Tanner '88
Genre	Comedy-drama
Creator(s)	Garry Trudeau
Starring	Michael Murphy Pamela Reed Cynthia Nixon Kevin J. O'Connor Daniel Jenkins Jim Fyfe Matt Malloy Ilana Levine Veronica Cartwright
Country of origin	USA
No. of episodes	12
Production
Executive producer(s)	Robert Altman Garry Trudeau
Camera setup	Multiple camera
Running time	approx. 30 minutes (per episode)
Broadcast
Original channel	HBO
Original run	February 15, 1988 – August 22, 1988
Links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

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 United States presidential election, 1988. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Garry Trudeau Garretson Beekman Trudeau (born July 21, 1948, in New York City) is an American cartoonist, best known for the Doonesbury comic strip. ... For other people of the same name, see Michael Murphy Michael Murphy (born May 5, 1938) is an American character actor. ... Pamela Reed (born April 2, 1949 in Tacoma, Washington) is an American actress. ... Cynthia Nixon (born April 9, 1966) is a Tony and Emmy Award-winning American actress who is best known for her portrayal of lawyer Miranda Hobbes in the popular HBO dramedy Sex and the City (1998–2004). ... Kevin J. OConnor is an American actor best known for playing character roles in major studio movies such as The Mummy, Clive Barkers Lord of Illusions, F/X 2 and as Igor in the 2004 movie Van Helsing. ... Ilana Levine (born December 5, 1963) is an American actress. ... Veronica Cartwright (born April 20, 1950 in Bristol, England) is an actress. ... It has been suggested that Tanner on Tanner be merged into this article or section. ... Robert Bernard Altman (February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. ... Garry Trudeau Garretson Beekman Trudeau (born July 21, 1948, in New York City) is an American cartoonist, best known for the Doonesbury comic strip. ... A multi-camera setup is a film production technique wherein multiple cameras shoot the same action from different angles. ... For other uses, see HBO (disambiguation). ... February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see HBO (disambiguation). ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Garry Trudeau Garretson Beekman Trudeau (born July 21, 1948, in New York City) is an American cartoonist, best known for the Doonesbury comic strip. ... Robert Bernard Altman (February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 491 miles (790 km)  - % water 41. ... Presidential electoral votes by state. ...

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. For other people of the same name, see Michael Murphy Michael Murphy (born May 5, 1938) is an American character actor. ... Pamela Reed (born April 2, 1949 in Tacoma, Washington) is an American actress. ... Jesse Louis Jackson (born October 8, 1941) is an American politician, civil rights activist, and Baptist minister. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Michael Stanley Dukakis (born November 3, 1933) is an American Democratic politician, former Governor of Massachusetts, and the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. ...

Along for the ride are Tanner's college student daughter Alex (Cynthia Nixon) and mistress Joanna Buckley (Wendy Crewson, the real-life wife of Michael Murphy), a high level member of the rival Dukakis presidential campaign. Cynthia Nixon (born April 9, 1966) is a Tony and Emmy Award-winning American actress who is best known for her portrayal of lawyer Miranda Hobbes in the popular HBO dramedy Sex and the City (1998–2004). ... Wendy Crewson (born May 9, 1956 in Hamilton, Ontario) is a Canadian actress. ...

The series lasted for 12 episodes, following Congressman Tanner from the New Hampshire primary to his unsuccessful challenge for the nomination at the 1988 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. The 1988 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia from July 18–21, 1988 to select a candidate for the 1988 United States presidential election. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sundance Channel logo used from 1996 to 2002. ... Tanner on Tanner was a 2004 comedy and the sequel series to the 1988 Robert Altman written and Garry Trudeau directed mini-series about a failed presidential candidate. ... The Criterion Collection is a joint venture between Janus Films and The Voyager Company that was begun in the mid 1980s for the purpose of releasing authoritative consumer versions of classic and important contemporary films on the laserdisc and DVD formats. ...

The series is notable for cameo appearances from real life political figures of the 1988 primary season, including Jesse Jackson, Bob Dole, Gary Hart, Kitty Dukakis, Bruce Babbitt, and Pat Robertson. Jesse Louis Jackson (born October 8, 1941) is an American politician, civil rights activist, and Baptist minister. ... Robert Joseph Bob Dole (born July 22, 1923) was the Republican candidate in the 1996 U.S. Presidential election. ... Gary Warren Hart (born Gary Warren Hartpence, November 28, 1936) is a politician and lawyer from the state of Colorado. ... Katharine Dickson Dukakis (born December 26, 1936), known as Kitty Dukakis, is the wife of former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Michael Dukakis. ... Bruce Edward Babbitt (born June 27, 1938), a Democrat, served as United States Secretary of the Interior and as Governor of Arizona. ... Marion Gordon Pat Robertson (born March 22, 1930) is a televangelist from the United States. ...

Robert Altman has always contended that this was his most creative work, along with Short Cuts. Altman won the Emmy Award for best Directing, Drama for the Tanner '88 episode The Boiler Room. Robert Bernard Altman (February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. ... Short Cuts is a 1993 film directed by Robert Altman. ...

Cabinet

Jack Tanner's proposed cabinet (quotes from their appearances on the show):

• Nicholas von Hoffman, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board
• Barbara Jordan, US representative to the United Nations
• Joan Claybrook, Secretary of Transportation
• Ralph Nader, Attorney General ("I stand for law and order against corporations.")
• Gloria Steinem, Secretary of Health and Human Services ("I've spent most of my time picketing outside those buildings...")
• Art Buchwald, ambassador to France ("if they agree to send me American food, I'm willing to be ambassador to France")
• Lee Hamilton, Secretary of State ("I think we have the possibility to see a new climate between the two great superpowers in the world")
• Studs Terkel, Secretary of Labor ("too much specialization...I'm a generalist")
• Robert Redford, Secretary of the Interior
• Lee Iacocca, Secretary of Defense
• Jim Hightower, Secretary of Agriculture

Nicholas von Hoffman is an American journalist and author of German-Russian extraction, descendant of Melchior Hoffman and son of Carl von Hoffman. ... The Federal Reserve System is headquartered in the Eccles Building on Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC. The Federal Reserve System (also the Federal Reserve; informally The Fed) is the central bank of the United States. ... Barbara Jordan Barbara Charline Jordan (February 21, 1936 – January 17, 1996) was an American politician from Texas. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Joan Claybrook is an American lawyer who has served as President of Public Citizen since 1982. ... Ralph Nader Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934), is an American attorney and political activist. ... Seal of the United States Department of Justice The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice (see ) concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. ... Gloria Steinem at news conference, Womens Action Alliance, January 12, 1972 Gloria Steinem (b. ... The United States Department of Health and Human Services, often abbreviated HHS, is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. ... Art Buchwald Arthur Buchwald (October 20, 1925 – January 18, 2007) was an American humorist best known for his long-running column that he wrote in The Washington Post newspaper, which in turn was carried as a syndicated column in many other newspapers. ... Lee Herbert Hamilton is the vice chair of the 9-11 Commission and currently serves on the Presidents Homeland Security Advisory Council. ... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... Photo of Studs Terkel by Robert Birnbaum Louis Studs Terkel (born May 16, 1912) is an American author, historian and broadcaster. ... The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the United States Department of Labor. ... Robert Redford (born Charles Robert Redford, Jr. ... The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior, concerned with such matters as national parks and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Lee Iacocca Lido Anthony Lee Iacocca[1][2](born October 15, 1924 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American industrialist most commonly known for his revival of the Chrysler brand in the 1980s when he was the CEO. Among the most widely recognized businessmen in the world, he was a passionate... The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense, concerned with the armed services and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ... Hightowers book Thieves in High Places James Allen Jim Hightower (born January 11, 1943) is a well-known populist activist and a former Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. ... The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture concerned with land and food as well as agriculture and rural development. ...

Song

The show's theme song, drawn from Altman's 1979 film Health, became a continuing part of the series, appearing in multiple incarnations throughout Congressman Tanner's bid for the presidency.

Episodes

The following is a chronological episode list for the television series Tanner '88 which ran for twelve episodes on HBO in 1988. A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... HBO (Home Box Office) is a premium cable television network with headquarters in New York City. ... This is a list of television-related events in 1988. ...

Currently, the entire series is available on DVD.

Season One (1988)

This is a list of television-related events in 1988. ... February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Dark Horse was the two-part episode premiere of the HBO series Tanner 88. ... February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Dark Horse was the two-part episode premiere of the HBO series Tanner 88. ... For the Lebanese political coalition, see March 14 Alliance. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For Real was the third episode of the HBO series Tanner 88 to air. ... April 12 is the 102nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (103rd in leap years). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Night of the Twinkies was the fourth episode of the HBO series Tanner 88 to air. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Moonwalker and Bookbag was the fifth episode of the HBO series Tanner 88 to air. ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bagels with Bruce was the sixth episode of the HBO series Tanner 88 to air. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining // 1508 - Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year truce and cede several territories to Venice 1513... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Childs Play was the seventh episode of the HBO series Tanner 88 to air. ... June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Great Escape was the eight episode of the HBO series Tanner 88 to air. ... July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 173 days remaining. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Girlfriend Factor was the ninth episode of the HBO series Tanner 88 to air. ... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Something Borrowed, Something New was the tenth episode of the HBO series Tanner 88 to air. ... August 11 is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Boiler Room was the eleventh episode of the HBO series Tanner 88 to air. ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Reality Check was the twelfth and final episode of the HBO series Tanner 88 to air. ...

Trivia

Writer Jesse Armstrong acknowledges Tanner 88's influence on the BBC political comedy The Thick of It. Jesse Armstrong is one of the co-creators (along with Sam Bain) of Channel 4s Peep Show. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... The Thick of It is a British comedy television series, which satirises the inner workings of modern British government. ...

External link

• Tanner '88 at the Internet Movie Database