Scandal is an American political thriller
television series created by Shonda Rhimes, it aired on ABC from April 5, 2012 until April 19, 2018 for 124 episodes over seven seasons with stars Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn, Scott Foley, Joshua Malinas, Jeff Perry, Darby Stanchfield and Bellamy Young.
The show takes place in Washington, D.C. and focuses on Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and her crisis management firm, Olivia Pope & Associates (OPA). Goldwyn as Fitzgerald Grant III, the President of the United States and Foley as Jake Ballard, the Director of the NSA spend most of the seven seasons competing for Olivia’s affections. When Olivia is not serving as the President’s lover, she is serving as his most trusted advisor, while rehabilitating the images of various political scoundrels with her OPA employees, known as “The Gladiators.” 
The series jumped the shark when Olivia actually commits murder and we learn that the country is really being run by a secret agency.
Kerry Washington's character, Olivia Pope, is partially based on former George H.W. Bush administration press aide Judy Smith, who serves as a co-executive producer.
The show was named a Television Program of the Year by the American Film Institute, received the Peabody Award for Excellence in Television and was honored as Outstanding Drama Series at the Image Awards. Washington has won the Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series and has been nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series, and a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series.
Kerry Washington was born on January 31, 1977 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA as Kerry Marisa Washington. Her father is African-American and her mother is of Jamaican descent (including African, English, and Scottish). She is an actress and producer, known for Scandal (2012), Django Unchained (2012) and Save the Last Dance (2001). Washington graduated from the prestigious Spence School in New York City in 1994 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from George Washington University's theater program in 1998. Although she has played Jamie Foxx's wife in two Oscar-nominated films (Ray, 2004 and Django Unchained), Washington's star power really blossomed with Scandal, her collaboration with Shonda Rhimes. Her stunning, steely, ultra effective, Olivia Pope character broke feminist, racial and political entertainment rules. It was hard to tell where Washington ended and Pope began. The term "gladiators" and the phrase "It's handled," are part of the lexicon thanks to the partnership between Kerry Washington and Shonda Rhimes. Washington portrayed Anita Hill in the 2016 Clarence Thomas TV docudrama, Confirmation. Washington's voice work includes her portrayal of Princess Shuri in the animated Plack Panther miniseries and Natalie Certain in Cars 3. Washington is scheduled to star in the TV miniseries adaptation of Celeste Ng's "Little Fires Everywhere."
About The Writer:
Shonda Rhimes is a critically acclaimed screenwriter, television writer and producer for her media/entertainment company, Shondaland. She is the mastermind behind ABC hits such as Scandal, Greys Anatomy, How to Get Away With Murder, Private Practice, Off the Map, The Catch, Still Star-Crossed 
and newer creations such as For The People and Station 19. Her shows have become so successful and well known that ABC gave Rhimes her own night of prime time television slot called TGIT (Thank God It’s Thursday) at 8PM EST. Rhimes had hit many milestones including a recent success with one for her longest running series, Greys Anatomy. Greys is about to enter its 15th season, shattering ABC’s previous record for longest running series record of 14 seasons. To add to Rhimes’ ever growing list of achievements, she has won many awards for her outstanding writing and producing of all her television shows as well as being an advocate for women’s rights and a prominent figure in the fight against sexual harassment in the Me Too movement. The book Year of Yes also became a New York Times Best Seller making Rhimes a New York Times Best Selling Author. Shonda Rhimes is moving fast, breaking barriers and showing no sign of stopping any time soon.
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