Scandal is the ABC drama starring Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, a former White House media consultant who sets up her own crisis-management firm and can’t seem to shake her past. She leads her team of high-profile clients, including Quinn Perkins (played by Columbus Short) and hacker Huck, through a series of ethically murky situations.
A scandal involves the strong social reactions of public outrage and disapproval that occur when transgressions of a societal norm are revealed. These events are usually considered to be so serious and damaging that they should lead to significant change. However, the power of a scandal is often diluted by factors that make it a ‘non-event’ or ‘damp squib’ rather than a catalyst for real change.
Created by Shonda Rhimes, whose eponymous Grey’s Anatomy premiered in 2005 and still airs today, Scandal established her as one of television’s most acclaimed creators. The show, which ran for seven seasons, features powerful female characters and dazzling worlds that give soap opera a whole new meaning. Despite its problematic content—which includes the occasional mild profanity, grotesque body and discussion of sleazy sexual situations—the show has won a multitude of awards, including an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. Scandal is one of the most watched shows on cable and is also available for streaming on Netflix. After the show ended in 2024, Washington and her costars—including Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant and Nnamdi Asomugha as Fitz Grant—worked on other projects.