How To Get Away With A Scandal

When I first heard about the crossover event between “Scandal” and “How to Get Away with Murder,” like every other gladiator I was excited beyond belief. I was thrilled to see these two acting powerhouses in the same shows. Both women are exceptional actresses and play powerful and strong women. That is where the similarities end. Anna Mae aka Analise was raised in poverty and Olivia was privileged and was no stranger to luxury and power.

Somehow for both of them, it all went wrong. Kerry Washington and Viola Davis are two of the most prolific actresses of our time. Viola has shown that age is not a barrier and inspired me as an older actress when she won the Oscar last year for “Fences.” Kerry has become an icon for black and all women everywhere with her portrayal of Olivia Pope as well as a fashion icon as well.

They have made these television characters a fiber of prime time.
Shonda Rhimes is no stranger to the crossover. She had an easy outlet when she crossed over “Private Practice” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Surgeons could travel between the two shows for impossible surgeries that had to be performed. Also beloved characters could be enjoyed by their fans and possibly gain some new viewers.

I think that Shonda should have done this before this final season. Taking an impossible class action suit case and then having two brilliant minds working together was a brilliant move and all should be commended. Special mention should go to Aja Naomi King and Cornelius Smith Jr as well. These two actors worked well together and added a little sexual tension as well. Credit should also be given to the two directors for each show, Zetna Fuentes and Tony Goldwyn (his last directing for the show Scandal).

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Liv no longer has the White House and her gladiators have abandoned her. She is teaching at universities and one of her fans is Michaela . Michaela has told Analise about her encounter with Olivia and reminds her this is what she needs. Olivia sits in on one of these lectures and introduces herself to Ms Pope. The case needs to go to the Supreme Court, but Liv has no clout. She takes the suit to the Grant Foundation and the former POTUS.

Fitz is still mad at her and waits for his Liv to return. He takes the case and then the group heads for the Oval and Mellie. Mellie refuses to help and points out that the only reason she agreed to meet with them was Fitz. She threatens her if she continues her crusade. There is no stopping her , so Mellie enlists Jake and QPA to leak the story of the real reason she left the White House. Quinn is filled with revenge and agrees to leak the story for Jake.

The episode is not without humor as the two divas wage a war in a DC hair salon. Insults like “bougie” black woman and “broken down ass got on a Mega Bus” flew between the two powerhouses.

Meanwhile the gladiators try to sway the judges against Liv and the case. They almost succeed until Quinn has a change of heart and remembers that QPA is about justice. Abby reminds her that they are indeed gladiators. Everyone is convinced that Liv is just using this to get her power back. She is also defeated until she is given a pep talk by none other than her cheerleader, Fitz. He still believes in her, now she has to show the world that she is the Liv he loves as well.

Isaac overdoses and the Keating gang prepare to watch their teacher in front of the highest court in the land. Michaela helps Marcus as the two are on a stakeout where they give into their passion. Marcus admits that there was someone, but doesn’t say her name. “She went on to do great things and I couldn’t stand in her way.” Is how he describes his relationship with Mellie. Micahela also steals the credit from Connor to get to meet her idol.

Despite this setback, the Keating gang are headed to Washington. Bonnie would have loved to come to watch as well, but she is deeply involved in finding about the mysterious funds that Lauren’s mother paid Wes. (Liza Weil could not be involved with this storyline because of her role in the first season as Amanda Tanner, Presidential whore) Analise’s parents arrive and then the games begin.

Sharon Lawrence also shines as the defense attorney against Analise. Cicely Tyson is the bright spot in the episode as she spins wisdom and makes stew. This would be a foreign concept to Ms Pope since her parents are assassins and terrorists. The elderly woman also has advice for Liv after she spills soup on her designer duds. She tells her that she needs to take care of herself as well. Jacqueline calls Analise minutes before the hearing and announces that Isaac overdosed and it was all because of her. She ruins everything .

Analise gets scared and is unable to move off of the floor. Only one thing can help and that is vodka. Liv sends Marcus off to get some. But luckily she doesn’t need the liquor and she states her case despite her opposition.

The one judge makes a statement and asks if she is using it as a funding problem or race case. Davis makes a passionate speech about race problems in our country and also reminds the judges that Jim Crow is still alive and well. No decision is made during the episode, but Fitz said that it might go their way. Does that smile on Olivia’s face mean that a private celebration is in the cards with the former POTUS after his phone call. Unfortunately, Annalise gets some bad news from Bonnie, Simon has woke up. Annalise thanks her team and the Grant Foundation including Olivia Pope. Michaela is burned because Connor is given the credit rather than her and her tactics.

Asher has his suspicions about the chemistry between his girlfriend and the former press secretary. MVP for the “Scandal” episode is definitely Fitz. Between the White House and QPA, Fitz managed to pull this all together. He also sees that his Livvie is still there and wants her to see she doesn’t have to be evil. She can still wear the white hat.

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TGIT Returns

Christmas is over. New Year’s is done and it’s time to get back to business. That means it’s time for TGIT! Tomorrow night our Thursday ABC faves return.  Special kudos go out to Joe Morton for his NAACP award for Best Supporting Award in a Drama for his role as the evil Rowan on “Scandal.” Also catch that sexy ex POTUS , Tony “Fitz” Goldwyn on Jimmy Kimmel tonight.

When we last left the staff of Grey-Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy”, a computer hacker had put a ransom of bitcoins and locks on the patient files.  Bailey races to try to save the computers as well as the drugs that require computer codes to dispense. This precarious situation jeopardizes a peds patient as Karev and Jo try to track down the last nurse to take care of him. The young boy requires a drug dose and no one is sure when or what his last dosage was. Finally tracking down the last nurse, Jo texts Alex the important message that they need. But before she can do that, she finds out that her ex hubby has arrived in Seattle. Will the young boy die? What does Jo’s ex arrival mean for the young couple? Will Alex lose in love yet again?

With nine episodes and counting down, the clock winds down for “Scandal.” We are looking forward to the upcoming cross over with “HTGWM” . With these two powerful women, it promises to be an episode to be remembered and will be directed by none other than TG. Olivia is truly at the crossroads as the search for Quinn continues. Thinking the worst, the gladiators search through dead bodies for her. Alliances are formed as well as reunions. David admits why he is scared to reunite with Abby since she is constantly surrounded by danger. The walls finally come down.  Marcus talks to Mellie and convinces her to work with the Grant Foundation. Together the two Grant Presidents work to bring criminal reform to the table. Mellie is in her glory as she succeeds to do what six Presidents have failed to do and that is bring peace to the Middle East. She tells Olivia there is nothing they can’t do. Olivia is playing a dangerous game with her father. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” She reminds him. She also tells him he has destroyed her and made her in his own image. He also made the fatal mistake of taking away the only man she ever loved and killing his son. Don’t test a POPE! The next thing we hear is two shots. Is Quinn dead? And can Olivia be saved by her white knight?

It’s business as usual as usual on “How to Get Away With Murder.” The Keating Four  is trying to avenge Wes’s death. They have hatched an elaborate plan to put a firewall up  and bankrupt Laurel’s father’s company. Analise is still trying to exoricise some old ghosts and reconcile with Bonnie . Oliver admits the truth to Connor and then he promises not to tell her the whole plan. Simon gets in the way of their plans and admits his feelings to Oliver. Simon finds the gun in Laurel’s bag and shoots himself . Laurel flees the scene and then goes into labor. She gets stuck in an ancient elevator which leaves Analise to save the lives of Laurel and Wes’s unborn child. Frank has also been trying to reach her. At the party, Asher is questioned in Simon’s shooting and arrested. The surgeons fight to save Simon’s life . Will Asher pay the ultimate price? Will Laurel’s baby live? 

The Runaway Gladiator

What is with Scandal and weddings? In 300 episodes, we have had many happy occasions and weddings on “Grey’s” . (Although we can count on one hand how many have lasted.)  With all of the shit going down, everyone thought that tonight Quinn aka Lindsay and Charlie aka Killer would be getting married. At least someone on this show could commit. It was a bad sign when evil Olivia showed up to calm Quinn’s nerves. After all, what does Olivia know about weddings? When she was the bride, she ran away as well.  But that isn’t how this fairytale wedding episode started.

Surprise! Liv and Jake were behind the explosion. They had made a deal with the rebel forces that Bashrani was to be killed so they could sign the nuclear treaty. Mellie was truly developing feelings for this guy. Poor Madam President does not have much luck with men.  I mean she starts to get the hots and he Is blown up. Another boyfriend turns evil and has to be killed with a chair. Lets keep our fingers crossed for her and Marcus. Quinn agrees to meet with Liv on the premise that she has cold feet. Ms. Pope alias Jekyl and Hyde turns all sweet and gooey and tells Quinn she is there for her and even presents her with a token from the Smithsonian . These people love to give historical presents to each other.  But Quinn is wise to Liv and knows she had something to do with the plane blowing up. She will prove it. Uhm Quinn, on this show everytime someone tries to cover something up, someone dies. Just ask your former boyfriend Gideon and James Novak. In that grand tradition , Quinn disappears on her wedding day. Curtis is now also in danger when he says that he has been getting phone calls from Quinn. But he can either be disposed of or punched out by the former POTUS. Fitz is a very jealous man.

Olivia is playing it so cool, but in truth she is fearing that they all will find out the real truth that she was behind the plane blowing up. Huck is playing detective and finds out that the computer hid some clues. She was investigating the explosion and finds out that one of the airmen on the tarmac had a record and previously worked for Fenton Glackland. They put two and two together and Charlie heads off to torture Fenton-gladiator style. In the end , they discover that Quinn is on the elevator and no one had anything to do with her disappearance. This was a convenient way for Katie Lowes to take her maternity leave before the hiatus. Charlie is crushed. It isn’t the first time, Abby holds the ring. She was also the witness at the ill fated White House wedding.

As we count down to the end of the series, Shonda has obviously made Olivia a dark shadow of herself. The white hat is long gone. She has lost it. She is ten times worse than her father, and has made him proud because this is what he has wanted all along. Girl, you are headed for a fall . No one can turn this evil without someone either dying or repenting. It would be nice if Shonda turns this into a Dickensonian piece with Olivia seeing the error of her ways and makes restitution for them. But I can’t see that happening. Or she could go ala “Dallas” and say that the past eight years were nothing but a bad dream . The last show would take from Aaron Sorkin’s view of the Bartlett administration and the dedication of his Presidential library. Maybe Liv wakes up from her bed in Vermont, and turns to Fitz and he soothes her and tells her that his son being murdered, him being shot, her being kidnapped were all a dream and cast members that were deceased stand with him at the dedication of the Fitzgerald T Grant 3 Presidential Library.  Whatever will happen on that terrible day not far into the future,  we all still hold that word hope in our hearts. Well ,Abby told David to not hold hands. Tonight when they found out that Quinn was gone, the two of them held hands. That my friends, is hope.

Next week the winter finale…it’s OMG time gladiators and someone’s day of reckoning.  

Well…. Olivia Pope is the Biggest Bitch in the Whole Wide World

Well gladiators, have you recovered yet?  Last night had to be a new low in Shondaness. Rule Number One in television has been broken, never make your hero or heroine the most hated character on the show. Everyone hates Olivia. Even Rowan isn’t immune and Olivia has become her father.  Worst of all, Fitz is not welcome.  The most popular line of this week is go home Fitz! But does he ? No, Fitz will have Olivia and  he  is the only one who recognizes that this isn’t the real Liv.

Meanwhile Mellie is trying to sell a war. But that might not be so easy. President Rashad is willing to work with Mellie to get back his country. There is only one problem, his niece must be removed from Dartmouth and will be under the watch of QPA. Olivia is playing a very dangerous game and even though he wont leave, Fitz goes and tells Mellie all about the assassination of Luna Vargas and B613. Madam President orders her to shut it down. Cyrus is beginning his political lessons for his new boyfriend. Things are definitely heating up. Fenton has also been doing some homework and telling Cyrus that a war will be a waste financially.

“I want my bones.” Is what Rowan screams. Has Olivia actually “Outpoped”  dear old Dad? ‘

The two Naval buddies meet and share a drink. Fitz and Jake at this point are being civil , but how long will that last?  It is no surprise that Jake wouldn’t want Fitz in DC. The two of them trade jabs , subtle as they may be. Jake says callously that Fitz can’t accept who Liv is and wants her to fit his image of her and go back in time. He tells Fitz that this is where she is destined to be and that is command. Olivia continues to use her boy toy for Mellie  and her war.Liv is fearful of the budding relationship between the two leaders. The President ‘s niece runs away and she has a little secret, she is a lesbian and ran away from QPA to say goodbye to her girlfriend. Liv and Cyrus have it out as well. Cyrus tries to appease Liv as her friend.Fitz knows this isn’t her and no matter how rotten she is to him, he isn’t going. She asks when is he going to go back and he says “when I see someone I recognize.” Mellie discusses things with the President Rashad and the conversation heats up to a steamy kiss.

In a conversation with Quinn , Liv gets the message and goes to talk to Mellie. In asking her, she finds out that Mellie wants the peace treaty and President Rashad safe. Liv is very ominous about handling the problem. Mellie sends her new lover and his niece back to his country via Turkey. The two part with a promise that this relationship will not end.

Olivia has taken care of everything , except now Mellie tells her ex to go back to Vermont. He has lost the privilege and listening to her talk to him this way, sounds like she has taken a page from the book of Olivia. Cyrus hates to admit that his new boyfriend will make one hell of a politician. Quinn and Charlie take the President’s niece to the plane and watch her get on only to see the plane blown up. But who did it and did the two some get out of the explosion?  Liv has also some bad news, her fuck boy has dumped her. He said she was not human. Now she truly is alone… will she sit down and search her conscience. ?

You have to admit that when someone is in love, they don’t care how they are treated or what people say. They are addicted to love. For more than ten years, Fitz has been in love and he has suffered for this love. He has had many people as obstacles trying to pull them apart. He has had the optics and prison of the Presidency to pull them apart as well. He has had to watch the love of his life suffer and be kidnapped and tortured because of him. He had to save his Presidency by having a child , which meant more time apart and he also lost his son at the hands of Command. If that isn’t true love, then I don’t know what is. Tonight, we saw a man who was insulted and harassed and basically told he wasn’t wanted anymore. But will this man give up? He should have long ago and also he should have torn down or sold the house in Vermont. Vermont is not a place, it’s a dream that he had a million years ago. He can’t see himself as the bitter old man with the gun and living alone, he sees himself with his Liv and two or three kids. He sees her making jam and at this point, it is just a fantasy. Is this what this show has come to because of the embittered creator who can’t seem to find happiness , so she transfers it to her characters. Cristina Yang of “Grey’s” is another character who can’t be happy , so she works. With Amelia gone, Owen should pack a bag and head to Switzerland. Is Fitz wrong for the way he is acting or is he just a fool in love? No , he has hope. Let’s try to have a little hope too, gladiators. And that is why my MVG this week for his treatment , persistence, and love is Fitz.

 

Fitzgerald Grant—Gladiator

I hope you have all have not overdosed on last week’s episode . It had to be one of Shonda’s more brilliant episodes.  It also wasn’t hell to have to look at Tony Goldwyn at all. Looks like Fitz isn’t happy at all and we all knew it. But we never expected Poppa Pope to be the one to send him back to Washington. He certainly knows Liv’s  Achillies heel  and  that is Fitzgerald Thomas Grant 3.Fitz also has a purpose again and that is get his Livvie back. And that is where our story left off. Liv was making out with Cable Boy and she turned around and there was the love of her life. Don’t listen to any of these Olakers how she belongs with Jake and Fitz is mediocre, entitled, and all the other poison that Shonda has fed us for seven seasons. At least Cable Boy knew that when he saw the former POTUS, he had better leave.

Is this the happy reunion we waited for? No! Olivia is not happy to see him. But Fitz, has a plan. He wants her to find these black girls who have been missing and it seems no one cares. She takes the file and then says how she wants to hand it off to Quinn and the gladiators. Fitz shakes his head. No! he wants her. His motive is to let her see the Liv he fell in love with. The gladiator with the white hat. Since she has taken over as Command, that has went right out the window. Or maybe once again, she is still reeling from the effects of that kidnapping. It seems that it changed her and not for the better. PTSD is permanent. But why is she the only one on this show that suffers from it? Every character has been traumatized in some way from Mellie’s rape to Abby’s abuse. Jake, Fitz and Huck would definitely be feeling it because of the military. It wasn’t too long ago that Fitz was shot and Cyrus was facing being a widow after his hubby was murdered. One thing that was also proven last week, is that Fitz is not a superman. He is just a normal man and he finally realized that fact.

Mellie is going through her own catharsis as well. She may be the POTUS, but she is also a woman and that is brand new territory. She also still feels the effects that people will compare her to 44 or her ex hubby. Mellie , like Olivia is in denial too. She is still in love with Marcus. She misses the love she felt for the first time in years. She has feelings for the President of Bahrain and she is trying her best to be all business. But there is another who is also dealing with his own feelings. Cyrus has been alone for a long time as well. Michael was never the love of his life. He was a solution to a problem. If Liv would have went through with the wedding so she wouldn’t have to testify, it would have been the same .story.Liv felt that she wasn’t ready and neither was Fitz. It was just a solution. The true love of his life is gone and that was James. Now he is being courted by a very rich but lonely man,Fenton. It is adorable how we forget that Cyrus is a man and he has the best talks with Mellie. I can remember when Cyrus called her the “Wicked Witch of the West Wing.” Maybe Shonda had the right idea from the 100^th, Cyrus and Mellie would have made a great power team. They are a great team anyway. But she is excited because today she is going to make history.

Olivia has taken the file to QPA and they are all working together as a team. They have to find a poster child for this cause. But in the meantime, Fitz knows that it is also his mission to save Liv and that is why Rowan recruited him. “He is the cheese and Liv’s weakness.” This is why Rowan has always hated him. Liv is suspicious of the whole reappearance of Fitz and goes to talk with Jake about it. I can’t understand why it has always been Jake. Jake and Fitz have probably been competing with each other since the Navy. I can see the boys competing to see who could screw more girls than the other. Liv has always been just another part of this competition. The gladiators find a girl and recruit her mother. The mother, Fitz, and Cable Boy appear on his show. Craig grills Fitz about why now for this cause and why he didn’t do anything during his term. Fitz can see right through it and realizes he wants to fight him for Liv.He shows him that he is up for a fight and announces that Vermont can wait. Liv sips her wine as she watches and a smile comes to her face. Has Rowan’s trick worked?Plus, A two bit cable reporter competing for a woman who was the fiancé of the leader of the free world? I don’t think so, Cable Boy. Plus this is the final season, and no matter what there is a happily ever after at this point. Any man who was with Liv would realize this as well as anyone who is the person chosen as an obstacle between a loving couple. Edison? Russell? Joke? FBI whore? And even Mellie knew that their days were numbered. These two are meant to be. Liv gets a visit from Marcus who gives her an invitation to come help at QPA. He also tells Olivia that Fitz misses her. She is still cautious about this cause until Marcus says that if it is just an excuse to see her, than finding just one of these missing girls is a good excuse. She digs right in and helps the gladiators.

There is trouble at the Peace Summit. The Prime Minister thinks that Mellie and the President of Bahrain are in cahoots. He doesn’t trust him at all and thinks Mellie used her feminine wiles on him. Liv can see that there are feelings there for him. They share some of that famous Mellie hooch and talk about things. His hand brushes hers.  The leaders go back to the table and there is progress. Unfortunately, there is a military coup and the President has been overthrown. Mellie wants to help him. Liv tries to stay focused and Jake chastises her for allowing the coup to happen. “You can’t be command and be someone’s girl.” Liv has a lot on her plate and then she has a visitor. She argues with Fitz as they dance around the elephant  in the room. He declares his love in that Fitz way and says that neither of them were better off when they weren’t together. Liv takes down her defenses and lets him in. The two do what they do best -make out. Liv goes into the  Oval and Mellie tells her that she wants this to be her call. Liv agrees and gets the funding for Fitz’s project. She also informs her that she is never alone, she has her. The two women face the same battles. Usually the show is scored with some Motown, but I so got into the 90’sR and B with TLC singing “Waterfalls.” ( Crazy Sexy Cool was one of my favorite albums and I was supposed to see the girls in concert in Cleveland., it was cancelled because of Left Eye and the sickle cell) The words were so relevant as Quinn gave the mother the happy news her daughter was alive. Cyrus decided to give love another try as well. But all is not well with Rowan, Jake informs Liv that Fitz was indeed the bait and Rowan was the fisherman. …Liv is ready  to confront Rowan.  

The MVG is once again Fitz. He let Rowan think that he was doing this for him, but in his own defense. Fitz lets his heart rule his mind. He wants her back and he doesn’t care how he has to do it. He tied all of the old elements that we love together by bringing Liv back with her gladiators as well as that old time romance. The sun may be setting , but Tony proved that this show has a little ways to go yet. Fitz could be a very valuable source when it comes to this Middle East situation as well. Him and Mellie work well as a team , as long as they don’t let clashing egos in the way. Fitz can be seen as the perfect man if it wasn’t for that whole man child thing. It is obvious he is man used to getting his own way. But we shall see if this plan of his and Rowan’s works , or will it just tear Olitz further apart. Congrats are in order for Scott Foley. He has been tapped to star in a new series called “Whiskey Cavalier.” In it , he is a CIA agent. But instead of killing and stealing his buddy’s girl, the show is a comedy from Bill Lawrence who Foley had worked with previously when on Lawrence’s “Scrubs “ and “Cougar Town.” It will be great to see Scott handle comedy because it seems he is a very funny guy. I loved to see him in Jimmy Kimmel’s skits featuring the cast. Let’s hope that the powers that be can see enough to cast some of the others of this talented cast.

The Grass Is Always Greener

For seven years, we have seen President Fitzgerald T Grant 3 in the White House, fighting with his ex wife, discussing policy with Cyrus Beene and making love to Olivia Pope. But just as Miss America has to give back her crown, each President has to leave the White House. Martin Sheen just disappeared on “The West Wing” when his term ended. He also had staffers stay and work for the next POTUS as well as return to  their old lives. Well you might as well say that this is Grant 2.0. The former First Lady is now POTUS , the former Chief of Staff is VEEP, and Fitz’s former girlfriend is Chief of Staff. Tonight , we got to see a look into the world of a President after the glitter fades.  Bravo to cast , especially Joe, Cornelius, and of course Tony himself. Bravo should also go to Scott Foley for undertaking such an original idea as the last time he directs the show.

Fitz made a promise to everyone that he would stay off the radar for 100 days. It was the least he could do for Mellie. All Fitz had done for eight years is talk about how he wanted to leave and even called it “America’s royal prison.”  He , of course , is referring to the Presidency. It is obvious that he didn’t envision the way things would turn out. In his mind, Liv and him would be living in the Vermont house with her making “big fat, squishy babies.” After all, the man is in his fifties. Reality check is that he is standing in this big  mansion and he is alone. He wakes up the following morning to find out that he has a staff and do you know what Ms. Independence does? He fires them!  For years, he has been waited on and now he wants to do things for himself.  He takes things that we take for granted like making a sandwich or cooking and tells his aide that he doesn’t need them. There are endearing scenes like Fitz driving down the road and boppin to “Shake That Groove Thing and hilarious ones like the President at the grocery store not knowing how to use a debt card. Enter Marcus, who unlike Fitz has not been in mourning for  Mellie. He has been in Cuba and having fun.

Fitz starts going through the many boxes in storage that he will use in his library. (Hey Shonda and Lyn Paolo where is that Naval uniform?)  He gets more depressed and then he finds the gun that his dad gave him when he became governor. This was also referenced in Season One when Cyrus talks about how he will one day blow out his brains with that gun after he is no longer President. Fitz hates the house that he built for the woman he loved and has Marcus begin as his aide. In this episode, Foley does his best to present a picture of a man who just wants to be normal. He does this when Fitz is chewing on a Gettysburger and drinking a beer with Marcus.  They begin to talk about the women they left behind and it is not a good topic for either.  Remnants of the romance that once fueled the show are still mentioned and true gladiators will smile when Marcus says that a house has Christmas lights that spell out OLITZ.The world has witnessed the former  POTUS playing tonsil hockey with Ms Pope and speculate how the romance will play out. There are even tabloids showing the kiss “seen round the world” at the grocery store.  Marcus asks Fitz blatantly where is Olivia in his story. He saves her the pain by coldly saying that she was my communications director and ran both my campaigns.

It is very obvious that both Fitz and Marcus are troubled men. Marcus thinks of Fitz as privileged and lazy and not knowing how to do anything but order people around. This is interesting because Marcus made the same kind of accusations to Olivia in “The Lawn Chair.” He called her entitled, called her on her Prada bag and then said that she should not call herself black. Fitz entertains and asks Marcus to bring some scotch for the donors. Marcus sees red and calls Fitz on wanting to have him as a valet instead of his aide and partner. The two of them fight and Fitz gets a shiner. Marcus calls Mellie and she schools him on Fitz and why people can’t deal with him. He decides to come back. But Fitz also has another visitor, it is Rowan. Rowan is scared for his daughter and tells Fitz that she is command. She is out of control and he doesn’t know where it will stop. Fitz can deny it all he wants but now Rowan admits it. He knows that Fitz and Liv are the real deal. Olivia needs to be rescued by her white knight. So after he helps out a young African American man with his cause, he returns to DC.  He goes to her apartment and the elevator opens with her making out with cable boy. He can only say , “Hi.” And that is where we left off.

Obviously the MVG for this episode is Tony himself. This is a brilliant work to culminate his time on the series. He shows a man who is trying to hide the pain by acting the way he was taught to act. He is a fish out of water and a man without a country. It also gave the gladiators and  Cyrus a well deserved rest. They were the brunt of the Sixth Season with the election and Kerry shadowed both Tony and Scott to prepare for her directing debut. Before this series, he was only known for “Ghost” and never mind his other great roles on stage and in the movies. This is a role that he should be proud to say he owned. I may be accused of being a fan girl, but I want to have half the talent this man has.

But can Fitz save her? And will Mellie and Marcus reunite?  Tune in gladiators next week ..same Scandalous time…same Scandalous channel.

( photo credit to @themeanchick)

It Was Quite A Night at the White House

The show may have mostly been a big yawn fest. Well actually, I was curious to see how a WH State Dinner was going to go in the Grant 2.0 White House. After all, there is no First Lady and the President and Chief of Staff are both women. Liv seems to become a new person (Has she ever gotten help for that PTSD from the kidnapping? Doesn’t look like it. ) The show opens with Liv leaving her hotel room with her new boy toy still in bed. Are the two of them using each other? She is using him for some good press for Mellie and he is using her for some WH scoops.

Remember how much Liv hated pulling together events when she was trying to be a First Lady? Well nothing has changed. She also has to tell Cyrus that he is being seated by a big fat cat that will benefit him when it’s his turn to run for the Presidency. Mr. Glacklan also has requested Cyrus since he is also gay. Is this the beginning of another Cyrus Beene relationship?  Matthew Del Negro is no longer in the cast so Michael is gone. (Unless Shonda wants to resurrect James from some hole in B613.) Mellie is busily getting ready for the dinner and from this scene comes one of the best Mellie monologues of all. Mellie talks about her loneliness and how she has a burning in her loins. She sees how Fitz sees the office and actually calls it prison. It is obvious that both Mellie and Liv are lonely.

Abby has a date to the State Dinner, courtesy of her ex David. She also wants to get the other gladiators in so they can drum up some business for QPA. The problem is that two of the gladiators are murderers and can’t go into the White House as themselves. Fake invites are drawn up for Charlie and Huck. The guest of honor is the President of Bashran. There is friction between the two countries. Everything is going well for the gladiators, except Huck. Quinn plays the Ivy League wife and paints a rosy picture of her Stanford educated hubby that loves polo. Huck has trouble chatting and getting people to talk unless he is torturing them.  He does find a fellow serviceman to talk to, but then he notices something weird. The man was never in the service , he is a plant. Huck asks Abby if she misses the White House, she smiles and then admits she is happiest as a gladiator.

Cyrus has his guest want a tour of the White House, rather than listen to the music. He takes him to the Oval and the gay millionaire tells how he wouldn’t mind being President  as he forces his way into the President’s chair. He makes it seem like any millionaire can be POTUS and Cyrus explodes. It is his dream and passion that chair and he doesn’t appreciate that he talks about million dollar paintings and Presidencies like they were nothing. Cyrus has worked hard to get his people there and he is so close himself. He has the second best monologue of the evening  .Cyrus receives a gift from the man. It’s the painting he admired. Is this the start of a new relationship?  The writers definitely went back to the old formula of Season One “Scandal.” There was definitely plenty of OMG moments , mixed in with some couple moments as well. It is obvious that Shonda is trying to wrap things up .  Jake also shows Liv the new “secret” room or B613 ‘s White House headquarters. Liv is also trying to dig up some dirt on the POTUS of Bahrain. That back fired on her because of the PM telling him about what Liv was really like. He called her the devil.  That beautiful gown was designed by Stella McCartney.

But romance isn’t dead on the show. The featured singer begins to sing and then David takes Abby’s hand. It is obvious that he still has feelings for her. Is there hope for these two? Quinn and Charlie have a moment at QPA. She wants to get married, now! Even the President of Bahrain starts to flirt with Mellie. But thanks to observant Huck, the President of Bahrain is saved by Jake and his men. Mellie gets the POTUS to think about the peace treaty. Over “Hooch” , she gets him to agree if he can get his enemies to the table as well. He agrees.

Liv gives her “Boy toy” reporter the scoop of the century about the peace treaty. He dumps his date and the two of them celebrate by going to her apartment. They kiss in the elevator , but Liv gets a surprise. It’s FITZ!!!!

“Pressing the Flesh” was directed by the awesome and star of next week’s episode … Tony Goldwyn