Pilot (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch)

The pilot episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is the first episode of the series. It aired on ABC on September 27, 1996. In the episode, Sabrina Spellman is told that she is a witch on her 16th birthday. After an accident in which she turns a schoolgirl into a pineapple, Sabrina decides to appeal to the Witches' Council to go back in time and live the day again. The episode was written by Nell Scovell and directed by Robby Benson.

Plot

Sabrina Spellman is seen 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.
• Singer Debbie Harry has a cameo as council member Cassandra.

Differences from the movie

• In the movie, There are different people playing the roles of Harvey, Zelda, and Hilda in the TV series. Marnie has a new name, Jenny, but remains Sabrina's best friend. Jenna Leigh Green, who plays Libby in the TV series, is not featured in the movie but a character called "Katy" is based on the character.
• In the movie, Sabrina's mother and father were both witches which makes Sabrina a full witch.