Shonda Rhimes Shows Ranked
greys-anatomy
1. GREY'S ANATOMY
When it quietly debuted at midseason in 2005, everyone wrote off the medical soap as just another ER retread. But 13 years and countless cast changes later, its vitals remain amazing. Not only does it stand as ABC's No. 1 scripted drama, but its feverishly devoted fanbase experiences palpitations anytime there's a change in the condition of one of its favorite couples. Looking at its chart, Grey's could conceivably live forever.
how-to-get-away-with-murder
3. HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
As Rhimes often reminds folks, the lion's share of credit for this Viola Davis whodunit belongs to series creator Peter Nowalk. But Rhimes deserves props, too. When across her desk crossed a not just a killer idea but a wholly original one, too, she recognized it. And, while much of HTGAWM remains preposterous, so long as its production values stay Hitchcockian and its characters, engaging and (at least somewhat!) grounded, we'll happily continue to take its wild ride.
off-the-map
5. OFF THE MAP
Rhimes' one-and-done 2011 drama starring a pre-Grey's Anatomy Martin Henderson aimed to transfuse fresh blood into the medical-procedural genre. But if you stripped away the remote South American setting, you quickly noticed that it was really just a watered-down Grey's wannabe.
private-practice
4. PRIVATE PRACTICE
This Grey's Anatomy spinoff, led by the underrated Kate Walsh, overcame some early creative hiccups to become a consistently entertaining primetime soap. Was it great? Rarely. But it was often pretty good, and sometimes, "pretty good" is more than good enough.
scandal
2. SCANDAL
ABC's political thriller broke racial barriers by pairing its black female lead with its white POTUS and quickly solidified Rhimes' stranglehold on the network's Thursday lineup. Yes, like a supernova, Scandal — which was arguably ABC's first social-media smash — burned brightly and has now begun to fade. But even if the show overstays its welcome by a season or two, its legacy will remain untouchable.
the-catch
6. THE CATCH
With its enviable cast, ultra-slick production values and diverting premise, Rhimes' latest addition to her TGIT lineup should be as much fun as a mad caper. But it's not even as much fun as an everyday caper. Everyone involved deserves better.