Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV Series)

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Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Genre	Fantasy Supernatural Sitcom
Created by	Nell Scovell
Based on	Sabrina the Teenage Witch by
Developed by	Jonathan Schmock
Starring	Melissa Joan Hart Caroline Rhea Beth Broderick Nate Richert Jenna Leigh Green Michelle Beaudoin Paul Feig Lindsay Sloane Alimi Ballard Martin Mull China Jesusita Shavers David Lascher Jon Huertas Trevor Lissauer Elisa Donovan Soleil Moon Frye Andrew Walker Bumper Robinson John Ducey Diana-Maria Riva
Voice of	Nick Bakay
Theme music composer	Danny Lux (entire run) Paul Taylor (seasons 5–7)
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	7
No. of episodes	163 (+ 3 television films) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Paula Hart (entire run) Nell Scovell (1996–1997) Miriam Trogdon (1997–2000) Carrie Honigblum & Renee Phillips (1999–2000) Bruce Ferber (2000–2002) David Babcock (2002–2003)
Camera setup	Film; Single-camera Multi-camera
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	Archie Comics Hartbreak Films Finishing the Hat Productions (1996–1997) (season 1) Viacom Productions
Distributor	Paramount Domestic Television (2000-2001) CBS Television Distribution
Release
Original network	ABC (1996–2000) The WB
Picture format	480i
Audio format	Stereo surround sound
Original release	September 27, 1996– April 24, 2003
Related shows
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Sabrina the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie Comics series of the same name. The show premiered on September 27, 1996, on ABC to over 17 million viewers in its "T.G.I.F." line-up.

The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, an American teenager who, on her sixteenth birthday, discovers she has magical powers (a departure from the Archie Comics, where she has known of her magic powers since an early age as revealed in the "Sabrina – That Cute Little Witch" storylines in many Little Archie comic books). She lives with her 500-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 Road, in the fictional Boston suburb of Westbridge, Massachusetts through most of the series.

The series' first four seasons aired on ABC from September 27, 1996, to May 5, 2000; the final three seasons ran on The WB from September 22, 2000, to April 24, 2003.

[edit] History and production

[edit] Opening sequence

[edit] Departures

[edit] Plot and premise

[edit] Season 1 (1996–97)

[edit] Season 2 (1997–98)

[edit] Season 3 (1998–99)

[edit] Season 4 (1999–2000)

[edit] Season 5 (2000–01)

[edit] Season 6 (2001–02)

[edit] Season 7 (2002–03)

[edit] Cast and characters

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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 after they left for the Other Realm.
Caroline Rhea as Hilda Spellman (seasons 1–6, guest season 7), one of the Spellman sisters. Hilda is the less rational and 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.
Beth Broderick as Zelda Spellman (seasons 1–6, guest season 7), 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. 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.
Nick Bakay as Salem Saberhagen, a 500-year-old witch turned into a talking cat because of his plans to take over the world. Besides Sabrina herself, he is the only character to remain for the entire seven seasons and in fact appears in every single episode.
Nate Richert as Harvey Kinkle (seasons 1–4 and 6–7, cameos in season 5), Sabrina's boyfriend in the first four seasons. He breaks up with her when he finds out she is a witch. Amanda, Sabrina's cousin, tells him about Sabrina getting married and gives him his soul stone. He arrives at the church on his bike as Sabrina is running out. He is revealed to be her soul mate because their soul stones fit together. In the end, Sabrina leaves Aaron at the altar. Then Harvey and Sabrina run off together after they share a final kiss with Sabrina's favorite band, No Doubt, as the closing theme.
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 at high school in the first season. Jenny befriended Sabrina on her first day, and also introduced Sabrina to Harvey. Jenny walked into the closet at the Spellman house and ended up in the Other Realm, where Sabrina and her aunts had to rescue her and make it out as a dream. Jenny left at the end of season 1 and is mentioned in season 2 by Sabrina.
Paul Feig as Mr. Pool (season 1), Sabrina's favorite teacher who teaches Biology during the first season. He was sometimes bitter and sarcastic, but always interesting and usually lively. Mr. Pool is not mentioned after season 1.
Lindsay Sloane as Valerie Birkhead (seasons 2–3), Sabrina's best friend from the second season. She comes across as dim but it becomes apparent that she suffers from self-doubt when Sabrina casts a spell on her that backfired—making her overconfident and careless. She discovers that Sabrina is a witch after Sabrina tells her and Harvey on Friday the 13th. Valerie left to move to Alaska with her parents at the start of season 4.
Martin Mull as Willard Kraft (seasons 2–4), the head teacher of Westbridge High, Sabrina's high school, and the on/off boyfriend of both Hilda and Zelda. Hilda mentions that herself and Zelda have stopped using magic on Willard, as it is starting to affect his mental state. This is also mentioned at the Jerry Springer Show when Zelda and Willard's ex-wife Lucy (who is a witch, unbeknownst to him) fight for his affections, in an adaption to the lie detector test, they performed the potion detector test showing he had extremely high amounts of magic in his system. The character left the series after season 4.
Alimi Ballard as Quizmaster (season 2), also known as Albert, is Sabrina's tutor who helps teach her to use her magic properly to 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 handsome co-worker in the Coffee Shop and later, love interest. Josh struggles with his career throughout his first two seasons, until he decides he wants to be a photographer. His relationship with Sabrina is much less consistent than that of her and Harvey. They often have problems to overcome. In the end, he leaves for Prague after Sabrina gives up her love life to save Hilda's life.
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 is a witch hunter but doesn't know it. 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. That is when Sabrina realized that he's just a jerk and now she can use magic on him.
China Shavers as Dreama (season 4), the new kid in school, who causes a lot of trouble because she uses magic. She later turns out to be Sabrina's student. Sabrina has to teach Dreama how to control her magic. At the end of season 4 or the beginning of season 5, she is not mentioned and we don't know 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 preppy 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.

[edit] Episodes and U.S. ratings history

Main article: List of Sabrina the Teenage Witch episodes

Season		Episodes	Originally aired			Rank	Viewers (millions)
Season		Episodes	First aired	Last aired	Network	Rank	Viewers (millions)
	1	24	September 27, 1996	May 17, 1997	ABC	41	9.3
	2	26	September 26, 1997	May 15, 1998		41	12.5
	3	25	September 25, 1998	May 21, 1999		41	12.2
	4	22	September 24, 1999	May 5, 2000		57	10.2
	5	22	September 22, 2000	May 18, 2001	The WB	124	3.8
	6	22	October 5, 2001	May 10, 2002		140	3.1
	7	22	September 20, 2002	April 24, 2003		146	3.0
	Films		April 7, 1996	September 26, 1999	Showtime ABC	N/A	N/A

[edit] Syndication

[edit] United States

[edit] International syndication

[edit] Video games

On June 11, 1999, Knowledge Adventure through Simon & Schuster Interactive and Havas Interactive officially announced the video games Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Spellbound, Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Brat Attack and Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Bundle of Magic for Macintosh and Microsoft Windows operating systems.

On March 29, 2001, Knowledge Adventure through Simon & Schuster Interactive and Havas Interactive officially announced the video game Sabrina the Teenage Witch: A Twitch in Time! for the PlayStation game system.

Game title	Platform	Developer	Publisher	Release date

[edit] Multimedia

Main article: List of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch books, CDs and DVDs

[edit] Animated series

Main article: Sabrina: The Animated Series

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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