'Scandal' Showrunner Talks About Season's Big Twist

For only the second time in Scandal's six-season run, the ABC political thriller shockingly said farewell to a series regular.

Thursday's episode featured the surprising death of series regular Portia de Rossi's Elizabeth North, Mellie's (Bellamy Young) savvy chief of staff.

"I have been a fan of Portia's for years and it was an honor to have her join our Scandal family," Scandal creator and showrunner Shonda Rhimes said in an exclusive statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "Portia infused Liz North with a smart, powerful and vulnerable soul while also making the humor sing — and that brought all of us in the writers' room a lot of joy. If I could keep her forever, I would — but kidnapping is illegal. Besides, I am incredibly impressed with the vision she has for her creative future. I wish her all the best."

Read the rest of this article at The Hollywood Reporter.

Shonda Rimes' first big TV hit was the medical drama Grey's Anatomy.