"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

Colour:

Colour

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

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:

Anachronisms: When Iris Crowe kneels by Rev. Norman Balthus' bed in season 2, you can see the elastic of the fitted bottom sheet. Fitted bed sheets were not invented until 1959.

Quotes:

[Opening lines of the series]
Samson: Before the beginning, after the great war between Heaven and Hell, God created the Earth and gave dominion over it to the crafty ape he called man. And to each generation was born a creature of light and a creature of darkness. And great armies clashed by night in the ancient war between good and evil. There was magic then, nobility, and unimaginable cruelty. And so it was until the day that a false sun exploded over Trinity, and man forever traded away wonder for reason.

Movie Connections:

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

CAN'T UNDERSTAND OTHER COMMENTS....

I 'found' CARNIVALE on the on-demand (see-it-anytime)menu on my cable system. (I was delayed finding the show originally because the title implied to me something else...maybe that's the problem). When finally sampled, I was awed by everything about the show. It is one of the great, undiscovered-by-the-masses shows in the last several years. SLOW ? The lack is in you if you think that. 'Story' at many levels, questions but no answers... only more questions... Extremely well crafted and well written, I couldn't get enough of CARNIVALE. It's a thinking person's cornucopia. It was something to look forward to... When it appeared to be cancelled, I went online searching to see if the series was inspired by books... I HAD TO FIND OUT WHERE THE STORY WAS GOING !!! Everyone in my house, everyone I work with... we all were very, very disappointed to be left hanging... HOORAY FOR THE CONTINUE-ING STORY... AND MAY THE SHOW FIND AN AUDIENCE...