Welcome to Campaign: Third Pretender Movie (Campaign TPM,) a very special initiative by fans of The Pretender to campaign to the 'powers that be' (PTB) using all available means for closure to The Pretender. The concept is quite simple: we're willing to help finance the making of a third "The Pretender" film or another season even if it is a series finale. Simply put we want closure to this cleverly crafted series that graced television. The initiative to campaign came from many fans agreeing that choices for great television entertainment are found wanting.
History
Early efforts to save The Pretender began with Operation Save The Pretender (The site ceased in December 2003) to campaign for a series renewal and when the show was canceled, to bring it back. The NBC series was canceled after a four season run (1996-2000), but the show was picked up by TNT for syndication. Later two telemovies The Pretender 2001 and Island of the Haunted were aired on TNT in 2001. A third telemovie was promised, but has not been made as of 2007 despite the show's fandom's requests to get closure for The Pretender. The creators of the show, Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle stated in an interview on the French DVD of the telemovies (2004) that they have already written an ending and all they need is financing to produce the final Pretender movie. In 2007, as detailed here a source at TVAus posted a report of an interview with the creators where they reiterated their intent on continuing the storyline (digitally on the web?) and asked fans to be patient, that "it is going to happen, hopefully soon".With the continuous airing of the series on TNT, new fans were made and these together with "older" fans started gathering together again and focusing their efforts. With the fan support, TNT invested in the production of the two telemovies with a third promised. Then nothing. To get the ending, be it via the promised third telemovie, another season or miniseries, fans took inspiration from other fandoms that saved their beloved shows and characters, and revitalized their efforts campaigning for closure, thus Campaign:TPM began full steam.
The initial campaign was to collect pledges from fans willing to donate $24US towards the third telemovie and subsequently collect the pledged funds. The goal was to get at least 1 million pledges and drum up awareness of a fandom willing to financially back what they wanted from television entertainment. For those that could not pledge for whatever reasons, but still wanted to join the campaign, activities to raise and elevate awareness that The Pretender community wanted closure has been ongoing.
To synchronize efforts, Qz created the Yahoo! Group Frustrated The Pretender Fans. Soon after the Campaign site began and has evolved to what you have staring back at you now.
What is The Pretender?
The Pretender is a television show with a unique and clever premise [it first aired in 1996]- its protagonist [Jarod] can literally become anyone he wants to be because he is a genius; he can merely read books/research on subjects and be a subject matter expert. But you can't be an expert on life from a book, you need to live it. Taken when he was boy by The Centre, Jarod was raised in a very controlling environment where his genius was used in simulations. These simulations he discovers later were corrupted and used for ill-gotten gains. He escapes The Centre's grasp and the chase is on. The premise kept the show fresh in that not only did you see Jarod take on the challenge afforded by each 'pretend' but also discover things, like the simple joy of a cone of ice cream and find more pieces of the puzzle each season built. The show follows Jarod and his exploits as he evades The Centre, discovers many things we take for granted in our childhood [Ice Cream, Mr. Potato Head to name a few] and tries to find the family he was stolen from; with plots contained in one episode and longer story arcs of identity, the skeletons in The Centre's many closets, and why The Centre wants Jarod back so badly.Synopsis: Jarod is a Pretender. A genius that can become anyone he wants. He was stolen from his family as a child, his genius used by The Centre to create simulations which were sold to the highest bidder unknown to him. When he learned that The Centre corrupted his findings for monetary gain, he managed to escape. On the run from The Centre, he uses his gift to help people in need while trying to find the family he was stolen from and why The Centre is so deadset on his return.
Cast
Jarod, The Pretender (Michael T. Weiss)
Miss Parker (Andrea Parker)
Sydney (Patrick Bauchau)
Broots (Jon Gries)
Mr Raines (Richard Marcus)
Mr Lyle (James Denton)
Mr Parker (Harve Presnell)
Angelo (Paul Dillon)
Brigitte (Pamela Gidley)
Kyle (Jeffrey Donovan)
Young Jarod (Ryan Merriman)
Young Miss Parker (Ashley Peldon)
Young Sydney (Alex Wexo)
Purpose
A petition, email and letter-writing campaign will be started in order to
- Collect signatures from fans pledging to donate the cash, as proof to the network/s that we will provide the funds.
- Prod the networks into action by constantly writing to them to let them know we are serious and hopefully keep it on their minds .
- Get the 3rd movie made, once the pledge target has been reached.
On the Newsfront:
On February 27th, 2007 a representative from the Turner Network Television announced they have no intention of financing anymore Pretender movies. Reruns of The Pretender have aired and still air in many countries worldwide.
2004: In the French DVD release, show creators Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle stated in an interview on the French DVD of the telemovies that they have already written an ending and all they need is financing to produce the final Pretender movie.
2007: The Pretender creators in an interview with Slice of SciFi online reiterated their intent to produce a continuation to the series "hopefully soon" with Strange Highway Entertainment.
2004: In the French DVD release, show creators Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle stated in an interview on the French DVD of the telemovies that they have already written an ending and all they need is financing to produce the final Pretender movie.
2007: The Pretender creators in an interview with Slice of SciFi online reiterated their intent to produce a continuation to the series "hopefully soon" with Strange Highway Entertainment.
Discuss this campaign in the forum where fans are gathering to help convince Fox that enough fans are interested to make it worth their while.
Campaign TPM Credits:
- Webmonkeys: Chelle, Jacci
- Hosting: Provided so graciously by the PretenderCentre, webmaster Jacci
- Webmaster/Campaign TPM manager: missparkr/Miss Parker
- FrustratedTpFans Owner/Campaign TPM co-manager: tpfan54/Qz
- Idea for Campaign TPM: anonymous poster at TNT's Pretender forum!
- See the old Campaign TPM website
Do you want to bring them all back? Consistent contact through email, snail mail and even telephone calls, is the only way to let the PTBs know we are serious. Click on the Campaign Activites link on your left to see how you can join in the campaign and get that ending.
Sources: Majority of the history courtesy Wikipedia
