Tanner '88

About Tanner '88

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.

HBO's Tanner '88 is a comedy, war, and politics series. Its one season of 12 episodes aired between February 1988 and August 1988.

Michael Murphy stars as Jack Tanner, Pamela Reed as T.J. Cavanaugh, Cynthia Nixon as Alex Tanner, and Kevin J. O'Connor as Hayes Haggerty.

Shelv files it under mockumentary, USA politics, miniseries, and politics. American members can watch it on Criterion Channel.

Oliver Stone's Untold History of the United States, Robert Kennedy & His Times, and House of Cards make useful companions to Tanner '88.