8 unbelievable things Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers and other participants who were unveiled in our Paley Center for Media 20th anniversary

ONa Perfect Spring Eve in Midtown New York City, Shondalandphiles – A new term that I have shaped for those who study and love the art of the Shondaland TV – welcomed the network and streaming kings in their middle. The morally dubious Washington, DC, were no longer fixed, the artists with many personal problems were finished with scalpellae, and the murderous lawyers came with questionable ethics, legal pads in tow.

This is a very lengthy way to say that the Shondaland founder Shonda Rhimes and the creative partner Betsy Beers appeared an insightful, hilarious and almost touching panel with the 20th anniversary of Shondaland last night in the Paley Center for Media in New York City. How to get away with murder'S (and NEW Tony Award nominated!) Conrad Ricamora, Gray's anatomyJames Pickens Jr. and scandal'S Bellamy Young and Scott Foley. NBC Today Show Anchor Craig Melvin led our stars through a delightful – and, I say, with an exploitation – through a delightful conversation. Here are eight things that we have only learned from the discussion for you!

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James Pickens Jr. Be Richard Webber

As soon as the legendary actor his audition for the role of Dr. Richard Webber let Gray's anatomyAn ABC manager turned to Rhimes and said: “He”. Rhimes was exactly on the same side. They immediately shouted back into the room to tell him that he had been occupied and said: “What are you doing in the next five years?” Rhimes joked: “Richard will be here until the hospital closes.” Five years grew in 20 years, and now picking is deeply grateful to be “to be [playing] A fully realized character. “May Richard Webber never retire!

Olivia Pope played by … Connie Britton?

When Rhimes and beers had these first meetings with ABC executives scandalEveryone tried to find out who would be the best person to play The Olivia Papst. The managers said: “How about Connie Britton?” And as Rhimes remembered last night, she said: “I love Connie; she's great. But Olivia is black.” You could have dropped a pen. “The beers started to laugh and said:” My joke was always 'You could also hear all the high heels click in the background while they were running away.' 'But the managers did not push back and found that Kerry Washington was perfect as Olivia Pope.

For those who don't know, Olivia Pope was inspired by Judy Smith, a fixer during the government of George HW Bush. Biere met Smith first and brought them to Rhimes, and then the magic – Rhimes began “seeing 100 episodes of television right there during their meeting”.

Scott Foley was almost not in the scandal

While Scott Foley completed his time Gray's anatomy When Henry Burton asked Rhimes to come to her office, where she said these magical words that every working actor wanted to hear: “I have a role for her.” He immediately agreed to take on the role, even though he hadn't read a script. He was so sure that he was ready for the role. But then things got a little complicated – Foley was called back three times to play in front of ABC executives scandalWhat was then called Damage control. “It was terrible,” Rhime's beer ended when he told the story. Ultimately, he was not given the original role that Rhimes had planned for him, Stephen Finch, who was finally played by Henry Ian Cusick. But Foley knew that everything should be: scandal Was an undeniable success after his first season and was asked by Rhimes to play Jake Ballard, the complicated, at some point love interest for Olivia Pope.

Couldn't there be president Mellie Grant?!

Bellamy Young discussed the thrill of being at the first table for which it was read scandalAfter performing a short appearance Private practice And hoping to be a more permanent facility in the Shonda verses. But after the pilot had read, Rhimes went to person and spoke through what they expect from their character for the future. “Then she came to me and said:” I see Mellie Grant in … Three episodes, “recalled Young and Ahmt imitated a stab in her heart. Well, Young's acting body went beyond anything because Rhimes was so inspired that she was obsessed with her task to explore Mellie's inner world as someone with the president. scandalShe would also be at some point president Mellie Grant.

Conrad Ricamora about joining Htgawm

Ricamora also didn't believe that he would be in his How to get away with murder For more than the pilot. But it turned out that it wasn't just done Htgawm Start, but Oliver Hampton was also a unique role-as a “southern gay boy” and to be able to play a queer, HIV-positive character that has sex on television, is a full moment for the newly tony-nominated actor. Unfortunately, Ricamora could not stay for the entire chat, with a curtain from 7:30 p.m. for the play Oh Mary!So, around 7:00 p.m., he set up with shabby slippers in towing the Lyceum Theater, where he would turn into a gay Abraham Lincoln (yes, you read it correctly). If you haven't seen the piece yet, it is a must and is now on Broadway until September 2025!

Rhimes and beers reveal the secret behind finding their projects

Have you ever wondered how these two power plants choose the shows you want to create? “It's pretty easy,” said Rhimes. “We both like it and want to see it.” Although they do not always adapt their love for certain television programs, their partnership was fertile. Later, as a host Craig Melvin asked what hopefully left behind, when they are gone, Rhimes and beer both agreed that if they think of their legacy, they would like to be remembered for the stories they have told more than anything.

Actor to Show Runnern

When Melvin asked the group what they wanted to create Shondaland next, it was clear that the actors had their pitching hats ready. As a theater actor and lover of the craft, Pickens leaned into his classic training with a new interpretation of Take Miss Daisy Set during the 1994 La unrest, Where the driver had to hike through a labyrinth with a passenger, ultimately because both left the car with a new perspective. Foley, inspired by “all oligarchs and billionaires who try to control everything”, wants to create a modern Robin hood. Young strongly agreed: “You look good in tights!” Young's Pitch was perhaps most of the people we say, imaginative: she imagined a show in space, with the world ending and the world wanted to punch elsewhere – there would be love, pleasure and the search for the perfect group to go to the unknown, all guided by a female scientist. It is a Yes For all these shows please!

The Bridgerton -Urprung history

How did it do it Bridger tone Are you coming, especially since it appears outside the area of ​​previous Shondaland shows? “Well, we are doing job shows and the workplace is meal,” said Rhimes. But where did she get a copy of her hands from? Bridger tone? Rhimes was sick in a hotel room Bridger tone Book, The Duke and IAnd when she was done, she wanted more. “I felt so terrible, but I got out of bed and went to a bookstore to get the next book,” she said. Rhimes immediately called beers, but beers was a little more hesitant about the idea of ​​a romance. “But then I read the first book and I got it. Then I saw how many Bridgerton children there were and all seasons we could do,” said Beers. And thank God for that!

If this wasn't enough, we get it. Fortunately, the Paley Center recorded the whole thing and next week you can watch the entire panel on YouTube!

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Rebecca Snow is a deputy editor in New York City.