媒體馬戲團在1951年的電影「倒扣的王牌(英語:Ace in the Hole (film))」中成了重要的劇情手段,該電影是關於一名自私的記者報導了一場礦坑災難,使得一個人受困而死在地底下。這部電影冷嘲熱諷地探討了媒體和他們所報導的新聞之間的關係。該電影後來被以「盛大的狂歡節(The Big Carnival)」之名重新發表,其中「狂歡節(carnival)」在當時是指「馬戲團(circus)」。
Gilmore case turning into a circus for media. Milwaukee Journal. 1976-12-03. The worldwide attention that condemned killer Gary Gilmore is receiving has turned his case into a media circus Utah residents are saying
Miller, Gene. Only in America - the Gary Gilmore Circus has everything but dancing bears. The Evening Independent. 1976-12-08. There is most appallingly, an only-in-America spectacle wherein a quest for justice becomes an extravaganza for the fast buck. Come, come, come to the circus.
Squires, Nick. Amanda Knox compared to Goebbels by prosecutors. Telegraph (UK) (Perugia). 2011-09-23 [2011-09-27]. (原始內容存檔於2019-01-26). "The trial must be held here, in this courtroom. This lobbying, this media and political circus, this heavy interference, forget all of it," the prosecutor said