Circus

There are still a few problems to sort out as Ian Garden Jr. and his crew make last minute preparations for another season on the road. The elephants are late arriving, Al's toilet paper gag is out of control, the music is all wrong and the 10-person trampoline act only has three acrobats. Will the team pull it together in time for the first show of the season?

Garden Bros. Circus prepares for the biggest show of the season at Toronto's Skydome. A last minute replacement, Johnny Rocket and his father "Smiley," scramble to prepare their human cannonball act. A leak is discovered in the 18,000 liter water tank used in the high diving act and must be fixed immediately. Meanwhile, Pierre's elephant, Marie is distracted by an African male elephant named Angus

Experienced acrobat Zaza is chosen as the new human cannonball while Johnny recovers from his injury. Karchy must find a hospital in an unfamiliar town after twisting his ankle doing a double backward somersault in his BMX bike act and Pierre looks for a third rider for his elephant act.

Everyone prepares for "three weeks of hell" on the Northern Run, which takes the Circus through Ontario to Manitoba. Performing up to three shows a day, the performers can go days without sleep. Dangers on the road causes delay and worry.

More practice is needed as the teeterboard troupe has difficulties in rehearsals. Ian threatens to cut them from the show if they can't get their act together and new technical difficulties arise with the cannon. There is a mad dash to find Pierre when there is a commotion in the elephant pen. Costin is worried that his job may be on the line.

On the way to Fort Francis, Ian refers to this year as the "casualty tour" because of the number of injuries. Al the clown looks forward to his wife and three children joining him on tour. Ian and Caroline reflect on their romance as a new one blossoms between Franco and Niada.

Ian is frustrated with John, the lighting technician, as he continues to work out the kinks on his first circus tour. Floor manager Tommy gives John some sage advice. Working hard on little sleep to get through the "Northern Run," safety is becoming a concern.

Carolina has a difficult time getting news after she learns that her brother Martin, who is working for another Circus, fell 28 feet to the concrete floor below as he was securing the rigging for the flying act. It's the last week of the northern run. Members of the cast and crew describe how tough the grueling tour has been.

In this episode we meet a Circus band of several "First of Mays," newcomers to the Circus. Al decides to take two of the band members under his wing. The band members express some difficulties they are experiencing. Some of the "old timers" are losing their patience with the newcomers. Adjustments must be made in the arena to accommodate the human cannonball act.

On the last leg of the "Northern Run," The Garden Bros. cast and crew are tired and in need of a break. Ian and Carolina are anxious to complete the last show and head back to Toronto to see their two youngest children, Ciara and Chase, but Ian is concerned the roads will be rough as they travel through the night.

Ian and Carolina are racing from their last show to meet their younger children at the airport 1750 miles away. Troubles arise when one of the motorhome's airbags blows in a small town, with no one around to fix it. Not everyone is in a hurry though. The Stepanovs take a much needed break to fish and relax while some other performers visit a beautiful waterfall.

The race is still on for Ian and Carolina to make it to the airport to greet their two youngest children who have been staying with the grandparents for the past month. Meanwhile, Franco is forced to confront one of his greatest fears when the Vargas family decides to visit the zoo. The performers rehearse the finale and Ian grows frustrated as they cannot seem to perform the task.

The Amazing Rinaldo wants to sell an idea of an animated TV show. With no experience creating a package to sell the idea, he hires an illustrator to help develop his characters. Zaza is anxious to attempt a double somersault out of the cannon. Meanwhile, two SPCA officers drop by the Circus to check on the animals. Will they be impressed by what they see?

For the second year in a row disaster has struck as the Circus arrives in Chatham, Ontario. Ringmaster Ian Garden, Jr. has lost his voice and can't announce the show. He begins his search for a replacement but has difficulty finding the right person for the job.

Ian is still having problems with his voice and Brian finally gets his chance to announce the show. He does a great job but when a fellow ringmaster drops by for a visit, Ian asks him to fill in. Meanwhile, Al's wife, Isabel, is four hours late driving up from New York through a hail storm and Al is growing concerned.

Sarnia's small parking lot complicated the logistics of fitting all their trucks and trailers. Too big to fit through the entrance of the arena, a decision must be made to find somewhere to shoot the cannon. Protesters concerned with animal cruelty arrive at the arena and we get an opportunity to see how the animals are cared for.

Zaza is planning a double somersault from the cannon, a feat never attempted before. He studies videotapes and practices at a circus school to prepare. When he is finally ready to try, Johnny is nervous and no one really believes the act to be possible. Will Zaza succeed and prove the team wrong?

On the drive to Dryden, Manitoba, we meet Albert and Zenaida. A roller-skating act that has been together for 20 years. Then, Alex, Ina and Lilia Stepanov explain how important it is to keep family together on the road. Meanwhile, Al the clown feels lonely without his family on tour and, missing his old trampoline troupe, Zaza must make new friends.

On the way to Fort Francis Ian refers to this year as the "casualty tour" because of the number of injuries. Al the clown looks forward to his wife and three children joining him on tour. Ian and Caroline reflect on their romance as a new one blossoms between Franco and Niada.

Ian is frustrated with John, the lighting technician, as he continues to work out the kinks on his first circus tour. Floor manager Tommy gives John some sage advice. Working hard on little sleep to get through the "Northern Run," safety is becoming a concern.

Carolina has a difficult time getting news after she learns that her brother Martin, who is working for another Circus, fell 28 feet to the concrete floor below as he was securing the rigging for the flying act. It's the last week of the northern run. Members of the cast and crew describe how tough the grueling tour has been.

In this episode we meet a Circus band of several "First of Mays," newcomers to the Circus. Al decides to take two of the band members under his wing. The band members express some difficulties they are experiencing. Some of the "old timers" are losing their patience with the newcomers. Adjustments must be made in the arena to accommodate the human cannonball act.

On the last leg of the "Northern Run," The Garden Bros. cast and crew are tired and in need of a break. Ian and Carolina are anxious to complete the last show and head back to Toronto to see their two youngest children, Ciara and Chase but Ian is concerned the roads will be rough as they travel through the night.

Ian and Carolina are racing from their last show to meet their younger children at the airport 1750 miles away. Troubles arise when one of the motorhome's airbags blows in a small town, with no one around to fix it. Not everyone is in a hurry though. The Stepanovs take a much needed break to fish and relax while some other performers visit a beautiful waterfall.

The race is still on for Ian and Carolina to make it to the airport to greet their two youngest children who have been staying with the grandparents for the past month. Meanwhile, Franco is forced to confront one of his greatest fears when the Vargas decide to visit the zoo. The performers rehearse the finale and Ian grows frustrated as they cannot seem to perform the task.