Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Why the Spin-Offs Failed

Sabrina the Teenage Witch was a hit with fans of all ages during its seven season run. One magic trick the producers (including Paula Hart, mom to star Melissa Joan Hart) couldn't pull off was launching a spin-off for Sabrina's mischievous cousin Amanda. But that wasn't for lack of trying. Find out why the THREE attempted spin-offs for Amanda, played by Melissa Joan Hart's sister Emily Hart, never happened on the latest episode of Atomic Abe's series Behind the Backdoor Pilot.
Watch more episodes of Behind the Backdoor Pilot: • Behind the Backdoor Pilot
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Narrated by Kevin Maher
Written by Emily Menez and Nick Nadel
Edited by Mike Schuster
Produced by Kevin Maher and Nick Nadel
Executive Produced by Tim Finn
Thumbnail by Colton Ogburn ( / coltonogburn )
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[@atomicabe]

Thanks for watching! If you'd like to support the channel, click the "Thanks" button to give a "Super Thanks" and get a colorful comment for the comments section.

[@MJC_227]

I would like to suggest you do a "Behind The Backdoor Pilot" episode about "The Facts of Life", this is a show that itself was a spin-off of "Differen't Strokes" and that tried an failed to produce it's own spin-off's no less than five times.

[@atomicabe]

@@MJC_227 Good suggestion! That one is definitely on the list.

[@logancomics]

Do you think you guys could do an episode on the Gilmore Girls backdoor pilot for the planned Jess spin-off?

[@deedeedoodle2844]

Okay like how you mentioned recycle characters that happened in Down Under where one of the mermaids was played by Valerie

[@cristyablad]

Salem was the best thing about the show, but I was really sad when Hilda and Zelda left. The college seasons were really, um... WB-ish.

[@fromthesidelines]

You mean, "CLARISSA-ish"....as in the proposed "CLARISSA NOW" unsold pilot, where she became an intern at a New York newspaper. Sabrina heads to college, and becomes a writer for the college paper. Sound familiar?

[@kristinazubic9669]

I do love the college years theme song though

[@NIGHTGUYRYAN]

​@@fromthesidelinesO-M-G 😂

[@MsNekaa26]

They did the college very well the problem was when they married off Zelda made Helga a little kid and then they had her date in that drug at the very end and she was about to marry him and stuffing in the very very end of the show you find out that Harvey is her true soulmate Panda of all people Amanda was the one who told Harvey gay Harvey the his soul song and when the stones got together in their hand they matched up and it was him and Sabrina that was beautiful I wish they had like made the hot like half of the Season that and you can see them like getting married getting like starting a happy life something instead of using Josh I could not stand

[@MsNekaa26]

​@@fromthesidelinesI remember that remember that back door pilot episode like you see Carissa and she is like working and she's going she wants to be a writer in New York yeah so yeah I wasn't shocked when Sabrina actually did that how they were going to go there pick up that very true to the faith the only thing they make up our worst she was at and she ended up working at instead of a newspaper a magazine

[@Godzillakingofkaiju1]

Instead of a spin-off centering around Amanda, it should've centered around Salem since he was the one character we loved to watch the most.

[@franscot96]

I'd watch that he was brilliant

[@Squishy876]

Right! He could have served his time and gotten to be a professor for good behavior or something

[@occono3543]

​@@Squishy876If he served his time, he wouldn't be a cat anymore. I'm sure Nick Bakay would have loved to have a lead role in a sitcom that isn't a voiceover, but is that what you meant? Sabrina never once let Bakay appear as himself actually, which is a shame.

[@supernova743]

@@occono3543 Perhaps a work release program for him, human during the day and cat at night.

[@PhotoQueen0]

How about a Salem prequel? Salem always had an interesting backstory that they would sprinkle through every episode. I would’ve loved to see a series based off of that.

[@kimberlyanderson6514]

The original Sabrina the teenage witch is definitely my comfort show.

[@kinglord7707]

The 5th 6th and 7th seasons is boring

[@91clarie]

Only the first three seasons though and maybe the first half of season 4 though

[@rory_gilmores_coffee]

I remember hating Amanda when I watched STTW reruns as a kid, so it's funny that *that's* the character they kept trying to give her own spin-off. Love these videos!!

[@danakscully64]

Same. I skip the Amanda episodes every time I rewatch because she's so annoying, but I didn't mind the Witchright Hall episode.

[@nikell6846]

Yeah.. she was a really annoying brat... i don't know why they thought people could want a spinoff focused in her. Dreama would have been a better option. She was a mess, but really friendly, relatable and interesting. To follow a younger version of dreama could have worked as a spinoff.

[@danakscully64]

@@nikell6846 I'm not a Dreama fan at all, she was too much of an airhead and annoying for my liking. The writers did her dirty, as I think she could have been much more intelligent and likable. She was just included to add chaos to scenes. I didn't care for the Brad stuff either.

[@stephenproulx175]

​@@danakscully64completely agree, dreama never grew.. she stayed the same.

[@enkisdaughter4795]

Probably because in real life Sabrina and Amanda are half-sisters - same Mum.

[@jonshields5649]

I would have loved to see Charles Shaughnessy in another sitcom, I loved him in The Nanny.

[@cheneethompson5756]

OMG, same! Imitating fran: Mr. Sheffield!

[@spede1]

Was there someone else in The Nanny other than Fran? Didnt notice :)

[@stephenproulx175]

Same!

[@guaposneeze]

It's kind of a shame they were so focused on making a younger sister spinoff. The universe was fun. But the adults were clearly where a lot of the spinoff potential was. , and they never saw that. A Salem prequel. Anything with Martin Mull. Just the Aunts. Heck, maybe they could have gotten a Penn and Teller show out of it with Drell and Skippy. The Quizmaster. Those were the experienced actors playing magical characters that could actually hold down a show.

[@jbcatz5]

A prequel show with Hilda and Zelda would have rocked since their backstory is largely told in anecdotes. Sabrina’s father in a larger role would have been cool since he’s only in a handful of episodes of Sabrina.

[@ghostchick5275]

This! They were so focused on giving Emily her own show that they were blinded to all the much better possibilities. All of the ones you suggested would have been better than a show about Amanda. I remember being kind of sad when Sabrina got her witch licence because it meant we wouldn't be seeing Quizmaster anymore. Even though he had a relatively small role in the series, he stole every single scene he was in. I would absolutely have watched a show about him.

[@jbcatz5]

@@ghostchick5275 Best of both worlds, have Albert be Amanda’s Quizmaster

[@devoncelis9613]

Emily Hart also mentioned on her sister's podcast that she was kinda on the fence about acting in general during filming of Witch Right Hall. So that probably played a factor as well.

[@Dimensioneer88]

Didn't stop her from voicing Sabrina on the animated series.

[@fromthesidelines]

Her mother, Paula, supervised the live-action and animated versions (through her "Hartbreak Films" company). She INSISTED Emily be Sabrina's cartoon voice.

[@hafidbense4934]

She didn't want to be an actor and missed on few opportunities but as long as she is happy it's all good

[@IanWitt0]

​@hafidbense4934 the role should've been given instead to Hilary Duff sister

[@chinyereugwu9431]

@@IanWitt0 The role should have been given to the best qualified applicant dumbass.

[@trinaq]

I remember seeing the Witchright Hall episode, and wondering why they were focusing so much on Amanda, plus, why was Mr Sheffield the principal when he was a Broadway Producer, and where were Fran, CC, Niles and his kids?!

[@darkmask5933]

Sabrina: "What's a Subpoena?" Salem: "Mine has barbs." That caught me by surprise! XD

[@Dimensioneer88]

Caroline Rhea and Charles Shaughnessy also played the titular characters in the Disney Channel movie, Mom's Got a Date With a Vampire.

[@jbcatz5]

Her Disney Channel career also includes Ilsa on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and Linda on Phineas and Ferb.

[@cheneethompson5756]

​​​@@jbcatz5 Yes! She's also sydney's grandmother in sydney to the max And the voice of phineas and ferb's mom!

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Dealing with the nepotism mess n haters at my job now n it is a nightmare smh..

[@ellaolmos8576]

I think Spells Trouble could have done well if they shook up the premise. Instead of not giving up their powers, the girls would just have to hide them. It could be a bit like Bewitched. Marigold refusing to use her powers and live the mortal way like Samantha while her girls are forced to follow along... but of course they get into hijinks and refuse to listen. Could have an episode with the boys getting powers, the girls losing powers. With the girls growing up and having to decide how they want to live. Even add in their father who pops in from time to time. Could also bring in the Spellman family members Sabrina had already met.

[@TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond]

Yeah they could easily have just given the kids back their powers in the first episode. Maybe Marigold doesn't get her powers back. So she's trying to raise magic kids without having magic herself. I can see that leading to so many hilarious episodes. Imagine if every time Sabrina messed up and her aunts saved the day with magic, what if they couldn't? I wish that show happened because the potential stories were definitely there with a few tiny adjustments. Witchright Hall had potential too. I'd have watched it happily. Always enjoyed Amanda's episodes.

[@darkserpentcat3309]

I would have been more interested in that if instead of the witches having to hide their magic, making it a little too much like Sabrina, it would be more of the mortal family would move to the other realm and have to adapt there. Although I still doubt it would work

[@ellaolmos8576]

@@darkserpentcat3309 I dont think the mortals would have been able to move to the other realm with how they set up the lore, but it would be interesting if the boys had found out about the witch stuff pretty early on in the seaosn and they joined in on the hijinks themselves by goading their sisters or using magical artifacts.

[@darkserpentcat3309]

@@ellaolmos8576 true, but the lore in 90’s sitcoms were also very iffy. I forgot that the whole reason Sabrina barely sees her mother was because of the whole mortal/witch laws. Something that is only really important when they are looking for some conflict seeing as Hilda and Zelda date mortals. I don’t even really remember the law in the show about that either. I do remember though that I wished, and from a video I saw on KZbin others had as well, that the other realm had been fleshed out more in the show

[@elainagilbert7663]

I think there were just too many blended family shows out at the time. It would've gotten lost in the shuffle anyway.

[@heidifedor]

Emily Hart didn’t get an Amanda spinoff, but she get her own spin-off in the form of a Saturday morning cartoon were she voiced Sabrina in the animated series.

[@wizarddudereborn457]

Now, THAT actually worked!

[@xthatwhiteguyx]

Dude... he mentions this in the video you commented on...

[@QueenKunta]

Yeah it’s in the video. 17:16

[@LosMSR]

Yeah, Sabrina cartoon was great, too bad we never got Buffy animated series.

[@heidifedor]

@@LosMSR I would answer that Buffy was for adults. But considering the fact that three R-rated films (Conan the Barbarian, Robo Cop, and Toxic Avengers) all got their own Saturday morning cartoons, I don’t have an answer for you.

[@stevendimmock4791]

Emily grew up to be so good looking. I'm quite surprised that television didn't find a leading place for Her.

[@cheneethompson5756]

Ikr? She's prettier than Melissa!

[@chinyereugwu9431]

Maybe because with Television you have to do more than stand there looking pretty. The industry you are thinking of is Modelling. Pretty girls have successful modelling contacts. In Television [front of camera] talented actresses land lead acting roles and ladies with good diction and enunciation land lead anchor positions. Emily might have made a good model maybe.

[@nickimillennium]

They didn't make Amanda likable enough to initiate a successful spinoff and Emily was apparently not sold on being an actress

[@TheVetoSkreeemer]

Amanda wasnt introduced in that episode. She first appéared on the episode where Sabrina and her aunts cellebrate Halloween on the other realm. There Amanda shrunk Sabrina and put her in a jar.

[@jonshields5649]

The only thing that bugged me was that in the pilot of Sabrina, Zelda tells Sabrina, a witch can't use her powers until her 16th birthday. But Amanda had her powers way younger. Was it just because Sabrina was half witch

[@almightyk11]

Devils possibilities here. 1) That's when the powers come in full. 2) Easiest to explain to Sabrina at the time. 3) That's when they are permitted to use them outside of being watched. Take your pick

[@joshwillis2879]

I'm thinking also because Amanda was a Full Witch whereas Sabrina was Half-Mortal (which is probably why she had to wait until she was 16)

[@Lyco499]

It is indeed because Sabrina is a half witch. When Amanda is first introduced in the show as a child, Zelda warns Sabrina that babysitting her could be a challenge as Amanda is a full witch and therefore more practiced in her magic.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

A Wizard did it.

[@DavidTLomax]

In the movie Sabrina was a full witch not half like the tv show

[@RomaroBrandon]

It would have been stupid to have a show about a witch not using magic. If anything they should have had Amanda live in the witch world as a mortal or have her keep her powers and go to college with Sabrina and Salem.

[@darkserpentcat3309]

I think it might have been more interesting seeing the mortal families have to move to the other realm if they had gone with that spin off. Honestly, it probably still wouldn’t have worked since most spin offs don’t, but I remember really wishing we would see more of the other realm in that show.

[@bombom-sz4cr]

A Sabrina spin off would have been great you can always plan around when it comes to the supernatural. There actually was a animated Sabrina were she was in a witch school but that was years after the og show.

[@JasmineSurrealVideos]

Yes there were two of these animated 90s/00s series, both excellent, and an animated film, again well worth a watch.

[@mechadoggy]

They should have just gone with the spinoff idea that follows Sabrina’s and Harvey’s married life as they get settled in a new house given to them by Aunt Irma, only for them to realize that said new house is actually a haunted house where supernatural hijinks can happen. Salem of course would be living with them as a regular co-star with Irma, Hilda, and Zelda as recurring co-stars (and maybe even Mr. Kraft if he and Zelda decide to start dating again).

[@CarysCreatesThings]

The Sabrina episode with RuPaul was the first time I ever saw him out of drag. I was so shocked when when they revealed he was RuPaul, as he pretty much exclusively appeared as his drag persona in the media back then, and he looked so different with a suit, glasses, and no hair. Now we all know what he looks like, as these days he only appears in drag when judging on Drag Race.

[@stephenproulx175]

Omg same!!! I was like omg that's Mrs Cummings from the brady bunch movie when he dressed in drag at the end. Until then i just felt he looked familiar.

[@AnthonyMor2010]

“Accio Nepo Baby” 🤣🤣🤣

[@RCMN-2024]

Charmed tried to rip off Harry Potter too towards the end, shame, seemed like desperate grab for ratings

[@BroadwayGuy25]

Amanda's FIRST appearance on "Sabrina" was in Season One's "A Halloween Story" (Episode 5).

[@VCMarilyn]

thank you

[@cheneethompson5756]

I was looking for this comment!

[@stephenproulx175]

OMG that's right! Her mom puts her in a jar as a timeout!

[@maximusprime3459]

The spinoff smells too much like nepotism. Tho that seemed to be the issue to begin with.

[@txsailor82]

Too funny “Sabrina’s cousin Amanda, happen” 😂

[@Makoto03]

Great video. Not only did i not know about the spin off, i didn't even know that the ABC Sabrina series was originally a movie. I'll have to look that movie up. I love Melissa Joan Hart.

[@cristyablad]

As a fellow fan, once I found the original movie I watched it. It is ok, but don't expect too much. The series is much, much better.

[@hafidbense4934]

The original movie was not good and the actors weren't as good as sitcom actors either so it's not a big loss that u didn't see it but you should check the two other movies since they are fun

[@noemistephanie93]

The original movie is boring and almost none of the cast we know in the show are in this movie.

[@kingdjack6]

The movie was before the show and Melissa had just came back to acting they also did a original pilot for Buffy Willow was done by a different actress.

[@MrChristianDT]

I wasn't aware of that one, either. Makes sense, though, since 90s tv wanted more shows with female leads that weren't soap operas & that is also where they got Buffy from, which was a major hit, despite the movie flopping. Wonder how easy it is to find, though, since it was a made-for-tv film...

[@FrenkTheJoy]

This isn't directly about Sabrina spinoffs, but I still remember watching MasterChef, one of the earlier seasons, one of the contestants says he's a stay at home dad and he loves cooking for his kids and step-kids while his wife is busy with work. He makes absolutely no mention at any point that the wife in question is PAULA HART. Melissa Joan Hart's step-father was in a season of MasterChef and they make absolutely no deal about it at all. I think Paula is in one episode and they just refer to her as Paula, Leslie's wife.

[@elainagilbert7663]

When they had her on, I recognized her instantly and had to look it up. I always thought that was why he was the "villain" of that series and why he didn't win. The show didn't want to be accused of favoritism.

[@mechadoggy]

@@elainagilbert7663Yeah, it was really obvious that when he got eliminated because he “supposedly had mistaken salt for sugar,” it was obviously a contrived way for him to leave the show. If there did happen to be any sort of nepotism in him being able to get on the show, there probably was some sort of clause that stated he was allowed to participate in the show to get exposure and have fun on the show but wasn’t allowed to actually win any prize money. Therefore, if this were the case, he would have been essentially a “dummy contestant,” someone who’s allowed to participate in the competition but not allowed to actually win. (It’s certainly not like he actually needed the prize money or cookbook deal.)

[@nickimillennium]

WHAT?! I remember Leslie, I had no idea the wife in question was Paula Hart. That's wild.

[@tamaraclaw]

I think I actually referred to Witchright Hall in a comment to a previous video on this KZbin channel...or perhaps it was another channel...but I did comment about this

[@kyliethelittlespider-mangirl94]

I was watching the Behind The Backdoor Pilot playlist and saw this and had to watch it!

[@MsDisneylandlover]

When she was n college seasons it was not good at all smh. N amber who i couldn't stand was on them. Smh..

[@SofiaPreCure]

Sabrina the Teenage Witch looks pretty cool! I never heard of Sabrina the Teenage Witch spinoffs

[@MrChristianDT]

Personally, I feel like the first two seasons are rarely funny & kind of feel like a Disney sitcom, or a bad 80s one. So, with most fans also feeling like the last two seasons suck, I guess you are guaranteed 3 decent seasons out of 7- right in the middle. Lol

[@HightopRob]

Wow the potential too bad it never got greenlit what ashame

[@TheNotverysocial]

The animated series did not last long either. It ended almost as abruptly as it began, and did not see the next year.

[@Boyplayano1]

Actually cousin Amanda was introduced in season one in the Halloween episode, not the Doll episode.

[@ASMR-Arboretum]

Let's try to make a show about the most annoying characters ever. Amanda and her mom are awful. No one liked those episodes. No one liked those characters. I don't understand why these would be the characters they wanted to base a show off of. Any of those ideas would have worked with LIKEABLE characters.

[@bonghunezhou5051]

Hm...did not realise the (Paul Feig) connection between this show and Ghostbusters: answer the call (2016). Thanks to this 📼.

[@rurirotaru516]

I loved Melissa Joan Hart in much of what i watched her in. From clarissa to melissa and joey. Even if there was nepatisim in her career it is clear to me she had the chops and was right for these roles. I would ask if you could imagine if anyone else could have been sabrina. And so far the answer is no as the animated version ended quickly and the reboot was decent to start and different but fell apart in season 4. And I can't say it felt like a reboot but more like a dark twisted alternate reality that shared some simularities but not the spirit of the original. Good in its own but not really compareable.

[@bluekitty.81]

Actually, for the show her mom didn't want her. She wanted that girls from Buffy the Vampire but she declined.

[@rurirotaru516]

@@bluekitty.81 yea I don't see her as a good sabrina. I think that would have been a disaster.

[@johncarolina4950]

I had no idea MJH was a nepo baby of the highest order

[@alejandragarciatoribio837]

It’s because she was great for interpreting the character!

[@mechadoggy]

“nepo baby” That’s pretty much how it is in a lot of industries, including show business. It saves a lot of time and resources in having to hire a casting director and auditioning many many people, just like how hiring someone you know saves you a lot of time and resources in having to put your job posting out on LinkedIn and going through dozens of different resumes and interviewing different candidates.

[@nickimillennium]

Most actors are. She's not different. Her mother lucked out though. Melissa was a PERFECT Sabrina.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Oh i forgot about quiz master love him lol..he was fun on the show..i just think bc he was a black character. I love seeing my ppl or my culture in good things.

[@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115]

Wow! I didn't know that Sabrina had failed spin-offs and I love Sabrina the Teenage Witch, (until she went to college. Long story.) I guess that Harry Potter casted a bigger spell on me and the world! 🌎🧙🏼‍♂ I love learning new things from Atomic Abe's back door pilot videos! 🤩

[@Drew791]

Talking cats rule, talking dogs drool!

[@redfive5856]

Mainly because Caroline Rhea wasn't in them.

[@NeoN-PeoN]

Can you please help me understand something? What's the POINT of a "hidden pilot"? How's it supposed to work? If people don't know there's a pilot for a potential new show, then the ONLY people who are going to watch it are fans of the original show. Isn't that a terrible way to try and measure interest in your new show?

[@wwedivas2011]

Oh gosh I remember TGIF sitcom show like this Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Family Matter, Step By Step, and Full House I was so young watching those show between mid 90's until late 90's...

[@MrChristianDT]

I more remember when they briefly tried to bring TGIF back around 2005 or so, with George Lopez, Hope & Faith, 8 Simple Rules & such.

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@MrChristianDT Yeah but it wasn't the same dynamic or era. Plus John Ritter would pass away in 2003. 📺📼😢🙆

[@blackguyofthesouth2161]

Caroline Rhea and Charles Shaughnessy also starred together in the Disney Channel movie "Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire."

[@VCMarilyn]

yes I mentioned that on imdb

[@kasterborous1701]

Imagine thinking the _Harry Potter_ phenomenon started with the movies.

[@MistbornPrincess]

I’m surprised to hear MJH say she approved of the dark Sabrina reboot, as she’s a Christian.

[@pariahred13]

Not only that, but after some somewhat controversial right wing stances and statements, MJHA was the only one not invited to have a cameo as the dark Sabrina show ended. They had the actresses for Hilda and Zelda, a few minor characters in the background, and even the original Salem (that antique animatronic cat was not in great shape, that thing was clearly kept under a pile of junk for years).

[@cheneethompson5756]

Candace cameron, who played DJ tanner, is also really religious In 1997, she played an evil witch on an episode of boy meets world!

[@Ingodwetrust123]

Melissa got the part because She's a Nepo Baby and the Sabrina Netflix thing was trash

[@MsDisneylandlover]

I didn't know she voice the cartoon my sis n i love the cartoon ❤ lol.

[@sejejo7565]

O snap I was an extra on Sabrina for like 2 years

[@Franniiv3]

Why is Maxwell Sheffield the teacher?!;p xo

[@Grow5ft]

Another great video.

[@IanWitt0]

Harvey wasn't also on this season

[@indumatipngtuber2790]

My favorite thing about Sabrina the Teenage Witch is that she gets punished every time she uses magic for anything. :)

[@kurtsnyder4752]

Chilling Sabrina 🤮

[@chrislaustin]

Sadly, most spinoffs fail, and very few ever succeed as most ideas are dopey cash grabs to keep the funds flowing. Instead of saying this character would be great in her/his own show(for reasons A. B & C), they say we like this series cashflow, how can we keep it going. Or you can have family in positions of power who want to make other siblings in to stars and that doesn't work either. If a spinoff is genuinely a good idea, it will be natural and make sense on it's own. But often it's a lets fit that square peg in that round hole if it fits or not, and you can see how forced some of this stuff is day one.

[@eriknakamoto2647]

Didn’t know Steve Sax was guest on that show… I remember Brady Anderson was a guest in one ep. Also wasn’t there an animated version in which Ashley Tisdale was voice as well?

[@Wyrd__One]

I bet it was fun having a parent scoring you the part of a lifetime.

[@Wyrd__One]

@@matthewdaley746 The Harts didn’t need talent. The mom quite literally pitched the project for her daughter or they’d walk with it. Let’s be real here, Melissa Joan Hart isn’t the most talented actress in the world. If she were, she wouldn’t do shitty Christian movies. Same with her sister. If they were truly talented, they would’ve made their careers without mommy forking over a role on a silver platter.

[@Wyrd__One]

@@matthewdaley746 It was embarrassing af watching their “Celebrity Jeopardy” episode 🥴 they really do treat everyone like celebrities nowadays (even when they haven’t done anything noteworthy since the last century)

[@Wyrd__One]

@@matthewdaley746 He’s also incredibly attractive. That helps more than anyone could ever know. That might be another reason MJH couldn’t score more mainstream work: she just didn’t age all that well. Marsden is aging like fine wine.

[@joe-ru9gh]

You forgot about the animation show inthe 2000s

[@skyv.9585]

"Mr.Sheffield" played Christopher Plover and I will never forgive him for that 😂

[@clarkkent7973]

And "Sabrina" (Melissa Joan Hart) also had the great comedy titled "Melissa and Joey"

[@perrimeno]

MJH wasn't even a teenager when the show stared in1996: she turned 20 in April.

[@MrChristianDT]

That is, unfortunately, a long running television tradition for any series they want teenagers to be the main characters. Less legal red tape to just get adults & try to age them down.

[@cheneethompson5756]

​@@MrChristianDTsarah michelle Gellar played buffy, who was supposed to be 17 Sarah was about 21 when she started playing her

[@mechadoggy]

⁠@@MrChristianDTYep, especially if any “bedroom scenes” eventually happen

[@nickimillennium]

@@MrChristianDT Also, they don't have to worry about any radical changes in appearance since they're already a fully grown adult. Teens can have late growth spurts and other hormonal spurts that cause a change in their face or body.

[@coyoteartist]

So you mean all those things that were in the book that came out in 1997?

[@clintcountryman4849]

I loved Clarissa!!

[@chrisorton8137]

If they capture the premise that actually did the spin-off of a school for witches maybe we would have gotten and later years maybe Selena Gomez would be on WB and not Disney you get it

[@MrChristianDT]

No, that's not how Disney works. Lol

[@kerriethompson2073]

Charles Shaughnessy also stated with Caroline Rhea in a Disney Channel film called Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire.

[@stephenproulx175]

A great movie!

[@stephenproulx175]

Just remember, when in doubt about vampires, do the spoon test..

[@Dimensioneer88]

Blake Clark as a talking dog? Let's save that for the Toy Story sequels after Ernest dies.

[@nad3359]

Odd coincidence ? The Harry Potter movie was in production after huge success for the books... No coincidence here, just Sabrina's producer wanting to milk Potter's success just like they did with Charmed and the Magic School arc or later with Wizard's of Waverly place and the same ideas, robes and glasses from Harry Potter.

[@ghostchick5275]

You know, Harry Potter didn't invent the idea of witchcraft existing in the regular world. Charmed was modeled after The Craft which is a popular movie released in 1996 - a full year before Harry Potter existed. Besides, Harry Potter is basically a ripoff of The Worst Witch which was released in 1974. Harry Potter is not that original.

[@nad3359]

@@ghostchick5275 Such an ignorant comment, noone said Harry Potter invented Whichcraft, everything I said in my previous comment is correct. I never pretended Harry Potter is original... Just that it such a success that it inspired the Magic school arcs in Charmed, Waverley place and many more like that Sabrina Spinoff project

[@MrChristianDT]

Maybe the reason for the school concept, but I have to imagine that, since the mom was both actresses agent, she kind of managed to work the attempt for a spinoff for her other kids into their contracts for the original show.

[@nad3359]

​@@MrChristianDT IDK, I just know that the craze for magic school in every show comes from the success of Harry Potter... Lots of interviews and articles to prove it, do some researches.

[@fromthesidelines]

Only ONE TV critic was eager to see Emily Hart spun off into her own series- and that was David "Mr. Teleliteracy" Bianculli of the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS. He loved the proposed spin-off episodes, and was a *big* fan of the "SABRINA" series- and, I suspect, had a BIG crush on Melissa. He was disappointed the series ended when it did, as he was hoping to see Sabrina and Harvey married at the very end, and continue the show. But then, she wouldn't have been a "teen-age witch" any more. This wasn't "BEWITCHED".

[@VCMarilyn]

no no no Amanda made her first appearance in season 1 halloween episode not season 2 that was her second appearance

[@atomicabe]

You're right. Thanks for the correction and thanks for watching!

[@mathieuleader8601]

Witchwright Hall could have been easily reworked with a rebellious younger Hilda & Zelda

[@StanimalKingdom]

Also Mom's got a date with a vampire. You missed that one when showing the curb your enthusiasm episode clip, and Mr Sheffield. Caroline Rhea is intrinsically linked to that dude

[@spede1]

Liked Melissa Joan Hart ever since Clarisa Explains it All, back when Nickelodeon was good. But Salem made Sabrina.

[@amcaesar]

You guys did it again.

[@rrsaga]

Sabrina was ALWAYS a comic

[@Dimensioneer88]

Episode Idea: Marvel's What If could be nicknamed Backdoor Pilot the Series, since the Marvel Zombies episode is getting its own series and StarLord T'Challa spinoff was proposed but put in "limbo" after Chadwick Boseman's death. Not that it would matter, since a lot of MCU actors got replaced on What If anyway.

[@cliffs9458]

I didn't not know that and I used to watch Sabrina sometimes man.

[@Shishio28]

Absolutely fascinating. Another great video

[@atomicabe]

Thanks!

[@RavynAngelDarck]

I had the Tamagotchi and got to take care of a Salem of my own!! I miss it

[@waterup380]

so a spin-off of a spin-off

[@kaksikymmenta3]

"Novel setting" I think there had been multiple adaptations of Worst Witch book series from 70s and Harry Potter was bestseller by 2001.

[@queencerseilannister3519]

For all the great writers, I didn't find the series funny at all, even as a kid. lol I guess kids liked it in the way I did Saved by the Bell. 🤣

[@jhmcd2]

Hey, I actually remember some of this. I also recall the whole nepotism baby thing. I've been citing this for years without recalling who I was talking about. But yeah, when I was a kid and this show was on my friends and I hated the Amanda character. The reality was she was unlikable, and almost hated. Maybe its a good thing social media didn't exist back then because I hate to see what people would have said about her, especially as they tried to shoe horn her into so many episodes. We knew what they were up to and we hated it. But i recall when Sabrina went to College. There was a lot of debate of they should do that and loose their audience which they did. But I think it was necessary to show progression and not Brady Bunch the characters. But it should be noted that Harry Potter ripped off at least two series in the UK, I forget rhe one but they ultimately sued and the worst witch.

[@Angelverse]

Amanda’s was introduced in season one “A Halloween story”not season two “A Dolls Story”

[@bluestrife28]

Let’s not talk about the failed (imho) spinoff with Salem having no voice. Never will watch.

[@theotakux5959]

I liked that 'magic school' episode as a kid, so I'm annoyed to hear it could have been a series. I mean, annoyed that it didn't happen.

[@VidWatcher01]

8:01 Hold up how am I just now learning of a Christmas movie that had both Sabrina & Urkle!?

[@cheneethompson5756]

Wonder if it's streaming anywhere!

[@MsDisneylandlover]

I do know like Amanda's cousin's top with the attached strips to the sleeves. I have degree in fashion.

[@DarkYuy]

The only successful spin off was the animated series.

[@blackmumba111]

As far as a novel setting, The Worst Witch tv show was on in the late 90s. It was overshadowed by Harry Potter...almost everything magic-related was/has been overshadowed by it since then

[@JadedJester739]

Thank goodness it's funny? Dude... It is Thank God it's Friday... That was on purpose right?

[@wolfnonys550]

I liked Amanda thought after Sabrina ended they give her a show ya know how she changed

[@kc0lif]

i like sabrina. nell schovelle is a hottie. mellisa sister looks like her.

[@polanskyf]

14:01 Hermion *was* black after all (hubbahubba)

[@hydrolito]

Comic book Sabrina the teenage witch by Archie comics company before became part of Archies cartoon TV series before Sabrina had separate cartoon series and then followed after by Sabrina and the groovy goolies cartoon series all before Melissa Joan Hart version. Groovy goolies included Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and Wolfman.

[@garthst.claire3459]

Honestly, kid-me would have loved that Witchright Hall show.

[@Khaivet]

people didn't like Amanda because she was just Sabrina but make her like every other WB character.

[@srami004]

First and foremost…There was a spinoff??? Didn’t notice at all until your video. Secondly, Sabrina’s character was brought back at different times. Each moment, she was retooled. They kept throwing darts at the board and none of them landed on a bullseye. They kept failing in terms of finding the right footing. She had potential, but mistakes kept piling on… Third, elaborating on potential. The idea of Sabrina’s cousin going to a witch boarding school was a great idea. But…I didn’t like the talking dog. The Sabrina character should be a part of it as a mentor, principal, or counselor…an eye on her troublesome cousin. It would be a safety net as her cousin develops. It’s good for Sabrina because it’s a way for her to continue as opposed to going to college. Eventually, she’d leave. Finally, we as an audience were too attached to the OG cast. Why change?

[@NinjaTenK]

Was this really a thing

[@CursedCommentaries]

Wasnt sabrina a spinoff of clarissa? Spinoffception?