Parents need to know that most of the featured acts are dangerous. Two of the celebrity participants fractured bones while in training, and while they do wear safety cables, serious injury remains a distinct possibility. There's not much mention of not trying the stunts at home, although the words "death-defying" are thrown around a lot. Also, since there's a lot of Cirque du Soleil-style storytelling, some of the acts can get somewhat sexually suggestive. Still, all of that said, overall this is an age-appropriate choice for tweens and up.

Families can talk about the role that hype plays in making the circus -- or the media, for that matter -- exciting. Would watching the show be as suspenseful if the host talked about safety gear and procedures? Which acts do you think are actually the hardest to perform? The most dangerous? Parents can also remind kids not to imitate what they seen on television at home.