About The Circus

"The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth", also known as The Circus, is a political documentary series that premiered in 2016. The series features the 2016 presidential race from the announcement of candidates to the election itself. The series pulls back the curtain on the power brokers, disrupters, and egos that move the American political process, presenting it in a real-time and unscripted style.

Making / Production

The Circus is produced by Left/Right for Showtime. The executive producers of the show are Mark Halperin, John Heilemann, and Mark McKinnon. The series gives a behind-the-scenes look at the intense, chaotic, and often hilarious operations of the American political scene.

Actors

• Mark Halperin - As a self, playing the character of Political Analyst, Halperin delivers insightful, often sharp-tongued analysis of the political scene.
• John Heilemann - As another Political Analyst in the series, Heilemann offers an unflinching look at the machinations of politicians and strategists.
• Mark McKinnon - As a Political Strategist for the series, McKinnon provides a unique, insider's perspective on what it takes to win an election.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series was renamed to "Inside the Circus" in its third season.
• The season covering the 2016 election premiered the day after each week's events to provide up-to-the-minute coverage.
• The executive producers Mark Halperin and John Heilemann are also authors of the book "Game Change" which was made into a movie of the same name.

Awards

The series has been praised for its real-time exploration of the election process, but it has not been awarded any significant awards to date.

Quotes

• "In politics, today's pig can be tomorrow's bacon." - Mark McKinnon
• "This is a circus. There's no doubt about it." - Mark Halperin
• "Democracy is not a spectator sport." - John Heilemann

Music, Soundtrack

• The series features a score that captures the high stakes and drama of the American political process.
• A unique combination of rock, electronic, and orchestral music sets the tone for each episode.