“The Dark Horse”
Directed by Robert Altman • 1988 • United States

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. In the inaugural episode, presidential candidate Jack Tanner interacts with American voters and has his campaign commercial viewed by a focus group.