Naomi Ludlow | Arts & Entertainment Editor
TV producer Shonda Rhimes, who last week became the third black woman named to the Television Hall of Fame, is back at it again with her most anticipated “Thank God It’s Thursday” lineup yet.
The “T.G.I.T.” hit shows include “Grey’s Anatomy” (in its 14th season), “Scandal” (seventh and final season) and “How to Get Away with Murder” (fourth season). The new seasons premiered Sept. 29, so if you missed them, you still have a chance to catch up.
Channing Dungey, the entertainment president at ABC, explained to reporters at The Hollywood Reporter why Rhimes and the network decided to end the political drama “Scandal.”
Dungey noted that Rhimes – who joined Oprah Winfrey and Diahann Carroll in the Hall, according to Essence.com – had always envisioned a seven-season drama. The “Scandal” season was already planned out, but due to recent political issues, it had to be rewritten. Apparently, the show was going to relate too closely to modern reality.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the production staff did not want the show to seem as if it was mimicking real life scenarios.
One Hampton University student responded to the series ending in an unexpected way.
“All good things come to an end, so it is better for the show to leave on high note rather than [to] have it still dragging on,” said Angelique Brown, a junior from Long Island, N.Y.
She further explained that Rhimes knows how to leave audiences wanting more instead of having people question why the show is still on.
In the interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rhimes mentioned that she only expected “Grey’s Anatomy” to be seven seasons as well. As the show goes into its 14th season, viewers are still sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting to see more.
“It is the only show that makes me emotional,” said Amaiyah Beverly, a senior psychology major from Washington, D.C. “I really feel for the characters. I cannot wait for the next season.”
Rhimes has had a long run with the network and has created hit shows along the way. She coined her own term, “T.G.I.T.,” to promote her Thursday night shows.
It is rumored that Rhimes is going to add another show to the lineup – a Romeo and Juliet drama called “Still Star-Crossed.”
With the outcomes of her previous shows, will this show be just as successful?
It’s a mystery. But viewers can expect drama, love and even more drama from Rhimes’ current shows.
The Hampton Script 