"The Pretender" (1996) TV series 1996-2000

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Creators:

Steven Long Mitchell
Craig W. Van Sickle

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

19 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Jarod is a pretender, a very intelligent person with the ability to slide into somebody else's personality...

Plot Keywords:

Boy Genius | Video Surveillance | Lost Identity | Impostor | Evil Corporation

Awards:

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

Cast

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 (68 episodes, 1996-2000)
Ryan Merriman	...	Young Jarod / ... (49 episodes, 1996-2000)
Richard Marcus	...	Mr. Raines (45 episodes, 1996-2000)
Alex Wexo	...	Young Sydney / ... (39 episodes, 1996-2000)
James Denton	...	Mr. Lyle (36 episodes, 1997-2000)

Runtime:

60 min | 60 min (86 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG (some episodes) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

Most of the main characters have only a first or last name with the other name either unknown or assumed.

Goofs:

Continuity: In season 2 episode 19, the bumper sticker on Harper's car is "Support the Hayvenhurst School" (5 minutes into the program) and then "Support the Havenhurst School" (12 minutes into the program).

Quotes:

Jarod: Love transcends death. The people we love touch our lives, even after they're gone.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Diabolik (#11.13)" (1999)

Keeps you glued to the tube

The Pretender is brilliance, sheer brilliance. Without a doubt one of my favorite shows, The Pretender had a great premise and excellent actors / characters to match. The series is filled with all kinds of questions regarding Jarod's past or whatever else there might be. But each time one question is answered, more are always brought up. That's the really cool thing about this show, it always keeps you guessing.

Taking all this into account, it makes me wonder why NBC canceled it. Ratings weren't to bad, considering the time slot it was in. Oh well, at least TNT picked up the reruns and produced a follow up television movie.