"The Pretender" (1996) TV series 1996-2000

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Creators:

Steven Long Mitchell
Craig W. Van Sickle
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

19 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Jarod is a pretender, a very intelligent person with the ability to slide into somebody else's personality...

Plot Keywords:

Boy Genius | Video Surveillance | Lost Identity | Impostor | Evil Corporation

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

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 (68 episodes, 1996-2000)
Ryan Merriman	...	Young Jarod / ... (49 episodes, 1996-2000)
Richard Marcus	...	Mr. Raines (45 episodes, 1996-2000)
Alex Wexo	...	Young Sydney / ... (39 episodes, 1996-2000)
James Denton	...	Mr. Lyle (36 episodes, 1997-2000)

(more)

Series Directed by
Frederick King Keller		(20 episodes, 1996-2000)
James Whitmore Jr.		(7 episodes, 1996-1999)
Terrence O'Hara		(6 episodes, 1997-1999)
Chuck Bowman		(6 episodes, 1998-1999)
Rodney Charters		(5 episodes, 1998-2000)
Steven Long Mitchell		(5 episodes, 1998-2000)
Michael Lange		(4 episodes, 1997-1999)
Scott Lautanen		(4 episodes, 1998-1999)
Michael Zinberg		(3 episodes, 1996-2000)
Joe Napolitano		(3 episodes, 1997-1998)
Ian Toynton		(2 episodes, 1997)
Vern Gillum		(2 episodes, 1998)
Krishna Rao		(2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michael Klick		(2 episodes, 1999)
Jon Koslowsky		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Steven Long Mitchell		(58 episodes, 1996-2000)
Craig W. Van Sickle		(58 episodes, 1996-2000)
Tommy Thompson		(13 episodes, 1996-2000)
Juan Carlos Coto		(13 episodes, 1996-1999)
Lawrence Meyers		(7 episodes, 1996-2000)
Mark M. Dodson		(7 episodes, 1998-2000)
Harry Dunn		(6 episodes, 1998-2000)
Daniel Truly		(6 episodes, 1998-2000)
Javier Grillo-Marxuach		(5 episodes, 1996-1997)
Andrew Dettmann		(5 episodes, 1998-2000)
Tony Blake		(3 episodes, 1997-1998)
Paul Jackson		(3 episodes, 1997-1998)
Kimberly Costello		(2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Tyler Bensinger		(2 episodes, 1997-1998)
Eric Morris		(2 episodes, 1997-1998)
Chris Ruppenthal		(2 episodes, 1997)
Curt Johnson		(2 episodes, 1998-2000)
Ivan Tell		(2 episodes, 1998)
Ethan Lawrence		(2 episodes, 2000)

Series Produced by
Marianne Canepa	....	producer (55 episodes, 1996-1999)
Steven Long Mitchell	....	executive producer (55 episodes, 1996-1999)
Tommy Thompson	....	co-executive producer (55 episodes, 1996-1999)
Craig W. Van Sickle	....	executive producer (55 episodes, 1996-1999)
Juan Carlos Coto	....	co-producer / producer (34 episodes, 1997-1999)
Jan DeWitt	....	co-producer / producer (34 episodes, 1997-1999)
Johanna Persons	....	co-executive producer (30 episodes, 1997-1999)
Tony Blake	....	consulting producer (22 episodes, 1997-1998)
Paul Jackson	....	consulting producer (22 episodes, 1997-1998)
Frederick King Keller	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (21 episodes, 1998-1999)
Harvey Frand	....	producer (18 episodes, 1996-1997)
Andrew Dettmann	....	producer (12 episodes, 1998-1999)
Daniel Truly	....	producer (12 episodes, 1998-1999)
Ian Toynton	....	co-executive producer (11 episodes, 1997)
Jim Behnke	....	co-producer / associate producer (8 episodes, 1996-1997)
Dave Alan Johnson	....	co-executive producer (8 episodes, 1998-1999)
Kimberly Costello	....	supervising producer (7 episodes, 1996)
Michael Klick	....	co-producer (7 episodes, 1998-1999)
Herb Adelman	....	co-producer (6 episodes, 1997)
Paul Cajero	....	associate producer / co-producer (4 episodes, 1996)
Tim Iacofano	....	producer (3 episodes, 1996)
Mark M. Dodson	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Sascha Schneider	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Susan J. Spohr	....	staff associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Eric Hester		(42 episodes, 1998-2000)
Charles Sydnor		(4 episodes, 1996)
Velton Ray Bunch		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Rodney Charters		(unknown episodes)
Tom Jewett		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Scott Boyd		(21 episodes, 1996-1999)
Barbara Gerard		(3 episodes, 1999-2000)
Peter Basinski		(unknown episodes)
Alicia Hirsch		(unknown episodes)
Lance Luckey		(unknown episodes)
David Strohmaier		(unknown episodes)
Tanya M. Swerling		(unknown episodes)
Scott J. Wallace		(unknown episodes)
Lynne Willingham		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
John A. Aiello		(unknown episodes)
Sharon Bialy		(unknown episodes)
Tory Herald		(unknown episodes)
Sharon Klein		(unknown episodes)
Patrick Rush		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Michael Paul Clausen		(unknown episodes, 1997-2000)
James Shanahan		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Jeremy Cassells		(unknown episodes)
Sue Chan		(unknown episodes)
Scott Meehan		(unknown episodes)
Arlan Jay Vetter		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Linda Lee Sutton		(58 episodes, 1998-2000)
Susan Degus		(unknown episodes)
Bryan Thetford		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Michele Rede		(unknown episodes)
Barbara Scott		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Laverne Caracuzzi	....	makeup artist (20 episodes, 1999-2000)
Daniel Curet	....	hair stylist: Michael T. Weiss (unknown episodes)
Timothy Lasquade	....	key hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Lisa Layman	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Angela Nogaro	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Denise Paulson	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Wes Irwin	....	post-production supervisor (22 episodes, 1996-1997)
Jan DeWitt	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1999)
Herb Adelman	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes, 1997)
Jim Behnke	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)
Scott Schofield	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Hayden	....	second assistant director (50 episodes, 1996-1999)
Michael Klick	....	first assistant director (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Richard W. Abramitis	....	first assistant director (14 episodes, 1997-1999)
Scott Laughlin	....	first assistant director (10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Doug Corring	....	second second assistant director (5 episodes, 1996)
Marla D. Saltzer	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1996)
Tom Blank	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1997)
Nancy Blewer	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes, 1998-1999)
Peter Dress	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes, 1998)
Ime Etuk	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes, 2000)
Megan Banning	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)
Hans Berggren	....	trainee assistant director (unknown episodes)
Michael Paul Clausen	....	second unit director (unknown episodes)
David Coulter	....	trainee assistant director (unknown episodes)
José Clemente Hernandez	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Zia Iampietro	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Ted Leonard	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Rusty Mahmood	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Michelle Parvin	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Rita Picard	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Karen Reinhart	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Laura Wood Fawcett	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
James LaBarge	....	lead man (64 episodes, 1997-2000)
Lynda Pribyl	....	construction office coordinator (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Portia Perry	....	paint foreman (5 episodes, 1996-1999)
Tony Chavez	....	propmaker (4 episodes, 1997)
Wayne Lindholm	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes, 1997-1998)
Craig Binkley	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Ryan Blank	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Rick Chinelli	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Gretchen Dalton	....	assistant property manager (unknown episodes)
Darrin Fletcher	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Barry Franenberg	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Antoinette J. Gordon	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Brian Jewell	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Christian Klump	....	scenic artist (unknown episodes)
Kay Kropp	....	lead painter (unknown episodes)
Louis Medrano	....	painter (unknown episodes)
Mark Meloccaro	....	art department coordinator (unknown episodes)
Ken Milford	....	lead man (unknown episodes)
Kenneth Milfred	....	lead man (unknown episodes)
Andrew Moore	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)
James Parks	....	gang boss (unknown episodes)
Randy Severino	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Philip Stone	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)
Alex Thompson	....	painter (unknown episodes)
Mark Walbaum	....	art department coordinator (unknown episodes)
Rick Welden	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Jeff Erdmann	....	boom operator / sound mixer: second unit (85 episodes, 1996-2000)
David Barbee	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes, 1999)
Michael Babcock	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Peter Bergren	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Christopher Briles	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Charles Bruce	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Edmond J. Coblentz Jr.	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Dominique Decaudain	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Thomas DeGorter	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Andrew Ellerd	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Mark D. Fleming	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Tiffany S. Griffith	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Shawn Holden	....	sound mixer: second unit (unknown episodes)
Bill Jackson	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Jason W. Jennings	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Mark Kamps	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Bradley C. Katona	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Dennis Kirk	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Gary Krause	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
David Melhase	....	adr editor (unknown episodes)
William Munroe	....	boom operator: second unit (unknown episodes)
Patricia Nedd	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Elmo Ponsdomenech	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Dov Schwarz	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Warren Smith	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Michael Stern	....	additional recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Robert Wald	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
James A. Williams	....	adr editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Kimball Willard	....	special effects technician (6 episodes, 1996-1997)
Ron Bolanowski	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Michael Clausen	....	mechanical department: XFX Inc. (unknown episodes)
George Deveau	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
G. Bruno Stempel	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
Jerry D. Williams	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Steward Burris	....	computer graphic artist: North West Imaging & FX (unknown episodes)
Bob Lloyd	....	digital effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
William Powloski	....	visual effects producer / visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Mark Robben	....	compositor (unknown episodes)
Wayne A. Shepherd	....	compositor (unknown episodes)
Keri Young	....	visual effects producer (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunt coordinator (21 episodes, 1996-1997)
Andy Gill	....	stunts (10 episodes, 1998-2000)
Mike Gunther	....	stunt coordinator (10 episodes, 1998-2000)
Craig Baxley Jr.	....	stunts (5 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jennifer Badger	....	stunt performer / stunts (4 episodes, 1998-1999)
Pete Turner	....	stunt double (4 episodes, 1998)
Edward Conna	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1997-2000)
Roger Stoneburner	....	stunt double (3 episodes, 1998-1999)
Dan Lemieux	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brian Avery	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Richard Bucher	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Marla Casey	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Mark Chadwick	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ken Clark	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Debbie Evans	....	driving and motorcycle stunts (unknown episodes)
Gerry Fiorini	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jeremy Fitzgerald	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Charles Grisham	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Diana R. Lupo	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ray Lykins	....	assistant stunt coordinator / stunts (unknown episodes)
Brad Martin	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jean-Luc Martin	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tom McComas	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Carrick O'Quinn	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Chris Palermo	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Denney Pierce	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tim Rigby	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Allen Robinson	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Steve Schriver	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Kevin Scott	....	stunt driver (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Chinello	....	best boy grip (64 episodes, 1997-2000)
Samuel Buddy Fries	....	camera operator: "a" camera (22 episodes, 1996-1997)
Paul Gonsoulin	....	second assistant camera (22 episodes, 1996-1997)
Kevin Caine	....	lighting technician (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
James D. Wickman	....	dolly grip (16 episodes, 1996-1997)
Alicia Brauns	....	second assistant camera (8 episodes, 1996)
Keith Morgan	....	gaffer: insert unit (unknown episodes, 1999)
Pasquale Attanasio	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Gregory Cohen	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Stephen M. Foss	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Dennis Grow	....	assistant chief lighting technician (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey G. Hunt	....	Steadicam operator (unknown episodes)
Wayne Kosky	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Patrick Maxwell	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Tony Olivieri	....	first assistant Steadicam (unknown episodes)
Jonathan Sharpe	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
David St. Onge	....	chief lighting technician (unknown episodes)
Ken Sylvester	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Mark E. Trembath	....	chief lighting technician (unknown episodes)
Chris Trillo	....	grip / underwater key grip: Local 80 Divers Association (unknown episodes)
Gary A. Williams	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
David Yellin	....	lighting technician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Scott Musgrove	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)
Barbara Stordahl	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)
Jessi Thompson	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jozi Conte	....	wardrobe truck supervisor (unknown episodes)
Amy Dodson	....	costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
George Carlston	....	dailies colorist (22 episodes, 1997-1998)
Barbara Gerard	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Alicia Hirsch	....	executive in charge of post-production (unknown episodes)
Christopher J. Ray	....	post-production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Cindy Azada Whitman	....	post-production coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Rick Patterson	....	composer: theme music (unknown episodes, 1998)
John Debney	....	composer: theme music (unknown episodes)
Mark Leggett	....	composer: main theme (unknown episodes)
Barry Moran	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver (8 episodes, 1997-1998)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (unknown episodes)
Darrell Gibson	....	driver (unknown episodes)
Buster Kohloff	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)
Jody Kreinbrink	....	transportation coordinator: picture cars (unknown episodes)
Dennis Milliken	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Jon Cohoe	....	key production accountant (64 episodes, 1997-2000)
Andrew R. Gardiner	....	key assistant location manager (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Steve Grantowitz	....	assistant to director (2 episodes, 1996-1998)
Seth Harris	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1997)
Joel Mendoza	....	assistant to director (2 episodes, 1998)
Stephen V. Weissberger	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes, 1998-1999)
Michael C. Watkins	....	assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes, 1999-2000)
Jim Amerian	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Juan Carlos Coto	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Hope Diamond	....	series publicist (unknown episodes)
Harry Dunn	....	executive story editor (unknown episodes)
Claudia Eastman	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Javier Grillo-Marxuach	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Leslie N. Johnson	....	assistant to executive producer (unknown episodes)
Tiffany Noel Kinder	....	key assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Carrie L.A.	....	location scout (unknown episodes)
Shari LaFranchi Blakney	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Bruce Margolis	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Chad McQuay	....	accounting clerk (unknown episodes)
Anne Melville	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Lawrence Meyers	....	executive story editor (unknown episodes)
Barbara Rosing Hoke	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Chris Ruppenthal	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
John D. Sarviss	....	helicopter pilot (unknown episodes)
Erika Schleich	....	assistant to writer / script coordinator (unknown episodes)
Scott Schofield	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Wally Uchida	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Trish Vengoechea	....	payroll accountant (unknown episodes)
Rick Wallace	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	aerial coordinator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• 20th Century Fox Television (1997-)
• MTM Entertainment (1996-1997)
• Mitchell/Van Sickle Productions
• NBC Studios

Distributors

• Free Dolphin Entertainment (2008) (France) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1996-2000) (USA) (TV)
• RTL Klub Televízió (2008-2009) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release) (seasons 1 & 2) original airing (seasons 3 & 4)

Special Effects

• Makeup Effects Laboratories
• Velocity Visuals

Other Companies

• Anderson Video  post-production services
• Apple Computer  computer equipment
• Four Media Company  post-production facility
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Todd-AO Studios  sound re-recording and editing

Runtime:

60 min | 60 min (86 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG (some episodes) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

City Hall - 200 N. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The home base for "The Center" is the same building complex just outside of Toronto (the R. C. Harris Filtration Plant), that is regularly used as Genomex headquarter in "Mutant X" (2001). It is also used in at least two episodes of "PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal" (1996).

Goofs:

Continuity: In 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 hind 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:

[Sydney is on the phone with Jarod and Broots is trying to trace the call]
Broots: Keep talking. We've almost got him.
[Jarod flips a switch on a box near his phone, causing a high-pitched sound to terminate any sort of trace to his phone]
Jarod: Tell Broots I discovered RadioShack.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Diabolik (#11.13)" (1999)

Addictive

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!!