Michael Murphy
Jack Tanner
Series
Watch Tanner '88 (1988) Online
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6.98 votes1988EndedComedyWar & Politics
Synopsis
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.
Episodes
Season 1
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1. The Dark Horse (1)Now viewing1988-02-1530mOn 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.
2. The Dark Horse (2)1988-02-1530mAlthough 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.
3. For Real1988-03-14Tanner'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.
4. The Night of the Twinkies1988-04-12In 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.
5. Moonwalker and Bookbag1988-05-02After 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.- 6. Bagels with Bruce1988-05-16After 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.
- 7. Child's Play1988-06-06Tanner attends a whirlwind of campaign events, ranging from a pool party in Hollywood to a meeting with children at a day care center. He also runs into his ex-wife's husband an attends a speech seminar with Dorothy Sarnoff. Meanwhile, Barney joins the Tanner campaign following Deke's firing, while Molly hires Deke after her cameraman quits.
- 8. The Great Escape1988-06-20Tanner mulls the issue of drug policy in a debate with Jesse Jackson, moderated by Linda Ellerbee. Trying to escape from a number of persistent reporters asking about his relationship with Joanna, Tanner later ends up in a dangerous situation that dramatically affects the campaign.
- 9. The Girlfriend Factor1988-07-11Tanner has to decide what to do about his secret girlfriend Joanna Buckley, an employee of main competitor Michael Dukakis. Meanwhile, the Tanner campaign heads to a rough Detroit neighborhood, where a shocking discovery changes the course of the campaign.
- 10. Something Borrowed, Something New1988-07-17Tanner heads to his aunt's house in suburban Michigan to marry Joanna, but his announcement that he's getting married causes varied reactions from his relatives; Molly confides in TJ when she begins to wonder if she's about being fired by NBC; Deke crashes the wedding via helicopter; Tanner makes a number of surprise choices for his cabinet.
- 11. The Boiler Room1988-08-11Having reached the Democratic National Convention knowing that he has no hope of overcoming Dukakis's lead on his own, Tanner considers forging an alliance with Jesse Jackson; T.J. calls in sugar-fueled coordinator Billy Ridenour to work his backroom magic; in a last-ditch effort, Tanner walks onto the convention floor.
- 12. The Reality Check1988-08-22Having failed to secure the Democratic nomination, TJ and company try to launch a third-party campaign; the crew hires college co-eds for telemarketing, which provides mixed results; Joanna has coffee with Kitty Dukakis.
Cast
Top Billed Cast
Pamela Reed
T.J. Cavanaugh
Cynthia Nixon
Alex Tanner
Kevin J. O'Connor
Hayes Haggerty
Daniel H. Jenkins
Stringer Kincaid
Jim Fyfe
Emil Berkoff
Matt Malloy
Deke Connors
Ilana Levine
Andrea Spinelli
Veronica Cartwright
Molly Hark
Harry Anderson
Billy Ridenhour
Wendy Crewson
Joanna Buckley
No photo Sandra Bowie
Stevie Chevalier
Richard Cox
David Seidelman
No photo Greg Procaccino
Barney Kittman
Availability
Where To Watch Legally
Criterion Channel
Amazon VideoRecommended
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tanner '88 available to watch online?
Yes - see the "Where to watch legally" section on this page for streaming, rental and purchase options.
How many seasons does Tanner '88 have?
Tanner '88 has 1 season and 12 episodes.
When did Tanner '88 first air?
Tanner '88 first aired in 1988.
Is Tanner '88 still running?
Tanner '88's status on TMDB is: Ended.
What genre is Tanner '88?
Tanner '88 is classified as Comedy, War & Politics.