# "Circus" on PBS \[open spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 7, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circus-on-pbs-open-spoilers/559827 "2010-11-07T22:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circus-on-pbs-open-spoilers/559827/21 "2010-11-11T14:46:19Z")
> [@Oy](#): > > I’m not clear as to whether there’ll be more shows or what. Fascinating as it has been, this series could have been much better. I think it might have benefited from a narrator telling us what was actually going on. The whole thing has been a tad incoherent. Total of six episodes, of which we’ve seen four. Next week is the last week. > [@Ionizer](#): > > **twickster** : just wanted to say thanks for mentioning this series as a thread. I’d never heard of it, and am really looking forward to watching the on-line stuff and rest of show. I’ve read enough just now to think its worthy of watching 🙂 Glad to rope in another viewer! Let us know what you think after you watch. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circus-on-pbs-open-spoilers/559827/22 "2010-11-11T15:10:10Z")
Thanks for clearing that up, **twick**. Though if you were watching on 39 as I was, I’m darned if I know how you could tell - they didn’t show any preview of further episodes after the show last night. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circus-on-pbs-open-spoilers/559827/23 "2010-11-11T15:20:52Z")
I checked the website. 😉 (We did get previews on Channel 12, though.) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circus-on-pbs-open-spoilers/559827/24 "2010-11-13T16:47:43Z")
Glad to see there is yet another two hour part coming up. I have to admit, the ringmaster sort of lost my sympathy this week. Yes, I know he has been there since day one, but he did not go gracefully into the night and seems to have an ego the size of Central Park. I can see why he did not get droves lined up from the circus all weepy-eyed. Seems like most don’t particularly give a damn that he is leaving. The French mime nailed it when he said this was a good show, but not a great show. There is indeed no theme. Having lived in Europe many years, there are lots of circuses that are small (like Big Apple Circus) but they have a theme to their shows - a thread of sorts that ties the entire show together. Think Cirque du Soleil without the million dollar sets. They use costumes and music and story line to create a story - nothing complicated, but something a child could understand and adults can appreciate. Even the roadies and people selling popcorn and candy get into uniforms and sprinkle the audience with confetti as they walk in and make the circus seem filled with a cast of thousands. It makes the entire night more magical. I guess what I am saying is that this particular version of BAC is not all that spectacular as a whole, but entertaining with its parts. ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circus-on-pbs-open-spoilers/559827/25 "2010-11-13T19:28:43Z")
I’ve made it through the first two episodes so far, and a great show it is! I particularly like how the Circus makes sure the kids get what they need (school, etc) and allow mom/dad to to bring 'em along. That has got to be a great thing for a kid to experience (as long as its done right) - and then that one kid that is 9th generation ‘circus’…wow! Its neat to see the beaming pride in his face as he tells of his heritage/background. As far as replacing the first trapeze folks, tough call but necessary. MUCH too late in making the decision, too. When I heard one of the new trapeze ladies say her middle name as ‘Wallenda’, I figured the group would be rock-solid. And they were 🙂 Pretty cool live-footage from the ‘catcher-guy’ camera showing the other person flipping away to catch other bar - looks all bass-akwards and confusing as far as knowing what is where in that moment before arms must interlock to keep from falling. Really looking forward to rest of show(s)… ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circus-on-pbs-open-spoilers/559827/26 "2010-11-13T19:43:19Z")
While the cinematography is not bad, structurally, this is pretty bad quality overall for a PBS show. There’s huge gaps in the timeline without any courtesy to the viewer. They built the whole thing around a few slo-mo beauty shots of the russian bar jumper in mid-air and the trapeze artists. I’m not arguing for fake drama; there just isn’t any that was captured on camera unless you think making someone drive from New York to Virginia, or retiring, is the height of drama. The Singing in the Rain bit was great; I would have like to see how that developed but of course, as usual, the filmmakers weren’t there. Not very good. ---
**Author:** ![summervillain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@summervillain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/summervillain)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circus-on-pbs-open-spoilers/559827/27 "2010-11-20T09:56:20Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > It’s called “[Whatever Gets You By](http://www.amazon.com/Some-Kind-Salvation-Eco-Features/dp/B002CW4LY0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1289441654&sr=1-1)”, by a band called The Features. > > I wish they listed all the music they’re using. There’s a song in the 3rd episode with the line “I’m high above the patchwork of Ohio”, and I’d love to know who sings it and what the song’s name is, but it’s not in the [list of credited music](http://www.pbs.org/opb/circus/about/music-circus/). It’s “Patchwork” by Merrie Amsterburg. You can find it on the Zoe records reissue of her debut album “Season of Rain” or on the EP release “World of Our Own Making.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circus-on-pbs-open-spoilers/559827.md?page=1)