Pilot (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch)

The pilot episode of the TV series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, first aired September 27, 1996.

Plot

The episode begins with Sabrina Spellman floating above her bed on her 16th birthday. At breakfast the next day, she is told by her two aunts that she is a witch, but does not believe them. After a few accidents at school and seeing her father in a book, she believes and begins to work on her magic. After being snubbed by Libby, the most popular girl in school, she accidentally turns Libby into a pineapple. While they manage to reverse the spell, Libby threatens to tell the entire school that Sabrina is a freak. Sabrina appeals to the Witches' Council to reverse time in order to save her from embarrassment. While initially being denied, Drell submits due to Aunt Hilda's wooing, and Sabrina lives the whole day over again, even turning the tables on Libby by squirting her with juice. The episode ends with her floating above the bed asleep.

Trivia

• There are two endings to this episode. In the first one Salem tells Sabrina how to use magic to get a glass of milk and in the second one Salem tries to tell the audience that they are under his control, but leaves when he hears a can opener. "Please be tuna." "Please be tuna." This line is then used in the third episode when Sabrina states to Salem that she hears a can opener.
• Sabrina, Hilda, Zelda, Harvey & Salem are all based on characters from the comic books (except in the comics, Hilda was the serious aunt and Zelda was the wacky aunt). Drell may be based on a character named Della from the comics, but this has not been confirmed.
• Director Robby Benson has a literal "cameo" role as the talking photograph of Sabrina's father Edward.

Differences from the movie

• There are different people playing the roles of Harvey, Zelda, and Hilda in the TV series. Marnie has a new name, but remains Sabrina's best friend.
• In the movie, Sabrina's mother and father were both witches which makes Sabrina a full witch.