With its powerful female characters, dazzling worlds, and stories that give soap operas a whole new meaning, Scandal is quintessential Shonda Rhimes. The series, which premiered in 2012 and ran for seven seasons, became a hallmark of ABC’s “Thank God It’s Thursday” lineup along with Grey’s Anatomy and How to Get Away With Murder. Throughout its run, Scandal consistently ranked among the top dramas on television.
Its captivating storylines and riveting OMG moments kept audiences coming back for more. One such moment was the season two assassination attempt on Fitz’s life, which prompted viewers to share their wildest theories about who killed him using the hashtag #WhoShotFitz. In addition to promoting the show, these hashtags fueled conversations and helped maintain the momentum of the storyline.
While the show is fictionalized, many of its cases are inspired by real-life events. For example, Olivia is loosely based on real-life fixer Judy Smith, who served as special assistant and deputy press secretary to President George H. W. Bush before founding her own crisis management firm.
Scandal has been praised for its strong performances, particularly from Kerry Washington, as well as for its handling of political themes in a way that is entertaining and informative. However, some critics have pointed out that the plotlines can be implausible or unrealistic at times.