The OG Witch hits a milestone

It’s literally giving nostalgia, bestie. September 27, 2026, marks exactly 30 years since Sabrina the Teenage Witch first graced our screens. Melissa Joan Hart was already a total boss after Clarissa Explains It All, but stepping into the Spellman shoes? That was main character energy before the term even existed.

The role that could have been

Real talk: it almost didn't happen. Hart, now 50, actually contemplated quitting Hollywood at 20 because of the "child-star stigma." Plus, the network’s top choice for Sabrina wasn't Hart—it was Sarah Michelle Gellar. But Gellar decided to pass and ended up slaying vampires in Buffy the Vampire Slayer instead. Talk about a major plot twist!

Family ties and 90s party vibes

We love a supportive queen, and Paula Hart, Melissa's mom, was the reason the show even made it to air. After getting the comic book on a playground, she pitched it everywhere until ABC finally bit.

But once the show was a hit, the behind-the-scenes stuff? Absolutely unhinged. Hart’s 2013 memoir spilled that she partied hard in the late 90s, including taking ecstasy at the Playboy Mansion. She also dished on partying with Britney Spears—yes, she snuck her into an LA club—and hanging with 'N Sync members in Turks and Caicos. However, she lowkey couldn't stand Ashton Kutcher, admitting she tried to kick him out of her parties twice for being a "smartass."

Romance and rumors

For those of you shipping Hart and Nate Richert (Harvey Kinkle) IRL, sorry to burst your bubble. Hart said, "Lindsey is one of my best friends, so I could never date him," referencing Richert’s past relationship with co-star Lindsay Sloane. Though, she did admit she and Ryan Reynolds had a moment after meeting on the set of the 1996 TV movie.

Why it matters

Sabrina the Teenage Witch isn't just a nostalgic relic; it defined an era of television. Understanding the chaotic journey—from the casting near-misses to the behind-the-scenes drama—proves that even the shows that shaped our childhoods were doing the absolute most to keep the magic alive.