The Circus
TV Show · Documentary

The controversy continues to intensify as John Heilemann and Alex Wagner document the pivotal moments of the midterm elections. They explore the stories behind the headlines and step behind the curtain of the drama unfolding in Washington.

2016 · 28m
Starring John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Jennifer Palmieri

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    The Outsiders
    The campaigns of the 'outsider' candidates: Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, prepare for the Iowa caucuses.
    28m
  • EPISODE 2
    Prisoner's Dilemma
    Sen Marco Rubio, Gov Chris Christie, former Gov Jeb Bush and Gov John Kashich prepare for the New Hampshire primary.
    28m
  • EPISODE 3
    Tension City
    Angst and drama leading up to Iowa caucuses, a showdown is brewing between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Outsider candidates versus the establishment.
    28m
  • EPISODE 4
    The Big Mo
    Inside the Iowa fallout and the momentum leading into New Hampshire's primary. Clinton and Trump campaigns must pick up the pace to beat Sanders and Cruz.
    28m
  • EPISODE 5
    The Winnowing
    Following New Hampshire, candidates prepare for hard truths coming up in South Carolina and Nevada. Trump tastes victory, Kasich picks up momentum, and Bush faces an impending do-or-die reality.
    28m
  • EPISODE 6
    Fear and Loathing
    The campaigns head toward the final stretch in Nevada and South Carolina, and anxiety grows about high stakes.
    28m

Related

Cast & Crew

  • John Heilemann
    Host
  • Mark McKinnon
    Host
  • Jennifer Palmieri
    Host
  • Alex Wagner
    Host
  • Mark Halperin
    Host
  • B‌T
    Banks Tarver
    Producer
  • K‌D
    Ken Druckerman
    Producer
  • Bernie Sanders
    Guest Star
  • Hillary Clinton
    Guest Star
  • Donald Trump
    Guest Star
  • Ted Cruz
    Guest Star

About

The Circus

Documentary

The controversy continues to intensify as John Heilemann and Alex Wagner document the pivotal moments of the midterm elections. They explore the stories behind the headlines and step behind the curtain of the drama unfolding in Washington.

Information

Studio
Showtime
Released
2016
Rated
M
Region of Origin
United States
© 2016 The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth Showtime Networks Inc. All rights reserved

Languages

Original Audio
English
Audio

English (United States) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions refer to subtitles in available languages with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)

Copyright © 2025 Apple Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  • Internet Service Terms
  • Apple TV & Privacy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Support
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)