Circus of the Stars
Encyclopedia
Circus of the Stars was an annual television special, broadcast by the CBS
network in the United States, in which celebrities performed circus-type acts
. There were 19 shows in total, the first being broadcast in 1977 and the last in 1994. Over the years the series featured many leading movie and television stars.
Towards the end of its life the program title was changed slightly. In 1992 it was Circus of the Stars and Sideshow, in 1993 it became Circus of the Stars Gives Kids the World and in 1994 it was Circus of the Stars Goes to Disneyland. Although the show has ceased in the United States, the concept has been emulated in other countries where similar programs continue to be made, notably Stars in der Manege in Germany.
in Munich
and broadcast on or around Boxing Day
.
Production company Endemol
has developed a reality TV format called Celebrity Circus
, which takes stars from fields such as entertainment and sport and shows them being trained in circus acts over a period of weeks. A version aired in Australia in 2005 and there was a Portuguese version in 2006. A British version was mooted and there have been announcements that NBC
has picked up the format for the American market in 2008. The magazine Variety
reported that ABC
might be looking to relaunch Circus of the Stars while CBS
and Fox
are interested in circus concepts as well.
verified in many cases through material from official biographies and fansites.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
network in the United States, in which celebrities performed circus-type acts
Circus skills
Circus skills are a group of pursuits that have been performed as entertainment in circus, sideshow, busking or variety/vaudeville/music hall shows. Most circus skills are still being performed today. Many are also practiced by non-performers as a hobby....
. There were 19 shows in total, the first being broadcast in 1977 and the last in 1994. Over the years the series featured many leading movie and television stars.
Towards the end of its life the program title was changed slightly. In 1992 it was Circus of the Stars and Sideshow, in 1993 it became Circus of the Stars Gives Kids the World and in 1994 it was Circus of the Stars Goes to Disneyland. Although the show has ceased in the United States, the concept has been emulated in other countries where similar programs continue to be made, notably Stars in der Manege in Germany.
Other versions and variations
The concept of celebrities turning their hand to circus acts has proved attractive to program makers around the world. The German show Stars in der Manege began in 1959 and continues annually as a charity fundraising special. It is made each winter in the Circus Krone BuildingCircus Krone Building
The Circus Krone Building is the headquarters and main winter venue for Circus Krone in Munich, Germany. It also serves as a major venue for other forms of live entertainment, such as rock concerts....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and broadcast on or around Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
.
Production company Endemol
Endemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
has developed a reality TV format called Celebrity Circus
Celebrity Circus (U.S. TV series)
Celebrity Circus is an American version of the Celebrity Circus reality television show based on the Australian television series of the same name originally aired in 2005...
, which takes stars from fields such as entertainment and sport and shows them being trained in circus acts over a period of weeks. A version aired in Australia in 2005 and there was a Portuguese version in 2006. A British version was mooted and there have been announcements that NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
has picked up the format for the American market in 2008. The magazine Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
reported that ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
might be looking to relaunch Circus of the Stars while CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
are interested in circus concepts as well.
List of celebrities who appeared on Circus of the Stars
The following list illustrates the range and status of celebrities who appeared on Circus of the Stars over the course of its original run. The list is compiled mainly from entries at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
verified in many cases through material from official biographies and fansites.
Original transmission details
- Circus of the Stars - 10 January 1977
- Circus of the Stars #2 - 5 December 1977
- Circus of the Stars #3 - 20 June 1979
- Circus of the Stars #4 - 16 December 1979
- Circus of the Stars #5 - 14 December 1980
- Circus of the Stars #6 - 13 December 1981
- Circus of the Stars #7 - 5 December 1982
- Circus of the Stars #8 - 18 December 1983
- Circus of the Stars #9 - 2 December 1984
- Circus of the Stars #10 - 8 December 1985
- Circus of the Stars #11 - 9 December 1986
- Circus of the Stars #12 - 15 December 1987
- Circus of the Stars #13 - 25 November 1988
- Circus of the Stars #14 - 22 November 1989
- Circus of the Stars #15 - 21 November 1990
- Circus of the Stars #16 - 29 November 1991
- Circus of the Stars and Sideshow - 27 November 1992
- Circus of the Stars Gives Kids the World - 26 November 1993
- Circus of the Stars Goes to Disneyland - 16 December 1994