Circus is a Canadian television variety show, which aired on CTV from 1978 to 1985.[1] Airing in an early-evening slot aimed at children and families, the show featured various circus acts performing in a television studio instead of a traditional circus venue.[2]
The show's original hosts were Cal Dodd and Sherisse Laurence,[3] who were replaced in later seasons by Pierre Lalonde.[4] All of the hosts were also singers, who would sometimes perform songs in between circus acts.[2]
It originally aired on April 16, 1978, as a one-off special,[1] becoming a weekly series in the fall due to its popularity.[2] It was the highest-rated Canadian entertainment program in its first season,[5] leading CTV to expand it from half an hour to a full hour in its second season,[6] although the one-hour format was not as popular and the show reverted to a half-hour format in 1980.[7] In the one-hour season, comedian Billy Van appeared as Spats the Clown, but did not continue in this role after the show returned to a half-hour format.[8]
The series was also sold into syndication in the United States and internationally.[9]
The series was cancelled by CTV in 1985.[10]