Connie Britton was the first choice as 'Scandal' lead

Writer-Producer Shonda Rhimes has revealed that actress Connie Britton was the original choice for the lead role in "Scandal".
The 47-year-old creator said that when the TV series was picked up for the pilot the network wanted Britton to play Olivia Pope, the character that eventually went to actress Kerry Washington, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"I didn't know that there hadn't been a drama series with a leading black woman for 37 years. When the show got picked up (to pilot), I got a phone call from somebody who said, 'This would be the perfect show for Connie Britton'," Rhimes said.

But she was convinced that her Olivia was an African- American woman.
"I said, 'It would be, except Olivia Pope is black'," Rhimes continued.