"Sabrina" hopes to learn from her roommate, "Punky Brewster"

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https://web.archive.org/web/20000815...1_20000811.htm

Sabrina the witch to switch networks
August 11, 2000
BY MIKE DUFFY
FREE PRESS TV WRITER

It doesn't take magical powers to figure out the simple appeal of "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."

And Melissa Joan Hart always knew teen angst wasn't her sitcom deal.

'Sabrina' is really there for entertainment purposes. Just sit back, relax, laugh at the end of your week," Hart said recently. "We don't want to hit anyone over the head with a message."

As if any sitcom with a talking cat -- snarkily delightful Salem -- would dabble in serious adolescent social issues.

So for four seasons on ABC, as one of the anchors in the Alphabet Network's family-friendly Friday lineup, "Sabrina" delivered genial comic merriment that parents and younger viewers could enjoy.

But in May, ABC announced it was pulling the plug. Fortunately for "Sabrina" fans, teencentric WB swooped in and rescued the show. A fifth season of new episodes -- same time, same night at 8 Fridays -- begins in October on

It's obvious why the WB was happy to rescue "Sabrina."

The show has finished No. 1 with teen females the past two years. And it's also popular with women 18-34, finishing No. 22 last season. The two age groups make up WB's most loyal viewing audience.

The shift to WB offers opportunities for new creative energy.

Sabrina's heading off to college. And her roomie? It's Punky Brewster!

Actually, it will be Soleil Moon Frye, the former child star of NBC's 1980s kiddie comedy "Punky Brewster." And to pump up the comic conflict, Sabrina and her new college roommate are something of an odd couple.

"Soleil's character is a street-wise, sort of tougher character to play off of Melissa's natural bubbliness," said "Sabrina" executive producer Bruce Ferber.

David Lascher, who plays Josh, the handsome law student who sparked romantic vibrations with Sabrina, is making the switch to WB. But Sabrina's old pal Harvey, played by Nate Richert, is out of there.

At the cliff-hanger close of last season, Harvey was in shock after finally discovering that his gal pal is a witch. Shazzam! Apparently, the voodoo news was just too much for Harv. And so he has said buh-bye to Sabrina.

Paula Hart, who is Melissa Joan Hart's mother, business partner and an executive producer on the series, said the opening episode of the new season will tie up the loose ends on Harvey.

"We'll actually deal with it through the year," said Paula Hart. "But the first episode, Sabrina will be in therapy dealing with her relationship with Harvey."

Hey, what about her tangled relationship with Salem?

Talk about a neurotic, passive-aggressive pussycat.

[irehtman]

Plus learn from that other roommate from "Clueless".