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! 
My husband and I are watching the series now. We are really enjoyed the series.We hope you bring the Pretender back. I like the way he help the people in the series. We love Miss Parker, Sydney and Broost.too.
Soy un fiel televidente de esta serie , ya que la misma se la ve en todas partes del mundo se dan cuenta lo inportante que es, espero que los productores sepan apreciar esta sugerensia y realisen las nuevas series que faltan , no me inporta esperar 1 o 2 o … de anos pero aganlo ya que es mi sueno verla de regreso, grasias por escucharmos a todos sus admiradores chao.
YAY…..bring it BACK!!!!!! 😀
I agree with Alexa, bring it back, I don’t care if I have to rewatch them all. I would enjoy it.
Oh, please bring it back! I would have to re-watch everything, but I’d do this willingly.
Bring the show back! The Pretender series is awesome!
I commented on this in June and we are no nearer getting closure on this fab series. I am wearing out my dvds PLEASE PLEASE can we have a follow on series or more movies. I really miss Jarod.
Jan S
I agree, answer the questions we all need to know.
I miss watching The Pretender on tv, we were left with a lot of questions who killed Miss Parkers mother, if Jarod would ever find his family, I have the dvds I watch them all the time. It would be great to see everyone back together again.
It would be great if they would make a movie The Pretender Continues….
If nothing else at least bring back the cast (although Harve Presnel (Mr. Parker) has passed away) and have a made for TV movie and finish off the story and answer the unanswered questions. Maybe SYFY would be interested in say a 6 episode mini-event capped off with a 3 hour finale. That would even provide sufficient material to be packaged for DVD sale as a cap off of the Pretender saga.
My husband and I loved this show….what happened? We would love to see all the characters again, Broots, Mrs. Parker, Sidney and especially Jarod. Please bring it back…….so many questions left unanswered.
Please bring it back I need answers to the questions that haunt me… and I miss Micheal and Andrea and all the rest of the pretender cast it would keep me going from all the school work I do every day… Please!!!!
golly – please bring back pretender – even if it is just online and costs a buck or so an episode! would love to see this REALLY wrapped up. the movies certainly just added more mystery and no conclusions! thanks!
I realize this is over 1 1/2 yrs. old but it’s still a good idea. The new syfy channel could use a lift in rerunning old reruns. If NBC isn’t interested. Michael T. Weiss was a fabulous actor. Very versitile like Scott Bakula was in his serie. To take on so many different personalities so well.
It’s a shame that NBC cancelled the show in favor of the XFL (Hey NBC how did that work for you? ) The show was innovative, fresh, and exciting. The characters were great , they meshed well together, and the storyline was creative. If brought back I believe that the show will do well . By the way NBC, remember the show JAG? You cancelled it , it got picked up by another network and went on to enjoy years of viewing success. This could be a chance to redeem yourselves. Bring back The Pretender and who knows? Perhaps you’ll… Read more »