On May 1, the hotly-anticipated HBO series White House Plumbers will
premiere. The 5-episode series takes viewers along on a darkly funny
ride with the fumbling ex-spooks and misguided “patriots.” E. Howard
Hunt, played by Woody Harrelson and G. Gordon Liddy, played by Justin
Theroux. The duo — along with some helpers — use any means necessary to
secure the 1972 re-election of Richard Nixon, including breaking into
the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate Office
Building. 

Of course instead of saving Nixon, Liddy and Hunt end up destroying his
presidency.

The show is a warped version of a buddy comedy that explores one of the
most relevant issues in politics: what happens when true believers lose
their integrity and moral compass in pursuit of their cause.

David Mandel, the director of White House Plumbers, is a man who knows
more about the intersection of Hollywood and Washington than just about
anyone. Mandel has had a storied career as a comedy writer and producer.
He’s a veteran of Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld and Curb Your
Enthusiasm. He went on to lead production of Veep —  one of the funniest
and most accurate shows ever made about Washington — for its final three
seasons.

On this week’s episode of Playbook Deep Dive, Playbook co-author Ryan
Lizza talks with Mandel about lessons he’s learned translating
Washington for Hollywood, first with Veep and now with White House
Plumbers —  and how a certain president elected in between these two
shows changed everything about what makes politics funny.

Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
David Mandel is the director of White House Plumbers. 
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 
Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer for POLITICO audio.