1988: Trudeau, Altman Introduce 'Tanner '88'
February 15, 2021
| By TV WW
Today in 1988, HBO debuted the political mockumentary miniseries Tanner '88, a collaboration between Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau and director Robert Altman.
Tanner '88 starred Michael Murphy as Jack Tanner, a (fictional) former Michigan U.S. representative battling for the Democratic party's nomination against better-known, actual candidates, including Jesse Jackson and (eventual nominee) Michael Dukakis. Throughout the miniseries numerous newsmakers of the day made cameo appearances, including Bob Dole, Kitty Dukakis, Linda Ellerbee, Gary Hart, Pat Robertson, Bruce Babbitt and Jesse Jackson. Episodes aired through August, 1988, and followed the real-life campaign schedule, giving viewers insight into the ups and downs of an actual presidential campaign.
The cast included Cynthia Nixon as Tanner's college-age daughter, Alexandra; Pamela Reed as Tanner's campaign manager; Wendy Crewson as his girlfriend and E.G. Marshall as his father, General John Tanner.