The Pretender 1996

Overview

The Pretender is an American action drama television series created by Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle. It originally aired on NBC from September 19, 1996, to May 13, 2000, spanning four seasons. The show centers on Jarod, a genius known as a "Pretender" who can instantly master any profession or skill. Raised in a secret facility where he was subjected to experiments as a child, Jarod eventually escapes after learning the true nature of his captivity. As he travels across the country, he takes on different identities and jobs while assisting strangers he encounters. Meanwhile, he remains evasive of Miss Parker, a woman tasked with capturing him and returning him to the facility. The series explores themes of identity, freedom, and morality through its episodic structure and ongoing narrative threads. Two television movies were later produced and released in 2001 by Turner Network Television following the show's cancellation. The main cast includes Michael T. Weiss as Jarod and Andrea Parker as Miss Parker.