29minJan 31, 2016
4. The Big MoThe fourth episode goes inside the Iowa fallout and the momentum leading into New Hampshire's primary. Who¿s got it? Who doesn't? And how can the Clinton and Trump campaigns pick up the pace to beat back the surge of Sanders and Cruz?TV-14CC29minFeb 7, 2016
5. The WinnowingFrom the electric jolt of New Hampshire to the hard truths coming up in South Carolina and Nevada. Trump tastes victory, Kasich picks up momentum - and Bush faces the prospect of an impending do-or-die reality.TV-14CC29minFeb 14, 2016
6. Fear and LoathingAs the campaigns head towards the final stretch leading to Nevada and South Carolina, there's growing anxiety among both frontrunners and stragglers about just how high the stakes are - and the significance of falling behind.TV-14CC29minFeb 21, 2016
7. Confidence GameWith the field narrowed down to The Big Five, the campaigns spread their game across the country and play to their strengths - with eyes squarely focused on the all-important upcoming prize: Super Tuesday.TV-14CC29minFeb 28, 2016
8. The ReckoningWith big wins for the frontrunners on Super Tuesday the rest of candidates are reckoning with the results. But the biggest story of all might be one both Democratic and Republican establishments can agree on: how do they stop Trump?TV-14CC29minMar 6, 2016
9. Dead or AliveIt's make or break time for Rubio, Kasich and Sanders. As the candidates pin their hopes on Florida and Ohio, can they gather enough momentum to force a brokered convention - or will their campaigns finally run out of steam?TV-14CC29minMar 13, 2016
10. High HopesWhile Rubio gets trumped in Florida, the rest of the candidates remain cautiously optimistic. But are high hopes what they need to pull off a win and secure the nomination - or are they just delusional?TV-14CC29minMar 20, 2016
11. Home And AbroadForeign policy comes to the fore as the political climate grows fiery in the wake of the attacks in Brussels. As Trump and Clinton prepare to square off, can either of them prove their presidential mettle in handling the heat?TV-14CC29minMar 27, 2016
12. On WisconsinAhead of a Wisconsin showdown the candidates crisscross the state in pursuit of competing agendas. Can Kasich, Cruz or Sanders secure their position as spoilers - or will Clinton and Trump finally be crowned their party's Big Cheese?TV-14CC29minApr 3, 2016
13. Circus RecapFrom the early primary battles to the Super Tuesday showdown and beyond, pull back the curtain on the 2016 presidential race with Mark Halperin, John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon - and catch up on the electrifying first twelve weeks.TV-14CC29minApr 10, 2016
14. Game OnWhile the nation celebrates July 4th, Trump and Clinton engage in their own fireworks. With the reemergence of Clinton's email scandal and Trump's latest faux pas, the titans go on the attack to take each other down.TV-14CC29minJul 10, 2016
15. VeepstakesNo president is complete without a veep. As Trump auditions Chris Christie, Mike Pence and Newt Gingrich and Clinton considers Tim Kaine, can the candidates find the right-hand man for the job who will make, not break, their campaign?TV-14CC29minJul 17, 2016
16. The Trump ShowThe political circus goes into overdrive as Trump is crowned the Republican nominee - and Melania, controversially, speaks! Capitalizing on his children to help humanize his image, can Trump plus Pence finally rally a unified party?TV-14CC29minJul 24, 2016
17. In the ArenaThe jeers and boos of Sanders diehards ring out in Philadelphia, before the Democrats at last make Hillary a historic nominee. But is shattering a glass ceiling enough for Clinton and Kaine to unite the party into a winning coalition?TV-14CC29minJul 31, 2016
18. Closing the GapWith ten weeks to go until the election the Trump campaign finds itself running from behind. As members of his party start to publicly jump ship, can Trump find a way to close the gap with Clinton or will he just fall further behind?TV-14CC29minSep 11, 2016- 19. Fit to ServeAs Clinton's pneumonia and scrutiny about Trump's medical records comes to the forefront, their fitness to lead is questioned.TV-14CC29minSep 18, 2016
- 20. BattlegroundAs Clinton and Trump prepare for their first debate, their campaigns target the swing states with an eye on Florida.TV-14CC29minSep 25, 2016
- 21. The NewsroomsPreparations for the debate; the candidates cede the spotlight to those who cover the political news.TV-14CC29minOct 2, 2016
- 22. Tale of the TapeThe fallout from the second debate and the current scandal surrounding a recently publicized audio tape.TV-14CC29minOct 16, 2016
- 23. From Russia With LoveClinton faces the scandal of her highly sensitive, private emails being made public on WikiLeaks, amid claims of foreign hacking and intervention and international espionage of the 2016 election.TV-14CC29minOct 23, 2016
- 24. His Word as BidenWith only two weeks until election day, Clinton bets on the one man who has the potential to swing those states still up for grabs: Joe Biden.TV-14CC29minOct 30, 2016
- 25. Nobody F... KnowsPolls predict the differing outcomes; both campaigns make a case in "far-fetched battlegrounds"; to most, the race is either up for grabs or already decided.TV-14CC29minNov 6, 2016
- 26. President TrumpIn a special hour-long episode of the real-time documentary series, Mark Halperin, John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon go behind the scenes of both campaigns in the lead up to Election Day - and the fallout that followed.TV-14CC29minNov 13, 2016
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The Circus
★ 6.5/1020168 seasons130 episodesEnded
Inside the Craziest Political Campaign on Earth
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.
Creators and cast
- Created by
- John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon
- Studio
- Left/Right
