'Scandal' and other must watch ABC shows on Thursday nights
Kerry Washington stars as Olivia Pope in the ABC TV series "Scandal." Credit: TNS
ABC is calling the night "TGIT" -- Thank God It's Thursday -- but maybe a better phrase is Republic of Shonda: Three major dramas with one top producer, Shonda Rhimes, as overseer, which is both rare and a gamble.
The Republic goes on hiatus after tonight for the holiday season, returning in late January. Today, we catch up. How goes the Republic? Has ABC's huge gamble paid off?
Before we dive into the details -- here's the big picture: ABC's Thursday lineup is a smashing success, and probably the single most successful programming move on the major networks this fall. Viewership is up for each show, dramatically for "Scandal" (over 30 percent from last November). ABC wallops the competition among young adults.
But what of each series? Let's catch up, with assessments:
'HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER' (10 P.M.)
WHERE THE SHOW STANDS As fans know, there are actually two murders someone has to get away with -- law professor Annalise Keating's (Viola Davis) husband, Sam (Tom Verica), and Lila Stanguard (Megan West), with whom Sam had an affair and whom he got pregnant. And this: In flashback, Annalise's own secret squeeze, Nate Lahey (Billy Brown), is investigating Sam with Rebecca Sutter (Katie Findlay), who is Wes Gibbins' (Alfred Enoch) girlfriend. Wes and Rebecca have a falling out.
WHERE I STAND The fun has been and very much remains the guessing gamesmanship and complexity of the flashback/ flashforward narrative. The unfun, surprisingly, can be Davis' character. Because the season to date has been compressed into a few days leading up to Sam's murder, we see Annalise compressed in that timeframe, too: Angry, sour, betrayed . . . and devious. Davis is an A-lister with range, but all we've seen her play so far is mostly one or two notes. She plays them expertly, sure, but where's the rest of the score?
Created by former "Grey's Anatomy" writer Peter Nowalk, "Murder" has an ingenious structure and lots of good actors to keep it on track. Now, just expand Annalise dramatically and there's an Emmy nomination waiting for the actor playing her.
'SCANDAL' (9 P.M.)
WHERE THE SHOW STANDS The supremely evil Rowan Pope (Joe Morton), the former head of secret agency B613 -- who is otherwise the loving father of Olivia (Kerry Washington) -- has just wiped out a squadron of commandos waiting to capture or kill him. That's a setback for President Grant (Tony Goldwyn) and Olivia's lover, Jake Ballard (Scott Foley). At least compromised White House chief of staff Cyrus Beene (Jeff Perry) knows what Republican Party chairwoman Elizabeth North (Portia de Rossi) has on him: zippo.
WHERE I STAND "Scandal" more than ever remains as plausible as an ice cream stand on Mars -- or maybe even a future Jets winning season -- but that seems to matter not. Ratings are way up, even if buzz is way down. Reasons for success, in order: Olivia's love life (when in doubt, the writers get her back into Fitz's arms); Cyrus' love life; and the No. 1 reason, Bellamy Young's first lady Melody "Mellie" Grant -- a blowsy, boozy, frowzy scene-stealer if ever there was one. She's having (hic) a licentious, wild ride. Fans approve.
'GREY'S ANATOMY' (8 P.M.)
WHERE THE SHOW STANDS After essentially trying to steal his sister Amelia's (Caterina Scorsone) gig at Seattle Grace, Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) is both chastened and depressed -- really depressed. At least Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) is finally getting along with her long-lost sister, Maggie Pierce (Kelly McCreary).
WHERE I STAND "Grey's" is creatively having a standout season. The addition of Geena Davis -- as the fetal surgeon Dr. Nicole Herman, who has six months to live (brain tumor; inoperable) -- has energized fans, and even energized me. She's terrific, and one is left to ask, "Where has Davis been all these years?" This series needed her.
But even when Davis is not on-screen, "Grey's" finally feels like a show that wants to be taken seriously again. There are some welcome cast additions (McCreary). But there's also a sense that while life and love may be brief, Seattle Grace doesn't have to feel like a long, sodden (and repetitive) soap opera either.
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