Scandal is smart, soapy fun from Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes. It debuted in 2012 and aired seven seasons. It tackled big issues, like racism and same-sex marriage, and never dragged into corny territory. It also made Kerry Washington a star, and the first black lead in a major network drama in 38 years (Get Christie Love!, starring Teresa Graves, only lasted one series).
While there’s no doubt that scandal is damaging to firms and organizations, the exact level of harm depends on several factors: the type of organization, its core principles, and whether it was involved in the transgression. Moreover, scandals can be exploited by some entities to harness their power, and to gain public attention and sympathy for their cause.
In our case, the fictional ABC political thriller Scandal, centered on Olivia Pope, a media consultant who helps government officials keep their good image in the face of a scandal, is a powerful vehicle for this purpose. The show features a mix of procedural and serialized stories, and each episode typically has its own self-contained crisis to manage.
While some episodes are just about sex and politics, others revolve around a scandalous affair or an issue that threatens the national security, for example, the murder of a journalist. The characters on the show are all incredibly compelling, and the ensemble cast is a veritable who’s who of TV. This Scandal cast list includes everyone from Kerry Washington to Scott Foley and Henry Ian Cusick.