Sabrina the Teenage Witch is an American fantasy sitcom series based on the Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman which shares the title of the 1971 comic book series Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Created by Nell Scovell and developed by Jonathan Schmock, the series premiered on September 27, 1996, on ABC to over 17 million viewers in its "T.G.I.F." lineup."Debut Of ABC's 'Sabrina' Lures More Than 17 Million Viewers", Orlando Sentinel, October 3, 1996
The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina, who, on her 16th birthday, learns she has magical powers (a departure from the Archie Comics series, in which she has known of her powers since an early age). She lives with her 600-year-old aunts, witches Hilda (played by Caroline Rhea) and Zelda (played by Beth Broderick), and their magical talking cat Salem (voiced by Nick Bakay), at 133 Collins RoadSeason 1, Episode 23 in the fictional town of Westbridge, Massachusetts in the Greater Boston area.
The series aired on ABC for its first four seasons, with the final episode on ABC on May 5, 2000. The final three seasons ran on The WB from September 22, 2000, to April 24, 2003.
Premise Sabrina the Teenage Witch chronicles the adventures of Sabrina Spellman (Melissa Joan Hart), a girl who discovers on her 16th birthday that she is a witch. As a novice witch, her spells often go awry. Her witch aunts Hilda and Zelda Spellman (Caroline Rhea and Beth Broderick, respectively) counsel her on the proper use of her magic and give her moral advice. Sabrina lives with Hilda and Zelda until she leaves for college at the beginning of season 5. Additionally, Hilda and Zelda must take care of Salem Saberhagen (Nick Bakay), a witch turned into a cat for trying to take over the world.
The show includes contemporary pop-cultural references, as well as fictional history (often presented as secrets hidden from mortals by witches) and science-fiction elements. Storylines are often episodic, but some seasons feature ongoing arcs, such as Sabrina's quest to uncover the Spellman family secret in season 3. Sabrinas basic premise and "genial loopiness" earned the show comparisons to the 1960s television series Bewitched. The show spanned seven years over seven seasons, though each season was not a year.
Cast and characters
Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, a teenager who discovers on her sixteenth birthday that she is a witch and comes from a long line of witches. As she struggles to master her magic, she often wreaks havoc on those around her. Sabrina moved into her college's dormitories at the beginning of the fifth season and then back into her aunts' house in the seventh season after they left for the Other Realm. Caroline Rhea as Hilda Spellman (seasons 1–6), one of the Spellman sisters and Sabrina's aunt. Hilda is the less rational and the more impulsive one. After giving up violin in the fourth season (she destroyed her violin with dynamite), Hilda purchased a clock shop. Later, after Sabrina moved out of the house, she purchased Bean There, Brewed That, the coffee shop where Sabrina worked, and renamed it Hilda's Coffee House. After her marriage at the end of the sixth season, she moved away with her husband. Hilda returned for the series finale. Her middle name, 'Sucker', is revealed in season 6, although her middle name was Antoinette in season 2. In the second episode of season 4, Hilda states that she is 620 years old. However, in episode 12 of season 5 Sabrina mentions she's about to celebrate her 650th birthday. Beth Broderick as Zelda Spellman (seasons 1–6), Sabrina's aunt and Hilda's older sister. Zelda, a scientist and college professor, is the more rational of the two Spellman sisters and is often the voice of reason when Hilda or Sabrina uses magic irresponsibly. At the end of the sixth season, she gives up her maturity in order for Sabrina to be changed back to flesh and blood after being turned into stone when she lost her true loves. At the beginning of season 7, Sabrina advises a now-child Zelda to leave for the other realm with a newly married Hilda, ensuring her that she is okay to live on her own. Zelda makes an appearance as a candle in the last episode to allow Sabrina's mother to attend Sabrina's wedding. In episode 6 of season 6, Hilda states that Zelda is 658 years old. Nick Bakay as the voice of Salem Saberhagen, a 500-year-old warlock who was sentenced to live 100 years as a talking, black American Shorthair cat for plotting to take over the world. Besides Sabrina herself, he is the only character to remain for all seven seasons, appearing in every episode alongside her. Nate Richert as Harvey Kinkle, Sabrina's boyfriend in the first four seasons. He breaks up with her between seasons 4 and 5, when he finds out she is a witch. He later dates Morgan, Sabrina's college roommate, before he and Sabrina reconnect romantically in the series finale. Jenna Leigh Green as Libby Chessler (seasons 1–3), Sabrina's arch-enemy while at high school. Libby is a spoiled rich girl and is often at the other end of Sabrina's spells as she learns to use them, leading Libby to often call Sabrina a "Freak" or "Freakster". Libby, a cheerleader, is seen to fancy Sabrina's love interest, Harvey, and makes many attempts to ask him out. Libby was sent to boarding school following the end of season 3. Michelle Beaudoin as Jenny Kelley (season 1), Sabrina's best friend in the first season. Jenny befriends Sabrina on her first day, and also introduces Sabrina to Harvey. Jenny is a self-described outsider who sees much pretense in the way life works at Westbridge High School. Jenny is absent from the second season onward, and is never mentioned again. Paul Feig as Mr. Eugene Pool (season 1), who teaches biology to Sabrina and her classmates. He is sometimes bitter and sarcastic, but always involved and usually lively. Mr. Pool is not mentioned after season 1. Lindsay Sloane as Valerie Birkhead (seasons 2–3), Sabrina's best friend in those two seasons. Valerie initially comes across as anxious, but her self-esteem improves over the course of her time on the show. Valerie discovers that Sabrina is a witch after Sabrina is allowed to tell her and Harvey; they're both supportive before they have their memories magically reset. Valerie left to move to Alaska with her parents at the start of season 4. Martin Mull as Willard Kraft (seasons 2–4), the vice principal, and later principal, of Westbridge High, Sabrina's high school. Mr. Kraft is overbearing and petty, and he shares Libby's personal disdain for Sabrina. Complicating things, he is also the on/off boyfriend of both Hilda and Zelda. Mr. Kraft left the series after Sabrina graduated from high school at the end of season 4. Alimi Ballard as Quizmaster (season 2), real name Albert, Sabrina's magic tutor. His role is to teach her how to use her magic properly and acquire her witch's license. As Sabrina gained her license in the first episode of season 3, the character's last appearance was in the last episode of season 2. David Lascher as Josh Blackhart (seasons 4–6), Sabrina's college-age supervisor in the coffee shop and, later, her love interest. Josh struggles with his career throughout his first two seasons, eventually deciding he wants to be a photographer. He abruptly leaves to take a job in Prague after Sabrina gives up her love life to save Hilda's life at the end of season 6. Jon Huertas as Brad Alcerro (season 4), the new kid in school, but used to attend Westbridge High, before Sabrina went to that school. Brad has a "witch hunter gene", but doesn't know it. This makes him instinctively distrustful of, and dangerous to, both Sabrina and Dreama. Sabrina tries to stay away from him, but every time she is in school and uses magic, Brad always sees it. In the episode "Dreama, the Mouse", Dreama makes a water fountain appear, Brad sees and says "You know, sometimes I think you're a real witch" and then Dreama turns into a mouse. In that same episode Brad loses his witch hunter gene through an operation. He doesn't return after Sabrina starts college in season 5. China Shavers as Dreama (season 4), another new kid in school. Dreama is a witch who causes a lot of trouble because she uses magic. Sabrina is later assigned to be her mentor and has to teach Dreama how to control her magic. She is not mentioned after season 4, and it is never stated if she passed her test to get her witch's license. Soleil Moon Frye as Roxie King (seasons 5–7), Sabrina's mortal roommate during her college years and remains a very close friend to her after their graduation. An activist with a very cynical humor, her opinion often clashes with Sabrina's more upbeat attitude towards life. Later, both seem to have an effect on each other, as Roxie grows to be much more honest and compassionate, while Sabrina matures and becomes more socially conscious. Elisa Donovan as Morgan Cavanaugh (seasons 5–7), Sabrina's third and final housemate, as well as her tutor, during her college years. Morgan is a talented fashion designer and a very good friend, but can also be shallow and even mischievous at times. She's the only known character who dated both of Sabrina's long term romantic interests (Harvey and Josh) as well as expressed interest in her fiancé, Aaron. Trevor Lissauer as Miles Goodman (seasons 5–6), Sabrina's housemate during her college years though, unlike Roxie and Morgan, he's never seen nor mentioned after the graduation. Miles is a goodhearted, but nerdy boy obsessed with all things supernatural. Miles often comes close to discovering Sabrina's secret. Throughout the series, he develops a crush on Zelda, and is hinted to harbor similar feelings for Sabrina and Roxie. Dylan Neal as Aaron Jacobs (season 7) Andrew Walker as Cole Harper (season 7) Diana-Maria Riva as Annie Martoz (season 7)
History and production
The unofficial pilot of the series was the April 1996 television movie Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The movie, produced by Viacom and Hartbreak Films and aired on Showtime, stars Melissa Joan Hart as the title character, Sabrina Sawyer, and Charlene Fernetz and Sherry Miller as Sabrina's aunts Zelda and Hilda, respectively. When the television series debuted on ABC later that year, Hart became Sabrina Spellman, and Beth Broderick and Caroline Rhea replaced Fernetz and Miller as Zelda and Hilda Spellman, respectively. In 2000, the show was dropped by ABC and picked up by The WB. When viewership began to wane, the show was canceled after seven seasons.
Music for the series includes the opening theme, initially an instrumental composed by Danny Lux, later composed by Lux with Paul Taylor and adding vocals by Thomas Leonard, and additional scoring/arranging by Gary Stockdale.
The television series was produced by Hartbreak Films and Viacom Productions, with Finishing the Hat Productions involved for the first season only.
Opening sequence For the first three seasons, the opening theme was an instrumental, pop track composed by Danny Lux. The music was accompanied by Sabrina in front of a mirror posing with four different costumes and outfits as the cast members' names quickly flash on the bottom of the screen. The first three outfits are always the same, but the fourth one changes from episode to episode. At the end, Sabrina would say something related to the last costume (often a pun or a joke related to the costume or the content of the episode), and then magically disappear from head on down.
The opening sequence was changed for the fourth season, featuring a completely new theme and the show's main characters, starting with Sabrina, floating in bubbles while their names are displayed in gold letters and a voice chants "Secret" in the background.