WEBVTT - 101: Sweet Baby w/ Shonda Rhimes 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:02.800 Unpacking the Toolboxes of production of shondol and Audio in 0:00:02.840 --> 0:00:36.240 partnership with our Heart Radio. Yes, Katie, gee, Katie, Oh, 0:00:38.800 --> 0:00:44.040 it's happening. Oh man, we are actually here. We're doing 0:00:44.080 --> 0:00:49.839 the Scandal rewatch podcast, unpacking the toolbox together together. I mean, 0:00:49.880 --> 0:00:54.160 don't get me wrong, I am very excited to rewatch episodes, 0:00:54.160 --> 0:00:55.800 which we have to tell you guys how it's been going. 0:00:55.960 --> 0:00:58.680 And we've been wanting to do a rewatch podcast and 0:00:58.760 --> 0:01:01.200 hang out with our fans. Are gladiators who we have 0:01:01.280 --> 0:01:04.880 missed for far too long. But really, this is just 0:01:05.000 --> 0:01:07.880 my excuse to hang out with my favorite person on 0:01:07.920 --> 0:01:12.280 the planet. Same. We just want to hang out together 0:01:12.360 --> 0:01:15.720 so we could talk shit and reminisce about one of 0:01:15.760 --> 0:01:19.000 the best shows on television. Yes, do you remember when 0:01:19.000 --> 0:01:22.240 the last time you watched like a Scandal episode? Are 0:01:22.319 --> 0:01:26.360 you kidding? Okay, First of all, it has been ten years. 0:01:27.040 --> 0:01:29.800 We just celebrated the tenure anniversary of the pilot area. 0:01:29.920 --> 0:01:33.840 That's crazy. I don't think I have watched like I 0:01:33.840 --> 0:01:36.199 don't think I've watched any episodes of you. I don't 0:01:36.280 --> 0:01:38.840 think so either. You know, there was a moment there 0:01:38.840 --> 0:01:42.760 where they were still playing like on on ABC or 0:01:42.959 --> 0:01:45.800 where I'd be flipping through channels and catch a glimpse, 0:01:45.880 --> 0:01:47.960 but I wouldn't I wouldn't stay. I would be I 0:01:48.000 --> 0:01:50.920 would sort of, you know, smile inside and sort of 0:01:51.120 --> 0:01:53.520 chuckled to myself, but then move on. I woul didn't 0:01:53.520 --> 0:01:56.080 sit there and watch the whole episode. But being able 0:01:56.120 --> 0:02:00.280 to do that for the podcast was like a gift, man. 0:02:00.400 --> 0:02:02.680 I have to say again, like the biggest when I 0:02:02.720 --> 0:02:06.200 was like, we're doing this scandal rewatch podcast. It's called 0:02:06.280 --> 0:02:08.520 Unpacking the Toolbox, which, let's just take a moment. That 0:02:08.600 --> 0:02:11.600 is a freaking great title. It is the best title. 0:02:11.919 --> 0:02:15.720 I love it so much. It's so hucking Quinn. It's 0:02:15.800 --> 0:02:20.200 so Huckleberry Quinn. It's so right for the Gladiators, the 0:02:20.200 --> 0:02:23.120 o G Gladiators. You know about our toolbox, you know 0:02:23.120 --> 0:02:25.160 about Huck and his tools. It's great. Okay, so I'm 0:02:25.200 --> 0:02:28.400 packing the toolbox and there's a toolbox emoji now on 0:02:28.480 --> 0:02:32.480 Instagram there's a toolbox emoji. So Gladiators, suit the fuck up. 0:02:33.200 --> 0:02:36.000 Tell your friends about this fucking podcast, and make sure 0:02:36.040 --> 0:02:38.960 you put the toolbox emoji when you do something. But 0:02:39.360 --> 0:02:42.000 right quick, I was like mostly excited to hang out 0:02:42.000 --> 0:02:43.480 with you. Because I'm obsessed with you and I think 0:02:43.480 --> 0:02:47.040 you're the most special, perfect human and ever born, which 0:02:47.080 --> 0:02:48.880 I think you guys who watched the show know that 0:02:48.960 --> 0:02:51.840 quinnin Huk had a very special connection. But I was 0:02:52.000 --> 0:02:54.800 most freaked out about going back and watching the episodes. 0:02:54.960 --> 0:02:58.440 I was like, I don't know, I was freaked out 0:02:58.480 --> 0:03:01.359 in the low key excited because I was like sometimes 0:03:01.400 --> 0:03:04.000 I'm like, sometimes I do enjoy watching myself, but I 0:03:04.000 --> 0:03:06.600 don't want like somebody will walk in and be like, 0:03:06.680 --> 0:03:09.720 you're watching yourself. So I was like every time Mikey 0:03:09.760 --> 0:03:11.360 would walk in, I'd be like, well, I have to 0:03:11.400 --> 0:03:13.919 do this for work. This is for work. You know, 0:03:15.080 --> 0:03:17.800 I hate watching myself. You couldn't pay me. Well, you 0:03:17.800 --> 0:03:19.360 could pay me a million dollars to do so, but 0:03:19.800 --> 0:03:22.679 I don't really like watching myself. And I was concerned, 0:03:22.720 --> 0:03:24.760 like as ten years too long or too short, Like 0:03:25.080 --> 0:03:26.960 what is the perfect amount to be watching the show. 0:03:27.560 --> 0:03:31.520 And because of this podcast going back and rewatching these episodes, 0:03:31.560 --> 0:03:33.960 because G and I are taking this podcast very seriously. 0:03:34.080 --> 0:03:37.040 We are we are doing our research. We are watching 0:03:37.040 --> 0:03:39.839 the episodes backwards and forwards. We have amazing guests coming 0:03:39.880 --> 0:03:43.080 in to talk about their experiences and their process and 0:03:43.120 --> 0:03:45.520 how this whole thing went down. But I am loving 0:03:45.600 --> 0:03:49.520 the episode. Me too shocked about it, like I don't 0:03:49.560 --> 0:03:53.320 remember ship. I don't remember. I don't remember these episodes. 0:03:53.360 --> 0:03:56.800 I mean I remember moments and and scenes here and there. 0:03:56.840 --> 0:04:01.080 But I'm enjoying it so much. God, I too, and 0:04:01.120 --> 0:04:02.920 I feel like we were so caught up while we 0:04:02.920 --> 0:04:05.600 were shooting it. But now going back and being able 0:04:05.600 --> 0:04:09.440 to watch it without any distractions, it's such a good show. 0:04:10.000 --> 0:04:14.480 It's so good, and I feel like a gladiator with 0:04:14.560 --> 0:04:17.760 a gladiator, I said. Quinn says gladiator in a succi 0:04:17.800 --> 0:04:20.000 wants to be a gladiator in a suit in the pilot. 0:04:20.200 --> 0:04:22.680 But we were so in it when we were making 0:04:22.680 --> 0:04:25.240 the show, and then when we would even watch the episodes. 0:04:25.279 --> 0:04:27.479 Back then, we were so obsessed with tweeting that we 0:04:27.560 --> 0:04:30.200 really didn't focus and give my full attention to watching 0:04:30.240 --> 0:04:34.560 the episodes. And right now going back and watching these episodes, 0:04:34.720 --> 0:04:38.039 I am such a fan. I am such a fan, 0:04:38.560 --> 0:04:41.720 so exciting, I am such an o G gladiator. I 0:04:41.760 --> 0:04:45.960 love everyone's characters, the writing, the way that it was shot, 0:04:46.200 --> 0:04:50.880 the ins and outs. I'm just grateful already. And what's good? 0:04:50.920 --> 0:04:52.680 I want to say real quick to that what's good 0:04:52.720 --> 0:04:56.559 about this podcast is even if you haven't rewatched the show, 0:04:57.080 --> 0:05:00.800 you're still gonna freaking enjoy the podcast because that's how 0:05:00.880 --> 0:05:04.880 fucking nutty and like fun and crazy and cookie me 0:05:04.960 --> 0:05:08.599 and Katie are getting on this podcast. Yeah we have fun, Yes, 0:05:08.720 --> 0:05:12.200 but if you can rewatch Scandal on Hulu, because it 0:05:12.240 --> 0:05:15.360 really is a fa can amazing show like no other, 0:05:15.880 --> 0:05:18.960 it holds up. That's one thing. I mean, I'm sure 0:05:19.040 --> 0:05:21.160 so many actors artists watch stuff they've shot in the 0:05:21.200 --> 0:05:22.839 past and you're like, oh wow, this thing is just 0:05:22.960 --> 0:05:24.840 come and gone and is it doesn't really hold up. 0:05:25.000 --> 0:05:28.719 Scandal one holds up. I am watching all the other 0:05:28.800 --> 0:05:31.839 critically as claim shows right now, and Scandal is just 0:05:31.920 --> 0:05:37.400 as good, if not better. Hew yourself a favor. Listen 0:05:37.400 --> 0:05:41.520 to the podcast, rewatch the episodes, hang out with us. 0:05:41.560 --> 0:05:44.719 Every episode is going to be such a fucking good time. 0:05:44.839 --> 0:05:48.160 It's me and g hanging out shooting the ship. We 0:05:48.240 --> 0:05:51.320 are talking about plot. We have guests that come on 0:05:51.360 --> 0:05:53.760 that talk about their processes. We talked about what we 0:05:53.920 --> 0:05:56.599 ate for lunch. We talked about farts, we talked about crying, 0:05:56.960 --> 0:06:00.320 we talk about sex, We talk about tears Stick. We 0:06:00.400 --> 0:06:04.640 talk about every single amazing actor, guest star, co star, 0:06:04.760 --> 0:06:06.880 and every horror film they've ever been in thanks to 0:06:06.920 --> 0:06:11.480 Germo Diaz. And then we just like hang out, make 0:06:11.520 --> 0:06:13.320 you laugh, have a good time, and feel like the 0:06:13.400 --> 0:06:18.560 Scandal fam is all back together again exactly agains all 0:06:18.600 --> 0:06:23.440 back together. And this is our first freaking show. It's 0:06:23.480 --> 0:06:28.360 the first podcast we've ever done. We are going back 0:06:28.400 --> 0:06:31.400 in time. It's the ten year anniversary since the pilot 0:06:31.440 --> 0:06:38.200 aired and drastically changed all of our lives. Really, and 0:06:38.279 --> 0:06:41.360 Germo and I are wearing our T g I T 0:06:41.760 --> 0:06:50.360 and garmoious. I'm wearing a season two Scandal like baseball 0:06:50.480 --> 0:06:54.719 jersey type situation sands like the undershirt because it's too 0:06:54.760 --> 0:06:57.200 damn tight. Because this is old as hell, so we 0:06:57.279 --> 0:06:59.520 deserve all the applause that we are fitting. We are 0:06:59.560 --> 0:07:01.760 going to be bringing out on this podcast all the 0:07:01.839 --> 0:07:06.760 vintage throwback Scandal things we got. Okay, Gee, take me 0:07:06.800 --> 0:07:10.800 back to where you were in your life before Huck, 0:07:11.200 --> 0:07:14.760 What the heck were you doing? Honestly, I was at 0:07:14.800 --> 0:07:17.679 a point in my life where I was no joke, 0:07:17.880 --> 0:07:21.320 like I need a job, like I really need a job. 0:07:21.360 --> 0:07:24.360 I was doing you know, guest spots, and I I 0:07:24.400 --> 0:07:27.280 was I was still doing Weeds at the time, but 0:07:27.360 --> 0:07:30.040 I was recurring on weeds, so it wasn't a steady gig, 0:07:30.080 --> 0:07:32.400 you know what I mean. I loved being on Weeds, 0:07:32.400 --> 0:07:34.440 but I was at that point in my life where 0:07:34.440 --> 0:07:37.400 I was like, I really need to book something significant 0:07:37.760 --> 0:07:40.080 that That's where I was in my life. So when 0:07:40.080 --> 0:07:43.280 scandal came along, I was like fucking like, oh man, 0:07:43.400 --> 0:07:46.000 thank god, where were you? Do you remember where you 0:07:46.040 --> 0:07:49.360 were at? Like right before Oh my god, I was 0:07:49.560 --> 0:07:54.480 twenty eight. I just got it engaged to Adam Shapiro 0:07:54.920 --> 0:07:59.880 at um sweet sweet Adam. And I was a bag 0:08:00.080 --> 0:08:05.800 be sitter, and you would You've been doing that for years, right, 0:08:05.840 --> 0:08:08.400 like you were a nanny for a long time. I 0:08:08.480 --> 0:08:12.920 was a waitress for a decade, and then I couldn't 0:08:12.960 --> 0:08:15.800 handle the food service industry anymore in Los Angeles because 0:08:15.800 --> 0:08:18.800 I would always wait on people that I was auditioning for. Literally, 0:08:18.880 --> 0:08:21.760 like I would have like screen tests and be auditioning 0:08:21.760 --> 0:08:23.760 and then I would be like asking for their drink 0:08:23.880 --> 0:08:27.400 order and yet exactly, and so I was like, oh, 0:08:27.440 --> 0:08:29.320 I could still babysit and pay my rent that way. 0:08:29.320 --> 0:08:31.200 But at least it's like behind closed doors and not 0:08:31.400 --> 0:08:34.920 as embarrassing. Um. And so I was nannying for a 0:08:35.040 --> 0:08:39.840 very very fancy, high falutin family when the call for 0:08:40.040 --> 0:08:43.200 scandal came in and I remember being like, Oh my god, 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:45.280 her name is Quinn and my middle name is Quinn, 0:08:45.280 --> 0:08:47.120 and maybe that's a sign from the universe that this 0:08:47.320 --> 0:08:50.079 is my part? Can this please be my part? Can 0:08:50.080 --> 0:08:53.520 this please save me from this? And similar to you, 0:08:53.559 --> 0:08:55.959 like I had been working, but not at the level 0:08:56.000 --> 0:08:58.160 you had been working, but I had been you know, 0:08:58.240 --> 0:08:59.959 I had done a bunch of guest stars. I had 0:09:00.000 --> 0:09:01.880 occurred on a couple of shows. I had booked a 0:09:01.880 --> 0:09:04.080 pilot that didn't go, Like there were some things, but 0:09:04.120 --> 0:09:06.160 it was never ever, ever steady enough where I could 0:09:06.160 --> 0:09:08.640 give up my side hut exactly. Yeah. And I was 0:09:08.679 --> 0:09:10.200 at that place where I was like, am I going 0:09:10.280 --> 0:09:12.880 to have to get aside hustle? Like right before this? 0:09:13.040 --> 0:09:16.600 Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't believe it. Yeah, 0:09:16.720 --> 0:09:18.520 you know how it is for actors. It ebbs and 0:09:18.600 --> 0:09:22.520 flows like the craziest it's feast or famine. Yeah, you 0:09:22.559 --> 0:09:25.240 make good money and then that ship, that job ends 0:09:25.280 --> 0:09:28.360 and you're like, Okay, I have no idea what's next, 0:09:28.520 --> 0:09:30.640 because we just got to go back to the drawing board, 0:09:30.920 --> 0:09:33.960 go back to auditioning. Yeah, do you remember the first 0:09:34.000 --> 0:09:38.280 time you and I met? Katie? I don't remember, do you? 0:09:38.480 --> 0:09:42.240 How dare you? Neither do I remember? I feel like 0:09:42.320 --> 0:09:46.680 you've always like we've always been connected, and you've always 0:09:46.720 --> 0:09:49.040 sort of been in my life since scandal started. So 0:09:49.120 --> 0:09:51.520 I but I don't remember exactly the moment. Was it 0:09:51.640 --> 0:09:55.120 at Prospect Studios where we rehearsed. It had to have been, 0:09:55.160 --> 0:10:01.280 but I don't remember either, whatever, But I feel like 0:10:01.440 --> 0:10:05.400 me and you like gravitated towards each other, like emotionally 0:10:05.559 --> 0:10:08.640 and physically probably as well. We were like I love 0:10:08.720 --> 0:10:12.080 this girl. Like I feel like that happened right away. Yeah, 0:10:12.640 --> 0:10:15.760 we neither one of us may be able to remember 0:10:15.880 --> 0:10:19.880 the exact moment we met, but I do know that 0:10:20.120 --> 0:10:24.840 from the jump it was a love and a soulmate 0:10:25.000 --> 0:10:29.240 connection of like we are going to travel this life together. Yes, 0:10:29.679 --> 0:10:32.600 and then and then we had that tumultual affair. But 0:10:33.200 --> 0:10:36.760 that's not that's neither here nor there. We'll save that 0:10:36.800 --> 0:10:39.800 for the podcast. I love it. Guys. Keep listening. You 0:10:39.840 --> 0:10:42.959 can hear about me and Garmo's affair. Um, I am 0:10:43.000 --> 0:10:45.520 in love with you though, and how could you not be? 0:10:46.280 --> 0:10:48.839 And I also just think we had those scenes in 0:10:48.880 --> 0:10:53.599 the pilot together. I feel like we've tied scene in 0:10:53.640 --> 0:10:56.200 the pilot where we were in the bathroom and you said, 0:10:56.240 --> 0:10:58.840 we don't cry here and you're a stray dog and 0:10:58.840 --> 0:11:01.640 Olivia takes us in. But we also got the best scoop, 0:11:01.760 --> 0:11:04.320 like me and me and you always had the scoop. Remember, 0:11:04.400 --> 0:11:07.679 sometimes we'd be on set talking talking about stuff or 0:11:07.800 --> 0:11:12.200 having telling a story or some like scoop in Spanish 0:11:12.400 --> 0:11:16.000 and then Carry Carry has serious fomo. Oh yeah, she's 0:11:16.040 --> 0:11:18.760 always the last to know. But also Carry would hear 0:11:18.840 --> 0:11:21.560 us and be we'd be so into telling into what 0:11:21.600 --> 0:11:24.280 we were talking about that she would feel that energy 0:11:24.320 --> 0:11:25.800 and walk over and be like, what are you guys 0:11:25.840 --> 0:11:29.120 talking about? Tell me and we'd be like, by the way, 0:11:29.120 --> 0:11:32.440 that would be everybody and you and I we could talk. 0:11:32.800 --> 0:11:34.320 You guys will see as we get into the Scandal 0:11:34.320 --> 0:11:36.360 Rewatch podcast, Garmo and I can talk for a hundred 0:11:36.360 --> 0:11:39.400 thousand hours about absolutely nothing and it's hilarious and we 0:11:39.480 --> 0:11:42.439 love it. But that was how the entire seven years 0:11:42.440 --> 0:11:44.880 of Scandal was, and he and I are always talking, 0:11:45.160 --> 0:11:49.720 having fun, gossiping whatever. And everyone always gravitated towards our 0:11:50.000 --> 0:11:54.800 our energy just like yeah, man, they always entergy and 0:11:54.920 --> 0:11:58.280 so we always have the scoop. We knew what everybody 0:11:58.360 --> 0:12:02.440 was up to without the ado. Let's get this this 0:12:02.679 --> 0:12:08.000 premier red carpet first episode of the Scandal Rewatch podcast, 0:12:08.080 --> 0:12:13.280 Unpacking the toolbox off and running to the races we 0:12:13.400 --> 0:12:16.760 have got. Episode one on one, titled Sweet Baby, It 0:12:16.800 --> 0:12:18.920 aired on April five in two thousand twelve. It was 0:12:19.000 --> 0:12:23.160 written by Shanna Rhymes and it was directed by the 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:28.200 brilliant Paul McGuigan. Guest starring Wes Brown, is Selly st James, Amy, 0:12:28.280 --> 0:12:32.520 Kay Harmon is Ario Massey, Brian Resmussen is Howie, Alan 0:12:32.600 --> 0:12:36.480 Coleman is Lad and Marek Probosk as O Scott. All 0:12:36.559 --> 0:12:40.760 you gladiators listening know that one of the most important 0:12:40.880 --> 0:12:43.480 key elements of the special sauce that made Scandal scandal 0:12:43.640 --> 0:12:47.319 was the scandal pace at which we told story. So 0:12:47.520 --> 0:12:50.480 let us warm your ears up and your heart's up 0:12:50.800 --> 0:12:54.040 by telling you weekly the synopsis of each episode that 0:12:54.040 --> 0:12:56.240 we're going to dive into, and we're gonna tell you 0:12:56.320 --> 0:12:59.880 the synopsis of that episode in Scandal paste give it 0:13:00.000 --> 0:13:02.800 to him. Let's give it to him. When Quinn Perkins 0:13:02.800 --> 0:13:05.400 starts a new job at crisis Management from Olivia popean associates, 0:13:05.400 --> 0:13:07.240 she must stay on her toes to navigate the tricky 0:13:07.240 --> 0:13:09.680 cases they handle. The latest kind of Opia Selly st 0:13:09.720 --> 0:13:11.679 James stumbles into the office, distraught and covered in the 0:13:11.720 --> 0:13:14.040 blood of his dead girlfriend, adamant that he didn't kill her, 0:13:14.240 --> 0:13:17.080 but tight lipped on the details. Meanwhile, the White House 0:13:17.160 --> 0:13:19.319 is facing a scandal with the President and an aid 0:13:19.440 --> 0:13:21.040 and who else is brought in to fix the problem 0:13:21.080 --> 0:13:25.600 about Olivia Pope. That's what I'm talking about. Guys. It's 0:13:25.600 --> 0:13:26.960 been a while. G and I. We need to do 0:13:26.960 --> 0:13:33.840 our vocal warming. Leather bands his fist against the post. 0:13:34.160 --> 0:13:36.920 He still insists he sees the ghosts. Remember that one, 0:13:37.800 --> 0:13:41.280 But it's amazing. Oh my god, I'm obsessed with it. Okay, 0:13:41.320 --> 0:13:43.920 So we'll jog your memories. Every episode will tell you 0:13:44.160 --> 0:13:47.199 the title, the director, the guest stars, the co stars, 0:13:47.280 --> 0:13:51.200 the synopsis in Scandal Pace and some episodes we're going 0:13:51.280 --> 0:13:54.079 to have guests. Some episodes we ain't gonna have guests. 0:13:54.120 --> 0:13:57.640 But this episode we got to guest, and now we 0:13:57.679 --> 0:14:02.839 need a drumroll. People, I can't wait. We don't even 0:14:02.840 --> 0:14:05.440 need a drum roll. We also need a full on 0:14:05.960 --> 0:14:10.960 Stevie Wonder song, the Franklin Song, or any of the 0:14:11.040 --> 0:14:16.080 amazing songs that Scandal had. Two key up the Queen. 0:14:16.520 --> 0:14:18.880 I'm doing a little shuffle in my seat because I'm 0:14:18.880 --> 0:14:23.520 excited the Queen of Television. For the inaugural episode, we 0:14:23.680 --> 0:14:28.680 pull out the biggie, the big guns, the one, the only, 0:14:29.520 --> 0:14:37.400 the most special. Queen Bee herself shot Ny Hello, and 0:14:37.440 --> 0:14:39.200 we need to take a picture of this. We're drinking 0:14:39.200 --> 0:14:41.360 out of our gladiator wine cups. It's too early in 0:14:41.400 --> 0:14:46.760 the morning to actually be drinking. Who gave us these glasses? 0:14:46.840 --> 0:14:49.360 Did we get him from? Was it production that gifted these? 0:14:49.400 --> 0:14:51.800 I don't even remember, might have come from the network, 0:14:51.880 --> 0:14:54.920 I don't know. Wow. Well, you know what, there's gonna 0:14:54.920 --> 0:14:58.400 be hopefully a real opportunity for merch with this podcast, 0:14:58.440 --> 0:15:02.440 because this is a great wine Shanda, can you tell 0:15:02.560 --> 0:15:05.240 us about where you got this idea? The origin story 0:15:05.240 --> 0:15:08.680 of Scandal meeting Judy Smith writing the pilot. So I 0:15:08.800 --> 0:15:11.720 was busy at the time with Grays and I think 0:15:11.720 --> 0:15:15.440 also private practice and Betsy was like, I met this 0:15:15.480 --> 0:15:18.280 incredible woman. She's got this incredible job. I wanted to 0:15:18.320 --> 0:15:20.040 talk to you about it. And I was like, I 0:15:20.080 --> 0:15:22.080 don't have time for this. You know, I'm just too 0:15:22.080 --> 0:15:24.760 busy and I wasn't thinking about creating another show. No, 0:15:24.960 --> 0:15:27.680 you already had too yeah, too much to do. So 0:15:27.800 --> 0:15:30.000 Betsy said, UM, just sit with her for like a 0:15:30.000 --> 0:15:33.760 half an hour. So Judy Smith came in. She's this amazing, 0:15:33.840 --> 0:15:36.960 formidable woman who basically always wears white, sat down and 0:15:36.960 --> 0:15:38.880 started talking to me about her job. And the more 0:15:38.960 --> 0:15:40.400 she talked to me about the job, the more I 0:15:40.440 --> 0:15:43.480 was like, this is fascinating, this life of a fixer. 0:15:43.480 --> 0:15:46.440 Because Judy had been like the fixer for the White 0:15:46.480 --> 0:15:49.000 House during the Bush era, which too era, and she 0:15:49.080 --> 0:15:52.760 had all these amazing stories and I was sort of 0:15:53.160 --> 0:15:55.440 dazzled by the stories. I thought they were amazing. She'd 0:15:55.440 --> 0:15:58.080 represented Monticawinski, you know, that whole thing, like she's done 0:15:58.080 --> 0:16:00.000 a lot. And we ended up talking not for half 0:16:00.000 --> 0:16:02.200 an hour, but like for four hours or something like that. 0:16:03.320 --> 0:16:05.000 By the time we were done talking, I was like, 0:16:05.080 --> 0:16:07.480 I can see like seventy episodes easy, Like I can 0:16:07.520 --> 0:16:10.360 see exactly what those episodes would be yeah, And then 0:16:10.880 --> 0:16:13.480 did you just go off and write? Was it like 0:16:13.520 --> 0:16:15.720 an easy thing to write? Was it? Did it? Was 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:18.040 it hard to get it out of your brain? No? 0:16:18.200 --> 0:16:20.160 You know, I think it was pretty easy to write 0:16:20.160 --> 0:16:22.680 because I kind of understood the character I was making. 0:16:22.720 --> 0:16:24.200 Once I let go of the fact that it didn't 0:16:24.200 --> 0:16:26.800 have to be exactly Duty that I could play, I 0:16:26.840 --> 0:16:28.960 felt really good about the character I was making, and 0:16:29.000 --> 0:16:31.680 then all the other characters became really clear to me 0:16:31.720 --> 0:16:37.160 really fast, which was great. God for us, Thank God 0:16:37.160 --> 0:16:40.480 for you. Duty was there to like tell me how 0:16:40.520 --> 0:16:42.120 she did her job, Like I'd call her and ask 0:16:42.160 --> 0:16:44.640 for like like tiny details how she did her job. 0:16:44.920 --> 0:16:47.240 And that's what really made the series I think special, 0:16:47.640 --> 0:16:50.880 is the fact that we had so many real informing us. 0:16:51.560 --> 0:16:53.280 First of all, she gave us all of her business 0:16:53.280 --> 0:16:56.560 cards when we started, and I was like, please, Lord, 0:16:56.640 --> 0:16:58.520 let us never have to use this, like I don't 0:16:58.560 --> 0:17:00.400 want to call it. Didn't she come to like one 0:17:00.440 --> 0:17:03.400 of our first rehearsals at Prospect Studios. I think that 0:17:03.640 --> 0:17:05.359 we were hurt. We rehearsed the show like it was 0:17:05.400 --> 0:17:07.040 a play, and I remember her being there. I think 0:17:07.080 --> 0:17:09.080 that's when she gave us her business cards, and we 0:17:09.080 --> 0:17:11.440 were all like, oh my god, this is d Judy Smith. 0:17:11.480 --> 0:17:13.840 This is who Olivia Pope is loosely based on and 0:17:13.880 --> 0:17:16.399 obviously on the show, Like you know, Olivia Pope has 0:17:16.440 --> 0:17:18.320 an affair with the president. Obviously that didn't happen with 0:17:18.400 --> 0:17:21.399 Judy Smith. This woman has to go around being like 0:17:21.520 --> 0:17:24.040 scandals based on my life. But I did not sleep 0:17:24.080 --> 0:17:27.560 with Bush Senior Junior. Inspired by inspired by my job 0:17:27.640 --> 0:17:30.400 is what I kept telling her to say, yes, yes, yes, 0:17:30.520 --> 0:17:32.719 that's great. Inspired by my job. So when you were 0:17:32.720 --> 0:17:35.000 when you were listening to her story, Shanda, and did 0:17:35.040 --> 0:17:38.320 it just sort of come into your brain that you 0:17:38.720 --> 0:17:40.720 kind of went off and then started thinking, oh, they 0:17:41.240 --> 0:17:43.040 these two characters can have an affair, and it sort 0:17:43.080 --> 0:17:45.480 of grew from there? Where where did that sort of 0:17:45.800 --> 0:17:48.880 come from? When I'm making a show or making writing 0:17:48.880 --> 0:17:50.919 a script, I always think what's the worst thing that 0:17:50.960 --> 0:17:53.879 could happen for these two people? Like what's the worst 0:17:54.160 --> 0:17:57.639 way for things to go so great? Which is you 0:17:57.680 --> 0:18:00.280 know how Huck ended up like a violent kill and 0:18:00.520 --> 0:18:02.000 you know what I mean, But what's the worst way 0:18:02.040 --> 0:18:04.159 to go? And the worst way I could think of 0:18:04.280 --> 0:18:06.119 was if you're representing a girl from the White House 0:18:06.119 --> 0:18:07.520 because it really started with me having like a little 0:18:07.520 --> 0:18:09.600 Monica Lensky story. I was like, the worst thing is 0:18:09.600 --> 0:18:11.240 that that you've been having a secret affair with this 0:18:11.280 --> 0:18:13.280 man and now you discover that this is just how 0:18:13.280 --> 0:18:16.960 he plays. That's not good. But when you wrote the pilot, 0:18:17.000 --> 0:18:21.720 did you have any idea that the fits Olivia phenomenon 0:18:21.840 --> 0:18:24.480 the one minute to the take off your clothes, the 0:18:24.560 --> 0:18:28.359 chemistry beyond epic proportions would be what it was not 0:18:28.520 --> 0:18:30.480 when I wrote it. Not when I wrote it, And 0:18:30.480 --> 0:18:32.639 I remember the studio calling me up on the network, 0:18:32.640 --> 0:18:34.600 calling me up and saying, can you we love it? 0:18:34.640 --> 0:18:36.760 Can you just take out one little part? Like can't 0:18:36.760 --> 0:18:38.560 you just be friends with the president? Could you not 0:18:38.640 --> 0:18:43.479 have the affair? I remember saying, Olivia Pope is going 0:18:43.520 --> 0:18:46.240 to have sex on the White houval office desk in 0:18:46.480 --> 0:18:48.640 the first season of this series, and if you don't 0:18:48.640 --> 0:18:51.800 want that, then I'm not doing this series. I'm obsessed 0:18:51.800 --> 0:18:55.359 with And then when we were shooting it, you know, 0:18:56.000 --> 0:18:59.600 the chemistry with Carrie and Tony was crazy, Like I 0:18:59.680 --> 0:19:02.959 was like that that scene in the Oval office at 0:19:02.960 --> 0:19:05.680 the end, I was not expecting that much amazing chemistry. 0:19:05.680 --> 0:19:08.520 I mean, Tony's so incredible and always scared, but I 0:19:08.600 --> 0:19:11.399 just wasn't expecting it to be that like that fire, 0:19:11.600 --> 0:19:14.159 you know, it was great. I remember showing up that 0:19:14.280 --> 0:19:17.520 night just to watch the shooting of it, which I 0:19:17.640 --> 0:19:19.160 was like, I think, I think we have to talk 0:19:19.160 --> 0:19:21.520 about the whole pilot experience, but I think that scene 0:19:21.520 --> 0:19:23.280 in the Oval where they make out and they're like 0:19:23.720 --> 0:19:26.439 hiding where the cameras can't see them, that was our 0:19:26.520 --> 0:19:28.320 last night of shooting, and I remember being like, I 0:19:28.359 --> 0:19:30.080 just want to go because I just never want this 0:19:30.160 --> 0:19:33.000 to end. And I remember being there behind the monitor 0:19:33.040 --> 0:19:37.280 watching and it was you could hear. I mean, I'm 0:19:37.359 --> 0:19:40.120 hiding like in the curtains, Like it was so intense, 0:19:40.960 --> 0:19:43.520 so on, it was so on. All I wanted to 0:19:43.520 --> 0:19:45.400 say is, how did you cast quinnin huck No, we'll 0:19:45.440 --> 0:19:49.840 get that's good stuff, though, we will be back with 0:19:49.920 --> 0:19:57.199 more after the break. Okay, So how did you cast 0:19:57.800 --> 0:20:00.320 Olivia Pope? Like did a lot of people as for 0:20:00.400 --> 0:20:02.840 that role. Well, let's be clear, and I don't think 0:20:02.840 --> 0:20:04.440 I think I realized how a big of a deal 0:20:04.480 --> 0:20:06.040 this was. But it was the first leading role for 0:20:06.040 --> 0:20:08.280 a woman of color and a drama in like thirty 0:20:08.320 --> 0:20:11.840 seven years or something. So one thing I was very 0:20:11.880 --> 0:20:14.639 clear about was there are so many actresses who have 0:20:14.720 --> 0:20:17.959 never gotten this shot, Like we're not turning anybody away, 0:20:18.119 --> 0:20:19.840 Like if you were of Note, we are not turning 0:20:19.840 --> 0:20:23.000 you away. So it felt like it was this like 0:20:23.200 --> 0:20:26.160 march of like fifty of some of the most incredible 0:20:26.160 --> 0:20:28.760 actresses I've ever seen showing up at our office, and 0:20:28.800 --> 0:20:31.359 it was amazing to watch. It also broke my heart 0:20:31.359 --> 0:20:33.879 because why should it have to be this way? And 0:20:33.880 --> 0:20:36.080 you could only cast of one and I could only 0:20:36.119 --> 0:20:40.480 cast one, and so it came down to Carrie and 0:20:40.560 --> 0:20:44.600 you can only Rose and Jill Scott, three women who 0:20:44.600 --> 0:20:49.560 could out be more different, be more different. Also would 0:20:49.560 --> 0:20:51.120 love to see a show with the three of them. 0:20:52.240 --> 0:20:55.120 But I loved them all and I loved everybody's performance 0:20:55.160 --> 0:20:58.639 as Olivia Pope, I really did. And I just kept thinking, 0:20:58.680 --> 0:21:01.199 like I would show my writing because I'm writing a 0:21:01.240 --> 0:21:02.800 different show for each one of these women. It just 0:21:02.800 --> 0:21:05.199 felt like it was going to fundamentally be different for 0:21:05.240 --> 0:21:08.680 every for every woman. And in the end, I sat 0:21:08.720 --> 0:21:11.560 down with Carrie and I remember thinking like she's too pretty, 0:21:11.680 --> 0:21:15.000 like somebody that's powerful, like doesn't get get away with 0:21:15.080 --> 0:21:17.840 being pretty, and I was, which was so wrong with me? 0:21:18.080 --> 0:21:19.760 And then I sat out with Carrie and she talked 0:21:19.840 --> 0:21:22.879 politics like nobody's business for like an hour, and I 0:21:23.640 --> 0:21:26.560 got it entirely immediately. Yeah, that was the whole and 0:21:26.640 --> 0:21:29.600 I get it. I mean, Carrie Washington is an alien 0:21:29.680 --> 0:21:35.280