When Melissa Hart starred in Clarissa Explains It All for Nickelodeon, "A lot of adults thanked me for putting something on TV that their kids can watch." There's no need for them to stop now. Hart works family magic again in Sabrina The Teen Witch, which was a family affair for her as well -she developed the movie with the executive producer, mom Paula Hart, as their first project for Hartbreak Films. "Someone showed my mother the comic book from the '60s. Then my mom showed me and I thought it was such a cool idea because some people remember the cartoon and some people remember the comics. Not all kids know about it, but a lot of adults remember, so it's like you can bring in a new audience to see it." But Hart had her work cut out for her: She spent several weeks with a personal trainer to build muscle tone, power, endurance and the correct style for various track and field diving events. "I'm having trouble getting rid of my thighs now," chuckles Hart. "It was really difficult, because I consider myself more creative than athletic." And it didn't help that the on-screen track team included competitive atheletes. "The runners had these amazing legs," she marvels. "We had to ask them many times to slow down!"
-K.C.
Sabrina the Teen Witch premieres April 7 exclusively on Showtime.
Other listing:
SABRINA THE TEEN WITCH (1996) A teen-ager discovers she has supernatural
powers and uses them to better her social status at school. Melissa Hart,
Charlene Fernetz