As noted on this blog yesterday, Kerry Washington, speaking with the AP, said that the decision to cut the number of episodes for the next season of “Scandal” from 22 to 16, had nothing to do with her pregnancy. The decision was made before she told showrunner Shonda Rhimes that she was pregnant, Washington said, adding that she believed the reason for the “downsizing” is that Rhimes knows what the story is that she wants to tell for each season, and how many episodes she needs to do so.
Of course the move to shorten the season has led to speculation that it could be the show’s last, especially given that Rhimes has said previously that she knows “Scandal” would be a 6 or 7-season series, at most.
Also, the timing seems just about right, as ratings slipped from season 4 to 5, and star Kerry Washington recently inked an overall production deal with ABC Studios that will see her develop new projects for the network, which is now being led by a new president in Channing Dungey, who replaced exiting Paul Lee this year, making her the first African American – woman or man – to not only head ABC, but a major TV network.
The first project under Washington’s deal with ABC was announced today – a police serial titled “Patrol” which Variety describes as “a workplace drama about four female LAPD officers who attended the police academy together five years ago and are forced to reconnect after a high-stakes, traumatic secret returns to haunt them.”
The project is being scripted by Chitra Sampath (writer/producer of the first season of ABC’s “Secrets and Lies”), who will also co-executive produce.
It doesn’t appear that Washington will star in the potential series, should it be picked up; she will produce/exec produce via her recently-launched production company, Simpson Street, under which she also produced (and starred in) HBO’s Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas drama, “Confirmation.”
“Scandal” will return for its 6th (and possibly final) season in January 2017, unfolding over 16 episodes, instead of 22. Taking its place this fall at 9pm (between “Grey’s Anatomy” and “How to Get Away with Murder”) is a new series titled “Notorious” (not a Shondaland project) which centers on the relationship between a charismatic defense attorney, played by Daniel Sunjata, and a powerhouse TV producer, played by Piper Perabo, as they attempt to control the media, the justice system and ultimately each other.
No further information is available on “Patrol” at this time.