Tanner '88 (1988)
In the lead-up to the 1988 presidential election, HBO took a chance on this experimental collaboration between political cartoonist Garry Trudeau and improvisational filmmaker Robert Altman. Years ahead of the mockumentary wave that would break in the late 90’s, the show followed the unlikely campaign of dark horse candidate Jack Tanner. The fake documentary also enabled the show to feature many political figures of the time, including Bob Dole, Jesse Jackson and Pat Robertson. Though it only lasted one season, its legacy remains as an early critical success for HBO, a return to form for Altman, and as a bold formal experiment set in the world of politics.
