The press release from ABC doesn’t mention social media activity, but, from what I’m told, Twitter was all-a-buzz last night during the latest episode of Scandal, with not just one, but I believe as many as 3 different related hashtags trending at different points during the broadcast.

As Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter’s senior TV staff writer tweeted last night:

#Scandal has 6 of the top 10 trends in the U.S. right now: #sisterdaughter, Really Harrison, #dontsellthehouse, David and Abby, #GladiAVA

She may have meant 5 of the top 10.

But it doesn’t matter whether it’s 4, 5, or 6. It was evidently a popular episode! 

I wonder if that number of trending hashtags is a record for a TV show. 

Last night’s episode was the #2 TV draw for the day, with 8.8 million viewers, second only to The Big Bang Theory on CBS, which aired earlier in the evening. 

Also worth mentioning, Scandal nearly beat CBS and NBC broadcasts COMBINED during the 10pm hour, leading Elementary by 61% and Parenthood by 142%. 

On average, Scandal is up 68% over the same point last year in Adults 18-49, making it TV’s fastest-growing returning series this season and ABC’s highest-rated show in the time slot since Lost (remember that cult series?) during the 2007-08 season.

A renewal for another season is practically guaranteed, despite recent concerns that Shonda Rhimes might end it all a lot sooner than fans would want. Given its impressive success, I’m sure ABC will bring Scandal back for at least one more season, so don’t fret Gladiators!