Writer:	Marty Isenberg
Director:	Butch Hartman, Gary Conrad, Ken Bruce
Star:	Grey DeLisle (Samantha "Sam" Manson),  Ron Perlman (Mr. Lancer),  David Kaufman (Danny Fenton/Phantom),  Rickey D'Shon Collins (Tucker Foley),  Rob Paulsen (Jack Fenton (Dad)),  Kath Soucie (Maddie Fenton (Mom))
Recurring Role:	Tara Strong (Tiffany Snow/Lydia),  S. Scott Bullock (Jeremy),  Laraine Newman (Pam/Talk Show Hostess),  Rob Paulsen (Cop #3/Goliath),  Kath Soucie (Maddie Fenton (Mom)),  Rob Paulsen (Cop #3/Green Kid),  Grey DeLisle (Elastica)
Guest Star:	Rickey D'Shon Collins (Cop #1),  June Angela (Principal Ishiyama/Shelley),  Jon Cryer (Freakshow)

We don't learn the names of Sam's parents at all in this episode. However they are credited as Jeremy and Pamela. (edit) Sam's mom is the first person in the show to call Sam by her full name, Samantha. The second was Tucker in "King Tuck." (edit) Cable Episode Info:
Sam rebels when her parents forbid her from attending the circus that has come to town. (edit) Sam acts more Goth than usual in this episode, most likely because of Circus Gothica's presence. (edit) Look Hard: At the end when Sam was wearing the floral dress, her black necklace is not shown. (edit)

Sam: Well, look who decided to slum it with the troubled teens!
Danny: What? I'm not in trouble!
(Sirens are heard coming towards Danny)
Sam: Oh yeah, your an upstanding citizen. Need to hide from the law?
Danny: No... (Goes invisible) (edit) Freakshow: (On TV) I am Freakshow! Master of the Circus Gothica, where your nightmares come alive. Circus Gothica, where the clowns never smile. Circus Gothica, come and get your freak on. Circus Gothica, coming to Amity Park. Cross over, to the dark side. (edit) Sam: (After her parents wake her up and open the blinds, letting the sun in) I’m a creature of the night, doomed to a family of morning people.... (edit) Danny: (After seeing the jewelry hover in the air) And I thought the merchandise is flying off the shelves was just an expression. (edit) Danny: (Controlled; to Freakshow’s minions, while zapping their behinds) Ecto-butts in gear! (Freakshow’s minions scream as Danny zaps them) This party’s just getting started! (edit)

When Ida is showing Sam the photo album depicting her youth, the picture of her as a teenager shows her with pupils, yet Ida doesn't have pupils normally. (edit) How is it that Danny was in ghost mode when he came out of Lancer's body? He was in human mode when he first overshadowed Lancer and if he had gone ghost, the two white rings would've appeared but they never did. (edit) When Danny cut the rope, it should have broken there but it had split in the middle instead. (edit) When Lydia's tattoos are scaring the crowd in the circus tent, a curly red haired woman's eyes are red. (edit) The Fentons and Mansons said but your all still grounded. But Tucker isn't either one of thier kids, so they couldn't have grounded him. (edit)

Sam and Tucker: (Entrance to the train)
The way that Sam jumps down into the train gracefully and quietly, and then is followed by a loud, screaming Tucker falling flat on his face, is increasingly similar to the entrance to CRD of Buffy and Xander in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode I Robot, You Jane. Buffy jumped into the "Bad guys" lair quietly, while Xander came plummeting down behind her and screaming in horror, landing with a sickening crunch and crash. (edit) Episode Title: Control Freaks
The episode name is similar to a villian off the DC comics animated show "Teen Titans," Control Freak. He's a couch potato who has a special remote that controls any non-living thing and brings it to life. This is similar to Freakshow who uses a staff to control ghosts. (edit) Tucker: Can we take time off from your Gothapalooza to actually look for Danny?!
This reference is obviously a forshadowing event for "Reality Trip"; Sam wants to go to Gothapalooza, in the bleak Nevada Desert. (edit) Ellistica: Powers
Ellistca's powers of streching and turning her arms to rubber could be a reference to the many stretching super heros such as Mr. Fantastic, Rubberband Man, Plastic Man, or, most likely, Elastigirl from Disney/Pixar's The Incredibles. (edit) Jack: (To Sam's dad, about his apology) Save it for the bake sale, Thurston!
Jack calling Sam's dad Thurston, is a reference to Thurston Howell III, a millionaire castaway on the old TV show, Gilligan's Island. (edit)