Friday, October 4, 2013

Why Scandal's Special



She's a saavy PR pro who makes a living fixing problems for the Washington elite.

He's the President of the United States, also known as the leader of the Free World.

Having been instrumental in helping Fitzgerald Grant get elected to the highest office in the land, Olivia Pope knows a thing or two getting what she wants.  It's unfortunate - at least to the million-and-some Olivia Pope fans in the world - that the one thing she can't get is the love of her life: the President.

Drama-filled scenes that tug at heart strings, like the one witnessed tonight, intertwined with the consistent cattiness of some politicians (think shutdown 2013), is what makes the show work.  In fact, TV Guide named it the 13th best series of 2012 - for good reason.

                                          Photo Courtesy: madamenoire.com

With it's season premiere tonight, viewers are ready for another season of Olivia and her Gladiators (her nickname for her "fix-it" associates capable of getting anyone with a few bucks out of a jam, the President and his painfully vindictive wife who'll stop at nothing to defend her reputation, and Chief of Staff Cyrus and his amusing antics (Cyrus is pure entertainment for this writer; watch and you'll see).

What makes me watch week after week right precisely at its allotted airtime of 10 p.m. Eastern on Thursdays is really quite simple: the chemistry between the characters and the writing.  Let me rephrase: the brilliant writing.  It's quick, yet smart; snarky, yet polite; intelligent, yet really fun and funny. 

What some pegged as a nighttime soap with little substance when it first aired two years ago, has become an obsession for the world, particularly on Twitter where hastags for Ask Scandal, Olivia Pope, and Gladiators were all top trenders Thursday night.  While there's lot of competition for TV shows to get into the top trending position in primetime, it's not hard when the show connects with its audience, like Scandal does.

Whether you're a hopeless romantic, a political junkie with a penchant for drama, or just a lover of network TV, you'll like Scandal.

Perhaps the reason for me is because this made-up presidency reminds me of that of JFK's, with young kids living in the White House, a youthful President commanding and leading, and all the glitz and glamour of a seemingly Camelot era present. Oh, and an assassination attempt, too (there's more than just a love affair here).

Add into the mix the President is white and his mistress is black, and it appeals to a whole other audience and demographic - one more in tune with current times.

What about you?  What makes you crazy for the Scandal?