The Pretender (1996–2000)

A specially gifted man, with the ability to instantly master any skill, escapes from a secret agency and travels the country taking on a different jobs and helping strangers.

Creators:

Steven Long Mitchell, Craig W. Van Sickle

Stars:

Michael T. Weiss, Andrea Parker, Patrick Bauchau

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Michael T. Weiss	...	Jarod (86 episodes, 1996-2000)
Andrea Parker	...	Miss Parker (86 episodes, 1996-2000)
Patrick Bauchau	...	Sydney (86 episodes, 1996-2000)
Jon Gries	...	Broots (82 episodes, 1996-2000)
Ryan Merriman	...	Young Jarod (50 episodes, 1996-2000)
Richard Marcus	...	Mr. Raines (44 episodes, 1996-2000)
Alex Wexo	...	Young Sydney (43 episodes, 1996-2000)
James Denton	...	Mr. Lyle (36 episodes, 1997-2000)

Storyline

Jarod is a pretender, a very intelligent person with the ability to slide into somebody else's personality. For that purpose, he has been taken from his family as a child in order to work for a secret agency called The Centre. But recently, he escaped. Jarod's new mission in life is to help people in need with his gift, and to find out what really happened to his allegedly dead parents. Only, Miss Parker and her team are out to get him...

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Plot Keywords:

boy genius | delaware | psychology | evil corporation | cult tv | 

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Taglines:

He'll fight for justice anytime, anywhere. And as anyone.

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Online Team Sci-Fi [uk]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pretender

Filming Locations:

City Hall - 200 N. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, MTM Entertainment, Mitchell/Van Sickle Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (86 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jon Gries guest starred as Broots for over 60 episodes before becoming a regular in season four.

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Goofs

In Season 2, episode 4, Jarod sends miss Parker a cardboard box containing a Viewmaster picture disc, and a live lobster with a note attached to it. Moments later, Mr. Lyle enters the room, and Broots, who is now holding the lobster, tries to hind it behind his back. However, when the camera pans around Broots from the back, the lobster we see is fully cooked, and hence red.

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Quotes

Sydney: You can't save them all, Jarod. You may be a Pretender, but you're human.

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Connections

Followed by The Pretender: Island of the Haunted (2001)

User Reviews

Addictive

I remember watching this show when it first started (I was in 7th grade) and completely loving it. Then, I stopped watching, I assume, because I couldn't fit it into my schedule. I got hooked again when I saw "Pretender: Island of the Haunted" last December, and now I watch the show everyday on TNT. I just can't get enough of it! Something about it makes you just seem glued to the TV. I don't know why this show was cancelled as it was so great (even its final season), but I am glad that they made a few movies. Hopefully that will continue! New and old Jarod fans appreciate it!!