WEBVTT - 101: Sweet Baby w/ Shonda Rhimes 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:02.840 Unpacking the Toolbox is a production of Shondaland Audio in 0:00:02.880 --> 0:00:04.920 partnership with Higheartradio. 0:00:20.200 --> 0:00:27.360 Scandal Rewatch, Posaz and Katie. 0:00:33.320 --> 0:00:35.000 Gee, Katy. 0:00:36.080 --> 0:00:39.559 Oh it's happening. 0:00:39.680 --> 0:00:44.800 Oh man, we are actually here. We're doing the Scandal 0:00:44.840 --> 0:00:48.640 Rewatch podcast Unpacking the Toolbox together together. 0:00:49.640 --> 0:00:51.879 I mean, don't get me wrong, I am very excited 0:00:52.520 --> 0:00:55.120 to rewatch episodes, which we have to tell you guys 0:00:55.160 --> 0:00:57.320 how it's been going. And we've been wanting to do 0:00:57.360 --> 0:01:00.240 a rewatch podcast and hang out with our fans. Are 0:01:00.280 --> 0:01:03.880 gladiators who we have missed for far too long. But really, 0:01:04.400 --> 0:01:06.440 this is just my excuse to hang out with my 0:01:06.720 --> 0:01:08.640 favorite person on the planet. 0:01:09.520 --> 0:01:12.679 Same. We just want to hang out together so we 0:01:12.680 --> 0:01:16.240 could talk shit and reminisce about one of the best 0:01:16.280 --> 0:01:19.560 shows on television. Yes, do you remember when the last 0:01:19.560 --> 0:01:21.959 time you watched like a Scandal episode? Well? 0:01:22.120 --> 0:01:23.000 Are you kidding? 0:01:23.000 --> 0:01:27.160 Okay, First of all, it has been ten years. We 0:01:27.520 --> 0:01:29.760 just celebrated the ten year anniversary of the pilot era. 0:01:29.959 --> 0:01:30.560 That's crazy. 0:01:30.800 --> 0:01:34.240 I don't think I have watched like I don't think 0:01:34.240 --> 0:01:35.399 I've watched any episodes of you. 0:01:35.760 --> 0:01:38.360 I don't think so either. You know, there was a 0:01:38.400 --> 0:01:41.400 moment there where they were still playing, like on ABC 0:01:42.040 --> 0:01:45.320 or SURE where I'd be flipping through channels and catch 0:01:45.319 --> 0:01:47.760 a glimpse. But I wouldn't I wouldn't stay. I would 0:01:47.760 --> 0:01:50.520 be I would sort of, you know, smile inside and 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:53.120 sort of chuckle to myself, but then move on. I 0:01:53.080 --> 0:01:55.400 would didn't sit there and watch the whole episode. But 0:01:55.560 --> 0:01:59.400 being able to do that for the podcast was like 0:01:59.520 --> 0:02:00.720 a gift mat I have. 0:02:00.720 --> 0:02:03.000 To say again, like the biggest When I was like, 0:02:03.720 --> 0:02:07.480 we're doing this scandal rewatch podcast. It's called Unpacking the Toolbox, which, 0:02:07.560 --> 0:02:09.840 let's just take a moment. That is a freaking great title. 0:02:09.960 --> 0:02:13.440 It is the best title. I love it so much. 0:02:13.600 --> 0:02:17.919 It's so Huck and Quinn. It's so Huckleberry Quinn. It's 0:02:18.000 --> 0:02:21.720 so right for the gladiators, the oji. Gladiators. You know 0:02:21.800 --> 0:02:24.320 about our toolbox, you know about Huck and his tools. 0:02:24.360 --> 0:02:26.440 It's great. Okay, So I'm packing the toolbox. 0:02:26.040 --> 0:02:29.680 And there's a toolbox emoji now on Instagram. 0:02:29.160 --> 0:02:30.280 There's a toolbox emoji. 0:02:30.320 --> 0:02:34.280 So gladiators, suit the fuck up, tell your friends about 0:02:34.280 --> 0:02:36.919 this fucking podcast, and make sure you put the toolbox 0:02:36.960 --> 0:02:40.120 emoji when you do so. Yes, but right quick, I 0:02:40.240 --> 0:02:42.440 was like mostly excited to hang out with you because 0:02:42.440 --> 0:02:44.720 I'm obsessed with you and I think you're the most special, 0:02:44.800 --> 0:02:47.919 perfect human ever born, which I think you guys who 0:02:47.919 --> 0:02:50.080 watched the show know that Quinn and had a very 0:02:50.080 --> 0:02:53.440 special connection. But I was most freaked out about going 0:02:53.440 --> 0:02:54.880 back and watching the episodes. 0:02:55.000 --> 0:02:57.639 I was like, I don't know, I. 0:02:57.680 --> 0:03:00.440 Was freaked out, and they're low key excited because I 0:03:00.520 --> 0:03:03.840 was like, sometimes I'm like, sometimes I do enjoy watching myself, 0:03:03.840 --> 0:03:06.320 but I don't want like somebody to walk in and 0:03:06.360 --> 0:03:09.200 be like, you're watching yourself. So I was like every 0:03:09.200 --> 0:03:11.080 time Mikey would walk in, I'd be like, well, I 0:03:11.120 --> 0:03:13.640 have to do this for work. This is for work, 0:03:13.720 --> 0:03:13.920 you know. 0:03:14.639 --> 0:03:16.640 See, I fucking hate watching myself. 0:03:16.680 --> 0:03:17.440 You couldn't pay me. 0:03:17.600 --> 0:03:19.240 Well, you could pay me a million dollars or do so, 0:03:19.280 --> 0:03:22.720 but I don't really like watching myself. And I was concerned, 0:03:22.760 --> 0:03:24.800 like is ten years too long or too short? Like 0:03:25.120 --> 0:03:26.960 what is the perfect amount to be watching the show. 0:03:27.560 --> 0:03:31.560 And because of this podcast, going back and rewatching these episodes, 0:03:31.600 --> 0:03:34.000 because G and I are taking this podcast very seriously. 0:03:34.080 --> 0:03:37.000 We are we are doing our research. We are watching 0:03:37.040 --> 0:03:40.640 the episodes backwards and forwards. We have amazing guests coming in, yes, 0:03:40.880 --> 0:03:43.240 to talk about their experiences and their process and how 0:03:43.240 --> 0:03:44.000 this whole thing went down. 0:03:44.200 --> 0:03:46.400 But I am loving the episode. 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:49.000 Me too shocked about. 0:03:48.760 --> 0:03:51.560 It, like I don't remember shit, I don't remember. I 0:03:51.560 --> 0:03:54.880 don't remember these episodes. I mean, I remember moments and 0:03:55.760 --> 0:03:58.800 scenes here and there. But I'm enjoying it so much. 0:03:59.080 --> 0:04:00.600 Got gee too. 0:04:01.000 --> 0:04:02.840 And I feel like we were so caught up while 0:04:02.840 --> 0:04:05.400 we were shooting it. But now going back and being 0:04:05.400 --> 0:04:08.640 able to watch it without any distractions, It's. 0:04:08.520 --> 0:04:09.600 Such a good show. 0:04:10.040 --> 0:04:12.720 It's so good, and I feel like a gladiator. 0:04:13.080 --> 0:04:17.320 Yes, with a gladiator, I said, Quinn says gladiator in 0:04:17.320 --> 0:04:19.120 a suit. She wants to be a fucking gladiator in 0:04:19.120 --> 0:04:21.839 a suit in the pilot. But we were so in 0:04:21.920 --> 0:04:23.520 it when we were making the show, and then when 0:04:23.520 --> 0:04:25.880 we would even watch the episodes. Back then, we were 0:04:25.880 --> 0:04:29.039 so obsessed with tweeting that we really didn't focus and 0:04:29.040 --> 0:04:30.839 give my full attention to watching the episodes. 0:04:31.279 --> 0:04:33.280 And right now going back. 0:04:33.040 --> 0:04:37.120 And watching these episodes, I am such a man, I 0:04:37.200 --> 0:04:40.440 am such a fan, so excited. 0:04:40.000 --> 0:04:41.560 I am such an og gladiator. 0:04:41.600 --> 0:04:45.359 I love everyone's characters, the writing, the way that it 0:04:45.440 --> 0:04:47.400 was shot, the ins and outs. 0:04:47.760 --> 0:04:50.200 I'm just grateful already. 0:04:50.360 --> 0:04:50.920 And what's good. 0:04:50.960 --> 0:04:52.680 I want to say real quick too, that what's good 0:04:52.720 --> 0:04:56.640 about this podcast is even if you haven't rewatched the show, 0:04:57.120 --> 0:05:00.840 you're still gonna freaking enjoy the podcast because that's how 0:05:00.920 --> 0:05:04.919 fucking nutty and like fun and crazy and kooky me 0:05:05.000 --> 0:05:06.800 and Katie are getting on this podcast. 0:05:06.920 --> 0:05:08.320 Yeah we have fun. 0:05:08.440 --> 0:05:12.040 Yes, but if you can rewatch Scandal on Hulu, because 0:05:12.080 --> 0:05:15.400 it really is a freaking amazing show like no other. 0:05:15.680 --> 0:05:18.240 Yeah, it holds up. That's one thing. 0:05:18.320 --> 0:05:20.680 I mean, I'm sure so many actors artists watch stuff 0:05:20.680 --> 0:05:22.320 they've shot in the past and like, oh wow, this 0:05:22.400 --> 0:05:24.880 thing is just coming gone and it doesn't really hold up. 0:05:25.000 --> 0:05:28.360 Scandal one hundred percent holds up. I am watching all 0:05:28.440 --> 0:05:30.640 the other critically claimed shows right. 0:05:30.480 --> 0:05:32.760 Now and Scandal is just as good. 0:05:32.520 --> 0:05:33.320 If not better. 0:05:34.279 --> 0:05:35.000 It's better. 0:05:35.279 --> 0:05:36.760 Yes, you yourself a favor. 0:05:37.160 --> 0:05:41.520 Listen to the podcast, rewatch the episodes, hang out with us. 0:05:41.600 --> 0:05:44.720 Every episode is going to be such a fucking good time. 0:05:44.880 --> 0:05:47.880 It's me and g hanging out shooting the shit. Yes, 0:05:48.040 --> 0:05:51.200 we are talking about plot. We have guests that come 0:05:51.240 --> 0:05:53.600 on that talk about their processes. We talk about what 0:05:53.640 --> 0:05:55.880 we ate for lunch, we talk about farts, we talk 0:05:55.920 --> 0:05:59.919 about crying, we talk about sex, we talk about tearstick, 0:06:00.279 --> 0:06:04.719 we talk about every single amazing actor, guest star, co star, 0:06:04.800 --> 0:06:06.919 and every horror film they've ever been in thanks to 0:06:06.960 --> 0:06:11.320 Germo Daz. Yeah, and then we just like hang out, 0:06:11.320 --> 0:06:13.200 make you laugh, have a good time, and feel like 0:06:13.240 --> 0:06:18.200 the Scandal fam is all back together again exactly again. 0:06:18.240 --> 0:06:19.320 It's all back together. 0:06:19.920 --> 0:06:22.960 And this is our first freaking show. 0:06:23.240 --> 0:06:27.039 It's the first podcast we've ever done. 0:06:27.560 --> 0:06:28.840 We are going back in time. 0:06:29.080 --> 0:06:32.040 It's the ten year anniversary since the pilot aired and 0:06:32.600 --> 0:06:35.080 drastically changed. 0:06:35.160 --> 0:06:36.719 All of our lives. Really. 0:06:37.600 --> 0:06:41.400 Yeah, and Gemo and I are wearing our tg T 0:06:41.800 --> 0:06:43.280 and Gemo. 0:06:44.560 --> 0:06:47.080 Delicious licious. 0:06:47.240 --> 0:06:51.480 I'm wearing a season two Scandal like baseball jersey type 0:06:51.520 --> 0:06:55.320 situation sands like the undershirt because it's too damn tight. 0:06:55.320 --> 0:06:56.840 Because this is old as hell, so. 0:06:57.080 --> 0:06:59.280 We deserve all the applause that we are fitting. 0:06:59.320 --> 0:07:01.240 We are going to be bringing out on this podcast 0:07:01.360 --> 0:07:06.080 all the vintage throwback Scandal things we got. Yeah, Okay, Gee, 0:07:06.240 --> 0:07:10.040 take me back to where you were in your life 0:07:10.040 --> 0:07:12.400 before Huck, What the heck were you doing? 0:07:12.800 --> 0:07:16.280 Honestly, I was at a point in my life where 0:07:16.400 --> 0:07:19.880 I was no joke, like I need a job, Like 0:07:19.960 --> 0:07:22.440 I really need a job. I was doing, you know, 0:07:22.600 --> 0:07:25.559 guest spots, and I I was I was still doing 0:07:25.600 --> 0:07:28.680 Weeds at the time, but I was recurring on Weeds, 0:07:28.680 --> 0:07:30.680 so it wasn't a steady gig, you know what I mean. 0:07:30.720 --> 0:07:32.040 I loved being. 0:07:31.880 --> 0:07:34.080 On Weeds, but I was at that point in my 0:07:34.080 --> 0:07:36.400 life where I was like, I really need to book 0:07:36.440 --> 0:07:37.440 something significant. 0:07:37.800 --> 0:07:39.400 That's where I was in my life. 0:07:39.440 --> 0:07:42.680 So when Scandal came along, I was like fucking like, 0:07:42.840 --> 0:07:44.320 oh man, thank god. 0:07:44.320 --> 0:07:46.520 Where were you? Do you remember where you were at? 0:07:46.560 --> 0:07:51.280 Like right before, Oh my god, I was twenty eight. 0:07:51.680 --> 0:07:54.560 I just goten engaged to Adam Shapiro. 0:07:54.880 --> 0:07:57.120 At him, sweet sweet Adam. 0:07:57.280 --> 0:08:01.679 You know, and I was a baby sitter. Wah whoa 0:08:01.840 --> 0:08:02.800 wah wah wah. 0:08:03.120 --> 0:08:06.120 And you'd been doing that for years, right like you 0:08:06.160 --> 0:08:07.760 were in Nanny for a long time. 0:08:08.280 --> 0:08:12.520 I was a waitress for a decade and then I 0:08:12.560 --> 0:08:15.600 couldn't handle the food service industry anymore in Los Angeles 0:08:15.600 --> 0:08:17.480 because I would always wait on people that I was 0:08:17.520 --> 0:08:20.720 auditioning for. Literally, like I would have like screen tests 0:08:20.760 --> 0:08:23.240 and be auditioning, and then I would be like asking for. 0:08:23.280 --> 0:08:24.080 Their drink order. 0:08:25.200 --> 0:08:26.520 And yeah, exactly true. 0:08:26.640 --> 0:08:28.440 And so I was like, Oh, I could still babysit 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:29.920 and pay my rent that way, but at least it's 0:08:29.920 --> 0:08:33.520 like behind closed doors and not as embarrassing. And so 0:08:33.600 --> 0:08:37.239 I was nannying for a very very fancy, high falutint 0:08:37.280 --> 0:08:41.680 family when the call for scandal came in and I 0:08:41.760 --> 0:08:44.040 remember being like, Oh, my god, her name is Quinn 0:08:44.120 --> 0:08:45.920 and my middle name is Quinn, and maybe that's a 0:08:45.960 --> 0:08:46.480 sign from. 0:08:46.400 --> 0:08:48.040 The universe that this is my part? 0:08:48.679 --> 0:08:51.240 Can this please be my part? Can this please save 0:08:51.360 --> 0:08:54.000 me from this? And similar to you, like I had 0:08:54.040 --> 0:08:56.720 been working, but not at the level you had been working, 0:08:56.760 --> 0:08:58.719 But I had been you know, I had done a 0:08:58.800 --> 0:09:01.319 bunch of guest stars. I had recurred on a couple shows. 0:09:01.360 --> 0:09:03.280 I had booked a pilot that didn't go Like there 0:09:03.320 --> 0:09:05.520 were some things, but it was never ever, ever steady 0:09:05.600 --> 0:09:08.200 enough where I could give up my side hustle exactly yeah. 0:09:08.240 --> 0:09:09.800 And I was at that place where I was like, 0:09:09.920 --> 0:09:12.320 am I gonna have to get aside hustle? No, like 0:09:12.400 --> 0:09:14.560 right before this, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 0:09:14.480 --> 0:09:15.760 Yeah, yeah, I don't believe it. 0:09:15.960 --> 0:09:18.120 Oh yeah, you know how it is for actors, It 0:09:18.160 --> 0:09:19.640 ebbs and flows like it's. 0:09:19.480 --> 0:09:22.040 The craziest, it's feast or famine. 0:09:22.160 --> 0:09:24.480 Yeah, you make good money and then that shit, that 0:09:24.600 --> 0:09:27.800 job ends and you're like, Okay, I have no idea 0:09:27.840 --> 0:09:29.920 what's next because we just got to go back to 0:09:29.960 --> 0:09:32.079 the drawing board, go back to auditioning. 0:09:32.200 --> 0:09:33.000 Yeah, do you. 0:09:33.000 --> 0:09:35.480 Remember the first time you and I met? 0:09:35.760 --> 0:09:38.320 Katie? I don't remember, do you? 0:09:38.559 --> 0:09:39.520 How dare you? 0:09:39.559 --> 0:09:39.800 Neither? 0:09:39.840 --> 0:09:41.600 Do I? I remember? 0:09:41.679 --> 0:09:45.960 I feel like you've always like we've always been connected, 0:09:45.960 --> 0:09:48.079 and you've always sort of been in my life since 0:09:48.120 --> 0:09:50.960 scandal started. So I but I don't remember exactly the moment. 0:09:51.360 --> 0:09:53.800 Was it at Prospect Studios where we werehearsed. 0:09:54.080 --> 0:09:56.920 It had to have been, but I don't remember either. 0:09:57.000 --> 0:10:01.720 Okay, you don't think, but I feel like me and 0:10:01.880 --> 0:10:06.640 you like gravitated towards each other, like emotionally and physically 0:10:06.840 --> 0:10:09.240 probably as well. We were like I love this girl, 0:10:09.320 --> 0:10:11.600 Like I feel like that happened right away. 0:10:11.920 --> 0:10:15.120 Yeah, we neither one of us may be able to 0:10:15.240 --> 0:10:19.320 remember the exact moment we met, but I do know 0:10:19.679 --> 0:10:24.319 that from the jump it was a love and a 0:10:24.360 --> 0:10:27.840 soulmate connection of like we are going to travel this 0:10:28.000 --> 0:10:28.600 life together. 0:10:28.920 --> 0:10:32.319 Yes, And then and then we had that tumultuous affair. 0:10:32.440 --> 0:10:36.800 But that's that's neither here nor there. We'll save that 0:10:36.840 --> 0:10:38.600 for the podcast. I love it to get it. 0:10:38.679 --> 0:10:40.760 Yeah, guys, keep listening. You can hear about me and 0:10:40.800 --> 0:10:44.400 Girmou's affair. I am in love with you though, and 0:10:44.559 --> 0:10:47.600 how could you not be? And I also just think 0:10:47.720 --> 0:10:51.400 we had those scenes in the pilot together. I feel 0:10:51.400 --> 0:10:54.200 like we have died that scene in the pilot where 0:10:54.200 --> 0:10:56.600 we were in the bathroom and you said, we don't 0:10:56.640 --> 0:11:00.200 cry here and you're a stray dog and Olivia takes us. 0:11:00.240 --> 0:11:02.200 But we also got the best scoop like me and 0:11:02.440 --> 0:11:03.840 me and you always had the scoop. 0:11:04.000 --> 0:11:05.360 Remember, sometimes we'd be on. 0:11:05.320 --> 0:11:09.080 Set talking talking about stuff or having telling a story 0:11:09.200 --> 0:11:12.560 or some bochinche. Bochincha is like scoop and Spanish, and 0:11:12.559 --> 0:11:14.679 they Carrie Carrie has serious fomo. 0:11:14.960 --> 0:11:17.200 Oh yeah, she's always the last to know. 0:11:17.520 --> 0:11:19.760 But also Carrie would hear us and be we'd be 0:11:19.920 --> 0:11:23.000 so into telling into what we were talking about that 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:24.880 she would feel that energy and walk. 0:11:24.720 --> 0:11:26.480 Over and be like, what are you guys talking about? 0:11:26.800 --> 0:11:29.000 Tell me and we'd be like, by. 0:11:28.880 --> 0:11:31.600 The way, that would be everybody and you and I 0:11:31.679 --> 0:11:33.839 we could talk. You guys will see as we get 0:11:33.840 --> 0:11:35.839 into the Scandal Rewatch podcast, Garmo and I can talk 0:11:35.840 --> 0:11:38.600 for one hundred thousand hours about absolutely nothing and it's 0:11:38.640 --> 0:11:41.120 hilarious and we love it. But that was how the 0:11:41.320 --> 0:11:43.920 entire seven years of Scandal was. And he and I 0:11:43.960 --> 0:11:47.960 are always talking, having fun, gossiping whatever, and everyone always 0:11:48.080 --> 0:11:49.880 gravitated towards. 0:11:49.520 --> 0:11:53.680 Our our energy, just like yeah, yeah, right man. 0:11:53.920 --> 0:11:56.800 They always entergy. So we always have the scoop. We 0:11:56.880 --> 0:12:01.160 knew what everybody was up to without the redo. Let's 0:12:01.240 --> 0:12:06.880 get this this premiere red carpet first episode of the 0:12:06.880 --> 0:12:10.160 Scandal Rewatch podcast, unpacking the toolbox off and running to 0:12:10.200 --> 0:12:10.640 the races. 0:12:11.440 --> 0:12:13.800 Numero una, we have got. 0:12:13.840 --> 0:12:17.200 Episode one oh one, titled Sweet Baby. It aired on 0:12:17.240 --> 0:12:21.839 April fifth in twenty twelve. It was written by Shonda Rimes. 0:12:21.480 --> 0:12:25.559 And it was directed by the brilliant Paul mcgwigin. 0:12:25.440 --> 0:12:28.360 Guest starring Wes Brown is Sally Saint, James Amy k 0:12:28.440 --> 0:12:30.080 Harmon is Ariel Massey. 0:12:29.960 --> 0:12:34.520 Brian Resmussen is Howie, Alan Coleman is Vlad and Marrek 0:12:34.559 --> 0:12:35.960 Probosk as ost. Good. 0:12:36.280 --> 0:12:40.240 All you gladiators listening know that one of the most 0:12:40.280 --> 0:12:43.160 important key elements of the special sauce. That made scandal 0:12:43.200 --> 0:12:47.199 scandal was the scandal pace at which we told stories. 0:12:47.240 --> 0:12:50.240 So let us warm your ears up and your heart's 0:12:50.320 --> 0:12:54.000 up by telling you weekly the synopsis of each episode 0:12:54.000 --> 0:12:56.280 that we're gonna dive into, and we're gonna tell you 0:12:56.360 --> 0:12:57.880 the synopsis of that episode. 0:12:58.000 --> 0:12:59.559 Yeh, in scandal pace. 0:12:59.679 --> 0:13:01.200 Give it to him. Let's give it to him. 0:13:02.040 --> 0:13:04.319 When Quinn Perkin starts a new job at crisis management firm, 0:13:04.360 --> 0:13:06.400 Olivia Popen associates she must stay on her toes to 0:13:06.480 --> 0:13:08.079 navigate the tricky cases they handle. 0:13:08.200 --> 0:13:10.480 The latest kind of OPA Sully Saint James stumbles into 0:13:10.520 --> 0:13:12.160 the office, distraught and covered in the blood of his 0:13:12.200 --> 0:13:14.640 dead girlfriend, adamant that he didn't kill her, but tight 0:13:14.720 --> 0:13:15.800 lipped on the details. 0:13:16.080 --> 0:13:18.320 Meanwhile, the White House is facing a scandal with the 0:13:18.320 --> 0:13:20.320 President and an aid and who else is brought in 0:13:20.360 --> 0:13:21.080 to fix the problem. 0:13:21.160 --> 0:13:25.600 But Olivia Pope, that's what I'm talking about. Guys, it's 0:13:25.640 --> 0:13:27.000 been a while. G and I. We need to do 0:13:27.040 --> 0:13:28.000 our vocal warm up. 0:13:28.240 --> 0:13:28.720 Do you need to do? 0:13:28.760 --> 0:13:35.120 Her bams his fist against the post. He still insists 0:13:35.160 --> 0:13:36.840 he sees the ghosts, remember that. 0:13:36.760 --> 0:13:41.360 One, But it's amazing. Oh my god, I'm obsessed with it. Okay, 0:13:41.360 --> 0:13:43.880 so we'll jog your memories. Every episode, we'll tell you 0:13:44.200 --> 0:13:47.240 the title, the director, the guest stars, the co stars, 0:13:47.320 --> 0:13:51.400 the synopsis in Scandal pace, and some episodes we're gonna 0:13:51.400 --> 0:13:53.880 have guests. Some episodes we ain't gonna have guests. 0:13:54.120 --> 0:13:57.680 But this episode we got to guest. And now we 0:13:57.720 --> 0:13:58.560 need a drum roll. 0:13:58.720 --> 0:14:02.160 People, Oh, I can't wait. 0:14:02.280 --> 0:14:03.600 We don't even need a drum roll. 0:14:03.679 --> 0:14:08.400 We also need a full on Stevie Wonder song, the 0:14:08.440 --> 0:14:13.400 Franklin Song, or any of the amazing songs that Scandal 0:14:13.440 --> 0:14:16.120 had to key up the Queen. 0:14:16.559 --> 0:14:18.920 I'm doing a little shuffle in my seat because I'm 0:14:18.920 --> 0:14:21.239 excited the Queen of Television. 0:14:21.440 --> 0:14:25.680 For the inaugural episode, we pull out the biggie. 0:14:25.240 --> 0:14:26.640 The big guns. 0:14:26.760 --> 0:14:31.400 Yes one, the only, the most special Queen Bee herself 0:14:32.200 --> 0:14:37.840 shut on rides. Hello, so funny, and we need to 0:14:37.840 --> 0:14:39.400 take a picture of this. But we're drinking out of 0:14:39.440 --> 0:14:41.800 our gladiator wine cups. It's too early in the morning 0:14:41.800 --> 0:14:44.640 to actually be drinking. Chattanuve debris. 0:14:45.360 --> 0:14:47.680 Who gave us these glasses? Did we get them from? 0:14:47.920 --> 0:14:50.200 Was it production that gifted these I don't even remember. 0:14:50.320 --> 0:14:51.840 You might have come from the network. 0:14:51.920 --> 0:14:54.680 I don't know, maybe wow, Well, you know what, there's 0:14:54.720 --> 0:14:58.400 gonna be hopefully a real opportunity for merch with this podcast, 0:14:58.440 --> 0:15:02.480 because this is a great wine. Shanda, can you tell 0:15:02.560 --> 0:15:05.280 us about where you got this idea, the origin story 0:15:05.280 --> 0:15:07.960 of Scandal Meeting Judy Smith writing the pilot. 0:15:08.400 --> 0:15:11.440 So I was busy at the time with Gray's and 0:15:11.480 --> 0:15:15.160 I think also private practice, and Betsy was like, I 0:15:15.240 --> 0:15:17.920 met this incredible woman, she got this incredible job. I 0:15:17.920 --> 0:15:19.920 wanted to talk to you about it. And I was like, 0:15:20.040 --> 0:15:21.960 I don't have time for this, you know, I'm just 0:15:22.000 --> 0:15:23.960 too busy and I wasn't thinking about creating another show. 0:15:24.720 --> 0:15:27.280 No, you already had to yeah, too much to do. 0:15:27.600 --> 0:15:30.040 So Betsy said, just sit with her for like a 0:15:30.040 --> 0:15:33.840 half an hour. So Judy Smith came in. She's this amazing, 0:15:33.880 --> 0:15:37.000 formidable woman who basically always wears white, sat down and 0:15:37.040 --> 0:15:38.960 started talking to me about her job. And the more 0:15:39.000 --> 0:15:40.440 she talked to me about the job, the more I 0:15:40.520 --> 0:15:43.520 was like, this is fascinating, this life of a fixer. 0:15:43.520 --> 0:15:46.480 Because Judy had been like the fixer for the White 0:15:46.480 --> 0:15:49.040 House during the Bush era, Bush two era, and she 0:15:49.080 --> 0:15:52.720 had all these amazing stories and I was sort of 0:15:53.200 --> 0:15:55.480 dazzled by the stories. I thought they were amazing. She'd 0:15:55.480 --> 0:15:57.920 represented Mountica Lewinsky, you know, that whole thing, like she'd 0:15:57.920 --> 0:15:59.720 done a lot. And we ended up talking not for 0:15:59.720 --> 0:16:02.240 a half hour, but like for four hours or something like that. 0:16:02.520 --> 0:16:02.800 Wow. 0:16:02.880 --> 0:16:04.840 Oh. And by the time we were done talking, I 0:16:04.880 --> 0:16:07.240 was like, I can see like seventy episodes easy, Like 0:16:07.280 --> 0:16:09.080 I can see exactly what those episodes would be. 0:16:09.120 --> 0:16:09.360 Wow. 0:16:09.600 --> 0:16:09.960 Yeah. 0:16:10.000 --> 0:16:12.920 And then did you just go off and write? Was 0:16:12.960 --> 0:16:14.720 it like an easy thing to write? 0:16:14.760 --> 0:16:17.160 Was it? Was it hard to get it out of 0:16:17.160 --> 0:16:17.600 your brain? 0:16:18.000 --> 0:16:20.000 No? You know, I think it was pretty easy to 0:16:20.000 --> 0:16:22.680 write because I kind of understood the character I was making. 0:16:22.720 --> 0:16:24.240 Once I let go of the fact that it didn't 0:16:24.240 --> 0:16:26.840 have to be exactly Judy that I could play, I 0:16:26.840 --> 0:16:29.000 felt really good about the character I was making, And 0:16:29.040 --> 0:16:31.720 then all the other characters became really clear to me 0:16:31.800 --> 0:16:33.160 really fast, which was great. 0:16:33.200 --> 0:16:37.440 Thank God for us, Thank God for you. 0:16:37.800 --> 0:16:40.840 Judy was there to like tell me how she did 0:16:40.880 --> 0:16:42.600 her job, Like I'd call her and ask for like 0:16:42.600 --> 0:16:45.080 like tiny details about how she did her job. And 0:16:45.080 --> 0:16:47.720 that's what really made the series, I think special, is 0:16:48.360 --> 0:16:51.680 the fact that we had somebody real informing us right. 0:16:51.560 --> 0:16:53.320 First of all, she gave us all of her business 0:16:53.320 --> 0:16:55.320 cards when we started. I remember that and I was like, 0:16:55.400 --> 0:16:58.240 please Lord, let us never have to use this, like 0:16:58.280 --> 0:16:59.120 I don't want to call it. 0:16:59.160 --> 0:17:01.880 Didn't she come to like one of our first rehearsals 0:17:01.960 --> 0:17:05.159 at Prospect Studios. I think we rehearsed the show like 0:17:05.200 --> 0:17:06.840 it was a play, and I remember her being there. 0:17:06.840 --> 0:17:08.840 I think that's when she gave us her business cards 0:17:08.880 --> 0:17:10.560 and we were all like, oh my god, this is 0:17:10.640 --> 0:17:13.159 d Judy Smith. This is who Olivia Pope is loosely 0:17:13.200 --> 0:17:15.720 based on, and obviously on the show, like you know, 0:17:15.760 --> 0:17:17.800 Olivia Pope has an affair with the president. Obviously that 0:17:17.840 --> 0:17:19.240 didn't happen with Judy Smith. 0:17:19.080 --> 0:17:22.040 Right, this woman has to go around being like scandals 0:17:22.040 --> 0:17:22.959 based on my life. 0:17:23.040 --> 0:17:25.439 But I did not sleep with Bush Senior or junior. 0:17:25.600 --> 0:17:28.200 Inspired by inspired by my job is what I kept 0:17:28.240 --> 0:17:30.320 telling her to say, Yes, yes. 0:17:30.200 --> 0:17:32.160 Yes, that's great, inspired by my job. 0:17:32.280 --> 0:17:34.520 So when you were when you were listening to her story, Seanda, 0:17:34.880 --> 0:17:37.720 did it just sort of come into your brain that 0:17:38.280 --> 0:17:40.480 you kind of went off and then started thinking, oh, 0:17:40.560 --> 0:17:42.840 they these two characters can have an affair and it 0:17:42.920 --> 0:17:45.399 sort of grew from there. Where did that sort of 0:17:45.840 --> 0:17:46.359 come from. 0:17:46.840 --> 0:17:49.320 When I'm making a show or making writing a script, 0:17:49.320 --> 0:17:51.520 I always think, what's the worst thing that could happen 0:17:51.680 --> 0:17:54.359 for these two people, Like what's the worst. 0:17:54.200 --> 0:17:57.240 Way for things to go so great, so good? 0:17:57.280 --> 0:17:59.200 Which is you know how Huck ended up like a 0:17:59.359 --> 0:18:01.440 violent kill and you know what I mean? But what's 0:18:01.480 --> 0:18:03.720 the worst way to go? And the worst way I 0:18:03.720 --> 0:18:05.760 could think of was if you're representing a girl from 0:18:05.800 --> 0:18:07.200 the White House, because it really started with me having 0:18:07.200 --> 0:18:09.280 like a little Monicolwinski story. I was like, the worst 0:18:09.320 --> 0:18:11.159 thing is that you've been having a secret affair with 0:18:11.200 --> 0:18:13.159 this man and now you discover that this is just 0:18:13.160 --> 0:18:13.760