IMDb > "The Pretender" (1996)
"The Pretender"
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditsepisode listepisodes castepisode ratings... by rating... by votestv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsrecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

"The Pretender" (1996) More at IMDbPro »TV series 1996-2000

Photos (see all 22 | slideshow) Videos (see all 22)
"The Pretender" (1996): Season 1: Episode 22 -- Jarod is shocked to learn the truth concerning another boy who was at the Centre, and Miss Parker continues delving into the circumstances surrounding her mother's death.
"The Pretender" (1996): Season 1: Episode 21 -- Jarod is shocked to learn the truth concerning another boy who was at the Centre, and Miss Parker continues delving into the circumstances surrounding her mother's death.
"The Pretender" (1996): Season 1: Episode 20 -- As Jarod tries to locate the mother of a baby he found abandoned in a dumpster, Sydney and Miss Parker discover a sub-level under the Centre that none of them knew existed.
"The Pretender" (1996): Season 1: Episode 19 -- An anonymous e-mail promising clues concerning his past sends Jarod to New Orleans, while Sydney receives a similar e-mail telling him to go to Minneapolis.
"The Pretender" (1996): Season 1: Episode 18 -- As a U.S. Marshall Jarod tries to protect a witness who's scheduled to testify against a drug cartel, while a distraught Sydney makes an appointment with his psychiatrist.

Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   2,723 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Creators:
Steven Long Mitchell
Craig W. Van Sickle
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Pretender on IMDbPro.
Seasons:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 full episode list
Release Date:
19 September 1996 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Sci-Fi | Mystery | Thriller more
Plot:
Jarod is a pretender, a very intelligent person with the ability to slide into somebody else's personality... more
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 16 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
The Fantasticks to Kick Off Long Wharf's 2009-10 Season Oct 7 - Nov 1
 (From BroadwayWorld.com. 1 November 2009, 1:30 AM, PST)
Robert Knepper and Ray Park Get Villanous in Heroes
 (From MovieWeb. 18 September 2009, 7:07 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
In spite of its flaws, I wish I could have seen the rest of the episodes. more (60 total)

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 8 of 86)

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 (69 episodes, 1996-2000)
Richard Marcus ... Mr. Raines (45 episodes, 1996-2000)

Ryan Merriman ... Young Jarod / ... (44 episodes, 1996-2000)

Alex Wexo ... Young Sydney / ... (39 episodes, 1996-2000)

James Denton ... Mr. Lyle (36 episodes, 1997-2000)
more

Additional Details

Runtime:
60 min | 60 min (86 episodes)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.78 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Australia:PG (some episodes) | Australia:M
Filming Locations:
City Hall - 200 N. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA more
Company:
20th Century Fox Television more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The Pretender was inspired by the life of Ferdinand Demara Jr., a genius with an eidetic memory, who could master any skill just by reading a book about it. more
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). more
Quotes:
Miss Parker: [about borrowing Angelo from Mr Raines] Uncle Fester will never know his Lurch is missing. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Diabolik (#11.13)" (1999) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
In spite of its flaws, I wish I could have seen the rest of the episodes., 15 January 2003
Author: Victor Field from London, England

"I'm chasing the Pretender," Andrea Parker assured us the viewers in an advertisement for Sky's new shows some years ago. "I'm going to catch him on Sky One."

Unfortunately for fans of "The Pretender," she never did - Sky ended up dropping it before the fourth and final season (and forget the TV movies), and it's unlikely some other station will get it a la "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Late Night With David Letterman" or other shows binned in favour of "Kirsty's Home Videos" or "Fear Factor." Curses.

Anyway, though this series could be formulaic - this show used to be run back-to-back with "Early Edition," and it always amazed me that the latter could get more inventive plotlines out of its own equally constrictive premise - the show avoided being dire because of its characters and performers. As Jarod, Michael T. Weiss projected a smugness that was off-putting but appropriate for someone who could pretend to be anybody (the air of self-satisfation was in tune with someone who knew he was brighter than just about everyone else), and his mentor Sydney and chief pursuer Miss Parker - what WAS her first name? - were refreshingly free of black-and-white characterisations; this made the show more interesting than it otherwise might have been, though the writing was decent all round.

Thanks to other comments for filling in a few of the blanks (they'll do until I manage to see the final season and the movies). And to Andrea Parker for giving us a character simultaneously ice-cold and red-hot; apologies to Catherine Bell fans, but she was Harm's sexiest partner (too bad she was only in the "JAG" pilot and one other episode).

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (60 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "The Pretender" (1996)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Pretender Movie PRE Pilot SunshineInDenver
I think anny385385
The Pretender Twitter Campaign voodoochild24
re new film/series robcb2003
The Pilot anny385385
Miss Parker - Short skirt long jacket w00dys
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Pretender 2001 The Pretender: Island of the Haunted "Twin Peaks" GoldenEye Antitrust
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Episode guide Full cast and crew Company credits
External reviews News articles IMDb TV section
IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.

You may add a new episode for this TV series by clicking the 'add episode' button