Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)

for|the comic book series|Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

Infobox Television
show_name = Sabrina, the Teenage Witch


caption = The title card for the first three seasons.
rating = TV-G
format = Fantasy Sitcom
runtime = 22 minutes
location = Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, California
creator = Nell Lovell
executive_producer =
picture_format =
audio_format =
camera = Single-camera
Multi-camera
starring = Melissa Joan Hart
Caroline Rhea
Beth Broderick
Nick Bakay
Jenna Leigh Green
Nate Richert
Lindsay Sloane
Michelle Beaudoin
Soleil Moon Frye
Elisa Donovan
country = USA
country = USA
language = English
network = ABC (1996–2000)
The WB (2000–2003) The N (2008-Present)
first_aired = September 27, 1996
last_aired = April 24, 2003
num_seasons = 7
num_episodes = 163 (including 3 TV movies)
list_episodes = List of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch episodes
imdb_id = 0115341
tv_com_id = 50

"Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" was an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the same name. Its first four seasons aired on ABC (ITV, In the UK) from September 27, 1996 to May 5, 2000; the final three seasons ran on The WB Television Network from September 22, 2000 to April 24, 2003.

Premise

The sitcom revolved around a girl who must learn to be responsible for her own actions. As she had the power of magic, she often used it to try to help her loved ones or herself, frequently resulting in literal puns that are often disastrous and humorous. She must also learn to hone her powers while keeping them a secret from those around her.

The program began with Sabrina's adventures in high school in the fictional town of Westbridge, located near Boston, Massachusetts (as opposed to Riverdale, Virginia in the comics). In the series' later seasons, Sabrina graduated from high school and enrolled in college, then moved on to her attempts to live on her own and keep a job at the local newspaper. Breaking further from its comic roots, the show ended with Sabrina's wedding with Aaron, although, in the end, she abandons the wedding and runs off with her true love, Harvey.

Production

The series came on the success of the 1996 TV movie, "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch", in which Melissa Joan Hart had played Sabrina Sawyer, with the two aunts played by Sherry Miller (Hilda) and Charlene Fernetz (Zelda). The show is similar to the late 1980s syndicated sitcom "Out of This World" which also revolved around a teenage girl with magic powers of her own.

When the series came out later that year, Hart became Sabrina Spellman (the character's original last name in the comics), and the aunts were now played by Caroline Rhea (as Hilda) and Beth Broderick (as Zelda). The regular was Salem the wisecracking cat (a puppet that was voiced by Nick Bakay). Hart's real-life sisters Emily and Alexandra played Sabrina's cousins, Amanda and Ally respectively and sister Samantha played a bridesmaid in Sabrina's wedding. The show was never filmed in front of a studio audience, because of the special effects used in its production; a laugh track was used instead. The series was filmed in a single-format, hence every audience clip is laughter and never an "ooh" or an "aw".

"Sabrina the Teenage Witch" was produced by Hart break Films and Viacom Productions, and later was syndicated through Paramount Television - which would go on to absorb Viacom Productions in 2004, and be renamed to CBS Paramount Television in 2006. Then in 2007, the syndication arm was renamed to CBS Television Distribution.

Los Angeles commercial photographer Keith Munyan, himself a former model, got his start on the series, particularly handling all the shots of Beth Broderick.

Opening sequence

The opening titles of seasons 1-3 shows 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 some sort of pun that related to the last outfit, then magically disappear.

The opening sequence of season 4 features the characters in bubbles.

The opening credits of seasons 5-7 are accompanied with a vocal theme song and feature Sabrina at various locations around Boston: Harvard Bridge, Boston Common, Union Oyster House, Massachusetts State House, Quincy Market, Newbury Street, Harvard University, Tufts University, and Beacon Hill. In the credits of seasons 5 and 6, after leaving Newbury Comics on Newbury Street, Sabrina walks down a flight of stairs and then the computer graphics morph Sabrina into her room, lying on her bed next to Salem. In the final season, however, they morph her into arriving at Scorch. Upon pushing the door open, she is revealed to be walking into her house to greet Roxie, Morgan, and Salem.

Cast

Main

*Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman
*Caroline Rhea as Hilda Spellman
*Beth Broderick as Zelda Spellman
*Nate Richert as Harvey Kinkle
*Nick Bakay as the voice of Salem Saberhagen

Recurring

*Jenna Leigh Green as Libby Chessler (1996—1999)
*Michelle Beaudoin as Jennifer "Jenny" Kelly (1996—1997)
*Lindsay Sloane as Valerie Birkhead (1997—1999)
*Martin Mull as Principal Willard Kraft (1997—2000)
*David Lascher as Josh (1999—2002)
*Soleil Moon Frye as Roxie King (2000—2003)
*Elisa Donovan as Morgan Cavanaugh (2000—2003)
*Trevor Lissauer as Miles Goodman (2000—2002)
*Paul Feig as Biology teacher Mr. Eugene "Gene" Pool (1996—1997)
*Mary Gross as Mrs. Quick (1997—2000)
*Carl Michael Lindner as Dr. Brinkman (1998, 1999)
*Bridget Flanery as Jill (1996—1998)
*China Shavers as Dreama (1999—2000)
*Jon Huertas as Brad Alcerro (1999—2000)
*Alimi Ballard as Quizmaster Albert (1997—1998)
*Phil Fondacaro as Roland (1997—2000)
*George Wendt as Mike Shelby (2001—2002)
*John Ducey as Leonard (2002—2003)
*Diana-Maria Riva as Annie Martos (2002—2003)
*Bumper Robinson as James (2002—2003)
*Andrew Walker as Cole Harper (2002—2003)
*Dylan Neal as Aaron Jacobs (2003)
*Emily Hart as Amanda (1996—2003)
*Penn Jillette as Drell (1996—1997)
*Donald Faison as Dashiell (1997–1998)
*Barbara Eden as Great Aunt Irma (2002–2003)

Episodes

Film

There are three television movies made for the "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" television series, one of which serves as the television pilot, and two are films within the series.

oundtrack

Infobox Album
Name = Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Type = soundtrack
Artist = Various Artists


Released = October 27, 1998
Recorded =
Genre = Pop, pop rock, rhythm and blues, top 40
Length =
Label = Geffen Records
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album =

The "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" soundtrack, which was released on October 27, 1998 by Geffen Records, was certified Gold by the RIAA.

Track listing

#"Walk of Life" - Spice Girls
#"Abracadabra" - Sugar Ray
#"Hey, Mr. DJ (Keep Playin' This Song)" - Backstreet Boys
#"One Way or Another" - Melissa Joan Hart
#"Kate" - Ben Folds Five
#"Show Me Love" (Radio edit) - Robyn S.
#"Giddy Up" - 'N Sync
#"Slam Dunk (Da Funk)" - Five
#"Magnet & Steel" - Matthew Sweet
#"So I Fall Again" - Phantom Planet
#"I Know What Boys Like" - Pure Sugar
#"Smash" - The Murmurs, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey
#"Dr. Jones (Metro 7" Edit)" - Aqua
#"Soda Pop" - Britney Spears
#"Amnesia" (Radio remix) - Chumbawamba
#"Blah, Blah, Blah" - The Cardigans

yndication

Currently, "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" can be seen in the United States in syndication on cable television networks ABC Family and The N. In Canada, the show can be seen on YTV. The show also ran on Nickelodeon's TEENick from 2003 to 2005.

DVD releases

On November 142006, CBS Home Entertainment announced the release of the first season of "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" on DVD. A four-disc set which contains all twenty-four episodes of the first season - presented in full screen along with English Stereo Surround tracks and Closed Captioning. The set was released on March 62007. The second season was released on July 312007 with some minor song replacements, such as the replacement of the Savage Garden song "Truly Madly Deeply" in the episode "The Equalizer". The release of the third season, on January 152008, saw more cuts and song replacements, including the removal of the guest appearance by Phantom Planet.

International

"Sabrina" has been internationally broadcast by the following stations under the following names:

References

External links

* [http://www.tvacres.com/horror_witches_sabrina.htm Information about the series at TVAcres]
* [http://abcfamily.go.com/abcfamily/path/section_Shows+Sabrina/page_Detail "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" at the ABC Family's official website]
* [http://www.the-n.com/ntv/shows/index.php?id=331 "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" at The N's official website]