SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH: PILOT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)

Summary

One in this comedy series about a teenage witch named Sabrina who lives with her two aunts, who are also witches, and their talking cat, Salem.

This episode introduces Sabrina Spellman, who is discovered by her aunts Zelda and Hilda levitating at the start of her sixteenth birthday. They want to tell their niece that she is a witch, but don't think the timing is right as she is about to start her first day of high school. Regardless, they spill the beans to Sabrina the next morning. Zelda then gives her a black cauldron for a birthday gift. They admit that they are also witches, as is her father, Edward. Hilda and Zelda claim they are raising her so that she'll learn how to use magic. Not surprisingly, Sabrina thinks they're joking. At school, Sabrina learns biology from Mr. Pool while keeping her eyes on the good-looking Harvey and avoiding the taunts of popular Libby. She takes revenge on Libby by making the girl draw all over her face with lipstick.

During a frog dissection, Sabrina realizes something may be amiss when she accidentally brings the creature back to life. Returning home, Sabrina is given a present from her father, an old magic book. Her father is able to speak to her through the book as he's "in a different realm." She is shocked, especially when Salem begins speaking to her, too. Then, Edward gives her the scoop on why her parents aren't currently in her life and the rules by which witches deal with mortals. Eventually believing she truly is a witch, Sabrina allows her aunts to begin teaching her to control her magic. The next day at school, Sabrina continues her feud with Libby and loses her temper, turning the most popular girl in school into a pineapple.

A confused Sabrina returns home, where Zelda brings Libby back to human form. Sabrina thinks they need to turn back time so that Libby can't reveal her secret to the rest of the school. Transported via the linen closet, Sabrina visits the witches' council and tries to get their permission for time reversal. Now, Sabrina has to wait to see if her wish is granted. Soon enough, she gets news that her request was denied. Sabrina heads back to school, sure that she will forever be known as "the weird kid." However, with one more trick up her sleeve, Hilda makes a final attempt to help out her niece. Includes commercials.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: September 27, 1996 Friday 8:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:30:26
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:46112
• GENRE: Comedy, fantasy/science fiction
• SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy, fantasy/science fiction; Teenagers; Witches
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1996-2000; The WB - 2000-2003
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - American Diabetes Association
  • TV - Commercials - Cheerios cereal
  • TV - Commercials - Children First mentoring hotline
  • TV - Commercials - Cool Whip topping
  • TV - Commercials - Discover cards
  • TV - Commercials - Got Milk?
  • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Melanie's Mall toys
  • TV - Commercials - Nintendo Game Boy video games
  • TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Secret deodorant
  • TV - Commercials - Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children
  • TV - Commercials - Tiger electronic diaries
  • TV - Commercials - Wrigley's Doublemint gum
  • TV - Promos - "America's Funniest Home Videos"
  • TV - Promos - "Clueless"
  • TV - Promos - "Home Improvement"
  • TV - Promos - "Life's Work"
  • TV - Promos - "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman"
  • TV - Promos - "Roseanne"
  • TV - Promos - "Second Noah"
  • TV - Promos - "Spin City"

CREDITS

• Paula Hart … Executive Producer
• Nell Scovell … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
• Norma Safford Vela … Co-Executive Producer
• Ron Martinez … Coordinating Producer
• Carrie Honigblum … Supervising Producer
• Renee Phillips … Supervising Producer
• Kenneth R. Koch … Producer
• Jonathan Sherman … Co-Producer
• Rachel Lipman … Co-Producer
• James Hilton … Associate Producer
• Robby Benson … Director
• Jonathan Schmock … Developed by
• Barney Cohen … Writer
• Kathryn Wallack … Writer
• Gary Stockdale … Music by
• Melissa Joan Hart … Cast, Sabrina Spellman
• Caroline Rhea … Cast, Hilda Spellman
• Beth Broderick … Cast, Zelda Spellman
• Nate Richert … Cast, Harvey Kinkle
• Jenna Leigh Green … Cast, Libby Chessler
• Michelle Beaudoin … Cast, Jenny Kelly
• Paul Feig … Cast, Eugene Pool
• Nick Bakay … Cast, Voice, Salem Saberhagen
• Teller … Cast, Skippy
• Deborah Harry … Cast, Cassandra
• Robby Benson … Cast, Edward
• Penn Jillette … Cast, Drell
• Melissa Murray … Cast, Cee Cee
• Bridget Flanery … Cast, Jill
• Ren Woods … Cast, Mrs. Hecht
• Shaun Weiss … Cast, Male Student