Tanner '88
Full Show Summary It still looks like one of the most adventurous projects ever undertaken for television: to concoct a fictional presidential candidate and follow him as he mingles (often improvising) amongst the real-life candidates on the campaign trail. Tanner '88 was the brainchild of director Robert Altman and "Doonesbury" cartoonist Garry Trudeau, who executed this on-the-fly series for HBO during the 1988 primary season. Thus we get "former Michigan congressman" Jack Tanner (Altman regular Michael Murphy) sorting out his messy professional and personal life as he hobnobs with the likes of Bob Dole, Pat Robertson, Kitty Dukakis, and real-life journalists. Some of these meta-fictional encounters are cameos, but some are remarkable full-blown sequences, such as Tanner's heart-to-heart with Bruce Babbitt as they stroll beneath Washington's cherry trees. (But then you always knew politicians were basically actors.) The deft supporting cast includes Pamela Reed and Cynthia Nixon. For fans of satire, Tanner is smart and sometimes mind-bending; for fans of Altman, it's the director at the top of his characteristic game: a multi-layered, many-sided ensemble picture that happens to be all about America. |

Last Episode, 26 October 2004:
Season 2, Episode 4: The Awful Truth
- Episode Guide
- Cast
Date Aired | Tanner '88 Episodes |
---|---|
Season 1 | |
15 February 1988 | Season 1, Episode 1: The Dark Horse (1) |
15 February 1988 | Season 1, Episode 2: The Dark Horse (2) |
14 March 1988 | Season 1, Episode 3: For Real |
12 April 1988 | Season 1, Episode 4: The Night of the Twinkies |
02 May 1988 | Season 1, Episode 5: Moonwalker and Bookbag |
16 May 1988 | Season 1, Episode 6: Bagels with Bruce |
06 June 1988 | Season 1, Episode 7: Child's Play |
20 June 1988 | Season 1, Episode 8: The Great Escape |
11 July 1988 | Season 1, Episode 9: The Girlfriend Factor |
17 July 1988 | Season 1, Episode 10: Something Borrowed, Something New |
11 August 1988 | Season 1, Episode 11: The Boiler Room |
22 August 1988 | Season 1, Episode 12: The Reality Check |
Season 2 | |
05 October 2004 | Season 2, Episode 1: Dinner at Elaine's |
12 October 2004 | Season 2, Episode 2: Boston or Bust |
19 October 2004 | Season 2, Episode 3: Alex in Wonderland |
26 October 2004 | Season 2, Episode 4: The Awful Truth |
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Watch Tanner '88 Online - Stream
Tanner '88 is available to watch on Sundance. You can also stream full episodes of Tanner '88 on Hulu.