CHARMED
lives
The magical women from the WB's
long-running series reveal the spellbinding
secrets that keep their fans enchanted
BY SHAWNA MALCOM
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE PUGLIESE
Shannen Doherty's departure from WB's Charmed in 2001 could have been a curse. Instead, the show—about a triumvirate of witch siblings who fight evil while sporting killer wardrobes (this is an Aaron Spelling show, after all)—has continued to work its magic without her.
So what kind of spell keeps the long-running supernatural soap, starring Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs and newest recruit Rose McGowan, bubbling? "I've been trying to figure that out myself," says executive producer Spelling. "I honestly didn't think it had much chance of lasting five episodes, let alone five years."
No doubt helped by a move to Sundays from a fiercely competitive Thursday-night time slot, Charmed also features lighter episodes this season, with the sexy sisters temporarily assuming the identities of everything from scantily clad superheroes to, well, scantily clad fairy tale characters. However, the show's 100th episode, set to air January 19, will take on a slightly more sober tone, posing the question: What would the world be like if the Charmed ones had never met one another?
Probably not nearly as spellbinding.
Alyssa
Milano
To hear Alyssa Milano tell it, turning 30 can be downright bewitching, so long as you haven't been a procrastinator. "I think people freak out about it when they don't feel like they've accomplished what they need to by then," says the actress, who marked the milestone earlier this month. "I wasn't freaked att all. Just excited."
And why not? Milano had already starred in two hit series before joining Charmed as premonition-prone Phoebe: As a little girl, she won over audiences on Who's the Boss?, then later took up residence on Fox's Melrose Place. Somewhere in between, she became a bona fide sex symbol—once even posing for steamy Bikini magazine photos clad only in mud.
These days, everybody wants the dirt on Milano's fledgling romance with pop star Justin Timberlake, 21. According to tabloids, the couple—who met two years ago through mutual friends and reportedly began dating last summer—are headed to the altar. This elicits a hearty laugh from Milano, now lounging on the Charmed set in a silk robe.
"I'm not getting married," says the actress, who was wed for 11 months to rocker Cinjun Tate in 1999. "Our relationship is so new we don't even really know what it is yet. But I definitely care about [Timberlake] tremendously. He's one of those guys who won't stop until he feels like he's fulfilled creatively, which is inspiring."
Expect some inspired twists for Phoebe's on-screen love life as well, after the character's devilish ex-hubby, Cole, departs in January. "We want to free up Phoebe and let her date around," explains executive producer Brad Kern.
Hmmm...any chance the sexy witch could get in sync with a certain blond pop idol? Don't hold your breath. "Knowing Brad," says Milano with a laugh, "he'd make him a demon, and I think Phoebe's had her fill of those."
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WEBS OF DESIRE
Charmed has bewitched more than a few cyber-fans, as evidenced by the numerous Web shrines devoted to the show. Here are some of our favorites.
After declaring war against thousands of X-rated rogue sites, Alyssa Milano founded www.safesearching.com, a portal for official (and tame) celebrity pages. Too bad her own www.alyssa.com is rather slim on content, with a bio, article reprints, photos and an archive of messages from Alyssa, which she stopped writing in March 2001. To access outdated video clips of her at some photo shoots, you'll have to fork over $9.99. At the unofficial (but more fun) www.charmingalyssa.com, peruse contemporary photos (including her tattoos) or enjoy the fashions from Milano's days on Who's the Boss?
Rose McGowan had quite a Web following long before she became a cast member. For plenty of biographical goodies, www.rosemcgowan.8m.com, has articles, movie trailers and, of course, photos. There's also a whole page chronicling her long-defunct relationship with rock star Marilyn Manson. If it's late-breaking news you crave, you must tolerate the badly designed www.rosespaige.com.
With a less headline-making past than her costars, Holly Marie Combs has a much smaller online fan base. Find Combs-themed puzzles and games at www.charming-holly.com. Get your fill of pre-Charmed Combs at the unofficial www.members.aol.com/ScoF/mw1/page1.htm.—Sabrina Rojas Weiss
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