Scandal

[Hunter Rider]

From the creator and executive producers of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" comes a drama revolving around the life and work of a professional crisis manager and her dysfunctional staff. A former media relations consultant to the President, Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) dedicates her life to protecting and defending the public images of our nation's elite. After leaving the White House, the power consultant opened her own firm, hoping to start a new chapter -- both professionally and personally -- but she can't seem to completely cut ties with her past. Slowly it becomes apparent that her staff, who specialize in fixing the lives of other people, can't quite fix the ones closest at hand -- their own.

"Scandal" stars Kerry Washington ("Ray") as Olivia Pope, Henry Ian Cusick ("Lost") as Stephen Finch, Columbus Short ("Stomp the Yard") as Harrison Wright, Guillermo Diaz ("Half-Baked") as Huck, Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan, Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins, Tony Goldwyn ("Ghost") as President Fitzgerald Grant and Jeff Perry ("Grey's Anatomy") as Cyrus. "Scandal" was written by Shonda Rhimes ("Grey's Anatomy," "Private Practice"). Rhimes and Betsy Beers ("Grey's Anatomy," "Private Practice") are executive producers. Paul McGuigan is the director. "Scandal" is produced by ABC Studios.

Promo:

[YT]prE0lIZOqbk[/YT]

Looks ok but may struggle as the lead character and her job might well find a problem connecting to the audience.

 

[Sawyer]

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Greys-Shonda-Rhimes-Scandal-1041418.aspx

Grey's Boss Shonda Rhimes Trades MerDer for Scandal: "It's Like a British Miniseries"
by Denise Martin

Fans of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, take heed: Shonda Rhimes says her new ABC series won't be more of the same.

"It's not a procedural, it's not romance-y, there is no MerDer," Rhimes told reporters Tuesday during ABC's winter TV previews, comparing her upcoming drama, Scandal, instead to a British miniseries "full of intrigue."

In the show (premiering Thursday, April 25 at 10/9c), Kerry Washington plays a "professional fixer" who formerly worked at the White House and is looking for a new start in opening her own crisis management firm. The character is based on real-life consultant Judy Smith, whose career has included handling aspects of the Iran Contra investigation, the Los Angeles riots and the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Rhimes said that because of the confidential nature of Smith's work, the show's stories will be merely inspired by her famous clients. Smith, who serves as a co-executive producer on the show, provides her expert opinion. "I'll call [Judy] up and say, 'What if I have this conservative soldier who's secretly gay and he's getting the congressional medal of honor?' Rhimes said. "She's been a fascinating and amazing resource for us."

The Grey's boss added she is neither relieved nor worried about tackling a series that doesn't revolve around, as one reporter put it, people with stethoscopes. "This is just a different story," Rhimes said, adding that the through line in her shows is "strong women and flawed people."

Scandal is so tense and un-soap operatic that not only do the characters not have time for love, but they speak at a breakneck pace — an element that drew some comparisons to Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing. "That was about me not wanting the actors lingering in the moments," Rhimes said. "It's a world where everyone's incredibly busy... the pace really serves the story."

 

[RockSP]

Anybody catch this?

 

[Dr. Evil]

I saw it. Kerry Washington is hot. It was okay. Did not particulary care for the mini subplot between Kerry's character and the POTUS.

I wonder what her filming schedule is because she's also shooting a movie (Django Unchained) at the same time.

 

[RockSP]

Her role in that movie will probably be small.

 

[Primal Slayer]

I saw it. Kerry Washington is hot. It was okay. Did not particulary care for the mini subplot between Kerry's character and the POTUS.

I wonder what her filming schedule is because she's also shooting a movie (Django Unchained) at the same time.

Filming is prob done since it's a.mid season show

 

[RockSP]

A quote and then a question for those who have watched it:

Has anyone noticed the constant belittling of the Caucasian characters, both implicit and explicit, during this show? It's reverse discrimination.

^^From a review on hulu

Did any of you pick up on this (I sure didn't)?

 

[Specter313]

I didn't either. All the members of Olivia's team were equal opportunity belittlers and belittlees. No one really sat back and took any verbal beatings except the wide-eyed new girl, who just isn't used to the way they do things, and the two at the centers of the two scandals they dealt with, and they got them when they looked to be in the wrong or messing up.

 

[Hunter Rider]

How is this doing in the ratings? Kerry Washington has done a good job injecting some charm into a character that is too much of a know it all and particularly likable. The first two case4s have been ok but the real hook is the overarching White House storyline.

 

[DarKush]

A quote and then a question for those who have watched it:



^^From a review on hulu

Did any of you pick up on this (I sure didn't)?

I only saw the first episode and I don't get where the person who believes that is coming from.

From the first episode I thought Scandal started off decently. The premise is unique enough to allow them to go in a lot of different directions.

 

[Specter313]

How is this doing in the ratings? Kerry Washington has done a good job injecting some charm into a character that is too much of a know it all and particularly likable. The first two case4s have been ok but the real hook is the overarching White House storyline.

It went up by about a half a million viewers on its second episode, so it's likely going to stick around.

 

[Hunter Rider]

It went up by about a half a million viewers on its second episode, so it's likely going to stick around.

Cool, I hope they continue to develop the political side of the show.

 

[jaymes_e06]

I actually like the show. I feel it's kind of different but I agree the best parts are when we see the lead vaulnerable and not queen alpha omega chick.


and Kerry is ultra hot. Looks like my girlfriend.

 

[RockSP]

I only saw the first episode and I don't get where the person who believes that is coming from.

Indeed. Someone who obviously has a serious problem with a show that has a black lead.

So far I think the show is okay. I will check it out to see if it grows on me.

 

[Hunter Rider]

The show has really found it's rhythm, the overarching political story is intriguing. I think Huck's a bit of a weak link, especially his goofy ultra hobo look in the flashback, it came off like a parody, but Olivia and Cyrus are the strength of the show and the AUA is a solid character as well, hopefully his sexy assistant Alissa makes more appearances.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Shondra Rhimes (the creator of Scandal) needed Scandal to hit as her two other shows are fraying around the edges and showing signs of rapid decline.

The storyline between Olivia and President Grant was starting to grow on me.

 

[p4poetic]

Love this show. The finale was great. So glad its being picked up for a second season.

Never cared much for the president/Olivia storyline.

 

[KenK]

Love this show. The finale was great. So glad its being picked up for a second season.

Never cared much for the president/Olivia storyline.

How can you love the show, and not care for the president/Olivia storyline?!?! It's like the major storyline of the whole season! Not to mention the president's advisor, Cyrus, being the dude who had Amanda Tanner killed in the first place! I couldn't believe that! But the president willing to give up his presidency for Olivia, just to lose her by her own actions, damn!

But dammit, I really wanna know who Quinn really is!!!! What's her story, dammit!!!!

 

[Hunter Rider]

That was the finale? It's only been on for 7 eps.

I think the show is going well, I didn't expect the Campbell thing to wrap up so quick or for Quinn to be so clueless when her boyfriend was down, you never pull the blade out of the wound unless you have the means to close it back up.

The twist with Cyrus was good, he's been creepy most of the way through so it didn't shock me, however it does set things up for season 2, and boy did the First Lady turn out be a real piece of work.

The one aspect of the show I think they can strengthen is Liv's team, Desmond from LOST and Huck feel off IMO.

 

[KenK]

That was the finale? It's only been on for 7 eps.

I think the show is going well, I didn't expect the Campbell thing to wrap up so quick or for Quinn to be so clueless when her boyfriend was down, you never pull the blade out of the wound unless you have the means to close it back up.

The twist with Cyrus was good, he's been creepy most of the way through so it didn't shock me, however it does set things up for season 2, and boy did the First Lady turn out be a real piece of work.

The one aspect of the show I think they can strengthen is Liv's team, Desmond from LOST and Huck feel off IMO.

I LOVE Huck!!!! And I think it's just good to see Guillermo Diaz in a different role that doesn't involved him as a well dealer/smoker . . . . named Guillermo! When he was torturing his old CIA colleague, that was just a great scene!

 

[p4poetic]

How can you love the show, and not care for the president/Olivia storyline?!?! It's like the major storyline of the whole season! Not to mention the president's advisor, Cyrus, being the dude who had Amanda Tanner killed in the first place! I couldn't believe that! But the president willing to give up his presidency for Olivia, just to lose her by her own actions, damn!

But dammit, I really wanna know who Quinn really is!!!! What's her story, dammit!!!!

Yes it is, but I don't find it particularly intriguing. Don't mean to sound shallow, but I guess maybe if the actor was more attractive I'd be into it a little more?

 

[gkokujin]

WHO THE HELL IS QUINN?????

 

[KenK]

Yes it is, but I don't find it particularly intriguing. Don't mean to sound shallow, but I guess maybe if the actor was more attractive I'd be into it a little more?

WHICH ACTOR?!?! I'm just saying, if you're saying Kerry Washington ain't attractive enough for you, thems is fightin' words, cotdammit!!!

 

[Specter313]

Former Lost star Henry Ian Cusick will not be returning for the second season of ABC's Scandal.

The actor and showrunner Shonda Rhimes came to the mutual decision for him not to come back for the second year of the D.C.-set political fixer drama, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Rhimes and Cusick's parting was described as an amicable split.

Cusick played Stephen Finch on Scandal, a charming ladies man who used his (handsome) skill set as a member of Pope & Associates to obtain information for Kerry Washington's Olivia Pope.

While the character's backstory was featured here and there, he was not a large part of the first season's central storyline, which in addition to cases of the week featured the team working on a scandal connected to President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn).

The seven-episode freshman drama, one of three series Rhimes has at the network, was renewed in May for a second season.

Cusick's departure comes after Rhimes' Private Practice parted ways with original castmember Tim Daly, whose contract was not picked up for the medical drama's upcoming sixth season. ABC's Body of Proof also will return for its third season sans some of its regular cast.

UPDATED: Recurring Scandal player Joshua Malina, who plays U.S. Attorney David Rosen, has been promoted to series regular, THR has confirmed. "Olivia and David have amazing chemistry, and I love watching them together," Rhimes told THR last month. "That's going to be something that's very enduring." TVGuide.com first reported the Malina news.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/scandal-season-2-henry-ian-cusick-not-returning-335341

 

[Specter313]

Sorry, Olivia and Fitz fans: The president's malicious wife will be sticking around next season on Scandal.

Bellamy Young has been promoted to series regular on the ABC professional fixer drama, TVGuide.com has learned.

During the first season, Young portrayed First Lady Mellie Grant, the wife of President Grant (Tony Goldwyn). She became one of the more polarizing characters after viewers discovered that there was no actual love between the couple — and that she faked a miscarriage to help Fitz get ahead in the polls during the primary. Olivia (Kerry Washington), perhaps wisely, gave up Fitz for good in the finale so Mellie could save his presidency.

But just because Mellie is sticking around doesn't mean she and Fitz will find common ground any time soon, particularly since her pants are still on fire, as she lied and said she was pregnant in the season finale. (Their poor potential offspring!) "I don't think they're going to settle down into happiness," executive producer Shonda Rhimes recently told TVGuide.com. "But they play the happy couple quite well these days. A baby's got to come from somewhere, so that's going to be an interesting road for them."

As TVGuide.com first reported, Joshua Malina has also been promoted to series regular. Lost alum Henry Ian Cusick will not be returning for the second season.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Scandal-Bellamy-Young-Series-Regular-1048805.aspx