An Update for all “The Pretender” Fans from Series Co-creator
Back in Sept. 2007 Slice of SciFi’s Linda Craddock did an interview with “Tin Man” creators Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle. During their conversation with Linda they let it slip that the possibility of seeing their other popular series, “The Pretender,” could be resurfacing in a new media format. Since then Pretender fans have been chomping on the bit waiting for more a fitting conclusion to Jared’s (Michael T. Weiss) adventures. It’s been 6 months and as such Craig felt it was time to update everyone by dropping these comments to Slice of SciFi.
“Steve and I are touched by your loyalty and love for ‘The Pretender.’ Please know that often times things grind slowly in Hollywood and such is the case for our desire to get you all final answers for ‘The Pretender’ and to give this series that is so dear to us a fitting and rewarding conclusion. When Steve and I talk about a final episode/movie, our intent is genuine — it just takes time, undoubtedly longer than any of us hope for. Just know we are working to make this a reality and that we so appreciate all of your kind words and patience.” CV
eep!
Great more news !!!!!!!!!!!!
Just wish they would give us fans out there a timescale, knowing for sure that theres something to celebrae would be excellent.
Finally. This series ranks right up there with many of the classics: Farscape, Star Trek:TNG and The Avengers. It had everything. Mostly it had humanity in a strange situation, one where the soul of humanity was put to the test.
Yes you had the “hero” but even he had his baggage, but the hero was not always the most interesting of the characters, in my opinion it belonged to his huntress Miss Parker, played to perfection by Andrea Parker.
There are many shows existing in their upteenth year that should have been cancelled after the first year or even first episode. Interesting that the networks keep the “family” shows on forever no matter how terrible they are but sci fi gets a quick look and a quick decision. The Pretender should not have been cancelled, but then neither should John Doe. By all means keep the World According to Jim for another 10 years.
Both Pretender and John Doe had their lame episodes, but come on, at least they were inventive. and in the Pretender’s case it’s possible that if you could have kept the big wigs out of the poker games and into the show it may not have had those weaknesses.
We all suffer from some choices. Since there are so little intelligent shows to watch, I can honestly say I watch very few on a monthly basis.
I hope the Pretender has a long life once they get their act together. I know a lot of fans are thrilled that they may once again get to see this show.
I would love for them to finally have a conclusion to this wonderful show. I hope they do this soon and update us when it will come out.
Great news. I have been a fan of this show since it was first aired, and I am very excited to read it will be coming back. Most importantly, I am excited the two creators of the show cherish it as much as the fans do. I really appreciate their keeping us informed.
I truly believe this show deserves another chance. “Alias”, “John Doe”, “Kyle XY” and many other shows could not have existed without it. It came about at a period of television renewal, and was as innovative as, say, “The X-Files”. Its time slot just prevented it from getting the recognition it deserved.
In a sense, I am very glad it takes time to prepare a conclusion. It gives Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle time to think and write something amazing.
Even if it takes another two years, I’ll still be waiting.
Oh yey! This is such great news! TP deserves an ending and I’m willing wait for it. Good to see CVS & SLM haven’t given up.
Wonderful news! I eagerly await the next update on this project. No show deserves a revival more than The Pretender does. Let’s all hope that Hollywood starts cooperating!
I’m delighted that the rumors are verified. There was something about this show that drew me to it from the very beginning. The ensemble cast was part of it, but it was so different than anything else at the time. As someone once said they were hoping for a WOW to top the amazing episodes we had seen.
I have to agree with that, I too am hoping for a WOW. Although like mentioned before, I would just as soon not have an ending but a continuation.
The fans have long awaited the return of the show, we are continuing that wait with eager anticipation.
Please keep the fans informed!
This is Great News. Thanks to the Creators for pursuing this project and giving this Wonderful Show, “The Pretender” a well deserved ending. Hope that this becomes a reality soon. All the fans around the world have been waiting for this for a long time. Please keep us updated.
GREAT NEWS!!! i’m so excited that creators haven’t given up on ‘The Pretender’ because it’s the best show EVER and deserves fair and quality ending. I prefer quality over rashness. We’ve waited for 8 years. We can wait some more in order to get good ending.
I have been waiting forever for a conclusion to the series or something, a third movie, a miniseries, or a feature film! There is so much of this story that is meant to be told and fans like me are longing to see, of course, it’s not only the great plot but because of the fantastic cast: Michael T. Weiss, Andrea Parker, Patrick Bauchau, Jon Gries, James Denton et al. I can’t wait to see them all together again! The Pretender is one of the best TV dramas ever made, but it was so much more than pure drama. Please make more episodes or something!
This is great news. I want the Pretender series to come back. Its a great show and I think it deserves to be brought back. So please bring it back with all the original actors.
Angel
I have been missing this show so much! Longing to see Jarod reunite with his mom for one. This show could go on and deserves to live on, especially with the main actors preferably. Broots was such a character and I loved the interaction of Jarod and Ms. Parker. I will wait patiently but eagerly for the resurrection of this show!
Much love from Texas,
Georgia
This is great news. We have waited a long time to see our beloved show finally concluded, and answers resolved. I know all 700 plus members of the pretendercentre.com are clamouring for this third movie. It is all we talk about most of the time. We have campaigned for it, begged via emails and petitions and would be the happiest people on the planet when it is finally released.
Great news! I’ve missed this show tremendously and can’t wait to see more. I just hope that it will be with the original cast members.
YES! I only hope that it is not just a conclusion but a continuation of one of the best shows on TV. There is so much to tell yet.
TV has not been the same without this show. You set some wonderful plot lines in motion with remarkable actors to play them out, with this combination the show just sets the standards very high for any other show to come close.
I hate the thought of it ending on any note! But I will be thrilled to see these character reprise their roles again.
Great news!
I’ve been waiting for a conclusion to The Pretender since the series ended in 2000.
I would love for Steve and Craig to give us a time frame of when it could be released.
I’m pleased to hear that they don’t want to rush the end, because a series like this needs an interesting but satisfying conclusion, one that could only be achieved via a mini-series of about six 45 mins episodes, or three tv movies.
I really can’t wait to see what happens with this.
Please hurry up the game Steve and Craig!
Thanks
I’m thrilled to hear the creators talk as if we still may get some answers for this show, which has such loyal and enduring fans.
This is WONDERFUL news!!! As the one of the many devoted fans across the world who’ve always held out hope of finally finding out how it all ends after many years of waiting, I’m thankful that Steven and Craig are continuing to pursue this. I know there are many fans who’d love to see final wrap-up to their favorite series, the very fact that you two recognize just how important Pretender has been to all of us is such a blessing. Thank you for keeping Pretender alive right along with us fans!!! Long Live the Pretender and efforts to bring some closure to an AWESOME series!
Oh. My. God.
Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle—I LOVE YOU!…you guys are seriously amazing, as is the show. I can’t wait to hear more! *fingers, toes, legs, and eyes crossed*
I would really like to see a film or mini series to bring a satisfactory conclusion to one of the best TV shows ever.
This is wonderful news for all of us who have fought and worked and wished SO HARD
over these past several years to bring about the return of The Pretender. Times have
changed. Shows have changed. Network Television has become so appallingly awful
that Internet Networks are beginning to spring up with one new show here, another
there. This, I assume, is in answer to the indifference and foolish shortsightedness of those
who control network programming, who are completely indifferent to the wishes of the
fans of their shows. The Pretender was NOT cancelled because ratings, but because of
the capricious stupidity of a network clone who thought he had a better idea for a
Saturday Night All-Sports line-up. This ultimately failed, but his successors merely
moved on, forsaking what they had destroyed. Pretender DVD sales have been
exceptional and even the (unadvertised) release of the two movies proved a success
for something which the fans had to promote by themselves.
What a shame that the show will only be revived in either a digital or DVD format.
Apparently network shortsightedness lives on. Hopefully, The Pretender will live on
even without them.
This is wonderful news I’ve been a huge fan of the show ever since it started and have waiting fo a conclusion to the Pretender series and the two movies that had been made I am glad that Steve and Craig aren’t rushing it in order to give it the ending that a show like this deserves. Although I would rather have it back for another series.
No matter how long this will take, I’ll be waiting…
The Pretender was truly special. An unique mixture of characters and wicked sense of humour with a plot line that made you take double looks to the TV
Great news I have waited so long for another movie to have a real end to this wonderful TV Show. I wouldn´t mind if there will be more than one movie.
I will wait for everything that comes.The Pretender is just the best TV show on earth.
I think that this is awesome news! I really look forward to the possibility that some closure will be brought to the many fans of this great show!
There is something just so awesome about the Pretender that sparks my imagination and sets my mind on fire. I’d love to see much more of these great characters, though I’d settle for the closure the writers say they’d like to give us.
Thanks to the writers and all of the studio mucky-mucks for helping to keep our hopes alive!
It’s great to see that the creators of this show still appreciate the fans. I think that was a large part of the success of the show; the creators respect for the fans. That, along with the great plots, outstanding performances by the cast, awesome behind the scenses work by the crew, and commitment from everyone to bringing something new and different to television. The Pretender is ranked high, in my humble opinion, among the best shows in television history. It was a shame that it got cancelled when it did. It was by far the best show on the air at the time.
There are many times that I find myself reliving the magic of The Pretender on DVD in preference to what is on the air today. I also find myself experiencing the same lack of fulfillment at the end with the lack of closure. I want all of the answers that I feel we dedicated fans deserve. It’s just nice to see fans getting respect from someone in Hollywood who is willing to let our voices be heard and says ‘we do care what you think and if closure is that important to you, we are willing to give it to you.’
Keep us posted, Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle. Your fans are ready and waiting excitedly for more Pretender action. Oh, and whatever form you take this closure in, please get us a DVD release of it to include with our other DVDs in our collection. The Pretender is, after all, a joy that should be re-experienced over and over again. Thanks guys!!!! And thank you Slice of SciFi for hosting their posts!
Ganbatte! I’m still a big fan of the show and would love to see more. I know a lot of people look at shows they work on as just another job, and are quick to move on to the next and forget the old. That kind of thing always makes me sad! It’s good to see at least some in the business care about the shows they do more than just for the pay.
I was and will always be a big fan. I was on bedrest when the show was on and ended up naming my son after the character and actor, though I changed the spelling. I have all 4 seasons and the movies on DVD and got my kids all hooked on it. Even they want to see it come back or at least answer the outstanding questions.
I await the return of jarod. What a hotty.
The episodes of The Pretender are still as fresh as they were back when they were first aired. Admitting, some of them weren’t the best possible ones, but over all - watching the show was pleasure.
We have waited this long for a conclusion of the story, so in order to get a worthy one, we can easily wait for a bit longer.
Also, better to have as many members of the original cast back together with a great script, than just plain crap.
And while waiting for that, why not re-release the movies in a better DVD quality with bonus material, perhaps even from while filming the series?
I’m desperately awaiting the final movie (or a whole new season - although I won’t push my luck!).
I’m an Aussie fan. The dvds haven’t been released out here, but thanks to Amazon.com I now have them all (including the movies), and am constantly lending them out to family and friends.
I wish I could win the lotto because then I’d fund the movie myself!
((( Jarod & Miss Parker forever )))
the pretender was the best programe i have ever watched. i am well known among my freinds for being obsessed with star gate SG1 but i have always been even more obsessed with the prtender, somthing that alot of them dont realise mainly becuase the pretender doesnt play in my country any more. The pretender had everything, and it was original, the characters were all fantastic, there were no 2D cardbord characters, even the bad guys had other sides to them, i will never forget the time Rains cyed… ever. or how nice Sam was with Debbie that one time. there was even more to Lyal who lets face it was a serial killer, sydenys always more dangerous than people intisapate and even i continued to get suprised by him, especaily when he knocked Jaord out, it left me wondering in donoterase as to his intentions. admitidly the family trees are very warped, but that only adds to the guessing…
I’d really like to see the come back of jared.
I’m from france and they regulary put ‘the pretender’ on hdtv, sames episodes again and again…
As from another continent, this ‘new media format’ make me happy. Maybe if it appens, we will be able to see it in streaming ?
Love the Pretender! i can’t wait for more!
If this turns out to be true, many people will be walking around with a great smile on their faces for quite some time. A closure would be simply fantastic!
That is great news! I do hope it will come true. Because the show deserves at least a decent ending. I certainly have my fingers crossed.
This news made my day! I’m actually a newer but still avid fan. I’ve been looking for updates on the pretender movie all over the internet and I’m happy it isn’t just a rumor. The wait for a resolution will be worth it I’m sure, and ditto to the comment above that hopefully all our main characters will be returning.
Great news! I would be more than happy to see more of The Pretender, hopefully with the original cast. It doesn’t matter in what form: another season, a movie, straight to dvd movie, mini-series, web series or anything else that will come, I’m willing to wait fot it. Besides that I’m really glad that Steve and Craig still remember about us and of course about the show. I have my fingers crossed.
Thanks guys and please keep us posted.
Awesome, own the whole series and movies on dvd, watched them all when they aired too. Been waiting a long long time for this.
I love Pretender!!!
Ukraine loves Pretender, please come back!
I am a huge pretender fan! It makes me SO happy to hear that Craig and Steve haven’t given up on the continuation to the Pretender. I own only seasons one and two, but because I got my aunt onto the show, she bought seasons three and four, so while she borrowed my dvds, I borrowed hers. Now she just has to watch the movies. Although I know she will feel as I do after watching them an emptiness and a quench to have the answers. I first caught onto the Pretender when it aired on TnT in the U.S and fell in love with both sides, Jarod and his pretending and the Centre. I don’t understand why TnT dropped the series after only two movies. It was such a letdown. And left more questions than answers. I can’t wait for the continuation of the Pretender. Thanks SciFi slice for giving us Craig’s and Steve’s message and I hope all of the original actors come back!
Wonderful, although - I like so many others would love to see it continued not ended. We are happy just to see our favorite show back.
How nearsighted of those in charge to have shot it down. It was the show that allowed other shows like Alias, John Doe, Veritus, the Quest, and many other a place to begin.
The actors were the perfect ensemble group. I can only hope that they all come back for the ending. Without Andrea, Patrick, Jon and the rest it is just not the same show. While named “The Pretender” it was far from a one man show. In fact many times it was the “B” line that kept me watching. When I taped it many times I fast forward through the A line.
It was the first adventure, sci-fi that gave a strong woman a lead. A strong woman, beautiful but as intelligent and burdened with baggage as many are today.
As a friend says; FREE THE PRETENDER
In my opinion, this was the best show that ever aired. It’s a shame that NBC cancelled it, being that they are the ones who kept pre-empting it and changing the time slot. I have been waiting years to see how this series was supposed to end, and I am greatful that, in time, we will finally get our answer.
Everywere in Europe we love the show. In some countries it’s still aired on tv. Lot’s of fans love to see a proper ending to a great show.
I’ll hope we see Jarod en Parker again soon!
Greatings from Portugal!
This is really great news. My thanks to the authors for not giving up on the show. It would be so easy to simply start another project and forget about The Pretender, but I understand why you didn’t. It’s the same reason why we’ve been waiting this long.
Looking forward to hear more about this.
A little something to add on my previous message:
Just watched an interview with AP and MTW on Youtube, where they’re asked what should the final scene of the final Pretender look like. Some people want the kissing, I’m more nostalgic. There’s a scene in season 2, second episode I think, where Jarod invites Sydney to a fishing trip some day. I think it would be a good way to end.
Anyway, your call.
I just can’t get enough of the Pretender. I miss the series so much. I have the whole series on dvd.I definitely want to see it continued.
In my opinion, this was the best show that ever aired. It’s a shame that NBC cancelled it, being that they are the ones who kept pre-empting it and changing the time slot. I have been waiting years to see how this series was supposed to end, and I am greatful that, in time, we will finally get our answer.
I am a huge pretender fan! It makes me SO happy to hear that Craig and Steve haven’t given up on the continuation to the Pretender. I don’t understand why TnT dropped the series after only two movies. It was such a letdown. And left more questions than answers. I can’t wait for the continuation of the Pretender. Thanks SciFi slice for giving us Craig’s and Steve’s message and I hope all of the original actors come back!
I love the Pretender! I really hope that they are able to really conclude the story. So many questions still left unanswered. I never had cable till I was in college, so I wasn’t able to see the movies till they were on DVD. I just bought them and finally got to see them. I want more! Keep us posted! And, I agree that I hope all the original actors come back especially Michael T. Weiss & Andrea Parker. And we must not forget Patrick Bauchau & Jon Gries.
I just watched all four seasons of “The Pretender” and then the two movies on DVD back to back, and I have to say, I am outraged that there has been no effort to finish the storyline of the show. I mean, the last movie came out SEVEN YEARS AGO! What about a book wrapping things up? Pocket will publish anything… they even brought out “Space: Above and Beyond” tie-ins, and that show barely lasted a season.
Seriously, it’s probably too late now to get the cast back into action, even if they could get funds for another movie, but they could publish a virtual season, just to give us SOME kind of closure. Joss Whedon has been kind enough to put out Season 8 of “Buffy” and Season 6 of “Angel” in comic book format, and — much unlike “The Pretender” — those shows actually wrapped up their fundamental questions before going off the air. I mean, sure, “The Pretender” got cancelled prematurely, but then it got a second lease on life with two TV movies. That was their chance to finish things up… not introduce more questions.
I am so cross that I spent the past several weeks watching this show, getting invested in the characters and the mythology, knowing I had spent quite a bit of money to ensure that I had all the extant episodes of the show and thus — so I thought — would be able to see it through to its conclusion; instead, NOTHING! It’s irresponsible of the show creators, and, frankly, I would be very reluctant to watch any other shows they were to begin, as I wouldn’t be sure that they would actually complete them.
As my parents would say: I’m not angry, just disappointed. Oh, and I’m angry.
End of rant.
I have just finished re-watching the entire 4 seasons of Pretender. My roommate and I are trying to decide when to watch the movies as we know when they’re done, it’s over. I’m glad to hear the creators haven’t given up hope to finally tie up loose ends. Although honestly, can’t we get rid of some of the drivel on tv now, and bring back the crew for another season? There is so much more to tell than just one movie would allow.
Also, in response to the person upset with the creators for not finishing the show….my understanding was that they were told they could do 3 movies to finish it up. Networks pulled the plug before they could do the third. My guess is they were planning the scripts accordingly and never had the opportunity to wrap it up. Be angry with the right people……
I keep picturing the closing credits rolling over a montage of scenes from Jarods life to come. His wedding day. The birth of his first child. Cheering from the sidelines as he coaches his kids little league or soccer game. Thanksgiving with his family. etc.
I really hope I get to see that someday soon.
The Pretender is the best television show ever!!!
Now some three months later, and at the possible beginning of an actors strike, have there been developments in this project?
Is there anything fans can do to get it going, besides hoping and crossing their extensions?
This is fantastic news! I hope the creators bring it back and let us know when. Using the original cast members would be the best. I have all of the episodes on DVD, including the movies. When the episodes were originally aired, it was so frustrating that some of them were pre-empted by other programming or not shown altogether. I was very happy when the DVDs came out. I finally got to see all the ones I missed. MTW and AP should be together at last!!!
Vote for the pretender here http://www.richlabonte.net/tvvote/
Go to the nomination page and type in The Pretender, you can vote once an hour.
I started watching the Pretender when I was 12 years old during the re-runs on TNT and became nearly obsessed with the show…I’m 19 now and after buying all the season DVD’s and the two movies, am dying to see the series finished!
Hopefully, the last movie wont turn out to be a “Chinese Democracy”…
This is wonderful news!
It would be great if there a mini-series or series of tv movies to continue/conclude the story of Jared, Miss Parker and the rest of the
members/victims of The Centre.
This is great oh man i was watching this show for days few hours every day and i started just in the last 3 month and i love it please make moreeeeee
I have become Jarod and I know there will be an ending at some point!
LOL, I sure hope they finally finish the series off somehow, I would love to seen The Pretender get some new life blown into it for a final conclusion.
The show, and movies all had great storylines, and from episode to episode the viewer was captivated and touched by the interesting character development, and events taking place, as well as the reasons for such things to be happening.
I loved this show, I would love to see it return in some form.
The pretender series is a wonderful series that I and my wife fully enjoy. I would like there to be more seasons. I just wanted to show my support and desire to enjoy more of the storyline and immerse into the depth of intrigue always with the proper amount of irony and funny. The acting is superb the writing terrific. I would wish that the networks or whoever would listen and care. My soap box for the day, thanks for listening….err…I mean reading….
Eek! For real?! YES! Please tell us what we fans can do to ensure there’s a fitting conclusion and/or continuation. This was seriously the first show I ever religiously watched. I’ve never missed an episode, but I’m going to rent the DVDs just to be sure…
This is such great news! Like others have said, it doesn’t matter how long it takes as long as the pretender gets a quality ending. Now, I wouldn’t say that I don’t mind waiting because I really wish it would happen ASAP, but I know that SLM and CVS are doing their best to bring closure to the series. And they said that they might shoot it in France! How cool!
Fingers crossed until we hear more about Jarod, Miss PArker, Sydney, Broots Lyle and all the others!
A third movie has to be made. It is imperative. The fans of the Pretender series crave and deserve closure. If it is true that the reason the pretender series was canceled was the XFL and that the final two TV movies were scrapped due to poor marketing efforts, I see no logical reason that it should not be continued and concluded. This is a cash cow, executives, with a very loyal and large fan base. Not making this movie would not only be a disservice to the fans, but it would be a poor business decision when you have potential great return on investment staring you right in the noggin.
If the possibility of a proper third movie (wrap-up) is not in the cards, at least a book, or even a copy of the screenplay.
we deserve that.
Aaa I didn’t see that article yet… always late on important things
It’s so nice to get some news! My thanks to the authors for keeping us posted!!
I really hope we get to see a final someday soon…
*Fingers crossed*
i had a horrible marrige and me and my two kids had our happy times locked in my room with the pretender, thank you and today my son had me over with his sister and we shared a pretender afternoon watching a pretender marathon. we laughed we cheered. WE WANT MORE!!!!
YAY I have been hoping for so long for them to finish the series. My entire family loves The Pretender!!!! I hope that they give it a little more publicity when they create the next part. We were unaware of the movies til this year!
It would be amazing if they could conclude the show!!! I loved the movies but thought that they raised as many questions as they answered… I would love to have some closure with these characters.
I would love to see the series come back. If they are going to finish the last two movies, I hope they do it soon. I feel like I’m going to burst. I have been watching this show over and over since it came out on DVD. When I finish it, I go right back to the first episode. Please, there are so many unanswered questions. Will Jarod and Ms Parker ever hook up? If anyone here is looking for good stories that people made (after the show) go to this site. Hopefully you’ll like it as much as I do. http://www.pretendercentre.com/missingpieces/index.php