'Scandal' to end after 7th season, series creator Shonda Rhimes says
— -- After a slew of thrilling moments over the better part of a decade, "Scandal" will end its run after the next season. The announcement comes with a season 6 finale just days away.
ABC Entertainment spilled the news on Tuesday ahead of Upfronts announcing the 2017–18 schedule, with an official release that Olivia Pope and company will say goodbye after season 7.
"Shonda has decided the series needs to come to a close," said Channing Dungey, the president of ABC Entertainment. "While this is definitely a bittersweet moment for all of us gladiators, I have no doubt what she has in store for the final season will be as powerful as what's come before, and we will be sure to honor that every step of the way."
Dungey said creator Shonda Rhimes decided to end the series so that Kerry Washington, Bellamy Young, Tony Goldwyn and the rest of the cast and crew could go out on top creatively.
"Scandal" was one of the key innovators that led to Thursday night becoming Rhimes' Shondaland on ABC, along with "Grey's Anatomy" and "How to Get Away With Murder."
The show, which features Washington as D.C. fixer Pope, began in 2012 and has kept fans on the edge of their seats ever since. No characters are safe, and nothing in the White House is ever simple.
Rhimes said she knows exactly how to end the iconic show.
"Deciding how to end a show is easy. But actually going through with it? Actually standing up to say, 'This is it?' Not so much," she said.
"So next year we are going all out. Leaving nothing on the table," Rhimes continued. "We are going to handle the end the way we like to handle the important things in our "Scandal" family — all together, white hats on, gladiators running full speed over a cliff."
"Scandal" will air its season 6 finale this Thursday night, with the final season to start at a later date.
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