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If you spent any time on Twitter on Thursday nights last season, it’s likely that at least half of your timeline was live-tweeting “Scandal”, ABC’s political drama by Shonda Rhimes starring I Think I Love My Wife‘s Kerry Washington.

Kerry plays Olivia Pope, who used to work for (fictional) President Fitzgerald Grant and now runs her own company that specializes in high-level crisis management.

The show was a hit and will be back for Season 2 in the fall. Season 1 comes out on Blue-ray/DVD tomorrow, so Washington was out and about today talking about the show. CNN caught up with our favorite actress and got her to open up about what she loves about her new role and the stuff that’s no fun at all. They reported:

Though Washington claimed to love the “dirty work of acting,” she clearly prefers watching co-star Guillermo Diaz “torture” another actor rather than the steamy scene she shared with Goldwyn. “That stuff is not fun, at all,” she said. “Those are private moments. But that’s what acting is — it’s about… having the courage to allow your audience into the private moments of your characters’ lives. Those are difficult.”

Another kind of torture? Not letting herself be paralyzed by the knowledge the man with whom she’s steaming up the small screen is happily married. It’s just an occupational hazard, though: “Anybody who cares about somebody who has to do scenes like that [has to be] really compassionate.” She adds, “Tony’s very in love with his wife and his daughters, who I’ve met. It’s all good!”

Never fear, Fitz fans! Washington assured, “I know Tony’s still going to be around” when the show resumes filming in July. Henry Ian Cusick, on the other hand,  who played Stephen Finch, will not be returning to “Scandal.”

According to Digital Spy:

Rhimes told TV Guide that the actor’s contract was not renewed since his character was not receiving sufficient screen time. ”Henry Ian Cusick is such a great guy,” said the showrunner. “[But] in the making of the show, there was less for him to do than is deserving of him. I felt, why hold him back from doing other things?”

Joshua Malina who plays U.S. Attorney David Rosen got an upgrade though,  he’s been promoted to series regular. Is that good news to “Scandal” fans?

What do you think about season 1 and the changes in store for next season?

via MadameNoire

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