The Greatest Show on Earth is an American drama series starring Jack Palance about the American circus, which aired on ABC from September 17, 1963, to September 8, 1964. It was produced by Desilu, the production company founded by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Sr.

Plot

The show was based on the 1952 film of the same name. Palance portrayed Johnny Slate, the boss of a circus. Stu Erwin played Otto King, whose money financed the circus. Episodes focused on various kinds of perfromers from week to week, with Slate trying to maintain peace among the different groups.

Guest stars

Episodes

Production

Stanley Colbert was the producer. Don Richardson was the director, and William Wood was the writer. Members of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed regularly on the show. Sponsored by Kaiser, American Tobacco, and Alberto-Culver, the program was Desilu's first color series. The Greatest Show on Earth faced competition from two comedy programs on CBS: Petticoat Junction and The Jack Benny Program. NBC aired The Richard Boone Show at the same 9 p.m. Tuesday slot. The series was canceled after one season.

Critical response

The trade publication Sponsor said that although The Greatest Show on Earth had "great dramatic possibilities", it was "really a simple adventure yarn if you strip the three rings away". A review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Variety said that the circus aspect was secondary "while a somewhat unbelievable drama hogged the center ring spotlight". The review added that the episode's acting was implausible, with "hardly a person present one would readily identify as a circus character".