A specially gifted man, with the ability to instantly master any skill, escapes from a secret testing facility and travels the country taking on different jobs and helping strangers while hi... Read allA specially gifted man, with the ability to instantly master any skill, escapes from a secret testing facility and travels the country taking on different jobs and helping strangers while hiding from his kidnappers.A specially gifted man, with the ability to instantly master any skill, escapes from a secret testing facility and travels the country taking on different jobs and helping strangers while hiding from his kidnappers.
- Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
- 5 wins & 18 nominations total
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A great series that was axed too soon (though the fourth season was rather weak). Jarod was the type of character we all wish we could be: super-intelligent and the kind who gets the bad guys all the time and does hilarious things to them in order to them to confess to just how bad they are. Man - I wish I could do stuff like that. Too bad Pretender's aren't real (or are they?). We could sure use some of them in the real world (doing good, of course). Let's hope TNT decides to pick up the series and continue it. One of the best shows of the 90s.
I somehow missed this show in its original run in the mid/late 90's. But as luck would have it, I've recently discovered this show in re-runs and was so interested by it that I even bought the Season 1 DVD set. The show consists of a hero (Jarod) who is a genius capable of insinuating himself into any profession or situation. Kidnapped as a child and exploited by "The Centre", Jarod escapes and sets out to find his long-lost parents. During his search, Jarod uses his abilities to seek justice for strangers he reads about in newspaper articles. Part of what makes this series great is the relationship between Jarod and Centre psychologist/instructor Sydney who has raised Jarod from childhood and become the closest thing Jarod has ever known to a father. Additionally, Centre Hench-woman "Miss Parker" tracks Jarod relentlessly, while discovering more and more that the Centre has manipulated her own life almost as much as they have Jarod's. The only negative thing I have to say about this show is that it was canceled prior to its conclusion. An attempt at a TV Movie "Pretender 2001" was made to give us the answers about Jarod's family but I have yet to find a copy to see how it ends. It's too bad there aren't quality shows like this on today to save us from Reality-TV.
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!!
The talented Michael T. Weiss is Jarod, a man who can become anyone he
wants to be, in order to save lives, or prevent disaster. In the first season, he escapes from the Centre and three workers, Miss Parker, Sydney, and Broots
are after him all through the series and he keeps going. The series was meant for adults and thus was a success for people over the age of eighteen. Great
action sequences and Michael T. Weiss was very very good as the title
character, coming a long way from "Days of Our Lives" while Andrea Parker was hot and sizzled as Miss Parker, a dark but light hearted female lead. But my
favorite was Patrick Bauchau as Sydney, whom would always be in contact with
Jarod and not let the Centre know about it! Too bad there was never a fifth
season as I would have like to see more!
wants to be, in order to save lives, or prevent disaster. In the first season, he escapes from the Centre and three workers, Miss Parker, Sydney, and Broots
are after him all through the series and he keeps going. The series was meant for adults and thus was a success for people over the age of eighteen. Great
action sequences and Michael T. Weiss was very very good as the title
character, coming a long way from "Days of Our Lives" while Andrea Parker was hot and sizzled as Miss Parker, a dark but light hearted female lead. But my
favorite was Patrick Bauchau as Sydney, whom would always be in contact with
Jarod and not let the Centre know about it! Too bad there was never a fifth
season as I would have like to see more!
I was so impressed by this show and I only caught it in reruns! Weiss is amazing. He plays so many sides of his character. Parker is wonderfully cast as Catherine. Personally, my favorites were Angelo and Broots. They made wonderful characters.
One thing I especially liked was the fact that 1) There was the definatly good guy, Jarod 2) There was the sometimes good sometimes bad, Miss Parker, Broots, and
Sidney 3) There was the always bad, Mr. Raines
I haven't seen the movies yet, but I bet they are just as good!
One thing I especially liked was the fact that 1) There was the definatly good guy, Jarod 2) There was the sometimes good sometimes bad, Miss Parker, Broots, and
Sidney 3) There was the always bad, Mr. Raines
I haven't seen the movies yet, but I bet they are just as good!
Did you know
- TriviaThis show was partially 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.
- GoofsIn 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 hide it behind his back. However, when the camera pans around Broots from the back, the lobster we see is fully cooked, and hence red.
- Quotes
Miss Parker: Why did you save my life?
Jarod: Because I still remember the little girl who gave me my first kiss.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Profiler: Pianissimo (2000)
- How many seasons does The Pretender have?Powered by Alexa
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- Also known as
- The Pretender
- Filming locations
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada(pilot only)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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