Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Why God, why? We draw the line at "Celebrity Circus"

Photo Credit: Courtesy NBC

Photo Credit: Courtesy NBC

The web site for NBC's "Celebrity Circus" reads: " 'Celebrity Circus' is an exciting new series that immerses today's top stars in the breathtaking world of the circus and cirque." Hmm. If by "top stars" you mean barely recognizable names, who haven't made much money since the late 1990's, then sure!

Antonio Sabato  Jr., Blu Cantrel, Christopher Knight, Janet Evans, Wee Man, Rachel Hunter and Stacey Dash star in the show performing different acts like the high wire, trapeze, wheel of death, and the Russian swing (human catapult) and judged by their high-flying abilities. Obviously, this show is a spawn of the popular "Circus of the Stars" series that ran on CBS between 1977 and 1994. However, this was before reality TV's massive influence on pop culture. Whereas "Stars" was original and fresh in 1977, "Celebrity Circus" seems pretty pathetic in 2008, when you see it next to shows like "Living Lohan" and    "Rock of Love."

It's been happening, but TV has been slipping into a sad place for awhile now. There's "The Office," "30 Rock" and your premium cable shows, but the rest of tube time is filled with reality programming. The last episode of  "Everybody Loves Raymond" was probably the end of an era -- when the 30-minute family sitcom died. We aren't sure why "Celebrity Circus" struck such a chord with us (after all, we watch "The Hills" and "American Idol" like everyone else), but perhaps it's those ridiculous outfits they're wearing that has us up in arms. There's just something very disturbing about Sabato's Aladdin-esque pajama pants.


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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 17
  • Kat's Avatar
    Posted by Kat Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:25am PDT

    god save us...

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  • Lulu's Avatar
    Posted by Lulu Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:48am PDT

    Don't you people remember "Circus of the Stars" from the 1980s?! I would get SO EXCITED when that was on. Was it pathetic then, too?

    I have been TV-less for 3 years or so now, so I really haven't any authority to comment.

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  • Shannon's Avatar
    Posted by Shannon Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:29pm PDT

    I remember Circus of the Stars. It was a pretty good show where popular actors actually performed well. This crap was so hilariously stupid, I laughed the entire time in between flipping channels. And who are these judges? American Idol, I curse your 3 person judging legacy! It's gone too far!!!!

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  • Disgruntled's Avatar
    Posted by Disgruntled Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:37pm PDT

    I actually found this on the other night and watched about 5 minutes of it. It's pretty much as bad as it sounds. I don't even know who half the supposed celebrities on the show are. I do remember Circus of the Stars from when I was a kid and I remember it having actual "stars" and not involving judging and phone in voting. It was heck of a lot better than this.

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  • teachergirl's Avatar
    Posted by teachergirl Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:03pm PDT

    I thought Sabato's make up was the disturbing part! LOL I made it through 15 minutes before I gave up! Yuck!! I remembered liking Circus of the Stars as a kid, which is why I gave it that long. This was hideous!!

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  • teachergirl's Avatar
    Posted by teachergirl Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:03pm PDT

    I thought Sabato's make up was the disturbing part! LOL I made it through 15 minutes before I gave up! Yuck!! I remembered liking Circus of the Stars as a kid, which is why I gave it that long. This was hideous!!

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  • pixie's Avatar
    Posted by pixie Sun Jun 15, 2008 6:01am PDT

    YOU MEAN THEY ARE BRINGING BACK CIRCUS OF THE STARS FROM THE 1980'S!!!! THIS IS NOTHING NEW PEOPLE,NEXT IT'LL BE BATTLE OF THE NETWORK STARS. BIG DEAL

    AND WHO'S TIM RUSSERT???

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  • Laura's Avatar
    Posted by Laura Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:39pm PDT

    This is definitely a new low. Hundreds of years from now, reality television will be pinpointed as the cause of the decline of western civilization.

    Mark Burnett (Survivor - the first prime time "reality" show) and those morons that must have sold their souls to the devil to make The Real World on MTV a hit should be tried for crimes against decency, class, and good taste. People who watch this crap and think it's "reality" are woefully deluded. It's all scripted and staged.

    The other night my husband and I watched that new show set in the 1970's, Swingtown. At one point, one guy went and got his Playboy Club key and off the all went, to party the night away. So cheesy! My husband asked, "Good Lord, how did civilization survive?" I told him the fact that we did gave me a small ray of hope that we'd also survive Flavor of Love and Deadliest Catch with Tila Tequila -- but I don't know.

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  • lipstickchick's Avatar
    Posted by lipstickchick Sun Jun 15, 2008 3:57pm PDT

    Optiva, Tim Russert was a great man. He hosted "Meet the Press" on NBC. It was a show about national politics. Tim also wrote a book about how much he learned from his father and loved him. Now as far as this show on NBC, I wouldn't watch this. I laughed when I saw the ad.

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  • Muhammad Faisal's Avatar
    Posted by Muhammad Faisal Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:59pm PDT

    GOD BLESS YOU

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