"Carnivàle" (2003) TV series 2003-2005

Creator:

Daniel Knauf

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Into each generation is born a creature of light and a creature of darkness.

Plot:

1934, America. The Dustbowl. A fugitive named Ben Hawkins finds refuge within a traveling carnival comprised...

Plot Keywords:

Preacher | Carnival | California | Tarot Card | God

Awards:

Won 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 9 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

Michael J. Anderson	...	Samson (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Adrienne Barbeau	...	Ruthie / ... (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Clancy Brown	...	Brother Justin Crowe (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Debra Christofferson	...	Lila (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Tim DeKay	...	Clayton 'Jonesy' Jones / ... (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Clea DuVall	...	Sofie (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Cynthia Ettinger	...	Rita Sue Dreifuss (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Carla Gallo	...	Libby Dreifuss (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Toby Huss	...	Felix 'Stumpy' Dreifuss (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Amy Madigan	...	Iris Crowe (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Nick Stahl	...	Ben Hawkins (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Brian Turk	...	Gabriel (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Craig DeSilva	...	Promo Announcer (24 episodes, 2003-2005)
Diane Salinger	...	Apollonia (17 episodes, 2003-2005)
Patrick Bauchau	...	Professor Lodz / ... (16 episodes, 2003-2005)
Ralph Waite	...	Reverend Norman Balthus (16 episodes, 2003-2005)
John Savage	...	Henry 'Hack' Scudder (15 episodes, 2003-2005)
Scott MacDonald	...	Burley (14 episodes, 2003-2005)
Michael Stellman	...	Fire Eater (13 episodes, 2003-2005)
John Fleck	...	Gecko (12 episodes, 2003)
Karyne Steben	...	Alexandria (12 episodes, 2003)
John Carroll Lynch	...	Varlyn Stroud (12 episodes, 2005)
Sarah Steben	...	Caladonia (12 episodes, 2003)
Robert Knepper	...	Tommy Dolan (12 episodes, 2003-2005)
Blake Shields	...	Osgood (12 episodes, 2003-2005)
Larry Vigus	...	Carny (12 episodes, 2003)
Nicholas Garren	...	Roustie (11 episodes, 2005)

Also Known As:

La feria ambulante (USA: Spanish title)

Runtime:

60 min (24 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

French | Russian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M (some episodes) | New Zealand:R13 | USA:TV-MA | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating) | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Spain:18 | Australia:MA (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

California State University Channel Islands - One University Drive, Camarillo, California, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

Michael J. Anderson was a guest star on "Humbug," a 1995 episode of "The X-Files" in which he played a hotel owner who was offended when Mulder mistook him for a carnival worker (the episode was about a town inhabited by a large number of retired or wintering carnies). In "Carnivàle" (2003), Anderson plays the head of a traveling carnival.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Sofie consistently deals Tarot cards incorrectly. When shown taking cards from the deck and placing them face-up on the table, she always turns them lengthwise, thereby inverting the card from its position in the deck. Since a Tarot card has a different meaning if upside-down, cards should always be turned over sideways, so that if they are right-side-up in the deck, they remain so in the spread.

Quotes:

Rev. Norman Balthus: In desperate times, the good Lord looks over the flock and chooses one man to inspire the multitudes; one man to accomplish the impossible; one man to offer hope where there was only hopelessness; and who are we to judge the wisdom of the Almighty? He chooses his servants to fit his plan and when he chooses his servant from the flock and gifts them with talents, it is a grave sin to bury them in the earth.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Making 'Carnivàle': The Show Behind the Show (2003) (TV)

Give Carnivale a chance, it's worth your time

This show is wonderful - and I've just started watching it this season. Instead of mundane HBO programming out to just woo shallow critics and the usual unimaginative American audiences, this show goes beyond this world to illustrate truth, deception, good and evil. The story is complex for some, since most story lines do not conclude in one episode (then again, it's not a sitcom). The actors are amazing, the writers, brilliant, the creators, well I'm surprised HBO would let this one into their usual thematic dramas (you know what I'm talking about). I can't say enough good things about this show. If you happen to catch it and have no idea what's going on, don't give up - just pay close attention and you'll be utterly enthralled with the brilliance of this show. Carnivale is "out of the box" thinking, which I always love, so unless you enjoy the same old, same old programming, give Carnivale a whirl. It's worth your viewing pleasure!