'Sabrina': Presto change-o

LOS ANGELES, May 10 (UPI) -- As "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" comes to the close of its sixth season in primetime, the show continues its pattern of changing with the times -- including absorbing the departure of Caroline Rhea, one of the more popular members of the cast since the youth comedy premiered in 1996.

Rhea has left the show to take over Rosie O'Donnell's hit daytime talk show.

"She's going to be spectacular," said Henry Winkler, who directed Friday night's episode of the show.

"I don't think I've met a woman with a faster brain in the western hemisphere. She is delicious. She is lovely. She is smart and fast and funny. You can take that to the bank."

Rhea played Sabrina's eccentric Aunt Hilda, the proprietor of the coffeehouse where everyone hangs out on the show.

Melissa Joan Hart, the stare of "Sabrina," said she too will miss Rhea.

"Yeah, she's fun," said Hart. "It's going to be different."

Of course, it was going to be different anyway. Change has been constant for the show, which premiered on ABC in 1996 and moved to the WB Network two seasons ago.

When it begins it seventh season in the fall, "Sabrina" will have only four remaining members of the original cast and a new staff of writers.

"It will end up being a whole different show," said Hart. "Which is kind of cool."

She said that when her character went to college it was like she got her own spin-off -- a change of scenery without having to change jobs.

At 24, and heading into her seventh season as the headliner of the popular supernatural comedy, Hart is already an 18-year show business veteran. Before "Sabrina," she starred in the Nickelodeon youth comedy "Clarissa Explains It All."

Asked whether she ever thinks of dropping out of the working world and going off to college, Hart said she has been taking college courses -- and doesn't feel the need to abandon her career for academe.

"I feel like I've had that," she said. "Usually there are a lot of people in my house running around which is fun. I feel like I'm in college. I missed high school, but that's okay. From what I hear, I was lucky."

Hart said that playing Clarissa was good for her personal development because the character as a strong role model and she spent so much time among adults.

"They judge you for who you are and the kind of person you are, not the superficial," said Hart. "That's priceless because you learn to be yourself and not judge yourself for your hairstyle or what groups you listen to."

She said production on "Sabrina" has become such a smooth operation that it's like a 9-to-5 job for her -- unless she is directing an episode. Then it's more like 6-to-6.

She's not complaining, though.

"Television is one of the best jobs you can get in this industry," said Hart. "I'll be working steadily for seven years, make more money than anyone except Julia Roberts, and live seven minutes from work."

Hart and her mother, Paula Hart, oversee a "Sabrina" franchise that markets books, CD-Roms, toys, soundtracks and an animated series. They recently acquired the rights to Shirley Temple Black's autobiography, "Child Star," and have plans to adapt it for ABC's "The Wonderful World of Disney."