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Wag the Dog

Wag the Dog

Release: 1997-12-25 ·Runtime: 97m ·★ 6.9
Comedy Drama

During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

New Line Cinema
Tribeca Productions
Baltimore Pictures
Punch Productions

Trailers & Videos

Cast

Merle Haggard Merle Haggard as Merle Haggard Lu Elrod Lu Elrod as Southern Woman Christine Devine Christine Devine as Chicago Newscaster Willie Nelson Willie Nelson as Johnny Dean Kirsten Dunst Kirsten Dunst as Tracy Lime Ron McCoy Ron McCoy as Limo Driver Jim Belushi Jim Belushi as Jim Belushi Nikki Crawford Nikki Crawford as Mom Michael Villani Michael Villani as Male Commentator Ralph Tabakin Ralph Tabakin as Southern Man Paul Webster Paul Webster as Limo Driver (uncredited) Woody Harrelson Woody Harrelson as Sergeant William Schumann Andrea Martin Andrea Martin as Liz Butsky Jenna Byrne Jenna Byrne as Sharon Randy Springer Randy Springer as Airline Passenger (uncredited) Denis Leary Denis Leary as Fad King Drena De Niro Drena De Niro as Gate Stewardess Derek Morgan Derek Morgan as CIA Agent Marguerite Moreau Marguerite Moreau as Teenage Girl in Audience John Michael Higgins John Michael Higgins as John Levy Harland Williams Harland Williams as Pet Wrangler Ed Morgan Ed Morgan as Store Owner Jack Esformes Jack Esformes as Aide #2 George Gaynes George Gaynes as Senator Nole John Franklin John Franklin as Jockey #1 Roebuck 'Pops' Staples Roebuck 'Pops' Staples as Pops Staples Anthony Holiday Anthony Holiday as American Dream Singer Craig T. Nelson Craig T. Nelson as Senator John Neal (uncredited) Barry Levinson Barry Levinson as Man at a Movie Studio (uncredited) Robert Richardson Robert Richardson as Man in a TV Studio (uncredited) Jason Cottle Jason Cottle as A.D. Sean Masterson Sean Masterson as Bob Richardson Geoffrey Blake Geoffrey Blake as Media Guy #1 Jack Shearer Jack Shearer as Sklansky Dustin Hoffman Dustin Hoffman as Stanley Motss Anne Heche Anne Heche as Winifred Ames William H. Macy William H. Macy as CIA Agent Charles Young Bernard Hocke Bernard Hocke as Technician Jerry Levine Jerry Levine as Media Guy #2 Robert De Niro Robert De Niro as Conrad Brean Alberto Vazquez Alberto Vazquez as Combine Driver Rick Scarry Rick Scarry as White House Reporter Richard Saxton Richard Saxton as Chicago Newscaster #2 Suzanne Cryer Suzanne Cryer as Amy Cain Richard Lawson Richard Lawson as Young Man / CIA Guy Richardson Guy Richardson as Secret Service Agent (uncredited) David Koechner David Koechner as Director Suzie Plakson Suzie Plakson as Grace J. Patrick McCormack J. Patrick McCormack as Pilot Phil Morris Phil Morris as Co-Pilot Chris Ellis Chris Ellis as Officer Jennifer Manley Jennifer Manley as Teenage Girl John Cho John Cho as Aide #3 Gina Menza Gina Menza as Press Room Reporter Greg Bronson Greg Bronson as Chauffer (uncredited) Shirley Prestia Shirley Prestia as Crossfire Moderator Jay Leno Jay Leno as Jay Leno