Tanner '88

Tanner '88

"For real."

★ 6.9 (8 votes)
1988📺 1 Season🎞 12 EpisodesTV Series
ComedyWar & Politics

In 1988, renegade filmmaker Robert Altman and Pulitzer Prize–winning Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau created a presidential candidate, ran him alongside the other hopefuls during the primary season, and presented their media campaign as a cross between a soap opera and TV news. The result was the groundbreaking Tanner ’88, a piercing satire of media-age American politics.

Watch S1E1

First Aired

1988-02-15

Status

Ended

Network

HBO

Seasons

Season 1 Episodes

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The Dark Horse (1)

E1. The Dark Horse (1)

On the weekend before the make-or-break New Hampshire primary, Representative Jack Tanner (D-MI) and his opinionated daughter visit with potential voters, while a videotape of his first campaign commercial is evaluated by a focus group.

The Dark Horse (2)

E2. The Dark Horse (2)

Although their first attempt at a TV commercial is not well received, Tanner's staff hopes that an impromptu speech about why he's running for president will make a good enough TV ad to keep his campaign going past the New Hampshire primary.

For Real

E3. For Real

Tanner's television commercial showing that his passion is ""For real"" generates new interest from the press in his campaign as he heads for Nashville. He also has an apparent attempt on his life, which gains him more publicity and qualifies him for secret service protection, even thought it was just a big misunderstanding.

The Night of the Twinkies

E4. The Night of the Twinkies

In an attempt to garner the black vote, Jack heads to Nashville to seek the advice of an old friend, now a black-rights activist. Meanwhile, one of Tanner's staff recovers from an attack at the campaign event, a busload of campaigners get stuck on the highway, and TJ mulls a one-night stand.

Moonwalker and Bookbag

E5. Moonwalker and Bookbag

After Tanner offends Reverend Crier, resulting in more attention towards the campaign, he and his daughter must learn to cope with the constant protective presence of secret service agents; Taggerty uncovers some unusual family dynamics when interviewing Tanner's father; Alex persuades Jack to participate in an anti-Apartheid rally.

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E6. Bagels with Bruce

After being released from jail, Tanner meets with fellow candidate Bruce Babbitt, who just dropped out of the race but has plenty to say on Jack's campaign; Stringer makes a startling discovery when he is tempted to join the Dukakis campaign; Deke produces a controversial new campaign ad.

Cast

Michael Murphy

Michael Murphy

Jack Tanner

Pamela Reed

Pamela Reed

T.J. Cavanaugh

Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon

Alex Tanner

Kevin J. O'Connor

Kevin J. O'Connor

Hayes Haggerty

Daniel H. Jenkins

Daniel H. Jenkins

Stringer Kincaid

Jim Fyfe

Jim Fyfe

Emil Berkoff

Matt Malloy

Matt Malloy

Deke Connors

Ilana Levine

Ilana Levine

Andrea Spinelli

Veronica Cartwright

Veronica Cartwright

Molly Hark

Harry Anderson

Harry Anderson

Billy Ridenhour

Wendy Crewson

Wendy Crewson

Joanna Buckley

Sandra Bowie

Sandra Bowie

Stevie Chevalier

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