When original Pretender adventures disappeared from the airwaves in 2001, fans were still left with a lot of questions. Fortunately, the show’s creators haven’t forgotten about them and are working on a way to bring the series back, albeit in a different form.
The Pretender debuted on September 19, 1996 and aired for four seasons on NBC. In the series, Michael T. Weiss plays the lead character, a beyond-genius “Pretender” named Jarod. As a young boy, Jarod was abducted from his parents and trained by The Centre to be able to flawlessly integrate himself into any profession or lifestyle. As an adult, Jarod discovers that the organization is using him for no good and he escapes. Jarod travels the country trying to help those in need while managing to stay a step ahead of his captors. When the series ended on May 13, 2000 after four seasons, it looked like Jarod, Miss Parker (Andrea Parker), and Ethan (guest Tyler Christopher) didn’t survive a huge train explosion.
Fortunately, the cliffhanger was later resolved. The Pretender was picked up for syndication and ran successfully on cable station TNT. That success paved the way for two television movies that aired in January and December 2001. When the second movie ended, there were still many questions left unanswered. Fans petitioned for more TV movies but they didn’t happen.
Pretender creators Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle have long said that the show was a labor of love and that they’re interested in continuing the Pretender story. A few months ago, the creators suggested that the show might be continued online.
In a recent interview with Sci Fi Wire, Mitchell and Van Sickle shared a few more details. “We created the show The Pretender, and we’re working on bringing that back in a whole new form, in a digital form and in a digital platform,” Mitchell shared. This would allow viewers to be able to tap into more information and be able to follow the progress of the new stories.
A new format doesn’t mean however that they’re forsaking the series’ star or the existing Pretender storylines. Van Sickle notes, “We had breakfast with Michael… he just finished up a play out here in New York. I guess kind of the best thing we can say is that we have a timetable of within, hopefully, the next five or six months that we can have something really unique and different out there.” Stay tuned!
Definitely would like to see closure, 1 more season, 1 more movie whatever. Same cast please from jarod to Broots. Brilliant show, unique never before seen on tv storyline and the cast fit together like pieces in a puzzle. Liked the show in the late 1990’s from Africa and still enjoying the re-runs in Europe (2009). What’s with the digital thing? hopefully we’ll get to see the actors at work that was the best bit, how believable the acting actually was (miss parker, broots e.t.c.)Hopefully 2009 will be the year all pretender fans have been waiting for.
Come on guys!!!
I would absolutely love to see this show come back in any way.
I agree i absoulutly love the show and would like to see it return, I don’t like Micheal’s hair in the picture above though.
Please bring back the show – I don’t understand why it left the airways in the first place. Thank you!!
Please bring it back and hurry up cause the more time we wait, the easier it is to forget about the show.
As I add my wishes to see more of the series, I have 2 movies and 4th year on dvd since I couldn’t view those shows from online tv free episodes.
There are a lot of answers that need to be resolved. Please find a way to bring the series back either by internet or by a movie.
Thanks
This is the best show ever !!!! Please can you do the final film, we need the answers !!!!! :S How long we gona wait :S
Hey i love the whole Jarod synopsis it is the best TV drama since as long as i can remember. I really do hope you guys bring it back and give it great advertising, I love you J arod(Micheal T. Wiess.Stay cool.
The series was great! But, it definately needs “closure”. Please finish up the other two movies at least.
I absolutely loved the Pretender. There are still too many unanswered questions and they should bring it back because I have never saw a more exciting than this one.
I just love watching this show. It has so much intrigue and mystery. Its still looks just as fresh. No TV series matches ‘The Pretender’. We as fans need to keep the pressure on with the producers to gives us a finality of the whole story so we can rest in peace !
MIchael T Weiss is so multi-talented, we need to see more of him on TV and big screen in leading roles. Its not fair !!
Keep the pressure on !
LOVED the series – came to it late (in the UK) saw the last explosive episode last night – have just ordered the two movies online and I am desperate to see it continue with the original cast! Brilliant- heart stopping stuff.
What I love about Michael Weiss is he LOOKS as if he could be very dangerous. This is an electric series and please let it go on!
So many great shows over the years have not been given a fair go and The Pretender is right up the top of the list. In Australia it was only ever on TV after 9:30pm on a saturday! SUX!! I love this show. The intricate way in which the lives of so many people became so intertwinned has NEVER been repeated on any TV show. It was a feel good tear jerking mystery that seems to have been lost on us all. Michael T Weiss was born to play Jarod and Andrea Parker well what can I say??? BRING IT… Read more »
I would love to see the show again. It’s amazing the support for this series from the fans. At least give us some closure for Miss Parker and Jarod.
Come on guys it’s 2009 and we still want answers. Please bring it back.