Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The First Season

Years before Harry Potter, there was Sabrina Spellman, a misfit teen whose hopes of just being normal pretty much evaporate when she is informed on her 16th birthday that she is a witch with supernatural powers. Based on a character introduced in the Archie comics, this staple of ABC's family-friendly TGIF programming block still casts an engaging, goofy spell. Former Nickelodeon ‘tween queen Melissa Joan Hart stars as Sabrina, whose typical teen problems include wanting to fit in at a new school, running afoul of the reigning mean girl who makes her life miserable, and first love. Although having magic powers may seem like an advantage, Sabrina learns, for instance, that a spell making people tell nothing but the truth can have unexpected and hurtful side effects. Sabrina is a witch's brew of slapstick comedy, cheesy special effects, and some sly dialogue, delivered with a wink and a nod by Caroline Rhea as one of Sabrina's mentoring aunts, future Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig as teacher Mr. Pool, and wisecracking cursed cat Salem (voiced by Nick Backay). Presenting all 24 of the 1996-97 first season episodes in an extra-less four-disc set, the series features a bevy of guest stars, including Penn and Teller as members of the Witches Council, Raquel Welch as an eccentric aunt, Chris Elliott as an “insurance salesman,” and—appearing as themselves—former talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael, and the Violent Femmes. While hardly must-see TV, Sabrina is reasonably fun ‘90s nostalgia, and Hart's Everyteen appeal may bewitch a new generation. A strong optional purchase. (D. Liebenson)