A nine-ring circus of true stories on TV
Two documentaries titled “The Circus” are on this season. One is about clowns, the other about politics. Make your own jokes. A well researched, albeit plodding, “The
Circus” (PBS, Oct. 8-9) traces the history of the traveling shows. The other “The Circus” is a docuseries in its third season, which follows journalists John Heilemann and Alex Wagner as they put the week into perspective.
“Unsung success?” Wagner repeats incredulously, quoting the president’s characterization of the government’s response to the Puerto Rico hurricane. If you haven’t caught up, no matter; it’s not as if there is ever a lull in the news. (Showtime, Sundays)
Additional noteworthy documentaries this fall: “Queen of the World” is for those who cannot get enough of the British royals. This love letter to Queen Elizabeth includes footage of Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, examining her gown and the veil embroidered with wildflowers representing the 53 countries in the commonwealth. (HBO, Monday, Oct. 1) “Student Athlete” from LeBron James takes a hard look at the world of college sports through four young men. College athletes rake in billions for their institutions, yet are unpaid. A coach, who became an advocate for the athletes, and a whistle-blower explain what’s at stake. (HBO, Tuesday, Oct. 2) “Above and Beyond: NASA’s Journey to Tomorrow” from Rory Kennedy reminds us of how far we have come in this 60-year race to space. The clip of people around the world cheering as the Curiosity Rover landed on Mars is a terrific indication of how much space still excites. (Discovery Channel and Science Channel, Oct. 13) “American Masters: Itzhak” gives viewers an inside look at the life of the famed violinist, who recently helped the San Francisco Symphony kick off its latest season. Itzhak Perlman first heard classical music on the radio at age 3, and when denied admission to a conservatory, taught himself to play. This tells the love story with his wife, Toby, also a violinist, while offering exquisite music. (PBS, Oct. 14) “Addiction” examines the opioid epidemic from the view of those caught in the grip of drugs and neuroscientists investigating what opioids do to the brain. Last year, 70,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses, and many of these stemmed from a habit that started with a legal prescription. (PBS, Oct. 17) “Watergate” is a three-night documentary series that explains the conspiracy that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. (History, beginning Nov. 2) “Give Us This Day” chronicles police officers and residents of East St. Louis discussing what it’s like living in the city with the country’s highest homicide rate. (AT&T Audience Network, Nov. 8)