xx Infos

 

"There are pretenders among us, geniuses with the ability to become anyone they want to be . . . In 1963, a Corporation known as the Center, isolated a young pretender named Jarrod, and exploited his genius for their research. Until one day, their pretender ran away . . . "

 

Summary

The Pretender is the story of Jarod, a boy-genius taken from his family as a child. Jarod possesses the ability to quickly learn and impersonate different jobs and occupations. His abductors, a facility simply known as The Centre, tested his abilities through various simulations.

But after years of these performances, Jarod becomes wise to the fact that these simulations aren't being used to help people. The Centre sells the sims to the highest bidder to do with as they please, whether it is for good or evil purposes. Knowing this, he breaks free from his captors. Now, as an adult, Jarod sets out to find his family. Along the way, he befriends many people, righting any wrong by using his abilities to become anyone he wants to be.

But the Centre has a lot invested in Jarod, and they won't give him up easily. They recruit Sydney, his father-figure and trainer all through his time growing up in The Centre. Sydney is the only man who is so close to Jarod, he knows how he thinks. Also in pursuit is Miss Parker, Jarod's childhood friend whose father runs The Centre. Both are aided by Broots, a nervous computer whiz who is always going above and beyond the call of duty (whether he wants to or not).

 

Cast

Michael T. Weiss	....	Jarod
Andrea Parker	....	Miss Parker/Catherine Parker
Patrick Bauchau	....	Sydney/Jakob
Jon Gries	....	Broots
Ryan Merriman	....	Young Jarod/Gemini
Ashley Peldon	....	Young Miss Parker
Richard Marcus	....	Dr. William Raines
Paul Dillon	....	Angelo/Timmy
Harve Presnell	....	Mr. Parker
Jamie Denton	....	Mr. Lyle/Bobby Bowman (1997-2000)
Pamela Gidley	....	Brigitte (1997-2000)
Sam Ayers	....	Sam the Sweeper (1996-2000)

 

Trivia

When "pretending", Jarod takes on the name of someone associated with his new profession. He's called himself "Jarod Kinsey" as a sex therapist, "Jarod Shatner" as a 911 worker, and "Jarod Boone" as a forest ranger.
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.
The homebase 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)_ .
Most of the main characters have only a first or last name with the other name either unknown or assumed.
Patrick Bauchau, who plays Sydney, made the medical set used in the show available at no charge to the independent film Twin Falls Idaho (1999) in which Bauchau appears.
Season 4's episode, "Cold Dick" is the only Pretender episode where Jarod doesn't use his first name in the "pretend". His alias is Dick Dickson.
Jon Gries guest starred as Broots for over 60 episodes before becoming a regular in season four.

 

sources : imdb.com & TVtome.com
(Page made by Anne Sophie)