Life's a Circus

When I was young and got into argument with my parents, I often dreamed of running away to join the circus. 

Courtesy of rightsideofthebrain.com

I never actually did because I really hated clowns, but the thought of being a part of such a festive environment was enticing.

 The documentary "Circus" now streaming via Netflix's Instant Play, is a six part series that hi-lights the lives of those performing in the Big Apple Circus. This miniseries shows what circus life really like including the difficulties and demands involved. I learned that amidst the excitement of the circus is a world filled with hard work and uncertainty. 

This miniseries was memorizing and extremely well done. Often when we see performances we do not see excruciating work behind each show. This documentary allows the viewers a sneak peek into the world of circus performers, and tells the story of how each individual involved embraces this eccentric world. 

Even though the circus has been around for hundreds of years, and is a worldwide phenomenon, traveling shows are struggling to stay afloat in this economy. These are tough times, and all of the circus performers understand that their jobs are not secure. Many of the performers have grown up in the "circus community" and would struggle making "ends meet" outside the circus. 

Courtesy of cgnews.com

Surprisingly, one thing that intrigued me about the film was the clowns. I often joked with others that if they fail school they can always go to “clown college”, but clowns have to accomplish difficult tasks while remaining “happy”. The clowns showcased in this film were real people with health problems and mood disorders just like the rest of us. They were not frightening and creepy like I remember them being.

I really enjoyed how artistic this film was, and the soundtrack added an exciting element to this miniseries. Although I am fairly certain a lot of footage was cut, I have gained a greater appreciation of the circus.

That being said, there were parts of this miniseries that were too focused on romantic drama, and "soap opera" like situations. Most of the six hours was entertaining, but some of it was monotonous. There is some strong language, but it wasn't very noticeable. All ages would appreciate this inspiring show, and will feel a little sadness when the circus "leaves town".

After watching this film I took a "What Circus Act Are You" quiz. According to this quiz I should fly on a trapeze (yeah right) I am curious to know what other's got?

Although I am still fascinated with the circus, and only slightly afraid of clowns I know that I will never join the circus, but I may visit the next time it comes to town! 

ZYX Television

ABC Family now has a lot of hit shows on cable television. Luckily for those that refuse to pay a ridiculous amount of money each month for cable, many of the shows are now streaming via Netflix's Instant Play.

Now keep in mind, these shows are targeted towards the young adult population (AKA screaming, teenage girls). But, some of the shows can be appreciated by everyone.

The ABC Family shows I decided to watch were "The Secret Life of the American Teenager", "Greek", and "Make It or Break It".

I was excited to watch "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" because Molly Ringwald was one of it's stars. Unfortunately, this show was a complete waste of time. I tried to finish watching it, but I only made it halfway through the second season (I gave it a try).

This show is about a young girl (Amy)  that gets pregnant at age fifteen. Amy tries to keep the secret from her parents, but of course they find out. "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" tackles issues concerning relationships, sexuality, and spirituality. It is definitely a "teen soap opera" filled with drama after drama.

What I hated most about "Secret Life" was the acting. The conversations between characters are choppy and awkward, you could tell it is scripted. When I started watching the show I thought it was going to be a semi-realistic story about the difficulties of high school life. Well it isn't, the plot is so far fetched and ridiculous its painful to watch. So painful, that I stopped watching.

The acting in Greek was much better than in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. This show is about a nerdy college freshman (Rusty), that tries to break out of his shell by joining a fraternity. He attends the same college as his popular sister (Casey), and struggles to gain acceptance. This show is not just about Rusty, but about the people he meets along the way. This show contains romance, parties, prank wars, and of course drama.

The character's in Greek are well developed, quirky, and realistic. I enjoyed the triumphs and tribulations Rusty finds himself in, and became nostalgic of my own college experiences.

Some of the drama in Greek, was long and drawn out. The plot itself wasn't always realistic, and a lot of the relationships had a "fairy tale like" quality. Over all  this show was entertaining and I recommend it to anyone.

On a side note, Greek is definitely not a family show. I know that it aired on "ABC Family", but it contains sex, drinking, LGBT issues, and almost everything else college students struggle with. The issues are tackled lightly, but be aware before watching (or letting others watch).

The show Make It or Break It certainly is worth watching. It is about a girl from "the wrong side of the tracks" (Emily) who finds herself training for gymnastics at one of the most elite gyms of the country (The Rock). The other girls that train at the Rock are each other's support and competition.

This show tackles many issues "normal teenagers" face, along with the pressure to compete and perform flawlessly. "Make It or Break It" is visually appealing and emphasizes the work it takes to be a gymnast.

It wouldn't be an "ABC Family" show if there wasn't needless drama. This show is unrealistic, because everything always works out. When one of the "Rock girls" breaks her spine, she magically finds a treatment and is able to perform again.

 Although there are aspects to this show that are ridiculous, I think that it was very well done and merits your time. The character development is excellent and the story actually contains some substance.

Out of the three ABC Family shows I watched on Netflix, I enjoyed "Greek" the most. I still appreciated "Make It or Break It" but hated "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"

Just keep in mind, if you decide to watch any ABC Family show be prepared for drama!