| The Pretender | |
|---|---|
 Miss Parker, Jarod and Sydney of The Pretender. |
|
| Format | Drama |
| Created by | Steven Long Mitchell Craig W. Van Sickle |
| Starring | Michael T. Weiss Andrea Parker Patrick Bauchau Jon Gries |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 86 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | NBC |
| Original run | September 19, 1996 – May 13, 2000 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
The Pretender is an American television series that aired on NBC for four seasons between 1996 and 2000. Following the show's cancellation, two television movies were aired that picked up where the series left off. According to show creators Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle, the character of Jarod was inspired by serial impostor Ferdinand Waldo Demara.
Contents |
Synopsis
The show revolved around a young man named Jarod, who was abducted from his parents as a child and raised by an organization called "The Centre". Jarod's handlers at the Centre used his beyond-genius IQ to train him to become a "Pretender", someone who can integrate himself into any walk of life, become an expert in any field - no matter how complex. When Jarod, a compassionate and caring man, discovered the Centre was using the data gathered from his "simulations" for nefarious purposes, he soon escaped. Traveling around the United States, adopting various identities, he uses his gift to help people in need. He is haunted not only by the blood on his hands, but also by operatives from the Centre, who pursue him relentlessly throughout the show's run. Despite being an adult, a large facet of Jarod's character is his childlike wonder and curiosity. Having been raised by "The Centre" in a controlled, almost-laboratory environment, Jarod is very naive about normal life and human behavior. He is fascinated by ordinary toys and everyday gadgets, and often incorporates them in his booby traps.
Cast
Main cast
This table represents the appearance of the main cast throughout The Pretender series. What is represented in this chart is the number of episodes appeared in, and appearances in The Pretender 2001 and The Pretender: Island of the Haunted movies.
| Character | Played by | # of episodes | 2001 | Island of the Haunted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jarod | Michael T. Weiss | 86 | Yes | Yes |
| Miss Parker | Andrea Parker | 86 | Yes | Yes |
| Sydney | Patrick Bauchau | 86 | Yes | Yes |
| Broots | Jon Gries | 85 | Yes | Yes |
| Young Jarod/Gemini | Ryan Merriman | 48 | No | No |
| Dr. William Raines | Richard Marcus | 45 | Yes | Yes |
| Mr. Lyle | James Denton | 36 | Yes | Yes |
| Mr. Parker | Harve Presnell | 31 | Yes | Yes |
| Sam the Sweeper | Sam Ayers | 31 | No | No |
| Angelo | Paul Dillon | 23 | Yes | Yes |
| Brigitte Parker | Pamela Gidley | 17 | No | No |
| Willie the Sweeper | Willie Gault | 14 | No | No |
| Young Miss Parker | Ashley Peldon | 12 | No | No |
| Magaret, Jarod's mom | Kim Myers | 10 | No | Yes |
| Thomas Gates | Jason Brooks | 8 | No | No |
| Mr. Cox | Lenny Von Dohlen | 5 | No | No |
| Young Angelo/Timmy | Jake Lloyd | 5 | No | No |
| Major Charles | George Lazenby | 4 | No | No |
| Ethan Clausen/Mirage | Tyler Christopher | 2 | Yes | No |
Back story
Jarod was raised by "The Centre" (based in the fictional town of Blue Cove, Delaware), where he was specially trained to develop his unique intelligence and abilities as a Pretender. Sydney, a mentor and father-figure, coached him to run simulations in which Jarod used his unique gift to help people. Jarod later found out that The Centre wasn't using the simulations to help people but to harm them. Since his escape, Jarod is trying to clear his conscience, but The Centre is never far behind. Miss Parker (Andrea Parker), Sydney (Patrick Bauchau), and Broots (Jon Gries), make up the Centre team charged with recapturing Jarod. Although Parker, Bauchau, and Gries were constant presences throughout the series, other actors, including James Denton (Mr. Lyle, perhaps the show's most unambiguous villain), Richard Marcus and Harve Presnell have recurring roles as executives of the Centre. Andrea Parker also plays Miss Parker's mother, Catherine Parker, in flashback scenes, and Patrick Bauchau Sydney's twin brother Jacob.
Series
After the series was cancelled, it was picked up in syndication by Turner Network Television. Two telemovies -- The Pretender 2001 and Island of the Haunted -- were aired on TNT in 2001; both movies ended with an unresolved cliffhanger. The creators of the show, Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle stated in an interview on the French DVD of the telemovies that they have already written an ending and all they need is financing to produce the final Pretender telemovie. On February 27th, 2007 a representative from the Turner Network Television announced they have no intention of financing any more Pretender movies. Reruns of The Pretender have aired and still air in many countries worldwide.
Possible closure for the Pretender story
On September 7th 2007 in an interview for their new miniseries Tin Man, creators Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle stated "Our fans still clabber for the answers because we never closed The Pretender out. We will just say to them please be patient, it’s going to happen, hopefully soon." They also referred to it happening in relationship to "Strange Highway" Entertainment and that the story line would continue digitally on the web.[1]
Episodes
Opening narraration
The first season opening narration reads as follows: There are pretenders among us. Geniuses with the ability to be become anyone they want to be. In 1963, a corporation known as the Centre isolated a young pretender named Jarod and exploited his genius for their research. Then, one day, their pretender ran away... The pilot episode introduction reads as follows: There are extraordinary individuals among us known as PRETENDERS. Geniuses with the ability to insinuate themselves into any walk of life, to literally become anyone. In 1963, a corporation called the Centre isolated one such PRETENDER, a young boy named Jarod. Locked in a controlled environment, they exploited his genius for their "unofficial" research. Then, one day, their PRETENDER ran away. Subsequent seasons featuring the following narration:
-
- On screen: there are Pretenders among us
- Narrator: There are Pretenders among us.
- Jarod: I was taken from my family
- On screen: a child genius
- Young Sydney: Thirty-six hours and he's already demonstrating more talent than any of our others.
- On screen: exploited by the Centre
- Jarod: How many people died because of what I thought up?
- Jarod: Since I broke out...
- On screen: escaped
- Jarod: ...I've spent every moment searching for my past.
- On screen: the pretender (title logo)
- Miss Parker: He's a Pretender, a genius who can become anyone that he wants to be.
- Sydney: The Centre wants him alive.
- Miss Parker: Preferably.
- Miss Parker: He defends the weak and abused.
- Jarod: Life's a gift.
- Hospital patient: Are you a doctor?
- Jarod: I am today.
Shooting location
The building seen in nearly every episode and identified as "The Centre" is actually the R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, located in Toronto, Canada. The same building also appears as a prison in an episode of Forever Knight, as Genomex headquarters in the series Mutant X, the clinic in In the Mouth of Madness and in some episodes of Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal.
First names
Most regular characters are almost always addressed by one name, either their first or their surname, but never by their full name. Most of the characters' full names are never actually revealed (exceptions include Dr. William Raines and Catherine Elaine Parker (whose maiden name was Catherine Jamison). Catherine's middle name is revealed on a DSA by Dr. Raines, preceding her autopsy in Season 4 Episode 19. Miss Parker's first name is only ever seen spoken in Season One, Episode Three, in which Young Miss Parker can be seen whispering Jarod her real name, but the audience is not permitted to hear it.
Profiler crossover
Michael T. Weiss portrayed his Jarod character on the TV series Profiler during an NBC crossover event. The first half of the plot unfolds on an episode of The Pretender, in which two lead characters from Profiler, Dr. Samantha 'Sam' Waters (Ally Walker) and Bailey Malone (Robert Davi) guest-starred. The conclusion takes place in an episode of Profiler (in which Michael T. Weiss guest-starred). Jarod's alias at the time is Jarod Doyle, a police officer. He vanishes at the end of the episode, presumably on to another "pretend."
Awards and nominations
Awards won
FAITA Award (also known as First Americans in the Arts Awards):
- Outstanding Guest Performance by an Actor in a TV Drama Series - Tyler Christopher (2001)
- Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Guest Starring Young Actor - Seth Adkins (1999)
- Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Supporting Young Actor - Ryan Merriman (1998-1999)
Awards nominated
- Outstanding Main Title Theme Music by Mark Leggett & Velton Ray Bunch (2000)
- Best TV Series-Drama (1998-1999)
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series - Michael T. Weiss (1998-1999)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series - Andrea Parker (1999)
- Best Genre TV Actor - Michael T. Weiss (1998)
- Best Performance in a TV Drama Series for Guest Starring Young Actor - Zachary Browne (1998)
- Best Performance in a TV Drama Series for Guest Starring Young Actress - Caitlin Wachs (2000)
- Best Performance in a TV Drama Series for Guest Starring Young Actress - Ashley Peldon (1999)
- Best Performance in a TV Drama Series for Young Actor - Ryan Merriman (1997)
- Best Performance in a TV Drama Series for Young Actress - Ashley Peldon (1997)
YoungStar Award:
- Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama TV Series - Ryan Merriman (1997,1999-2000)
DVD releases
20th Century Fox has released the entire series as well as the 2 TV-Movies on DVD in Region 1.
| DVD Name | Release Date |
|---|---|
| The Pretender - TV Starter Set | March 22, 2005 |
| The Pretender - The Complete First Season | March 22, 2005 |
| The Pretender - The Complete Second Season | September 20, 2005 |
| The Pretender - The Complete Third Season | February 14, 2006 |
| The Pretender - The Complete Fourth Season | July 18, 2006 |
| The Pretender: Movie Edition - The Pretender 2001 The Pretender: Island of the Haunted |
March 13, 2007 |
References
External links
- The Pretender at the Internet Movie Database
- The Pretender at TVGuide.com
- The Pretender at the All Movie Guide
- The Pretender DVDs website
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Episodes • Characters |
