Tanner '88

Imperfect, but compelling political thriller in the mundane world of the campaign. On the surface, especially from today's jaded era, it can seem naive or indulgent. However, under the surface, there's a lot churning. The first episode's surreal video/digital gimmicks, the L.A. fundraiser, the Detroit episode, and the incredible rush of the convention all highlight the darker, depraved, and hypocritical forces at play under the smooth Teflon surfaces of the screens of '88.

Sprawling mini-series works best in parts than as a whole, with the behind-the-scenes political machinations seeming somewhat tame and dated in the wake of more savage political satires since. Tanner himself starts as something of a dullard, though Murphy gradually brings some colour to him; the series peaks with the shattering ghetto violence sequence and accelerates thrillingly as the DNC beckons. Excellent supporting work from all, especially a hilarious Marshall as Murphy's ornery father.

Cartoonist Trudeau proves Altman's ideal collaborator on American politics, their complementary gliberalism, through typical Altmany alchemy, taking the glibness of discourse itself in the TV age and resulting depreciation on "the currency of ideas"--a fave phrase of New Left vet Tanner--and making something inspired and incisive of it. On politics-as-entertainment it overlaps neatly with the "Reach Out and Elect Someone" chapter of Neil Postman's AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH. 'Great TV', indeed