I don't remember this show as I was introduced to MJH from Sabrina, but after looking at episodes on youtube I noticed that she was not believable at all as a high school student. Even when she was supposed to be a Senior she still looked like a 12 yr old. I see why they wanted to wait a few years before giving her Sabrina. She had to mature a little so she could look the part of a high school student.
shareActually, Melissa was 18 years old when "Clarissa" ended.
So she would have been the perfect age for her character in this show.
However, it is true that she still was believable as a teenage girl in "Sabrina".
And in that show, her character would be four years younger than her.
It didn't help that the drama and acting was very fake-looking and the stories were very contrived. It's like, the writers had never actually gone to school and made up all this silliness that even cartoon HS students would never experience. And isn't that a bit creepy, that Clarissa had a platonic guy friend who could climb into her bedroom window with a ladder any time he wanted, with no bugs getting into the room?
shareKeep in mind, this was on Nickelodeon and it was the early-mid 90s. It was a family friendly network. Also, I know Melissa's mom kept them from putting her in makeup and trying to make her look older than she was.
shareWell the show did air in 1991. I personally never watched this show growing up as I was just a toddler back then.
Perhaps Melissa Joan Hart just has really good genes making her appear younger. Hense why she was also able to pull off playing a teen in "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" in her 20s.
You can now watch the entire series on Paramount+
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