Tanner '88

Tanner '88 was a groundbreaking HBO television series. Written by Garry Trudeau and directed by Robert Altman, it went behind the scenes of the fictional campaign of former Michigan Congressman Jack Tanner in his unsuccessful bid for the Democratic party's nomination for the U.S. presidential election, 1988.

Related Topics:
HBO - Television - Garry Trudeau - Robert Altman - U.S. presidential election, 1988

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Congressman Tanner (played by Michael Murphy) is an obscure liberal Democratic politician who struggles to find a voice in the early Democratic primaries until his campaign manager T.J. Cavenaugh (Pamela Reed) masterminds an advertising push highlighting Tanner's authenticity and integrity. Using the slogan 'For real,' Congressman Tanner manages to emerge from a wide field of contenders to battle for the nomination against two high profile and better funded candidates, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and eventual nominee Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis.

Related Topics:
Michael Murphy - Pamela Reed - Jesse Jackson - Michael Dukakis

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Along for the ride are Tanner's college student daughter Alex (Cynthia Nixon) and mistress Joanna Buckley (Wendy Crewson), a high level member of the rival Dukakis presidential campaign.

Related Topics:
Cynthia Nixon - Wendy Crewson

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The series lasted for 11 episodes, following Congressman Tanner from the New Hampshire primary to his unsuccessful challenge for the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. In 2004 the Sundance Channel revived the series with a four-episode sequel, Tanner on Tanner. The series was also released on DVD as part of the Criterion Collection in 2004.

Related Topics:
2004 - Sundance Channel - Tanner on Tanner - Criterion Collection

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The series is notable for cameo appearances from real life political figures of the 1988 primary season, including Jesse Jackson, Senator Bob Dole, Kitty Dukakis, Bruce Babbitt and Pat Robertson.

Related Topics:
Jesse Jackson - Senator Bob Dole - Kitty Dukakis - Bruce Babbitt - Pat Robertson

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Robert Altman has always contended that this was his most creative work.

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