For a long while, Melissa Joan Hart looked younger than her actual years. When she was the lead on Nickelodeon’s Clarissa Explains It All, network executives requested that she forego dental surgery since the gap caused by a missing front tooth made her look like a kid. This way, young viewers could identify with Clarissa even though her character was clearly meant to be in her teens. After a five-year run, Clarissa left the air, and MJH had to look for another job opportunity.

MJH wound up developing Sabrina Spellman, a minor character in the Archie-Comics world, into a new show. First, there was a made-for-TV movie that tested waters, and the powers-that-be thought that there was enough viewer interest to sustain a regular series. Indeed, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch ran for seven seasons, taking the character from high school to college. There were a couple of spin-off TV movies, too.

First seasons are always rough, and this was no exception. There was a 3-D episode that was probably cool when it aired but now yields an episode that looks like it has mis-aligned colors (which is technically true since that is partly how 3-D is achieved). For reasons that are still hidden from me, Sabrina’s best friend was dropped before the end of Year One.

Still, Sabrina got off to a good start with a well-cast core. Melissa Joan Hart always conveyed frustration and annoyance with a hint of cuteness, so she never played Sabrina as a spoiled, over-privileged brat. Beth Broderick and Caroline Rhea are hilarious as Sabrina’s zany aunts. In many ways, though, one could say that the show belonged to Nick Bakay, the voice of Salem Saberhagen the cat. Salem is the funniest element of the show, and MJH once even said that she had heard of a drinking game based on Salem. Basically, whenever the cat talked, you downed a shot.

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Season 1 contains the following episodes:

Disc 1: Pilot, Bundt Friday, The True Adventures of Rudy Kazootie, Terrible Things, A Halloween Story, Dream Date.

Disc 2: Third Aunt From the Sun, Magic Joel, Geek Like Me, Sweet and Sour Victory, A Girl and Her Cat, Trial By Fury.

Disc 3: Jenny’s Non-dream, Sabrina Through the Looking Glass, Hilda and Zelda: The Teenage Years, Mars Attracts, First Kiss, Sweet Charity.

Disc 4: Cat Showdown, Meeting Dad’s Girlfriend, As Westbridge Turns, The Great Mistake, The Crucible, Troll Bride.

David McCoy