Shonda Rhimes is one the most talented and accomplished women in the television industry. Her shows have dominated Thursday night TV for over a decade. Here 12 reasons why I love her and I think you should too.
1. Shonda is a social justice advocate.
She uses social media, interviews and the TV shows on Shondaland to address important issues. She’s a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and an intersectional feminist. She’s not afraid to talk about issues of race, gender or sexuality.
2. She’s the creator of "Grey’s Anatomy".
You know, that amazing show, that is currently in its 13thseason. Yeah, she created that. It was her first gig in television and the show has been on air for over 10 years now. I cannot count how many times that show has made me cry. I still hate Shonda a little bit for killing off Derek.
3. She’s also the creator of "Scandal".
I know there are a million different shows about politics and DC but Scandal is and always will be, my favorite. As someone who is passionate about politics, I love that Scandal, addresses so many important and contemporary issues. Olivia Pope is everything I aspire to be and more.
4. She created "Private Practice".
Private Practice is the spin-off from Grey's Anatomythat follows Dr. Addison Montgomery after she leaves Seattle. Addison is one of my all time favorite characters from Grey's so I was thrilled that Private Practice centers around her character. Amelia Shepherd (Derek's little sister) was originally a character on Private Practice before she joined the cast of Grey's.
5. She produces "How to Get Away with Murder."
I know I’m starting to sound like a broken record but take a moment to appreciate how many popular, engaging, and dramatic shows Shonda has been involved in the creation and production of. She’s an actual goddess of TV series creation. At this point, I don’t think that there’s a show that she could create that I wouldn’t love.
6. All of Shonda’s shows feature strong female protagonists.
Meredith Grey, Olivia Pope, and Annalise Keating are all incredible women working in fields dominated by men. They all struggle through real problems that are relatable and they all manage to make it through.
7. All of her shows pass the Bechdel test in almost every single episode.
Wikipedia states, "The Bechdel test asks whether a work of fiction features at least two women or girls who talk to each other about something other than a man or boy." (You can read more about it here).
I haven't actually gone through and counted every single episode so I won't say all of them (even though they might all pass the test). Needless to say, there are meaningful conversations, not about boys, between female characters in all of Shonda's shows.
8. She is a supporter of color-blind casting.
For those of you who are new to the term (I was until I heard Shonda mention it in an interview a few years ago) it means that when actors/actresses are being cast for a part their ethnicity is not taken into consideration.
The focus is on the personality of the character and the actor’s ability to convey it. This practice is used on Shonda’s show and is part of the reason why her shows all display a diverse cast.
9. Her shows contain non-heterosexual relationships.![]()
Connor and Oliver, Cyrus and James, Callie and Arizona are just some of the LGBT couples featured on Shondaland shows. When criticized for this her responses on twitter are GOLD.
10. She’s an incredible public speaker.
11. She wrote "A Year of Yes".
A Year of Yes is an autobiographical work about saying yes to things that are intimidating. The book is a New York Times bestseller and has over 4 stars on Good Reads. You can purchase the book here.
12. She wrote the screenplay for "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement."
This movie was one of my all time favorites as a kid. I have watched it hundreds of times. I had no clue that Shonda was involved in The Princess Diaries 2 until super recently but it explains why I love the movie so much. One of the items on my bucket list is to go mattress surfing because of this movie.
